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    BALLUFF Photoelectric Sensors

    What are Photoelectric Sensors?

    Photoelectric sensors determine the distance, absence, or presence of physical objects by emitting a field or beam of electromagnetic radiation. An object is detected by measuring alterations in the return signal, this is achieved as sensors have an Emitter for emitting light and a Receiver for receiving light. There are 3 main types of photoelectric sensors, through-beam, retro-reflective and diffuse, which vary slightly in the way they function.

    The basic function of each is to detect the presence or absence of objects or measure the distance to the object. You can learn more in our complete guide to photoelectric sensors.

    Types of Photoelectric Sensors:

    Through-beam Sensors

    Through Beam Sensors (aka thru-beam) rely on two separate housings, one for the transmitter and one for the receiver, with the transmitter providing a continuous beam of light to the receiver. Each time an object passes through the beam this interrupts the signal between the transmitter and receiver, which in turn causes the receiver to send an electrical signal to the output. Through-beam sensors are suited to long-distance sensing and can detect almost any object, irrespective of colour or angular motion.

    Retro-reflective Sensors

    Retro-reflective photoelectric sensors (retroreflective) have both the transmitter and receiver contained within the same housing but require a reflector opposite to the sensor. The reflector bounces the light beam back to the transmitter until an object breaks the beam. Objects which are highly reflective such as aluminium require sensors with polarising filters. The filter allows the sensor to acknowledge that the reflected light from reflecting materials is different from the reflector.

    Diffuse Sensors

    Diffuse sensors (proximity sensor) are easier to install as only one device must be mounted. This is because the transmitter and receiver are contained within one housing. Diffuse sensors use the reflection from the target object within a predetermined sensing range.

    The transmitter sends out a continuous beam of light, once this hits the target it is diffused in all directions, a part of this light is reflected and recognised by the receiver, the receiver then sends an electrical signal to the output. A special type of diffused mode is background suppression which enables the user to precisely control the sensing range.

    Applications of Photoelectric Sensors

    Photoelectric Sensors can be used in various settings, some of which include:

    • Food Industry
    • Pharmaceutical Industry
    • Packaging Plants
    • Automotive Industry
    • Doors & Gates

    Browse the broad range of Photoelectric Sensors RS Components have to offer and order today for next day delivery.

