Industrial Sensor & Machine Safety Catalogue

141 series, 1,945 standard models, 20 categories — each one published with what it detects, what it cannot do, and whether it is rated to protect a person.

Specifications last verified against source manuals: 2026-08

This is the complete DAIDISIKE product range — the engineering index to every industrial sensor and machine safety device we manufacture in our Foshan factory. The catalogue spans 20 categories: Type-4-architecture safety light curtains and press-brake guards, measuring light curtains, 2D LiDAR scanners, laser distance and displacement measurement, photoelectric, proximity, fiber-optic, slot and colour-mark sensing, guard interlocks and door locks, safety relays, mats and edges, and the relay and Modbus I/O modules that sit between a sensor and a controller.

It is published the way an engineer actually shortlists: every family carries its full model list and specification table, the limits that rule it out, and an explicit statement of whether it may protect a person. Prices follow a specification, not the other way round — send the application and the quote comes back as a part number with the documentation to defend it. OEM and ODM builds, custom lengths and private-label versions are quoted from the same catalogue data.

Start Here: The Eight Constraints That Eliminate a Sensor

Across the catalogue we have documented 716 specific cases where one of our own families is the wrong device. Grouped, they collapse into seven recurring constraints. Find yours, and the shortlist writes itself.

The environment eats the sensor

Washdown, coolant mist, metal dust, outdoor exposure or temperature extremes. This is the single most common reason a working sensor stops working, and it is decided by the housing and the IP rating, not by the optics.

94 documented cases in this catalogue

→ IP67/IP68-rated photoelectric sensors · Stainless and washdown proximity sensors

The distance is out of reach

The span is longer than the family can hold, or so short that the sensor sits inside its own blind zone. Published range figures assume a cooperative target; on dark or angled surfaces the usable distance is often well under the headline number.

74 documented cases in this catalogue

→ Laser distance sensors to 200 m · 2D LiDAR scanners, 5–100 m

A person could be hurt, and the device is not rated to prevent it

A detection sensor that happens to see a person is not a safeguard. If the device has to stop a machine to protect someone, it needs a Type rating under IEC 61496 and a Performance Level under ISO 13849-1 — and most of our catalogue deliberately does not have one.

76 documented cases in this catalogue

→ Type 4 safety light curtains · Guard interlocks and door locking

The target does not behave

Transparent film, black matte rubber, polished steel, or a target whose colour changes between batches. Reflective sensing modes read the light that comes back, so anything that changes reflectance changes the result. Through-beam and time-of-flight modes largely remove that dependency.

51 documented cases in this catalogue

→ Through-beam and background-suppression modes · Fiber optic sensing for tiny or awkward targets

The resolution is not there

Asking a switch to measure, or asking a 40 mm beam pitch to find a 5 mm feature. Detection tells you something is present; measurement tells you how far, how thick or how tall. They are different device classes and swapping one for the other is a common and expensive mistake.

65 documented cases in this catalogue

→ Laser displacement sensors (micron class) · Measuring light curtains for profiling

The output does not match the controller

PNP where the input card wants NPN, a transistor output where a volt-free relay contact is required, or a switching output where the process needs an analogue or Modbus value. This is the cheapest mistake to avoid and the most annoying to discover on site.

75 documented cases in this catalogue

→ NPN vs PNP explained · Relay, timing and Modbus I/O modules

The line is faster than the sensor

Response time has to be shorter than the time the target spends in the beam. On high-speed feeding, sorting and stamping lines this eliminates whole families before any other parameter is considered — and on a safeguard, response time also feeds directly into the mounting distance.

32 documented cases in this catalogue

→ Slot sensors for fast small-part counting · Laser switches with sub-millisecond response

There is nowhere to put it

The detection point exists but the sensor body does not fit: a slot too narrow for a standard housing, a machine panel with no depth behind it, a thread size the bracket cannot take, or an emitter and receiver that cannot both be mounted. Form factor eliminates as many candidates as any electrical parameter, and it is usually discovered last.

