DAIDISIKE logo
WhatsApp Us

DQC General Safety Light Curtain

General-purpose through-beam safety light curtain for presses, hydraulic and shearing machines and automatic doors — a transmitter/receiver pair in 8 beam pitches from 10 to 200 mm, standard sensing distance 0.3-3 m or 0.3-6 m, with NPN or PNP output. Designed to the Type 4 architecture of IEC 61496 and Category 4 of ISO 13849-1.

▶ Watch it in action: Installing a Safety Light Curtain on a Punch Press — Mounting, Alignment & Test

DQC General Safety Light Curtain - product photo🔍 Click to enlarge · 1/17

Technical Specifications

Curtain TypeThrough-beam (opposed mode) — separate transmitter and receiver
Safety Design BasisType 4 architecture (IEC 61496-1/-3); Category 4 (ISO 13849-1). Catalog cites EN 61496-3:2019 Type 4, EN 13849-1:2015. Certification documents available on request.
EMC CertificationHolds TÜV SÜD Attestation of Conformity No. E8A 104143 0001 (Rev. 00) for electromagnetic compatibility under EU Directive 2014/30/EU, tested to EN 61000-6-2:2005 and EN 61000-6-4:2007/A1:2011. Certificate held by Foshan DAIDISIKE; covers the DQA, DQR, DQRF, DQC, DQZ, DQE and DQT series. (This is an EMC certificate; it does not certify the machine-safety / ESPE function.)
Beam Pitch10 / 14 / 20 / 25 / 30 / 40 / 80 / 200 mm
Detection Accuracy (min. detectable object)18 / 22 / 28 / 33 / 38 / 48 / 88 / 208 mm (= beam pitch + 8 mm)
Number of Beams6, 8 … 32 (10/14/25 mm pitch); 4, 6 … 32 (20/30/40/80 mm); 4, 6 … 20 (200 mm)
Protected HeightBeam pitch x (number of beams - 1)
Sensing Distance0.3-3 m (code A) or 0.3-6 m (code B). Base configurations 30-3000 mm and 30-6000 mm.
Response Time<= 15 ms
Ambient Light Immunity10,000 lux (incidence angle >= 5 degrees)
Dimensions30 x 30 mm x L (L = transmitter / receiver length)
Enclosure RatingIP65
ControllerDQCA / DQCA2
Supply VoltageDC 12/24 V; AC 110-220 V (relay-output version)
Current Consumption<= 200 mA
OutputNPN / PNP type, sink current 500 mA, residual voltage < 1.5 V, with polarity, short-circuit and overload protection
Output StateON when beams clear (receiver indicator green)
IndicatorsTransmitter: power (red). Receiver: output — clear (green) / blocked (red)
Light SourceModulated infrared LED
ConnectionCircular aviation connector with dedicated cable; transmitter 4-core, receiver 5-core
Housing MaterialAluminium alloy; end caps ABS-reinforced nylon
Ambient Light ToleranceIncandescent: 3,000 lux at receiver face; sunlight: 10,000 lux at receiver face
Operating Temperature-10 to +40 degrees C (non-condensing); storage -25 to +55 degrees C
Ambient HumidityOperating 35-85% RH; storage 35-95% RH

Overview

The DQC is DAIDISIKE's general-purpose through-beam (opposed-mode) safety light curtain and the baseline of the range: a separate transmitter and receiver that project a plane of modulated infrared beams across a machine opening, stopping the machine when any beam is broken by an opaque object larger than the resolution. It is designed to the Type 4 architecture of IEC 61496-1 and -3 and to Category 4 of ISO 13849-1 (the catalog also cites EN 61496-3:2019 Type 4 and EN 13849-1:2015). The catalog positions it for presses, hydraulic and oil presses, shearing machines, automatic doors and, in its own words, more than 80% of equipment needing point-of-operation or access guarding.

The DQC is the standard-range member of the family: sensing distance is 0.3-3 m (code A) or 0.3-6 m (code B). Where a span longer than 6 m is needed, the long-range DQA (selectable up to 0.3-40 m) takes over on the same optical platform. The DQC is configured from 4 to 32 beam axes across eight pitch steps — 10, 14, 20, 25, 30, 40, 80 and 200 mm — and installations needing more than 32 axes move to the DQT series (up to 72 axes).

