SENSORS & SENSING SYSTEMS FEATURE Sensing application demands
Contrinex sensors from PLUS Automation are used in a diverse range of applications. Here we take a look at two of the latest…
W
hen manufacturing computer
motherboards, soldering reflow ovens are used to secure the components in place on the PCBs. After assembly, the boards are conveyed into the oven – where the temperature increases progressively to achieve a predetermined thermal profile, melting the solder paste. On leaving the oven, a sensor is needed to trigger a control system in order to activate a transfer mechanism to move the board automatically to the next process stage. Reliability is essential as these sensors
need to operate continuously to ensure efficient production. However, it is possible for the temperature adjacent to the oven to reach 80˚C (176˚F) – which was resulting in unacceptable sensor rates for one company. Extended sensing distances are highly
desirable for this application as several types of motherboard, each with different component heights, pass through the oven. Long-distance sensing also allows the sensor to be positioned further from the heat of the hot PCBs. To meet the requirements, Contrinex
500 series Extended Sensing Distance Inductive sensors are proving to be ideal. According to the company, Condist technology delivers best-in-class operating distances and the sensors have a continuous rating to 70˚C (158˚F). Trials confirmed highly stable performance even in the elevated ambient temperatures. Of further benefit, vacuum-encapsulated electronics ensure excellent resistance to thermal shock and vibration. In the application, extra distance sensors
are mounted vertically on steel brackets attached to the exterior of the reflow ovens, and sense the presence of each motherboard as it passes beneath the sensing face. The operating distance is set at 10mm, eliminating the risk of collision with components on the board, and an M12-threaded metal housing allows easy positional adjustment when necessary. With the Contrinex sensors, IO-Link
connectivity is included as well as the choice of an industry-standard PNP or NPN interface to the customer’s control system, the company explains.
FORK SENSORS In another application, Contrinex Fork photoelectric sensors and extended- distance inductive sensors are being used in a processing plant to help ensure plastic ketchup bottles are hermetically sealed and capped. After filling, sealing and
capping, bottles of ketchups
Reliable sensors are essential during the manufacture of motherboards
Fork sensors are
being used to check ketchup bottles
and sauces are labelled and packaged. Previously, if the seal or plastic cap was missing it could go undetected, risking an entire batch of production potentially being rejected. So, before the plastic caps are fitted, a Contrinex long-distance inductive sensor,
positioned directly over the packaging line, is used to confirm the presence of an aluminium-foil hermetic seal over the top of every container. Following this, Contrinex’s highly versatile photoelectric fork sensor is positioned over the conveyor to sense and confirm the presence of a cap on each bottle prior to labelling, triggering an alarm if a cap is missing. Compact, robust and reliable, LG
fork light-barrier photoelectric sensors were chosen because they combine simplicity of installation with a choice of four modes of operation. These provide high-resolution and high-speed sensing, plus the convenience of a push- pull output and IO-Link connectivity. Four preconfigured operating
modes enable the LG fork sensors to fulfil a wide spectrum of application needs – ‘Standard mode’ provides switching frequencies up to 5,000Hz with a resolution of 0.3mm, while ‘High-resolution mode’ ensures precise detection of small objects down to 0.1mm in size. The implementation of the industry-
standard IO-Link communication protocol enables remote set-up and adjustment of the fork-sensor between production batches.
PLUS Automation
www.PLUSAx.co.uk
A SHIPSHAPE SOLUTION
Recovered from the sea bed in 1982, Mary Rose was a 16th century warship sunk in the Solent in 1545. Today it is a museum, after a 34-year conservation project during which Hanwell’s technology and environmental monitoring sensors played a key role – continuously checking and recording temperature and humidity of the ship during the drying out process to minimise distortion and the cracking of wood due to environmental fluctuations. Even now, that company’s Pro technology is helping to protect the historic vessel. Because of the unique nature of the Mary Rose, Hanwell had to
design a customised solution for the conservation team. The system has been a key indicator in monitoring the drying of the timbers – if something had gone wrong it would have affected the whole ship. To meet requirements, over 30 sensors from the Hanwell Pro range
are on the hull of the ship, continuously mapping the condition of the wood. The system not only monitors the ship’s hull, but the vital data is also fed to the BMS system via MODBUS. Data from the wireless sensors also control the separate air handling units for the collection of artefacts through a Hanwell custom built MS1000 control panel. Between the two control systems, the critical environmental conditions are maintained between 18-20°C and 50-58% RH. Eleanor Schofield, the Mary Rose Trust’s Head of Conservation and Collections Care, said: “The Hanwell
monitoring system was easy to set up to give us all the data we need. We link it to alarms, which are set so that if one sensor reports an environmental factor has become out of tolerance we can react quickly. The system enables us to get the problem sorted quickly, as well as helping us with routine maintenance.”
Hanwell Solutions / DESIGNSOLUTIONS
www.hanwell.com
DESIGN SOLUTIONS | FEBRUARY 2021
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