18 documented cases in this catalogue

→ Fiber optic sensing for spaces no body fits · Miniature and ultra-thin photoelectric sensors

The Product Range — 20 Categories, 141 Series

Each card is one product family: what it does, where it earns its keep, and two ways in — the full category with every series and model, or the matching selection guide.

Safety Light Curtains

17 series 227 models

Type-4 architecture safety light curtains with finger, hand and body resolution options for presses, robot cells and automated machinery. Dual safety outputs connect directly to a safety relay, and protective heights span small feed openings to full access points. Factory direct, with the specification checked against your machine before dispatch.

All 17 series → · How to Choose a Safety Light Curtain

Measuring Light Curtains

3 series 26 models

Measuring light curtains for dimensioning, object counting and vehicle separation, with analog, switching and RS485 output versions to match your controller. Choose beam pitch by the smallest object you must resolve and height by the field you must cover. These are detection devices, not safety-rated — every series page says so plainly.

All 3 series → · How to Choose a Safety Light Curtain

Press & Press Brake Protection

3 series 25 models

Photoelectric guards and laser protection systems purpose-built for power presses and press brakes, covering front-of-tool laser guarding where the operator holds the workpiece and multi-beam protection where they stand clear. Tell us the machine type and its measured stopping time and we will specify the right guard, not just a price.

All 3 series → · How to Choose a Safety Light Curtain

LiDAR Scanners

10 series 37 models

2D TOF LiDAR scanners covering 5–100 m for AGV obstacle avoidance, navigation, mapping and perimeter security. Field and range options let one platform serve intralogistics vehicles and fixed security installations alike. Each product page states whether the model is detection-only or rated for use in a safety function.

All 10 series → · How to Choose a 2D LiDAR Scanner

Laser Distance Sensors

3 series 67 models

Long-range laser distance sensors measuring up to 200 m, with analog, switching and RS485 Modbus outputs for direct PLC and SCADA integration. Suited to positioning, level and range measurement where the target cannot be touched. Select by range, target surface and the output your controller expects — we will confirm against all three.

All 3 series → · NPN vs PNP Sensor Outputs Explained

Laser Displacement Sensors

3 series 50 models

CMOS laser displacement sensors with micron-level repeatability for thickness, runout and position measurement. Non-contact operation suits moving, hot or delicate targets that a stylus would mark or wear. Send a sample of your actual part and we will verify the measurement before you commit to an order.

All 3 series →

Contact Displacement Sensors

1 series 8 models

Grating-based contact displacement sensors with resolution options down to 0.2 µm for gauging, flatness and assembly verification. The grating measuring principle reads position directly along the stroke rather than inferring it. A practical, factory-direct alternative to imported gauge probes on inspection fixtures and production checkpoints.

All 1 series → · NPN vs PNP Sensor Outputs Explained

Safety Door Locks & Switches

9 series 126 models

Guard locking interlocks and safety door switches in RFID coded and magnetic coded versions for machine doors, gates and fencing. Guard locking versions hold the door shut until the hazard has actually stopped; coded versions resist defeat by simple substitute actuators. Matched safety relays are in this catalogue too.

All 9 series → · How to Choose a Safety Door Switch / Interlock

Safety Relays

2 series 3 models

Safety relay modules with forcibly guided contacts for e-stop, safety light curtain and door lock circuits. Forcibly guided contacts make a welded contact detectable — which is the whole point: the relay is the monitored link between the protective device and your contactors. Pair with our curtains and interlocks for a single-supplier safety chain.

All 2 series → · How to Choose a Safety Door Switch / Interlock

Safety Mats

1 series 6 models

Pressure-sensitive safety mats for presence detection across hazardous floor areas around presses, robots and automated cells. A mat covers the case optical guarding misses: the person already standing inside the danger zone at restart. Tell us the area to cover and the controller, and we will size the mat layout and monitoring.

All 1 series →

Safety Edges

2 series 44 models

Pressure-sensitive safety edges for moving machinery, industrial doors and gates. The profile stops motion at the point of contact, protecting where crush and shear hazards travel with the machine — powered gates, moving tables, vehicle bumpers. Send the closing edge dimensions and we will recommend the profile and monitoring arrangement.

