AIRPEL & AIRPEL PLUS POSITION SENSORS
Airpot now offers two series of position sensors from Sick, Inc. for our popular Airpel Plus and Airpel families of pneumatic air cylinders.
The GL series is a non-contact, solid state sensor that is either on or off, commonly used for sensing end-of-stroke. It is available in NPN and PNP output.
The GX series uses the same non-contact, solid state sensing technology, but provides continuous position feedback in the form of proportional voltage and current outputs, with a teachable stroke. These sensors are larger and more costly than the GL series.
Either series of sensors can be mounted into tracks on the Airpel air cylinders and can be easily slid into their desired position and locked into place. Round bodied cylinders can be configured with up to four full length tracks permanently bonded to the outside of the cylinder for mounting both GL and GX series air cylinder position sensors. Square bodied air cylinders come with several sensor mounting tracks built into the housings. READ MORE
Airpel’s GL sensors use solid state GMR technology which provides repeatable and reliable sensing without troublesome double switching that can occur when using Hall Effect or reed switches. A small LED in the sensor body allows visible indication of the switching signal. Extension cables of 2 and 5 meter lengths are available as accessories for GL sensors with M8 connectors.
Airpel’s GX series sensors come in discrete lengths, from 32 to 256 mm, but each sensor can be easily taught the extended and retracted positions for a specific application. The sensor uses these taught positions to adjust the proportional output to be 0-10 VDC (and 4-20 mA) from one end of the stroke to the other.
These teachable sensors output 0-10 V and 4-20 mA signals that are proportional to the piston position, giving constant feedback on the position of the piston.
Switching sensors turn on their output when the piston is sensed so they are perfect for sensing end of stroke or a critical position within the stroke.