AutomationDirect Releases Cost-Effective Photoelectric Sensors

AutomationDirect’s new AchieVe FBM rectangular photoelectric sensor series comes in a variety of styles to meet virtually any sensing environment. The sensor's compact size and low entry cost (starting at $24) make it an affordable way to detect, count, or measure the distance to objects as they move through different stages of production.

AchieVe FBM Photoelectric Sensors

The AchieVe FBM series photoelectric sensor is available in several sensing styles. Diffuse with background suppression, polarized retroreflective, and through-beam styles allow engineers to design their automation system around their needs rather than an optical sensor's limitations.

AutomationDirect's AchieVe FBM photoelectric sensor series offers sensing distances up to 10 m. Image (modified) used courtesy of AutomationDirect

The sensors can be used as a "break beam" system, where two sensors are placed opposite one another. When an object passes between them, the light beam is interrupted, and the object is detected. In other cases, the reflection from an object is what is recorded.

One specific example is the use of a diffuse sensor with background suppression, which may be required when a sensor faces a reflective background. For example, consider a production line in the food and beverage industry, where most components are made of stainless steel. The stainless steel is reflective and can reflect ambient light into the sensor or reflect the sensor's beam back into the sensor. Either case is unacceptable. The AchieVe FBM has a background suppression system that discards these reflections and only counts the reflections of interest.

Reliable Object Detection

The AchieVe FBM series sensors can detect objects up to 10 m away, making them versatile for a wide range of applications. The sensors are available in NPN (sinking) and PNP (sourcing) configurations, and are powered by a standard 10-30 V DC source. A simple potentiometer adjusts sensitivity. All models and configurations have a switching speed of up to 1 kHz.

The AchieVe FBM series is available as a diffuse sensor with background suppression. Image used courtesy of AutomationDirect

Designed for heavy industry, each sensor is housed in a rugged ABS plastic housing, rated to IP67. The ingress rating makes them suitable for dusty environments or environments where water spray is an ongoing issue.

Cost-Effective Sensor Solutions

Photoelectric sensors, like AutomationDirect's AchieVe FDM, are used in countless ways across virtually any industry. They are used to detect the presence of objects, such as workpieces, as they approach on an assembly line. This can be to ensure objects are where they should be, or are where they should not be, depending on the situation. If properly configured, they can be used to count items, such as soda cans, as they move in a single-file line. In some cases, these sensors can be used to gauge the distance to the object, which can help robots in picking and packing operations.

The AchieVe FDM is compact and low-cost, making it easy to use and affordable to integrate with automation equipment. Whether used as an extra layer of protection, for quality control, or as a vital part of an assembly line's functionality, the sensors are suitable for a variety of automation systems.