All 2 series →

Slot Sensors

5 series 66 models

U-shaped slot sensors for edge, registration mark and small-part detection. The fixed fork geometry keeps emitter and receiver permanently aligned, so there is no beam alignment to drift on high-speed lines. Typical duties: label and gap detection, web edge sensing and component counting in feeders and packaging machines.

All 5 series → · NPN vs PNP Sensor Outputs Explained

Hot Metal Detectors

1 series 1 models

Laser-based hot metal detectors for metallurgical lines, covering both hot and cold metal detection in rolling mills, continuous casting and bar lines. Built for the heat, scale and vibration that eliminate ordinary photoelectric sensors. Tell us the installation position and product temperature range and we will confirm the model.

All 1 series →

Photoelectric Sensors

16 series 175 models

Photoelectric sensors in diffuse, through-beam, retro-reflective and background-suppression versions — the four sensing modes that cover most object detection on conveyors, packaging lines and assembly machines. Select the mode first, then range and output type. Replacing an existing unit? Send the part number and target details for a checked cross-reference.

All 16 series → · NPN vs PNP Sensor Outputs Explained

Laser Switch Sensors

7 series 108 models

Miniature laser switch sensors in diffuse and through-beam versions, with housings from M3 and a visible red spot that makes aiming trivial. The tight beam resolves small targets at longer distances than a standard photoelectric sensor, and the housing fits where nothing else will — tooling, grippers, narrow feed channels.

All 7 series → · NPN vs PNP Sensor Outputs Explained

Color & Color Mark Sensors

5 series 11 models

RGB color sensors and color mark sensors for packaging and printing: registration mark detection for cutting, sealing and form-fill lines, and color verification for cap and product sorting. Send a sample of your material and marks and we will verify reliable detection at line speed before you order.

All 5 series → · NPN vs PNP Sensor Outputs Explained

Proximity Sensors

26 series 840 models

Inductive and capacitive proximity sensors from M3 to M30 housings, flush and non-flush mounting, connector or cable termination — the workhorse of position detection on machine tools, conveyors and fixtures. Specify housing size, mounting style and output polarity and the model code follows directly. NPN and PNP versions are both standard.

All 26 series → · How to Choose a Proximity Sensor

Fiber Optic Sensors

3 series 91 models

Fiber optic sensors — amplifiers, fiber heads and matrix fibers — for tight spaces and tiny targets no standard housing can reach. The passive head goes into the machine; the amplifier stays accessible for adjustment. The head range covers through-beam and diffuse sensing in confined tooling, feeders and electronics fixtures.

All 3 series → · NPN vs PNP Sensor Outputs Explained

Relay & Timer Modules

23 series 33 models

Trigger-delay relays, MODBUS-485 I/O modules and signal isolation amplifiers — the interface layer between sensors and controllers. Add delay logic, isolate a noisy signal or bring distributed I/O onto an RS485 bus without expanding a PLC rack. They pair naturally with the sensor families across this catalogue.

All 23 series → · NPN vs PNP Sensor Outputs Explained

Outdoor Security Sensors

1 series 1 models

Outdoor laser beam detectors for perimeter security with ranges up to 500 m, built for fence lines, site boundaries and building approaches exposed to weather. Beam-interruption detection keeps the false alarm behaviour predictable in outdoor conditions. Tell us the perimeter length and layout and we will return a beam coverage plan.

All 1 series → · How to Choose a 2D LiDAR Scanner

Find a Series by Output Type

Controllers dictate outputs. These counts are computed from the specification tables of every series in the catalogue, so they stay honest as the range grows.

Output type	Series with it	Where to start
NPN (sinking)	94 series	Proximity · Photoelectric · NPN vs PNP explained
PNP (sourcing)	89 series	Proximity · Laser switch · NPN vs PNP explained
Relay contact	29 series	Relay & timer modules · Safety relays
RS-485 / Modbus	26 series	Modbus I/O · Measuring curtains · Laser distance
Analog (4–20 mA / voltage)	25 series	Measuring curtains · Laser displacement

Browse by Application

Nine duties we equip every week, each with the category combination that actually gets specified together.

