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HELPING YOU #MAKE SENSE OF SENSORS
EXAMPLE APPLICATIONS
TO ILLUSTRATE THE WIDE-VARIETY OF APPLICATIONS SOLVED USING
CONTRINEX SENSORS, WE HAVE POSTED A LARGE SELECTION OF
EXAMPLE APPLICATIONS WHICH CAN BE SEEN BY CLICKING ON AN IMAGE.
BELOW ARE A SELECTION OF SOME OF THESE APPLICATIONS:
CUSTOMER VALUES
HIGHLY ACCURATE, REPEATABLE SENSING PERFORMANCE IN
DEMANDING CONDITIONS
EMBEDDABLE MINIATURE SENSOR WITH MINIMAL EFFECT ON
MACHINE DYNAMICS
FIT-AND-FORGET OPERATION WITH EXCELLENT RESISTANCE
TO SHOCK AND VIBRATION
AFFORDABLE, HIGHLY RELIABLE SOLUTION
PRODUCT ADVANTAGES
LIGHTWEIGHT, HERMETICALLY SEALED MINIATURE SENSORS
V2A/AISI 303 STAINLESS-STEEL CONSTRUCTION WITH
VACUUM-ENCAPSULATED ELECTRONICS
BEST-IN-CLASS 0.8MM SENSING DISTANCE
High-speed machining centres often feature automatic tool-
changers that help maximise productivity. A drive-motor
manufacturer uses sensor technology to detect the position of
a machine’s main spindle before initiating the tool-change
sequence. Contrinex miniature inductive sensors detect the
position of a slotted centring-disc mounted on the motor shaft
with exceptional repeatability and positional accuracy better
than 0.01 mm.
CUSTOMER APPLICATION
Modern machining centres execute multiple metal-cutting
operations at a single station, often deploying a separate tool
for each operation. Time spent changing tools is non-
productive, reducing efficiency and machine utilization.
Automating tool-changes keeps lost time to a minimum but
requires highly accurate positional measurement of the main
spindle to prevent damage occurring.
After completion of an operation, the main spindle of the
machine comes to rest. Only after it reaches the null position –
the point at which the tool disengages completely – is the tool-
change sequence initiated. Reliable detection of the null
position requires exceptional accuracy and repeatability in
sensing the position of a shaft previously rotating at up to
14,000rpm.
A miniature sensor, capable of withstanding mechanical
shock, high levels of vibration and an oily environment, must
detect the position of a slotted centring-disc mounted on the
drive-motor shaft. The required angular resolution translates to
a positional accuracy of better than 0.01mm.
CUSTOMER SOLUTION
Contrinex inductive sensors are designed for exceptional long-
term reliability and repeatability in demanding environments,
and lightweight sensors from the Miniature range are ideal for
this application. Constructed from V2A/AISI 303 stainless steel
with PPE sensing faces and hermetically sealed cable entries,
these embeddable M5-diameter sensors take up minimal
space.
The centring disc is mounted in a rotary-encoder housing
fitted to the drive-motor shaft. The 25mm-long sensor is
embedded directly in the wall of the housing and the sensing
distance of 0.8mm eliminates any risk of accidental collision
with the disc. The sensors are configured with an industry-
standard PNP normally-open interface, connected to the
customer’s control system via a flexible, oil-resistant PUR
sheathed cable.
Vacuum-encapsulated electronics ensure excellent resistance
to shock and vibration, and no additional electrical or
mechanical protection is required. Fit-and-forget operation
keeps maintenance requirements to a minimum, overcoming
the mechanical fragility of alternative optical-sensing encoder
technology.
The sensor detects the position of the centring disc, reliably
and repeatably, with an accuracy better than the required
0.01mm. Contrinex Miniature inductive sensors provide a
highly effective and affordable solution
CLICK ON AN IMAGE TO VIEW THE
BROCHURE, READ APPLICATION
EXAMPLES BELOW, CLICK HERE TO
VIEW THIS SENSOR ON CONTRINEX’S
WEBSITE, OR CALL US TO HELP
#MAKESENSEOFSENSORS:
APPLICATION - ROBUST M5 INDUCTIVE KEEPS
HIGH-SPEED SPINDLE MONITORING
CONTRINEX, BEING SWISS, HAS AN EXPECTATION FOR EXPERTISE IN MINIATURISATION AND SO IT IS NO
SURPRISE THAT THEY EXCEL IN THIS ARENA, WITH FOR EXAMPLE THE WORLD’S SMALLEST INDUCTIVE SENSOR.
MINIATURE INDUCTIVE SENSORS
MINIATURE INDUCTIVE SENSORS - SMALL SIZE - WIDE CHOICE - BIG PERFORMANCE
PRODUCT ADVANTAGES
SMALLEST SELF-CONTAINED MINIATURE INDUCTIVE SENSORS
ON THE MARKET
SIZES FROM Ø3 TO Ø4 MM AND 5 X 5MM
VERY LONG SENSING RANGES UP TO 2.5MM
CHOICE OF CONTRINEX’S CLASSIC (600 SERIES), EXTRA
DISTANCE (500 SERIES), OR EXTREME ROBUST (700 SERIES)
IO-LINK INTERFACE INCLUDED – IDEAL FOR INDUSTRY 4
Contrinex’s excellence in manufacturing high-performance inductive sensors for position- or presence-sensing extends to its
miniature inductive range, which includes the smallest self-contained inductive sensors on the market - Miniaturisation without
compromising on functionality.
