Reduced blind zone and shorter design of sensors advantageous for close-up range

The new sensors of the compact series in M30 design have a reduced blind zone and are shorter than models of the previous generation. These improvements make for better detection of objects at close range and reduce the space requirements of the components. The new programming interface lets users read out status and diagnostic information in running operation without any reaction. This means you can easily adapt the parameters to the operating environment for process optimization.

The space requirement of a sonar proximity switch in a machine or plant is mainly determined by its blind zone. The switch must be installed at a location that is set back by the length of the blind zone from the detection range to ensure reliable detection of the close-up range. This so-called dead space is reduced by more than 50 percent for the latest generation of Simatic PXS sonar proximity switches – space available to reduce the size of the machine or plant. The extremely narrow sonic lobe and the improved noise suppression make for object detection even under difficult environmental conditions and will thus increase machine availability.

The reactionless transmission of sensor data in measurement operation makes for exact setting of parameters to the application. The result is an increased quality of the sensor signal. The sensors in M30 design are available for four different detection ranges up to six meters. The K1 version has one switching output; the K2 version has two. K3 is available in several versions: with one switching and one analog output, with one IO-Link channel or Atex certification for operation in Ex-Zone 2/22. Versions with rotary head or recessed converter are available for K2 and K3 sensors.

Parameter setting of the sonar proximity switches takes place either through simple setting of the potentiometer on the device itself or more conveniently with the parameter-setting tool: it provides reactionless access to detailed realtime sensor data without interruption of the measuring operation. You can, for example, visualize several echos at different intervals and quality to optimize the parameters for the application. The tool is connected via infrared adapter so that you do not interrupt existing measurement connections.

The new Simatic-PXS sonic proximity switches can detect all objects that reflect ultrasonic waves. Their application ranges from measurement of filling and stacking levels, height detection all the way to distance measurements. The sensors detect objects with widely differing characteristics, regardless of whether they are liquid, solid, powder or even transparent and if their surfaces are rough or smooth, clean or dirty, wet or dry. They are not sensitive to extraneous influences such as light or temperature and they are extremely dependable under changing or difficult environmental conditions. The sensors emit ultrasonic waves. If these are reflected off objects, the resulting echo is converted into an electrical signal and the time between the transmitted pulse and echo pulse is measured to determine the distance.