Punch Press & Stamping

Point-of-operation guarding for mechanical and hydraulic presses, from the curtain to the relay that monitors it.

Safety Light Curtains · Press & Press Brake Protection · Safety Relays

Packaging Line

Registration marks, label gaps and presence checks at production line speed.

Color & Color Mark Sensors · Slot Sensors · Photoelectric Sensors · Fiber Optic Sensors

AGV & Intralogistics

Obstacle avoidance ahead of the vehicle, contact protection at its edges, precision at the dock.

LiDAR Scanners · Safety Edges · Laser Distance Sensors

Robot Cell

Access guarding at every route into the cell: openings, doors and the floor inside.

Safety Light Curtains · Safety Door Locks & Switches · Safety Mats · Safety Relays

Conveyor Detection

Presence, counting and position along the line, whatever the target material.

Photoelectric Sensors · Proximity Sensors · Laser Switch Sensors · Measuring Light Curtains

Toll & Parking

Vehicle separation, profiling and positioning at barriers and lanes.

Measuring Light Curtains · Laser Distance Sensors · LiDAR Scanners

Outdoor Perimeter

Long-range intrusion detection on fence lines and open boundaries, in real weather.

Outdoor Security Sensors · LiDAR Scanners

Machine Tool

Position feedback on fixtures, guarded access doors and in-process gauging.

Proximity Sensors · Safety Door Locks & Switches · Laser Displacement Sensors

Electronics Assembly

Tiny targets in tight fixtures, verified to micron-level repeatability where it matters.

Fiber Optic Sensors · Slot Sensors · Laser Switch Sensors · Laser Displacement Sensors

Every Series We Make — All 141, by Category

The complete catalogue as a text index. Every entry links to its full specification table, model list, application notes and published limits.

Safety Light Curtains

Photoelectric Sensors

Laser Switch Sensors

DDSK Laser Diffuse Reflective Sensor M12 / DK Laser Diffuse Reflective Sensor M18 · DDSK Ultra-Miniature Laser Diffuse Reflective Sensor (M3/M4/M5/M6/M8) · DS Laser Through-Beam Sensor M12/M18 (50m) · DS Miniature Laser Through-Beam Sensor (M3/M4/M5/M6/M8) · DS Right-Angle (90°) Laser Through-Beam Switch M4 / M6 · F31 Square Laser Photoelectric Switch (Diffuse-Reflective & Through-Beam) · JNS Right-Angle (90°) Laser Diffuse Reflective Sensor — M4 / M6

Color & Color Mark Sensors

CZ-V1 High-Precision Color Sensor · CZ-V21 RGB Digital Color Sensor (Amplifier-Separate Type) · FS-S72 Color Mark Sensor (FS-S72 NPN / FS-S72P PNP) · JNS-W70 / JNS-W500 Long-Range Color Mark Sensor · PZ-LX101 Color Mark Sensor

Proximity Sensors

Fiber Optic Sensors

Fiber Amplifier (Digital Fiber Optic Sensor Amplifier) · Fiber Optic Sensor Heads (Fiber Units) · Matrix (Array) Fiber Optic Heads

Outdoor Security Sensors

DDSK-J Outdoor Laser Beam Detector

The Whole Catalogue in One Table

What each category actually detects, the physical limit that most often rules it out, and how many series and standard models sit behind it. Sorted by model count.