    79 Products showing for BALLUFF Photoelectric Sensors

    BALLUFF
    Fork
    Through Beam
    5 mm
    PNP
    -
    -
    -
    -
    30V
    -
    -
    LED
    IP65
    200 mA
    -
    -
    -
    Anodised Aluminium
    +60°C
    -10°C
    -
    BGL
    BALLUFF
    Barrel
    Through Beam
    0 → 20 m
    PNP
    M12 4 Pin Connector
    -
    -
    IO-LINK
    30V
    -
    4 Pin Connector
    LED
    IP67
    40 mA
    IO-Link
    -
    -
    Brass
    +55°C
    -5°C
    Threaded
    BOS 18M
    BALLUFF
    Barrel
    Diffuse
    400 mm
    PNP
    M12 4 Pin Connector
    Light Switching
    -
    -
    10→30V
    -
    -
    Infrared LED
    IP67
    -
    -
    -
    -
    Brass, Nickel Plated
    +55°C
    -5°C
    -
    12M
    BALLUFF
    Barrel
    Diffuse
    400 mm
    PNP
    Cable
    Light Switching
    -
    -
    10→30V
    -
    -
    Infrared
    IP67
    -
    -
    -
    -
    Brass, Nickel Plated
    +55°C
    -5°C
    -
    12M
    BALLUFF
    Block
    Through Beam
    1 m
    PNP
    Cable
    Light / Dark switching
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    BALLUFF
    Barrel
    Through Beam
    0 → 8 m
    -
    M12 Connector
    -
    -
    -
    30V
    -
    Connector
    LED
    IP67
    15 mA
    -
    -
    -
    -
    +55°C
    -5°C
    Cable Mount
    BOS 12M
    BALLUFF
    Barrel
    Through Beam
    8 m
    PNP
    M12 Connector
    -
    -
    -
    30V
    -
    Connector
    LED
    IP67
    100 mA
    -
    500 μs
    -
    Brass
    +55°C
    -5°C
    Cable Mount
    BOS 12M
    BALLUFF
    Barrel
    Through Beam Receiver
    8 m
    PNP
    M12 4 Pin Connector
    Light / Dark switching
    -
    -
    10→30V
    -
    -
    Red LED
    IP67
    -
    -
    -
    -
    Brass, Nickel Plated
    +55°C
    -5°C
    -
    12M
    BALLUFF
    Barrel
    Retroreflective
    3 m
    PNP
    M12 Connector
    -
    -
    -
    30V
    -
    Connector
    LED
    IP67
    100 mA
    -
    500 μs
    -
    Brass
    +55°C
    -5°C
    Cable Mount
    BOS 12M
    BALLUFF
    Barrel
    Retroreflective
    3 m
    PNP
    Cable
    -
    -
    -
    30V
    -
    Cable
    LED
    IP67
    100 mA
    -
    500 μs
    -
    Brass
    +55°C
    -5°C
    Cable Mount
    BOS 12M
    BALLUFF
    Barrel
    Retroreflective
    0 → 4.5 m
    PNP
    M12 4 Pin Connector
    -
    -
    -
    30V
    -
    4 Pin Connector
    LED
    IP67
    100 mA
    -
    500 μs
    -
    PBT
    +55°C
    -25°C
    Flush Mount
    BOS 18KF
    BALLUFF
    Barrel
    Diffuse
    400 mm
    PNP
    M12 Connector
    -
    -
    -
    30V
    -
    Connector
    LED
    IP67
    -
    -
    -
    -
    Nickel Plated Brass
    +55°C
    -5°C
    Cable Mount
    BOS 18M
    BALLUFF
    Block
    Through Beam
    150 mm
    PNP
    Cable
    Light / Dark switching
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    BALLUFF
    Block
    Diffuse
    0 → 2 m
    NPN/PNP
    M12 4 Pin Connector
    -
    -
    IO-LINK
    30V
    -
    4 Pin Connector
    LED
    IP6X, IPX6K
    100 mA
    IO-Link
    -
    -
    Polycarbonate/ABS Alloy
    +60°C
    -20°C
    Threaded
    BOS 23K
    BALLUFF
    Block
    Through Beam
    0 → 20 m
    -
    M12 4 Pin Connector
    -
    -
    IO-LINK
    30V
    -
    4 Pin Connector
    LED
    IP6X, IPX6K
    30 mA
    IO-Link
    -
    -
    Polycarbonate/ABS Alloy
    +60°C
    -20°C
    Threaded
    BOS 23K
    BALLUFF
    Barrel
    Through Beam
    0 → 20 m
    -
    M12 4 Pin Connector
    -
    -
    IO-LINK
    30V
    -
    4 Pin Connector
    LED
    IP67
    40 mA
    IO-Link
    -
    -
    Brass
    +55°C
    -5°C
    Threaded
    BOS 18M
    BALLUFF
    Barrel
    Diffuse
    25 mm
    PNP
    M12 4 Pin Connector
    Light / Dark switching
    -
    -
    10→30V
    -
    -
    Red LED
    IP67
    -
    -
    -
    -
    Brass, Nickel Plated
    +60°C
    -5°C
    -
    12M
    BALLUFF
    Barrel
    Retroreflective
    4 m
    PNP
    M12 Connector
    -
    -
    -
    30V
    -
    Connector
    LED
    IP67
    -
    -
    -
    -
    Nickel Plated Brass
    +55°C
    -5°C
    Cable Mount
    BOS 18M
    BALLUFF
    Block
    Retroreflective
    10 m
    PNP
    M8 4 Pin Connector
    -
    -
    -
    30V
    -
    Connector
    LED
    IP67
    100 mA
    -
    250 μs
    -
    PBT, PC
    +55°C
    -10°C
    Panel Mount
    BOS 5K
    BALLUFF
    Block
    Retroreflective
    0 → 3 m
    PNP
    M8 Connector
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    Connector
    LED
    IP67
    -
    -
    -
    -
    ABS
    -
    -
    Panel Mount
    BOS R020K
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