Sensor takes sensible approach to safety

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Apr 24, 2006

Economical access safety solutions are guaranteed thanks to the M4000 giving users the ability to select exactly the right mix of functions for each application.

When it comes to detecting and identifying products and personnel on the shop floor many potential problems exist.

These include keeping people out of harms way, constant struggles with part pallets, issues with directional muting, product with gaps or voids, detection of shrink-wrapped documents and conveyor stops when the product is blocking the access guard.

If any of these sounds familiar, then the advanced array of features offered by the M4000, from Sick (UK), could be the solution many users are looking for.

Economical access safety solutions are guaranteed thanks to the M4000 giving users the ability to select exactly the right mix of functions for each application.

And, in addition to its impressive feature list, the integrated laser alignment tool and muting lamp/status indicator make installation, commissioning and maintenance that much easier.

This new award-winning modular and expandable range offers a variety of beam numbers, separations and ranges in combination with Type-4 safety in compliance with IEC61496 and SIL 3 according to IEC61508.

Depending on the device version - Advanced, Standard and Area - there are numerous new functions and status indicators available, allowing rapid commissioning and ensuring a high level of availability.

The M4000 Advanced version offers users safety solutions with clearly superior functions thanks to a number of advanced features including: beam coding; restart interlock; external device monitoring; and Safety Data Link (SDL) interface for safe network or fieldbus integration.

Together with the company's UE403 muting switching device, the two- to four-beam system provides innovative, decentralised muting solutions for access protection during automated material transport.

The UE403 can be mounted directly on to the nondistorting profile of the M4000 Advanced and the LED muting indicator lamp is integrated in the receiver housing.

These features in combination create a decentralised muting solution with an enclosure rating of IP65 and with wiring costs reduced to a minimum compared with conventional central muting solutions in IP20 control cabinets.

Up to four muting sensors (optical, inductive, capacitive sensors or mechanical switches) can be connected.

Configurable inputs for "reset" and "override" control devices are also available, as is a configurable output for the external muting indicator.

Access protection from one or more sides is achieved with the M4000 Standard.

Available in two- to four-beam variants, differing beam separations can be selected, as can a variety of ranges up to 70m.

The M4000 Standard offers features that are not always classed as "standard".

These include: configuration buttons; an integrated laser alignment aid for each individual beam; LED indicators on the receiver housing; a separate connection for direct wiring of the reset button; and an integrated AS-i Safety-at-Work interface.

Both the M4000 Standard and the M4000 Advanced are available as active/passive (A/P) variants, whereby only one side requires electrical connection.

This significantly reduces wiring costs and makes A/P systems the optimum solution for ranges up to 7.5m.

The final member of the M4000 family is the Area version.

With this unit, hazardous areas up to 70m can be monitored with two different resolutions (60 or 80mm) and hazardous points of operation can be effectively safeguarded.

Specifications for the Area version include an RS232 interface for configuration and diagnosis and an SDL interface for connection to safe networks.

As well as being a very cost effective and powerful safety solution, the M4000 is also an aesthetic winner, a fact reinforced by its IF Design Award and its nomination for the German Design Prize - access safety has never looked so good.