Category	What it detects	The limit that most often rules it out	Series	Models
Proximity Sensors	Metal (inductive) or most materials incl. liquids (capacitive)	Sensing distance is derated for non-ferrous metals; capacitive types drift with humidity and build-up.	26	840
Safety Light Curtains	A person or body part entering an opening	Needs a clear, aligned optical path; cannot contain ejected parts or splashing coolant.	17	227
Photoelectric Sensors	Presence, edge and position of most opaque objects	Diffuse modes depend on target colour and gloss; transparent targets need a dedicated mode.	16	175
Safety Door Locks & Switches	Whether a guard door is closed, and holds it shut	Coding level decides defeat resistance; a plain magnetic switch is easy to bypass.	9	126
Laser Switch Sensors	Very small targets with a collimated visible spot	Tight beam is unforgiving of vibration and misalignment.	7	108
Fiber Optic Sensors	Tiny targets in spaces no sensor body will fit	Fibre bend radius and amplifier gain set the practical limit.	3	91
Laser Distance Sensors	Absolute distance to a surface, up to 200 m	Needs a cooperative target or a reflector at long range; accuracy degrades on angled surfaces.	3	67
Slot Sensors	Small parts, marks and edges passing through a fixed slot	Target must physically fit through the slot; no standoff flexibility.	5	66
Laser Displacement Sensors	Micron-level change in position, thickness or runout	Short standoff; surface finish and colour shift the reading unless calibrated.	3	50
Safety Edges	Contact force on a moving edge	Reacts on contact, so the machine must be able to stop within the edge’s compression travel.	2	44
LiDAR Scanners	Distance and angle across a 2D plane, up to 100 m	Range figures fall sharply on dark, matte targets; fog, dust and rain scatter the beam.	10	37
Relay & Timer Modules	Nothing — these switch, delay and carry signals	Contact rating and duty cycle, not detection, are the limiting factors.	23	33
Measuring Light Curtains	Object height, width, profile and count in flight	Resolution is bounded by beam pitch; not a personnel safeguard.	3	26
Press & Press Brake Protection	Hands approaching a press or press-brake tool line	Mounting distance is governed by the machine’s measured stopping time, not by the device alone.	3	25
Color & Color Mark Sensors	Registration marks and colour differences	Needs adequate contrast; metallic and glossy substrates cause false triggers.	5	11
Contact Displacement Sensors	Physical displacement through a spring-loaded probe	Contact wear and probe force limit speed and suit static or slow measurement.	1	8
Safety Mats	A person standing in a floor area	Needs mechanical protection from trucks and pallets; edge trims must be sealed.	1	6
Safety Relays	Faults in the safety input circuit and contactor feedback	Only as good as the wiring architecture and EDM feedback around it.	2	3
Hot Metal Detectors	Presence of hot or cold metal on a rolling line	Tuned to a specific temperature band and geometry.	1	1
Outdoor Security Sensors	Perimeter intrusion across long outdoor spans	Weather and wildlife drive false alarms; alignment over distance is critical.	1	1

Which Devices May Protect a Person — and Which May Not

This is the division that matters most and gets confused most often. A device may only be part of a safety function if it was designed, built and rated for it — a Type rating under IEC 61496 for electro-sensitive equipment, a Performance Level under ISO 13849-1 for the whole function. A detection sensor that happens to see a person does not qualify, however reliable it is in production use.

Rated for use in a safety function

Safety Light CurtainsMixed — see noteType 4 / Type 2 ESPE families are safety-rated; the DD diffuse area grid in this group is detection-only and states so on its own page.
Press & Press Brake ProtectionSafety-ratedESPE and AOPDDR devices intended as point-of-operation safeguards.
LiDAR ScannersMixed — see noteOnly the ST27 is a rated safety laser scanner (Type 3 ESPE / AOPDDR). Every other LiDAR in this group is a measuring and obstacle-detection device and must not be the protective device that stops a machine.
Safety Door Locks & SwitchesSafety-ratedGuard interlocking and guard-locking devices for use in a safety function.
Safety RelaysSafety-ratedForcibly guided contact modules for evaluating safety inputs.
Safety MatsSafety-ratedPressure-sensitive presence-sensing device.
Safety EdgesSafety-ratedPressure-sensitive protective device for moving edges.

Detection and measurement only — never a safeguard

Measuring Light CurtainsDimensioning and counting devices. Despite sitting under a "light curtain" heading in some catalogues, no Type rating or ISO 13849 Category is published for these series.
Laser Distance Sensors
Laser Displacement Sensors
Contact Displacement Sensors
Slot Sensors
Hot Metal Detectors
Photoelectric Sensors
Laser Switch Sensors
Color & Color Mark Sensors
Proximity Sensors
Fiber Optic Sensors
Relay & Timer ModulesTiming, I/O and interface modules. These switch loads and carry signals; they are not evaluated as safety relays.
Outdoor Security SensorsPerimeter intrusion detection for security, not machine guarding.

