ifm OCF series fibre-optic sensors

Fibre-optic sensors operate on the same principle as conventional photoelectric sensors. However, the lens and the evaluation electronics are spatially separated from each other, which offers an important advantage for many applications: the optical fibres can be positioned precisely in very confined spaces and detect even very small parts. The remote fibre-optic sensor is then located in a suitable place, for example, mounted on the machine or even in a control cabinet.

The OCF series fibre-optic sensors from ifm have narrow housings that are suitable for mounting on DIN rails. The optical fibres can also be connected without tools, and an IP65 protection rating means they can also be mounted in the field, for example directly on the machine.

The fibre-optic sensors have three buttons for operation. The plain text display of the integrated OLED display facilitates a 2-point teach-in. The OCF has six different operating modes, and the output signal can be sent to a higher-level control system via IO-Link as well as via a fast digital output. The IO-Link interface is also used for diagnostics, including the degree of soiling of the fibre. A range of matching fibre optics in a wide variety of designs is available so that the right configuration can be selected for the application. Typical applications include confined spaces as well as use in high temperatures or chemically aggressive environments.