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Low cost draw wire sensors
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September 2007
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Sensor manufacturer Micro-Epsilon UK has just launched a range of draw wire sensors that offer an unbeatable price-performance ratio, with a measuring range of 2,100mm at a selling price of less than £130 – ideal for OEMs and machine builders.
The sensor does not compromise on accuracy either, with a resolution of 0.5mm on the standard unit. Compact, reliable and cost effective, the MK77 draw wire sensors are ideal for integrating into products or measurement equipment produced in high volumes. The MK77 is an extension to the company’s existing, well-proven MK Series, developed specifically for high volume OEM applications. Although the MK77 benefits from using standard sensor technology, it can also be easily customised to suit the individual application. Potentiometric or incremental encoder outputs are available.
One of the distinctive features of the MK77 is that the housing is now engineered plastic (rather than metal), resulting in a more compact, lightweight solution for the customer, enabling OEM production costs to be minimised. Machine builders and designers will benefit from a lower cost and a more compact sensor design that will open up new possibilities in machine design and cost optimisation. This also means that OEM customers can now select whether they require a metal-bodied draw wire sensor for use in harsh operating environments, or a significantly lower cost plastic-bodied sensor that doesn’t compromise on performance.
Micro-Epsilon’s range of draw-wire sensors is already being used in a diverse range of applications. In the medical industry, for example, where sensor requirements typically include long life, low protection class, high precision and constant temperature, Micro-Epsilon’s draw wire sensors are being used on dentist chairs, hospital beds, rehabilitation equipment, ambulance stretchers and X-ray systems.
In the aerospace sector, applications include landing gear test systems, measuring simulator position, and testing of wing structures. In the automotive industry, the sensors are being used to measure engine vibration, pedal position and suspension, as well as crash testing.
Lifting technology is another area where draw wire sensors can be used. Applications include theatre stages; vehicle lifting platforms; lifting systems on garbage trucks; mobile hydraulic lifting platforms; and telescopic materials handling equipment.
Other more diverse applications include positioning of saw blades; confirmation of press closure; measuring the fill level in biogas tanks and oil storage tanks; and the position of sluice gates.
For a free, 31-page wire sensor selection guide, please visit the company website.
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Author
Chris Rowlands
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