MQ Essence Edition Safety Light Curtain

Name: MQ Essence Edition Safety Light Curtain
Brand: DAIDISIKE
SKU: mq-essence-safety-light-curtain

TUV/CE-certified through-beam pair in a 29 × 30 mm profile — optical synchronisation with no wire between TX and RX, ≤ 10 ms response, 4–256 beams.

▶ Watch it in action: 3D Animation: How Light Curtains, Door Locks, Safety Mats & LiDAR Guard a Machine

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Technical Specifications

Curtain type	Through-beam (opposed) — matched transmitter and receiver pair
Certification	TUV / CE (stated in the series manual; certification covers design and manufacturing process)
Cross-section	29 × 30 mm extruded aluminium
Beam pitch	10 / 20 / 40 mm
Minimum detectable object	Φ15 mm (10 mm pitch) / Φ25 mm (20 mm pitch) / Φ45 mm (40 mm pitch)
Beam count	4, 6, 8 … 256 (even numbers); 4–60 tabulated as standard
Protection height	H = (beam count − 1) × beam pitch
Total housing length	L = beam count × beam pitch + 57 mm (top cap 12 mm + bottom cap/cable outlet 45 mm; blind zone ½ pitch at each end)
Sensing distance	0.2–7 m, ordered by band: 01 = 0–1 m · 03 = 1–3 m · 05 = 1–5 m · 07 = 1–7 m
Response time	≤ 10 ms
Supply voltage	24 V DC ± 10 %
Power consumption	3–8 W (depends on beam count and length)
Signal output	NPN or PNP, NO or NC — selected by ordering code (NC is the conventional choice for safety circuits)
Synchronisation	Optical (standard, no wire between TX and RX; separate supplies permitted) or wire sync via CP conductor (code W; common supply and 0 V required)
Ambient light immunity	10,000 Lux
Insulation resistance	≥ 100 MΩ
Circuit protection	Reverse-polarity protection on supply; short-circuit protection on output
Enclosure rating	IP65 (housing, end caps and front window)
Operating temperature	−10 °C to +55 °C
Storage temperature	−40 °C to +70 °C
Operating humidity	35–85 %RH
Standard wiring	Factory-terminated 3 m cable on TX + 3 m cable on RX, direct M12 aviation connectors — no field termination
Wire colours	Brown +24 V · Blue 0 V · Black NPN output (CP sync line on W version) · White PNP output
Mounting	Top-and-bottom fixing brackets (code E, default) or L-type side brackets (code L), fixing kit included
Ordering code	MQ + beams(2 digits) + pitch, then N/P (NPN/PNP), C/O (NC/NO), range band, bracket — example MQ-2010NC03E

Overview

The MQ Series "Essence Edition" is a through-beam photoelectric barrier: a matched transmitter and receiver pair in slim 29 × 30 mm extruded-aluminium profiles, projecting synchronised infrared beams across an opening. Select against the specified minimum detectable object, not beam pitch alone. The catalogue lists a response time of ≤10 ms; any protective-stop application also requires exact-model safety evidence and a validated compatible control chain. Optical detection by itself does not guarantee that the machine stops safely.

The series is the product of more than ten years of continuous development and field application across metal forming, automation, packaging and plastics machinery. Every unit is built around a self-monitoring CPU architecture that watches the curtain itself, not just the beams: loss of synchronisation, insufficient received light, emitter or receiver drive errors, cable faults and CPU errors are all detected and annunciated rather than silently ignored.

Its signature convenience is the proprietary cyclic optical synchronisation algorithm: transmitter and receiver lock timing purely through the light path, so no synchronisation wire of any kind runs between them — the two units may even be fed from completely separate 24 V DC supplies on opposite sides of a large machine. A wire-synchronised version (order code W) exists for specifications that demand it, with identical detection behaviour.

With beam pitches of 10, 20 and 40 mm, beam counts from 4 up to 256, sensing ranges of 0.2–7 m in four ordered bands, selectable NPN or PNP output in NO or NC logic, and IP65 sealing across a −10 to +55 °C operating window, MQ offers several opening-size configurations. The listed minimum detectable objects are Φ15, Φ25 and Φ45 mm respectively. Confirm the selected configuration, including the matched pair, standard 3 m cables and connector arrangement, before ordering; larger beam counts and custom options need an exact quotation.

