High-resolution Light Grid

Balluff has developed a new, high-resolution light grid for optical object detection with a width of 50 mm and a range of up to 2 meters. Consisting of a transmitter with a high-performance redlight laser and a receiver, the device works completely self-sufficiently, without additional accessories such as PC or special software. All settings can be made via a display in the receiver. The high resolution of 0.01 mm opens up many application possibilities. Evaluated are not only the light quantity of the especially homogeneous red laser light, but also the location and position within the light grid. In addition, the emitter and receiver are encased in a rugged industrial housing and can be easily and quickly aligned using the live graphic display on the integrated multi-function display. The user can teach-in up to six different objects using the buttons and can hide obstructions in the measuring field (blanking). This way different objects can be reliably detected, compared and sorted based on minimal differences in size. Other applications include presence and height checks. The result of the inspection is then available at two analog and three digital outputs. Starting in May 2014, there will also be a variant with an IO-Link interface.