Sensors from this range offer a choice of Contrinex’s Classic (600 Series), advanced Extra Distance (500 Series), or Extreme robust
(700 Series) sensor technology.
Available in plain and threaded sizes from Ø 3 to M5 and as a 5 mm square-section type, these sensors are ideal for applications
where space is limited, including tool-selection, robotic position-sensing and control of micro-mechanisms.
The IO-Link interface is also included offering a consistent set of additional features and to simplify connectivity to the IoT and
Industry 4.0 applications.
CUSTOMER VALUES
HIGHLY ACCURATE, REPEATABLE SENSING PERFORMANCE IN
DEMANDING CONDITIONS
EMBEDDABLE 3MM Ø MINIATURE STAINLESS-STEEL SENSOR
ARE EASY TO INTEGRATE
FIT-AND-FORGET OPERATION WITH EXCELLENT RESISTANCE
TO SHOCK AND VIBRATION
AFFORDABLE, HIGHLY RELIABLE SOLUTION
PRODUCT ADVANTAGES
LIGHTWEIGHT, HERMETICALLY SEALED MINIATURE SENSORS
V2A/AISI 303 STAINLESS-STEEL CONSTRUCTION WITH
VACUUM-ENCAPSULATED ELECTRONICS
BEST-IN-CLASS SENSING DISTANCES
RELIABLE AND VIBRATION RESISTANT
Compact multi-finger robot grippers are an essential element
of the automated production of electronic equipment,
transporting parts between operations. It is critical that in the
event of an unplanned human intervention or a machine
malfunction, that there is not a collision hazard - Therefore
machine designers insist on an anti-collision system. Miniature
distance sensors, embedded in the outward-facing surfaces of
the gripper jaws, monitor the position of potential obstructions
during travel, preventing accidents.
CUSTOMER APPLICATION
During the automated production of solar cells, compact two-
finger robot edge-grippers transport trays of silicon wafers
between operations. To avoid impacts on the wafers surfaces,
process engineers require reliable confirmation that gripper
jaws are fully open before the gripper descends to pick up a
tray.
Eliminating avoidable scrap costs is top of any production
engineer’s to-do list, particularly when rectifying component
damage also means interrupting a fast-moving automated
production line. When the component in question is a costly
photovoltaic silicon wafer, designers often turn to robotic
handling systems, although relying on robots to achieve
perfect alignment isn’t always the answer.
In a manufacturing cell, robotic handling systems assemble
solar cells before presenting them for automated testing. To
start, trays of silicon wafers are transported between
operations by two-finger robot edge-grippers. If gripper
malfunctions occur, scrap costs can mount rapidly, with
mechanical damage caused by impacts on the wafer surfaces
being a common cause.
Analysis showed that open/close errors account for a
significant proportion of gripper malfunctions. Software
routines alone can’t identify the position of the gripper fingers;
attempts to pick up a wafer tray with the jaws only partially
open result in fingers impacting on the wafer surfaces. A cost-
effective hardware solution is required to provide overriding
inhibition of picking routines if this situation arises.
APPLICATION - 3MM Ø INDUCTIVES HELP
PROTECT FRAGILE ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS
CUSTOMER SOLUTION
Designers specified two-finger grippers fitted with Contrinex
Ultraminiature inductive sensors as a reliable and cost-
effective means of detecting the position of the jaws at the
extremes of travel. Before the gripper descends to pick up a
tray, these miniature proximity sensors, mounted directly
above the top faces of the gripper fingers, sense the position
of the jaws in the fully open position.
The Ultraminiature inductive sensors are designed with the
needs of OEMs and system integrators in mind and provide an
unobtrusive fit-and-forget solution. These miniature devices
weigh only 25 grams, and with a compact 3mm-diameter x
22mm V2A stainless-steel housing, they allow easy integration
in tight spaces with insufficient room for traditional devices.
With a sensing distance of 1mm, MiniDist devices offer
designers attractive alternatives when specifying equipment.
Industry-standard PNP and NPN outputs with normally open
or normally closed options ensure optimum flexibility when
interfacing with a wide range of control systems. Connection is
via a PUR-sheathed cable with a 3-pin connector or 2-meter
flying lead; alternative lengths are available.
These highly versatile miniature sensors meet designers’
needs for reliable operation while preventing accidental
damage. The solution is both highly reliable and cost-effective
while eliminating avoidable scrap costs; payback is rapid, while
production throughput is maintained at target levels without
increasing the cost of quality.
WELCOME TO PLUS AUTOMATION LTD - EXPERTS IN SENSORS, WE WILL WORK TO HELP YOU
SOLVE YOUR APPLICATIONS, IMPROVE MACHINE PERFORMANCE & RELIABILITY AND REDUCE COSTS
USING CONTRINEX’S EXCEPTIONAL SENSORS - LET US HELP YOU #MAKE SENSE OF SENSORS