Key Facts — MQ at a glance

TUV / CE certified — certification covers product design and manufacturing process (per the series manual; ask for the certificate scope for your conformity file)
Response time ≤ 10 ms from beam interruption to output state change
29 × 30 mm extruded-aluminium cross-section — one of the slimmest formats in its class
Beam pitch 10 / 20 / 40 mm → minimum detectable object Φ15 / Φ25 / Φ45 mm
Beam count 4–256 (even numbers); protection heights from 30 mm to 2360 mm in the standard 4–60-beam tables
Sensing distance 0.2–7 m, ordered in bands: 01 = 0–1 m, 03 = 1–3 m, 05 = 1–5 m, 07 = 1–7 m
Optical synchronisation standard — zero wires between TX and RX, separate 24 V supplies permitted; wire-sync version by order code W
Ambient light immunity 10,000 Lux; CPU self-check annunciates internal faults instead of hiding them

Features & Benefits

No Synchronisation Wire Between Transmitter and Receiver

The cyclic optical synchronisation algorithm carries timing inside the light beam itself, so no conductor of any kind runs between the two units. That removes an entire cable, its connector and a mechanical failure point from every installation — and allows transmitter and receiver to be powered from completely separate 24 V DC supplies when the two sides of a machine are fed from different panels.

M12 Plug-and-Play — No Field Termination

Both units ship with a factory-terminated 3 m cable ending in a direct M12 aviation connector. There are no field-assembled terminals to strip and screw, no polarity guesswork, and nothing to get wrong at the curtain end during commissioning.

CPU Self-Check Architecture

An onboard microcontroller monitors the health of the curtain itself, not just the beam status: loss of light-source synchronisation, insufficient received light intensity, emitter drive circuit errors, main control circuit errors, cable faults, receiver drive circuit errors and CPU errors. A detected fault is annunciated — never silently ignored.

Strong Anti-Interference Performance

Narrow emission angle, coded cyclic scanning and optical filtering reject both optical and electromagnetic disturbance. Ambient light immunity is rated at 10,000 Lux, which covers high-bay lighting, proximity to welding stations and areas with significant indirect daylight.

Compact 29 × 30 mm Profile

One of the slimmest formats in its class. The extruded aluminium body fits inside tight press uprights, machine columns, robot cell frames and existing guard structures where a bulkier barrier will not — while still providing rigidity, heat dissipation and shielding in a single part.

Protection Against the Two Most Common Commissioning Errors

Built-in reverse polarity protection on the supply input and short-circuit protection on the signal output. If +24 V and 0 V are transposed during commissioning the unit is not damaged; if the output is inadvertently shorted, the output stage is protected.

Output Ordered to Match the Machine, Not the Other Way Round

NPN (sinking) or PNP (sourcing), in normally open or normally closed logic, selected by ordering code. NC logic is the conventional safety choice because a broken wire, lost supply or disconnected connector then produces the same state as an intrusion — the machine stops.

Complete Matched Set in the Box

Transmitter and receiver as a factory-matched pair, one set of mounting brackets (top-and-bottom type E as default, or L-type side brackets), the complete fixing kit of screws, washers and nuts, and the instruction manual.

Applications

Small Press Dies, Punch Tooling and Manual Insertion Stations — The 10 mm beam pitch has a catalogue-listed Φ15 mm minimum detectable object. Verify this against the application's required detection capability and the selected model's safety documentation; it is not a 10 mm or 14 mm detection rating.

Press Brakes, Stamping Presses and General Feeding Openings — The 20 mm pitch (Φ25 mm minimum object) is the general-purpose hand-protection choice and the pitch most often held in stock.

Perimeter Guarding, Robot Cells, AGV Lanes and Conveyor Pass-Throughs — The 40 mm pitch (Φ45 mm minimum object) covers arm, limb and body presence over the tallest protection heights per housing length.

High-Cycle Manual Feeding Operations — A light curtain creates an invisible, non-contact barrier that does not obstruct loading, unloading, visibility or material flow — the standard solution where a physical guard would destroy productivity.

Machines Fed From Two Separate Control Panels — Because synchronisation is optical, the transmitter and receiver may be supplied from two entirely separate 24 V DC sources — for example panels on opposite sides of a large machine — provided each supply is within the ±10 % tolerance.