Working out which one your application needs is a risk-assessment question before it is a purchasing question. Our field guide to press and press-brake guarding works through the calculation with real numbers, and the safety light curtain selection guide covers resolution, protective height and mounting distance in order.

How We Publish Specifications — Including What We Do Not Know

Specification tables in this catalogue are transcribed from the manufacturer manuals and catalogue pages we hold, not reconstructed from marketing copy. Where the source document does not state a value, we do not supply one. Instead the product page lists it as a data gap — there are 997 such declarations across 141 series, covering things like unstated IP ratings, missing temperature ranges, absent MTBF figures and unconfirmed output logic.

Two things follow from that. First, an empty field on one of our pages is a genuine gap in our source documentation rather than an oversight, and asking us will usually get it measured or confirmed. Second, where a catalogue elsewhere shows a figure we do not, treat the difference as a question worth asking rather than evidence that one of us is better specified. We would rather lose a comparison than publish a number we cannot stand behind.

The same principle governs safety claims. Several series in this catalogue sit under headings that suggest a safety function but carry no published Type rating or ISO 13849 Category — the DD diffuse area grid and the DQL, DQM and DQLV measuring curtains among them. Their pages say so plainly instead of leaving the heading to imply otherwise.

Selection Guides & Reference

Choosing a safety light curtain

Resolution, protective height, range, mounting distance, outputs and IP rating — in the order the decisions are actually made.

Read the guide →

NPN vs PNP outputs

Why the wrong polarity will not read on your input card, and how to confirm which one your controller expects before ordering.

Read the explainer →

Choosing a 2D LiDAR scanner

Protective range versus measuring range, remission, and why an obstacle-detection LiDAR is not a safety scanner.

Read the guide →

Choosing a proximity sensor

Flush versus non-flush, correction factors for non-ferrous metals, housing size and connector choice.

Read the guide →

Choosing a safety door interlock

Coding level and defeat resistance, guard locking versus simple interlocking, and what the risk assessment decides.

Read the guide →

Application videos

Light curtain installation and alignment on a running press, guarding demonstrations and module setup walkthroughs.

Watch the cases →

Catalogue FAQ

How do I narrow 140 sensor series down to a shortlist?

Work by elimination, not by browsing. Four constraints remove most of the catalogue before any datasheet is opened: the environment the sensor has to survive, the distance it has to cover, what the target is made of and how it reflects, and what output the controller expects. Fix those four and you are usually left with one or two families. The seven-constraint section on this page lists each one with the categories that survive it.

Which of your products can legally be used to protect a person?

Only the safety-rated families: Type 4 and Type 2 safety light curtains, press and press-brake guards, guard interlocks and guard-locking switches, safety relays, safety mats and safety edges — plus the ST27 safety laser scanner, which is the only rated device in our LiDAR group. Everything else in the catalogue is a detection or measuring device with no Type rating under IEC 61496 and no Performance Level under ISO 13849-1, and must never be the device that stops a machine to protect someone. Each product page states this individually.

Why do you publish the limitations of your own products?

Because the alternative is a returned sensor and a lost customer. A specification tells you what a device does under favourable conditions; the limits tell you whether it will still work on your line. Every product page in this catalogue carries a "when not to use this" section written against the physics of the sensing principle — not against our own quality — and each limitation points to the family that does handle the case.

What is the difference between a measuring light curtain and a safety light curtain?

The optics look similar; the obligations are completely different. A safety light curtain is electro-sensitive protective equipment built to IEC 61496 with a Type rating, redundant architecture and self-diagnostics, and it is designed to stop a machine. A measuring light curtain reports object height, width, profile or count and carries no Type rating. Using a measuring curtain as a safeguard is one of the most dangerous substitutions in this catalogue, which is why our measuring series say so on their own pages.

Do you publish parameters you have not verified?

No — we publish the fact that they are missing. Where a value is not confirmed in the manufacturer manual we hold, the product page lists it under "data gaps" rather than filling it with a plausible number. There are several hundred such declarations across the catalogue. If a parameter you need is listed as a gap, ask and we will measure or confirm it before you order.

