Sensors & Transducers


Intelligent light curtains

October 2005 Sensors & Transducers

The new line of Merlin light curtains are designed to meet and exceed demanding safety requirements without hampering production.

Features include:

* User friendly controls and instructions.

* Replaceable columns.

* Storage of 3200 blanking patterns.

* English language readouts.

* Diagnostic message display.

* Dual-checking captive contact safety relays and dual microprocessors.

* Intelligent controller.

* Available 12,7 mm beam spacing.

* Sizes ranging from 153 mm to 2,44 m.

* Modular construction.

* Misaligned beams or obstruction indication.

* Several blanking features have gone into the design of Merlin's light curtain products.

Merlin blanking modes

* The floating beam feature allows up to three beams to be blocked without stopping the machine. This can be used for strip feeding, parts ejection, or when fixed blanking is not necessary.

* Auto blanking: saves time and effort in setting beam blanking. Just press one button on the control box or at a remote location and it is done.

* Manual blanking: full control over selection of individual beams to blank out.

* Programmability: Specifically designed for press brake applications where multiple bends are made on the same part. Allows up to 16 steps to be programmed and up to 200 jobs to be stored.

All beams that are blanked are self-supervised to require a blockage at the blanked locations or a stop signal is generated.

Note: when blanking is used the safety distance may need to be adjusted for the opening in the light curtain sensing field.

The standard Merlin consists of a control and a set of columns (one transmitter and one receiver) and a set of interconnecting cables. The Merlin will also accept multiple sets of columns per control box to protect more than one side. Thus, there is the benefit of reducing the cost for an application like guarding straight-side presses, etc.

The Merlin 1000 is the most basic light curtain of the ISB light curtain product line. Where applications do not require advanced features found with the Merlin 2000 or Merlin 3000 systems, this unit would prove to be your most cost-effective compromise. Status indicators are on both the control and transmitter column. Manual reset is optional.

The Merlin 2000 has more advanced features, including: blanking limits blanked beam identification; blanking - Auto - Manual, floating beams, an eight-character LED display, 16 key membrane keypad. Password protection, diagnostic fault codes.

The Merlin 3000 is the most advanced of the ISB light curtains. In addition to the features of the Merlin 2000, Merlin 3000 offers: programmability, 40-character fluorescent display, English language message and fault displays, programmable beam blankout system, program capacity for 200 jobs.



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