Tips for mounting and connecting cylinder sensors

Cylinders are often equipped with various mounting and connection options for cylinder sensors. This blog provides tips & tricks on how to make smart use of these possibilities. It saves time and space and is a prerequisite for the correct and reliable functioning of the sensor. In addition, there are tips and tricks for cylinders that do not have smart mounting and connection possibilities.

Assembly

Quick and easy mounting starts with suitable components. For example, the standard cylinder sensors SMT-8M and SDBT-MSX can be easily inserted into the cylinder housing slots directly from above. It is not necessary to insert them from the end of a groove and then drag them to the right position.

Smart components are also available to fix and secure the sensor in the right position. For example, a locking plate that keeps the nut and the (1.5 mm) socket-head screw together at all times during installation. None of the components can get lost. In addition, the nut always remains perpendicular in the opening and cannot twist. So when the bolt is unscrewed, it always remains in the correct position and below the edge of the groove.

The button for teaching the position is marked with a white circle and can also be felt.

Accessories

Smart solutions also include mounting accessories. Label holders, for example, make it easy to provide cables with a specific label. This increases the overview - especially when many cables are involved - and simplifies connection, maintenance or troubleshooting. Cable clips can be used to fix cables, for example in the slot of the cylinder relieving cable strain and eliminating potential failures..

No T-slot? No problem

If a cylinder has no T-slots, it is still possible to mount sensors quickly and reliably. For round cylinders, a band-like clamp solution is easy to apply. This is fitted around the cylinder and pulled tight. Sensors can be mounted on tie rod cylinders using a suction cup or shaped clamps that act as adapters. Cylinders with a different type of rail can also use special adapters.

Modular cable-connector system

After placing the sensor on the cylinder, a connection to the control system must be made. The modular NEBU cabling system can be used for this purpose. this system includes connectors, cables and plugs. To simplify installation, the connectors are partly configurable. For example, the M8 version can be rotated or equipped with a snap-in. The M12 version is also configurable. An open, flying lead end is also possible.

Cables

Separate attention should be paid to the cables that are ultimately responsible for reliable and interference-free data transmission. The length of these cables can be chosen freely from 0.1 to 30 metres in steps of 10 cm. There is a choice of various types of cable, ranging from standard to extra robust versions that are suitable for use in, for example, robots or cable tracks.

In addition to the quality of the cable itself, the assembly and positioning of the cable is crucial for a reliable solution with a long service life. Twisting or compressing the cables by placing them on top of each other can lead to damage, which in turn can cause the cable to malfunction or even fail.

To prevent this, it is first necessary to unroll the cables before they enter a cable track and to fix the cables at relevant points with special clamps. For example, at points where the cable enters and leaves the cable tray. In the cable tray itself, it is wise to group the cables with the same thickness and lay them neatly next to each other. Prevent cables from pressing hard against each other by allowing enough space, and do not use cable ties in the cable race. This also applies when the installation space is limited.

Make sure that the sensor cable does not start to bend where it is attached to the sensor housing. This may create space between cable and housing and create an opening to the electronics (moisture and oxidation). Also take into account the minimum bending radius of a cable.

Finally, it is important to prevent mechanical tensile and compression loads. This can be achieved by taking sufficient cable length and paying attention to the maximum bending radius. This is 10 times the cable thickness in normal use. When fixed, it is a maximum of 3 times the cable thickness.

July 2022

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