What type of sensor do I need?

We have put together a handy guide to make the process of creating a specification for the sensor you may need a little easier and help answer some of the more commonly asked questions.

Creating a specification for the sensor you need may be a struggle for those who are making their first foray into the world of position sensors, so we have put together a handy guide to make this process a little easier.

The first thing to be sure of is the type of position sensor needed is the movement linear (i.e. along a single plane), rotary, or tilting? In some cases more than one sensor may be needed if there are complex movements. Equipment such as robotic arms for car manufacture or remote surgery have moving parts that rotate, tilt and go back and forth, so all three types of sensor would be needed at different points. Similarly, there may be a requirement for a tilt sensor as well as a linear position one, if the equipment tilts in order to effect the next action or the height of one part of the equipment needs to be measured when it is tilted.

Knowing the environmental conditions where the sensor is to be used will answer several more questions. If there are extremes of temperature and humidity this needs to be taken into account when choosing the sensor, as some models struggle in very low or very high temperatures. The presence of contaminants and chemicals can also rule out some sensors, but contactless technology from Positek means that these issues need not affect the choice of any of our sensors. Non-contact sensors are not affected by dust, chemicals and other material that could mask the sensor and stop it from working; but if there is a valid reason to use a contact type sensor then this needs to be taken into account when choosing the model to use.

If the sensor is to be used in a wet place or even under water, contactless technology is the best choice, as Positek have a wide range of submersible sensors. If the sensor is for a hazardous environment where there is a fire risk, (such as in oil refineries and other chemical processing plants where flammable gases are present), then intrinsically safe sensors are the best option as they are built to be incapable of producing an ignition spark.

The measurement range is a vital criteria in choosing the right sensor once the other considerations have been addressed this is one of the last, but most important factors in sensor choice. Knowing the maximum and minimum distances that need to be measured will narrow down the shortlist of sensors to two or three that may be suitable, but without taking this into account it is entirely possible to choose a sensor that fits the bill on most of the requirements, but will not measure the upper range of possible distances.

For many applications of position sensors the power input is part and parcel of having a sensor installed, but there are some cases where powering the sensor may present a problem and this should be taken into account when making the selection. All sensors require some form of powering, but if the extra wires could present a problem, it may be necessary to have the sensor built in to the equipment when it is constructed. Positek are used to finding solutions to difficult problems that may only present once or twice in the space of several years, but our expertise and experience of sensor technology and the integration of effective sensors into all types of machinery is second to none there is no challenge we cannot find a solution to.

This short guide should help you create a list of answers to the common questions around sensor choice, and you may even be able to find the right sensor on our website with no problems. If you need to talk through your sensor options, or you know that you will need a custom built system, please feel free to call our team on 01242 820027 and talk it through with the experts.

Article published on: 28/02/2017

Article last updated on: 28/02/2017