MK Mini Economical Safety Light Curtain
Economical mini safety light curtain in a 25 x 23 mm housing: four beam pitches (10/14/20/40 mm), 8 to 200 beams, protected height to 7960 mm, NPN/PNP transistor output and response time <=15 ms. Designed to the safety levels of IEC 61496-1/-2.
🔍 Click to enlarge · 1/12Technical Specifications
| Curtain Type | Through-beam (opposed mode) -- separate transmitter and receiver |
|---|---|
| Safety Design Basis | Catalog states compliance with the safety level of IEC 61496-1/-2, with TUV CE referenced in the catalog. Certification documents are available on request. |
| Beam Pitch | 10 / 14 / 20 / 40 mm |
| Detection Accuracy (min. detectable object) | 18 / 22 / 28 / 48 mm (= beam pitch + 8 mm) |
| Number of Beams | 8, 10 ... 200 (10 mm pitch); 6, 8 ... 200 per the parameter table, printed model list starts at 8 (14 mm pitch); 6, 8 ... 200 (20 mm pitch); 4, 6 ... 200 (40 mm pitch) |
| Protected Height | Beam pitch x (number of beams - 1); from 70 mm (MK10-08-70NA) up to 7960 mm (MK40-200-7960NA) |
| Sensing Distance | 30-3000 mm (0.3-3 m) standard; 30-6000 mm (0.3-6 m) listed as available, by special order confirmed with customer service |
| Response Time | <= 15 ms |
| Ambient Light Immunity | 10,000 lux (incidence angle >= 5 degrees) |
| Dimensions | 25 x 23 mm x L (L = transmitter / receiver length) |
| Enclosure Rating | IP65 |
| Controller | DQCA / DQCA2 |
| Supply Voltage | DC 12/24 V; AC 110-220 V (relay-output line item -- see dataGaps) |
| Current Consumption | <= 200 mA |
| Output | NPN / PNP type, sink current 500 mA, residual voltage < 1.5 V, with polarity, short-circuit and overload protection; signal-output code selectable: N (NPN NO/NC), 2NC (dual NPN NC), 2NO (dual NPN NO), P (PNP NO/NC), 2PC (dual PNP NC), 2PO (dual PNP NO) |
| Output State | ON when beams clear (receiver indicator green) |
| Indicators | Transmitter: power (red). Receiver: output -- clear (green) / blocked (red) |
| Light Source | Modulated infrared LED |
| Connection | Circular aviation connector with dedicated cable; wiring diagram documents transmitter 3-core / receiver 5-core (the technical parameter table separately states transmitter 4-core -- see dataGaps) |
| Housing Material | Aluminium alloy; end caps ABS-reinforced nylon |
| Ambient Light Tolerance | Incandescent: 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 Humidity | Operating 35-85% RH; storage 35-95% RH |
Overview
MK is DAIDISIKE's economical mini-profile safety light curtain: a transmitter/receiver pair in a 25 x 23 mm aluminium-alloy housing (end caps ABS-reinforced nylon), aimed at machines where installation space is tight and per-unit cost matters. The catalog states it complies with the safety level of IEC 61496-1/-2, with TUV CE referenced in the catalog; certification documents are available on request. It is built for automated equipment, presses, hydraulic and oil presses, automatic doors and similar machinery.
MK is offered in four beam pitches -- 10, 14, 20 and 40 mm -- with a corresponding detection accuracy (minimum detectable object) of 18, 22, 28 and 48 mm (pitch + 8 mm). Beam count runs from as few as 4-8 (depending on pitch) up to 200, giving protected heights from 70 mm up to 7960 mm at the largest 40 mm-pitch, 200-beam configuration (MK40-200-7960NA). Sensing distance is 0.3-3 m as standard (30-3000 mm), with 0.3-6 m available only by special order confirmed with the factory.
Output is NPN or PNP transistor, selected via a signal-output code (N, 2NC, 2NO, P, 2PC or 2PO for single or dual NO/NC signals), with sink current 500 mA, residual voltage under 1.5 V, and polarity, short-circuit and overload protection. The catalog's wiring diagram documents 3-core transmitter / 5-core receiver cabling via a circular aviation connector, though the catalog's own technical-parameter table separately states a 4-core transmitter -- see the data gaps below. Response time is <=15 ms, the housing is rated IP65, and the unit tolerates ambient light to 10,000 lux at an incidence angle of 5 degrees or more. Dedicated miniature brackets (MK-01, MK-02) and the common DQCA-01/02/03 accessories are available for mounting.
Features & Benefits
One of the Smallest Housing Cross-sections in the Range (25 x 23 mm)
Fits benchtop machines, compact tooling, and tight workstations where a standard-size light curtain would not fit or would look oversized.
Up to 200 Beams and Protective Heights to 7960 mm
Coverage capability is not compromised for cost: the 40 mm-pitch series reaches MK40-200-7960NA, among the tallest protective heights across the light curtain lineup.
Four Beam-pitch Options (10/14/20/40 mm)
10/14 mm pitches suit finger and hand protection; 20/40 mm pitches suit body and access protection, all within one economical series.
Simple 3-core or 5-core Wiring for Fast Installation
Fewer wiring cores reduce on-site cabling work, which matters most on volume machine-building projects.
NPN/PNP Selectable Transistor Output
A signal output selection table lets integrators match the output polarity to their control system without swapping hardware.
Fast Response Time (≤15 ms)
Response speed is specified across the standard 0.3-3 m sensing range (0.3-6 m on special order), for timely stop-signal triggering.
