SICK Goes the Distance with its Miniature PowerProx® Sensor
August 4, 2020
SICK has shrunk its versatile, high-performance PowerProx sensor into a space-saving miniature housing to reach the longest distances ever achieved with such a compact device.
The tiny SICK WTT4SL PowerProx Mini photoelectric sensor measures just 12.2 x 41.8 x 17.3 mm yet delivers outstanding performance to detect objects up to 1.3metres away. It is therefore ideal for warehouse and logistics applications.
The PowerProx Mini can be integrated into tight machine spaces, such as the grippers of picking robots, or deployed in the fork-tips of automated guided carts, for example, as well as for empty bay and clearance detection in high-bay warehouses.
SICK has engineered its innovative autocollimation time-of-flight sensing technology to fit into the exceptionally small housing, ensuring reliable high-speed detection, with outstanding repeatability even in challenging ambient conditions and without crosstalk interference from other sensors.
The responsive Powerprox Mini finds leading edges with precision even at high-process speeds with the ability to detect targets reliably through small holes.
“The SICK Powerprox Mini can replace through beam, background suppression or reflex sensors, so machinebuilders and production teams can streamline their inventories while still guaranteeing high-performance sensing,” says David Hannaby, SICK’s UK Product Manager for Presence Detection.
“The Powerprox Mini can be set up in an instant using the on-board teach-in function, or via IO-Link. It’s all the reliability, repeatability and versatility you expect from SICK, packed into a sensor no larger than a packet of sugar cubes.”
With the option of IO-Link and up to eight variable switching outputs, the all-seeing SICK Powerprox Mini can easily be configured for multi-task applications. Its 100% background suppression ensures
only the target is detected without any interference from high-viz jackets or shiny metal objects behind it.
The SICK WTT4SL Powerprox Mini is offered in speed or distance variants for optimum performance. Excellent repeatability ensures reliable counting, quality control and sorting applications in high-speed processes, even with products with varying surfaces. Its red-light Class 1 (eye-safe) laser, small light spot size and wide angle of incidence with switching frequencies up to 1 kHz ensure highly-competitive performance across a broad range of applications.