The 30 x 30 mm aluminium housing is compact for a through-beam curtain, is rated IP65, self-checks continuously (so a fault does not send a false clear signal), and rejects ambient light to 10,000 lux at an incidence angle of 5 degrees or more. Output is NPN or PNP, normally open or normally closed, selected by model code, wired via the transmitter's 4-core and the receiver's 5-core aviation connector.

Features & Benefits

Eight beam pitches, one series

10/14/20/25/30/40/80/200 mm pitch options let one series cover point-of-operation finger/hand guarding down to 10 mm resolution and large-opening whole-body access detection up to 200 mm pitch, without switching product families.

Transparent part numbering

The model code format DQC + beam count + "/" + pitch + "-" + protective height means every dimension needed for machine design is readable directly from the part number, with protective heights available from 50 mm up to 3800 mm.

Transistor output, NPN or PNP

The catalog wiring diagram shows PNP output, and the catalog's signal-output selection table also lists an NPN option, so the light curtain can interface with both sourcing-type and sinking-type PLC inputs common to European/American and Japanese equipment respectively.

≤15 ms response time

A response time of ≤15 ms is a mainstream industry level; per the ISO 13855 minimum-distance formula, a faster response allows the light curtain to be mounted closer to the hazard point, reducing the machine's footprint.

0.3–3 m range, 0.3–6 m on request

The standard sensing range covers most press and molding-machine openings, with a 0.3–6 m option available for wider perimeter or conveyor-line openings.

DC12/24V with AC110-220V retrofit option

Native DC12/24V power supply, with an external controller option enabling AC110–220V input, making the light curtain suitable for retrofitting older machines without a compatible low-voltage supply already on hand.

IP65 housing

An IP65 ingress-protection rating gives resistance to dust and water jets, suited to general workshop conditions with dust or oil mist.

Complete mounting-bracket system

The DQCA accessory series (DQCA-02/04/05 included as standard, DQCA-01/03 available as options) provides a ready mounting solution rather than requiring the customer to source brackets separately.

Applications

Press, stamping press, and shearing machine point-of-operation guarding — 10–25 mm dense-pitch models give finger/hand-level resolution needed at the operator's access point on power presses.
Injection and die-casting machine mold-area guarding — Mid-pitch models (20–40 mm) match the opening sizes typical of mold-clamping areas on molding equipment.
Robot cell and automated loading/unloading station entry detection — 30–40 mm pitch balances hand-level resolution with wider coverage suited to loading/unloading openings.
Conveyor line entry/exit and fence-opening access detection — 80/200 mm sparse-pitch models cover large openings economically where whole-body, not finger-level, detection is required.
Safety retrofits on older machines lacking a DC low-voltage supply — The AC110–220V controller option lets the light curtain be added to legacy machines without rewiring for a new low-voltage circuit.
Mixed-PLC production lines — Selectable NPN/PNP transistor output avoids needing a separate interposing relay when integrating with existing PLC wiring on equipment fleets that mix sourcing- and sinking-type PLC inputs.

Models & Ordering Information

111 standard models across 8 beam-pitch options. Select the pitch your risk assessment calls for, then the protective height that covers the opening.

Finger-level resolution for point-of-operation guarding.

DQC General Safety Light Curtain — 10 mm beam pitch, 14 standard models
ModelBeam pitch K (mm)Number of beams NProtective height H (mm)
DQC06/10-5010650
DQC08/10-7010870
DQC10/10-90101090
DQC12/10-1101012110
DQC14/10-1301014130
DQC16/10-1501016150
DQC18/10-1701018170
DQC20/10-1901020190
DQC22/10-2101022210
DQC24/10-2301024230
DQC26/10-2501026250
DQC28/10-2701028270
DQC30/10-2901030290
DQC32/10-3101032310

14 standard models at 10 mm pitch · 111 across the series. Protective height is derived as H = (N − 1) × K. Intermediate beam counts can usually be built to order — send the opening height you need to cover.

How to read the DQC model code

DQC [beams] / [pitch] - [protected height] [output groups] [signal] [sensing distance]
DQC = series. [beams] = 04, 06, 08, 10 … 32. [pitch] = 10/14/20/25/30/40/80/200 mm. [protected height] in mm = pitch x (beams - 1). [output groups] = blank for one group, 2 for two groups. [signal] = A (NPN NC), B (PNP NC), C (NPN NO), D (PNP NO). [sensing distance] = A (0.3-3 m) or B (0.3-6 m). Example: DQC08/40-280 1 A A = 8 beams, 40 mm pitch, 280 mm protected height, single output, NPN NC, 0.3-3 m sensing distance.

