Product category:
Proximity Sensors
News Release from: IFM Electronic | Subject: GM7 series
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 15 September 2006
Inductive sensors are certified
fail-safe
In response to demand, IFM Electronic has satisfied a need for certified fail-safe inductive sensors that are safe to use up to Category 4 (EN954-1) or SIL 3 (EN61508).
In response to demand, IFM Electronic has satisfied a need for certified fail-safe inductive sensors that are safe to use up to Category 4 (EN954-1) or SIL 3 (EN61508) As many customers have already found, no longer is there any need to rely on mechanical devices alone in a safety application, especially when these are pushed to their limits in repetitive operations or wet areas
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 26 Jun 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
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Now the new GM7 series from IFM shows that the company is listening to its customers.
Designed with two OSSDs (output signal switching devices) built in, the new fail-safe series will work with conventional safety relays instead of a dedicated controller, and will of course still work with safety PLCs.
The GM7 series is a rectangular type that senses a mild steel target between 10 and 15mm.
No special demands such as shielding, twisted wires or separate laying are placed on the industrial standard M12 connection.
The sensor is simply connected to existing evaluation units, safety controllers and safe bus systems using a common unscreened four-core cable.
To operate, the fail-safe switch is connected to an external safety relay of a type suitable for devices such as light-guards, though it could equally be connected to a safety PLC running approved software.
Functional safety is assured with the IFM Electronic fail-safe inductive system; coil damage, component health, cross-monitoring, short-circuit protection - all aspects are continuously checked within the device itself.
Any fault, at any time is instantly signalled.
All fail-safe inductive switches from IFM Electronic are constructed with full redundant and diverse internal circuits, certified by the TUV Rhineland, but otherwise has all the advantages of an inductive sensor: with no moving parts, IP67, standard M12 connector etc Now you may think an inductive sensor which needs no special target would be easy to defeat - but that would defeat the object of safety.
The target may be nothing special, but its position in the right place at the right time is what counts.
When the target is present, any other piece of metal between the switch and the target will cause the output to switch off.
Setting the unit is not difficult either, because the LED helps in adjustment, while incorporating a delay to befuddle the fiddlers. Request a free brochure from IFM Electronic ...
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