Position sensors essentially mean three different products: the sensors themselves, position transmitters that can be used almost universally, and displacement encoders. All of these products check and monitor automated motion sequences and are therefore indispensable in industrial application processes.
More complex and programmable solutions are available as position sensors, which are optimized for certain actuators. This also applies to the Festo position sensor SRBS, which is used to detect a rotary movement of the shaft on the rotary drives DRVS and DSM. Characteristics of SRBS are:
Our product portfolio also includes the position sensor SMH for our grippers HGD / HGPP / HGR and HGW. The sensor must be connected to an evaluation unit and is based on the magnetic Hall measuring principle. Depending on the gripper position, an analog electrical signal is generated in the position sensor. The conversion to 2 digital output signals (corresponding to 2 gripper jaw positions) is performed using signal conditioners SVE4.
Position transmitters are used in general for analog feedback of the piston movement in a certain detection range in applications such as ultrasonic welding, press-fitting, screwing, clamping, go/no-go detection etc. They are able to detect the magnetic field of the piston magnet within the detection range and evaluate it with high repeat position accuracy. The information is provided as a standardized 0-10 V, 4…20 mA analog signal or via IO-Link®. In addition, the devices offer programming options for pre-evaluation of the signal information directly in the transmitter.
At Festo you will find four different position transmitters, all of which are based on the magnetic Hall measuring principle, but differ in size and therefore in the detection range. SDAS-MHS and SMAT-8M are compact position transmitters and therefore the ideal solution for compact cylinders and grippers. The SDAS-MHS also offers the option of programming two switching points directly on the device. This saves the installation of a second proximity switch on small drives. The SDAT-MHS is the universal solution with detection ranges of up to 160 mm, 0...10 V, 4...20 mA, IO-Link® and a programmable switching output. Our position transmitters deliver precise results, they fit perfectly into pneumatic machines and applications and impress with their maximum reliability.
Displacement encoders measure the distance between an object and a selected reference point, but are also used for positioning tasks. Our portfolio contains numerous products for a wide variety of requirements.
Based on a magnetostrictive measuring principle, we offer the path measuring system MME-MTS-TLF, which works completely contact-free and with absolute measuring. It is a conductive plastic potentiometer that allows the user a high traversing speed. MME-MTS-TLF is primarily used in servo-pneumatic positioning technology and for soft stops.
Another displacement encoder is MLO-POT-LWG – an absolute measuring push rod potentiometer with high resolution. It has pluggable connections and is suitable for strokes of 100... 750 mm. The long service life is characteristic of this product.
The Festo position measuring system MLO-POT-TLF offers a high travel speed combined with a long service life. It is an absolute measuring conductive plastic potentiometer with high resolution and pluggable connections, which can be used in the range of 225 ... 2000 mm stroke.