Sensing Surface on Inductive Sensors for Welding

With weld-spatter burnthrough a constant challenge with inductive sensors in automated welding applications, Balluff has announced the new BES R01 series of inductive flatpack sensors. These feature an active sensing surface made from Fortron, a high-performance polyphenylene sulfide material that helps the sensors combat hostile conditions found in welding environments.

Typical plastic sensing face materials suffer from erosion and degradation due to repeated impingement of hot weld spatter. In such cases, the closer the sensor is placed to the welding electrode, the shorter the sensor's life expectancy, according to Balluff officials. The Fortron sensing face on these new flatpack sensors effectively resists such thermal breakdown.

The new housings on these sensors feature the same form factor as standard flatpack sensors, thus simplifying installation. And, the sensors come equipped with additional features designed specifically for welding applications: diecast zinc housings combat adhesion of weld spatter; high-temperature silicone cable jackets protect conductors from weld-spatter burnthrough; LEDs in the connectors eliminate typical LED burnthrough on sensor housings; and weld-field-immune options are available for stable operation near electrical welding currents.

See also: Balluff, Inc.

Technologies: Quality Control

Subscribe to the Newsletter

Start receiving newsletters.