Dedicated Miniature Mounting Brackets
MK-01 (side mounting) and MK-02 (top/bottom mounting) are purpose-built for the 25 x 23 mm profile, in addition to compatibility with the common DQCA-01/02/03 bracket series.
Applications
Models & Ordering Information
10 mm Pitch
14 mm Pitch
20 mm Pitch
40 mm Pitch
Mounting Accessories
How to read the MK model code
How to Select
- Model code = MK + pitch (10/14/20/40) + "-" + beam count (2 digits) + "-" + protected height (mm) + output code + sensing-distance code; protected height = pitch x (beam count - 1). Example: MK20-06-100NA = 20 mm pitch, 6 beams, 100 mm protected height, NPN output, 0.3-3 m sensing distance.
- Confirm whether the installation gap falls within the 0.3-3 m standard sensing range; the 0.3-6 m figure in the parameter table requires special-order confirmation with the factory.
- Match NPN or PNP transistor output, and single- or dual-signal NO/NC logic, to your PLC's input circuit using the signal-output code table (N / 2NC / 2NO / P / 2PC / 2PO).
- Choose 10 mm or 14 mm pitch for finger-level protection; choose 20 mm or 40 mm pitch for body/access-level protection at lower beam count and cost.
- Pick the required protected height and pitch first, then find the matching beam-count model in the model-list table (e.g. MK10-08-70NA for a 70 mm height at 10 mm pitch).
- Use MK-01 (side right-angle bracket) or MK-02 (screw set for side/front top-bottom hole mounting) for the dedicated miniature mounting options, or the common DQCA-01/02/03 bracket series if your equipment is already standardized on it.
📘 Need the full method? How to Choose a Safety Light Curtain · Type 2 vs Type 4 Safety Light Curtains
When NOT to specify the MK — and what to use instead
You need finger detection finer than the catalog's minimum detectable object
Why not: MK's finest pitch is 10 mm, but its detection accuracy -- the minimum object it reliably detects -- is 18 mm (pitch + 8 mm), 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 before specifying; ask us if a finer-resolution option is needed.
Washdown, high-pressure hosing or wet/outdoor environments
Why not: The MK housing is rated IP65 -- dust-tight and protected against low-pressure water jets, but not against high-pressure jetting or immersion.
Use instead: The DQR waterproof safety light curtain series for wet or washdown areas.
The transmitter-to-receiver span is beyond 0.3-6 m, or you cannot get the 0.3-6 m special order confirmed
Why not: MK's standard sensing distance is 0.3-3 m, and 0.3-6 m is listed in the parameter table only as a special-order item requiring factory confirmation. It is not built for long-range spans.
Use instead: The DQA long-distance series (selectable up to 0.3-40 m) or the DQT series for longer spans.
The opening needs more than 200 beams or a protected height taller than 7960 mm
Why not: MK's model list tops out at 200 beams per pitch (7960 mm at 40 mm pitch), matching its mini, economical positioning rather than large-format guarding.
Use instead: The standard-size DQC, long-range DQA, or DQT series, which are built for larger openings.
The machine control needs a confirmed volt-free relay output
Why not: The catalog's signal-output code table for MK (N, 2NC, 2NO, P, 2PC, 2PO) documents only NPN/PNP transistor outputs; a relay/volt-free code is not listed there, even though the supply-voltage row separately mentions an AC 110-220 V relay-output line item -- this needs factory confirmation before ordering.
Use instead: Confirm relay-output availability with the factory, or specify a series such as DQA/DQC that documents a relay (J) output code explicitly.
Ambient temperature outside -10 to +40 degrees C, or condensing conditions
Why not: MK's 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, and the exact IEC 61496 Type / ISO 13849 Category level for MK -- the catalog only states compliance with the IEC 61496-1/-2 safety level and TUV CE, without the explicit Type/Category numbers given for other series.
- TUV/CE certificate numbers and the exact scope (which MK models/configurations are covered). Certification documents are available on request.
- Safety-distance calculation guidance (ISO 13855) and the exact response time per beam count -- the catalog gives only the <= 15 ms maximum.
- Exact order codes for the 198- and 200-beam 10 mm-pitch versions — ask us to confirm the model number before ordering
- Whether MK actually offers a relay (volt-free) output: the supply-voltage row lists 'AC110-220V (relay output)' but the signal-output code list (N/2NC/2NO/P/2PC/2PO) documents only NPN/PNP transistor codes.
- Minimum beam count for the 14 mm pitch: the technical parameter table lists 6 as an available starting beam count, but the printed per-model spec table begins at 8 beams for this pitch.
- Whether the connection is transmitter 3-core / receiver 5-core (per the wiring diagram) or transmitter 4-core / receiver 5-core (per the technical parameter table) -- the two catalog pages disagree on the transmitter core count.
- Muting and fixed/floating blanking function availability and configuration -- not covered on the MK catalog pages.
- Cable length options and the aviation-connector pinout beyond the wire-color/function labels shown in the wiring diagram.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the housing size of the MK safety light curtain?
What beam pitches (resolutions) does the MK series offer?
What is the maximum protective height available in the MK series?
What sensing (operating) range does the MK safety light curtain support?
What is the response time of the MK safety light curtain?
What output type does the MK series use — NPN or PNP?
How is wiring done on the MK series?
How does the MK model naming code work?
What mounting accessories are available for the MK series?
How does MK differ from the JER economical series?
Can DAIDISIKE provide certification documents for the MK series?
Works Well Together
On the same machine or line, MK is typically ordered together with: Safety Relays · Safety Door Locks & Switches · Press & Press Brake Protection
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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
Ram-mounted laser guarding that tracks the punch tip on press brakes and shears without blocking hand-fed work.
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