Application by resolution (per the catalog)

Finger: 10 / 14 mm pitchHand: 20 / 25 mm pitchArm or body: 30 / 40 / 80 mm pitch
The catalog groups pitches by protection task. The detection accuracy (minimum detectable object) at the finest 10 mm pitch is 18 mm; if your risk assessment demands 14 mm finger detection capability, confirm the exact figure with us before specifying.

How to Select

  1. Pick beam pitch by hazard type: 10/14 mm for finger-level point-of-operation protection (e.g., punch press feed openings).
  2. Use 20/25 mm for hand-level protection, and 30/40/80 mm for arm/body-level, per the catalog resolution grouping (industry convention: ~14 mm = finger, ~30 mm = hand).
  3. Use 40 mm for general access-point detection.
  4. Use 80/200 mm for whole-body or large-opening perimeter access detection at the lowest cost per beam.
  5. Choose protective height to match the guarded opening: protective height = (number of beams − 1) × pitch.
  6. Confirm operating range: standard 0.3–3 m covers most single-machine openings; specify the 0.3–6 m custom range for wider spans such as long conveyor or fence openings.
  7. Select output type by confirming whether the target PLC/controller uses sourcing (PNP) or sinking (NPN) inputs, and whether N.O. or N.C. logic is required; the catalog's primary wiring diagram documents PNP output, and NPN availability should be confirmed with the factory before final order for mission-critical wiring designs.
  8. Choose four-core, five-core, or six-core wiring per the installation's cable-routing needs, and confirm DC12/24V direct supply is available or specify the external controller if the installation only has AC110–220V.
  9. Add mounting accessories: DQCA-02/04/05 are included as standard; add DQCA-01 and/or DQCA-03 if the installation requires the optional mounting configurations they support.

📘 Need the full method? How to Choose a Safety Light Curtain · Type 2 vs Type 4 Safety Light Curtains

When NOT to specify the DQC — and what to use instead

The transmitter-to-receiver span exceeds 6 m

Why not: The DQC standard sensing distance tops out at 0.3-6 m (code B). Beyond that the beams do not reliably reach the receiver.

Use instead: The DQA long-range safety light curtain, which is the same platform with sensing distance selectable up to 0.3-40 m.

You need true 14 mm finger detection capability

Why not: The finest DQC pitch is 10 mm, but its detection accuracy — the minimum object it reliably detects — is 18 mm (pitch + 8 mm), a hand-level rather than a strict 14 mm finger figure, even though the catalog labels the 10/14 mm pitches as finger protection.

Use instead: Confirm the required detection capability against your ISO 13855 risk assessment; ask us for a finer-resolution series if 14 mm finger detection is mandatory.

Washdown, high-pressure hosing or wet environments

Why not: The DQC housing is rated IP65 — dust-tight and protected against low-pressure water jets, but not high-pressure jetting or immersion.

Use instead: The DQR waterproof safety light curtain series for wet or washdown areas.

Very shallow mounting depth or a slim frame profile

Why not: The DQC housing is 30 x 30 mm. Where the guard frame is too shallow to take a 30 mm profile, it will not fit.

Use instead: An ultra-thin series — DQZ (front face 17.2 mm) or DQB (side-emitting ultra-thin) — where mounting space is tight.

More than 32 beam axes are needed for the protected height

Why not: DQC model numbers stop at 32 beam axes; a taller field at a given pitch needs more axes than the DQC provides.

Use instead: The DQT series, which extends the same platform to 72 beam axes.

Ambient temperature outside -10 to +40 degrees C, or condensing conditions

Why not: The DQC operating range is -10 to +40 degrees C, non-condensing. Outside that band, or where the optical faces can condense or ice, detection is not guaranteed.

Use instead: A heated or sheltered enclosure that holds the curtain within spec, or confirm a wide-temperature option with us.

Specifications we do not publish yet

We only publish a figure once we are confident it is true. The items below are still being validated through further testing and real-world customer feedback, so for now we would rather leave them open than guess. If one of them matters to your design, ask us for the latest validated status.