Can these sensors replace an existing Keyence, SICK, Omron or Banner unit?

Often, but the check is mechanical and electrical rather than brand-level: mounting form and thread, sensing distance at your actual target, output polarity and logic, supply voltage, connector or cable, and — for any safety device — the Type or Performance Level the original was specified at. Send the part number being replaced and the machine it sits on, and we will confirm against those six points rather than offering a nominal equivalent.

How are your model codes structured?

Most families encode the variable directly in the part number: beam count and pitch on light curtains, sensing distance on photoelectric and laser families, thread size on proximity sensors, channel count on I/O modules. Each category page explains its own code and lists every standard model — 1,919 in total across the catalogue — so a part number can be read rather than looked up.

What information do you need to quote accurately?

For a detection sensor: the target material and finish, the sensing distance, the ambient environment, the controller input type, and the mounting space available. For a safeguard, add the machine type, the opening dimensions, the body part that can reach the hazard and — the one thing that is almost never on file — the measured stopping time of the machine. With those, you get a specification back rather than a price list.

What types of safety light curtain are there?

By resolution: finger-protection, hand-protection and body/access-guarding curtains, matched to how close the operator works to the hazard. By rating: Type 4 for the highest-risk applications, Type 2 where the risk assessment allows it. Our safety light curtain range covers all three resolutions, and press and press brake guards handle the machine-specific cases where a standard curtain cannot mount.

What is the difference between a Type 2 and a Type 4 safety light curtain?

The Type rating under IEC 61496 describes how well the curtain detects its own faults. Type 4 provides the highest level of self-monitoring and is specified where risk is highest; Type 2 is acceptable in lower-risk applications identified by risk assessment. Price follows the rating — Type 4 everywhere wastes budget, Type 2 everywhere risks non-compliance. The full comparison is in Type 2 vs Type 4 Safety Light Curtains.

What types of photoelectric sensor should I choose between?

Four sensing modes cover most detection tasks. Through-beam gives the longest, most reliable detection but needs an emitter and receiver on opposite sides. Retro-reflective needs only a reflector. Diffuse detects the target directly and installs fastest. Background suppression adds distance discrimination for shiny or dark targets. Start from the photoelectric sensor range, or laser switch sensors when the target is very small.

NPN or PNP — which sensor output do I need?

It depends on your controller input, not on the sensor. PNP (sourcing) outputs dominate European-built machines and most modern PLC input cards; NPN (sinking) remains common on Asian-built equipment. Confirm the input card specification before ordering — the wrong polarity simply never switches the input. Both polarities are standard across our proximity sensors and photoelectric sensors, and the NPN vs PNP guide settles it in five minutes.

What safety device does a press brake need?

A press brake usually cannot take a conventional curtain at the tool, because the operator holds the workpiece near the bend line. Purpose-built press brake laser protection guards the zone directly under the punch, while safety light curtains suit punch presses and shears where the operator stands clear. Either way, a safety relay monitors the device and switches the machine.

What sensor should an AGV use for obstacle detection?

A 2D LiDAR scanner is the standard answer: it watches a protective field ahead of the vehicle and can serve navigation and obstacle avoidance from one device. Add safety edges as contact bumpers for the cases optics cannot cover, and laser distance sensors for docking and positioning. Check whether your risk assessment requires a safety-rated scanner or permits a detection-only model.

What sensors work for outdoor perimeter security?

For long fence lines, outdoor laser beam detectors create straight detection lines with ranges up to 500 m. Where you need to watch an area rather than a line — yards, approaches, rooftops — a 2D LiDAR scanner monitors a programmable field. The two combine well: beams on the boundary, LiDAR on critical zones. Send the site layout and we will return a coverage plan.

Send Us the Application, Not Just the Part Number

Tell us the target, the distance, the environment and the controller input — and for a safeguard, the machine and its measured stopping time — and you will get a specification back with the reasoning shown, including the families we ruled out and why. Send an enquiry, or go straight to the safety light curtain range, photoelectric sensors or proximity sensors if you already know the family you need.