  • PFHd, MTTFd and DCavg figures needed to integrate the DQC into a full ISO 13849-1 machine calculation. The catalog states Category 4 but does not publish these numbers.
  • Safety-distance calculation guidance (ISO 13855) and the exact response time per beam count — the catalog gives only the <= 15 ms maximum.
  • Machine-safety (ESPE) certification: the TÜV SÜD certificate on file (E8A 104143 0001) covers EMC (Directive 2014/30/EU) only. An IEC 61496 EU-Type Examination certificate from a notified body — the document that would substantiate a Type 4 / Category 4 safety-function claim — and any UL listing are not yet on hand. Certification documents available on request.
  • The difference between the DQCA and DQCA2 controllers, and which configurations require an external controller.
  • Muting and fixed / floating blanking function availability and configuration.
  • Cable length options and the aviation-connector pinout.
  • Whether a relay-output (J) variant is offered on the DQC as on the DQA, and its contact rating.

Frequently Asked Questions

What beam pitches does the DQC safety light curtain series offer?
Eight beam-pitch options: 10, 14, 20, 25, 30, 40, 80, and 200 mm.
How is the DQC model code structured?
DQC + number of beams (2 digits) + "/" + beam pitch (mm) + "-" + protective height (mm), for example DQC06/10-50. Protective height equals (number of beams − 1) × pitch.
What protective heights are available?
From 50 mm up to 3800 mm across the different pitch/beam-count combinations listed in the model table.
What is the maximum number of beams in the DQC series?
Up to 32 beams. For applications requiring more than 32 beams, the catalog directs customers to the DQT series; contact the factory to confirm, as a model table is not yet available.
What output type does the DQC light curtain use?
Transistor output. The catalog wiring diagram documents PNP output, with an NPN option listed in the catalog's separate signal-output selection table.
What is the response time?
15 ms or less.
What is the sensing/operating range?
0.3–3 m as standard, with 0.3–6 m available on request.
What power supply does the DQC light curtain require?
DC12/24V natively; an external controller option allows AC110–220V input for retrofit installations.
What is the ingress protection rating?
IP65.
What mounting accessories are included?
DQCA-02, DQCA-04, and DQCA-05 are standard; DQCA-01 and DQCA-03 are optional.
Can you provide safety certification documents for the DQC light curtain?
Certification documents are available on request.

Works Well Together

On the same machine or line, DQC is typically ordered together with: Safety Relays · Safety Door Locks & Switches · Press & Press Brake Protection

DA31 Emergency-Stop Safety Relay Module - product photo

DA31 Emergency-Stop Safety Relay Module

Ultra-slim 22.6 mm Category 4/PL e/SIL 3 safety relay with dual-channel PNP/NPN input and a solid-state status output.

DX-C1 Magnetic Coded Safety Switch - dimensional drawing

DX-C1 Magnetic Coded Safety Switch

Non-contact coded-magnet safety switch with 17 mm sensing range and high misalignment tolerance for guard doors.

DKE-L3 Press Brake Laser Protection - product photo

DKE-L3 Press Brake Laser Protection

Ram-mounted laser guarding that tracks the punch tip on press brakes and shears without blocking hand-fed work.

Related Products in Safety Light Curtains

DCE Automation Safety Light Curtain - product photo

DCE Automation Safety Light Curtain

Compact through-beam safety light curtain in a 30 x 30 mm housing: 10/20/30/40 mm beam pitch, up to 72 beams, 0.3-3 m or 0.3-6 m sensing distance, NPN/PNP output. Designed to the Type 4 architecture of IEC 61496-1/-3 and Category 4 (PLd) of ISO 13849-1.

DD single-sided area light curtain mounted on one side of a roller conveyor detecting passing cartons, no receiver on the far side

DD / DDOF Single-Sided Area Light Curtain

One housing, no far-side receiver: order DD for diffuse sensing to 2000 mm, or DDOF for per-beam TOF ranging to 4000 mm with zero dead zone and one-key distance teaching. 48 standard models, 4-50 beams.

DQA Long-distance Safety Light Curtain - product photo

DQA Long-distance Safety Light Curtain

Long-range through-beam safety light curtain for large presses, hydraulic and shearing machines: a transmitter/receiver pair spanning up to 40 m, in 8 beam pitches from 10 to 200 mm, with NPN, PNP or relay output and a selectable single- or dual-output signal. Designed to the Type 4 architecture of IEC 61496 and Category 4 of ISO 13849-1.

DQB Ultra-thin (Side-emitting) Safety Light Curtain - product photo

DQB Ultra-thin (Side-emitting) Safety Light Curtain

Ultra-thin side-emitting safety light curtain with a 15 x 30 mm cross-section for gaps too narrow for standard units.

Browse all Safety Light Curtains →

Get a QuoteWhatsApp