Oily, Humid and Washdown-Adjacent Production Areas — IP65 sealing on the housing, end caps and front window, with an operating window of −10 °C to +55 °C and 35–85 %RH, suits oily stamping shops, humid moulding halls and packaging lines near wet zones.

Models & Ordering Information

87 listed table entries across 3 beam-pitch options. Compare beam count and span, then confirm the complete ordering code. Beam pitch alone does not establish detection capability or suitability for personnel protection.

Minimum detectable object Φ15 mm, distinct from the 10 mm pitch. Total housing length L = beam count × 10 + 57 mm (117–657 mm). Selection for a press, tooling or manual insertion opening requires exact-model safety evidence and validation of the complete protective function.

MQ Essence Edition Safety Light Curtain — 10 mm beam pitch, 29 listed entries
Listed model entry	Beam pitch K (mm)	Number of beams N	Beam span H (mm)
MQ04/10-30	10	4	30
MQ06/10-50	10	6	50
MQ08/10-70	10	8	70
MQ10/10-90	10	10	90
MQ12/10-110	10	12	110
MQ14/10-130	10	14	130
MQ16/10-150	10	16	150
MQ18/10-170	10	18	170
MQ20/10-190	10	20	190
MQ22/10-210	10	22	210
MQ24/10-230	10	24	230
MQ26/10-250	10	26	250
MQ28/10-270	10	28	270
MQ30/10-290	10	30	290
MQ32/10-310	10	32	310
MQ34/10-330	10	34	330
MQ36/10-350	10	36	350
MQ38/10-370	10	38	370
MQ40/10-390	10	40	390
MQ42/10-410	10	42	410
MQ44/10-430	10	44	430
MQ46/10-450	10	46	450
MQ48/10-470	10	48	470
MQ50/10-490	10	50	490
MQ52/10-510	10	52	510
MQ54/10-530	10	54	530
MQ56/10-550	10	56	550
MQ58/10-570	10	58	570
MQ60/10-590	10	60	590

MQ Essence Edition Safety Light Curtain — 20 mm beam pitch, 29 listed entries
Listed model entry	Beam pitch K (mm)	Number of beams N	Beam span H (mm)
MQ04/20-60	20	4	60
MQ06/20-100	20	6	100
MQ08/20-140	20	8	140
MQ10/20-180	20	10	180
MQ12/20-220	20	12	220
MQ14/20-260	20	14	260
MQ16/20-300	20	16	300
MQ18/20-340	20	18	340
MQ20/20-380	20	20	380
MQ22/20-420	20	22	420
MQ24/20-460	20	24	460
MQ26/20-500	20	26	500
MQ28/20-540	20	28	540
MQ30/20-580	20	30	580
MQ32/20-620	20	32	620
MQ34/20-660	20	34	660
MQ36/20-700	20	36	700
MQ38/20-740	20	38	740
MQ40/20-780	20	40	780
MQ42/20-820	20	42	820
MQ44/20-860	20	44	860
MQ46/20-900	20	46	900
MQ48/20-940	20	48	940
MQ50/20-980	20	50	980
MQ52/20-1020	20	52	1020
MQ54/20-1060	20	54	1060
MQ56/20-1100	20	56	1100
MQ58/20-1140	20	58	1140
MQ60/20-1180	20	60	1180

MQ Essence Edition Safety Light Curtain — 40 mm beam pitch, 29 listed entries
Listed model entry	Beam pitch K (mm)	Number of beams N	Beam span H (mm)
MQ04/40-120	40	4	120
MQ06/40-200	40	6	200
MQ08/40-280	40	8	280
MQ10/40-360	40	10	360
MQ12/40-440	40	12	440
MQ14/40-520	40	14	520
MQ16/40-600	40	16	600
MQ18/40-680	40	18	680
MQ20/40-760	40	20	760
MQ22/40-840	40	22	840
MQ24/40-920	40	24	920
MQ26/40-1000	40	26	1000
MQ28/40-1080	40	28	1080
MQ30/40-1160	40	30	1160
MQ32/40-1240	40	32	1240
MQ34/40-1320	40	34	1320
MQ36/40-1400	40	36	1400
MQ38/40-1480	40	38	1480
MQ40/40-1560	40	40	1560
MQ42/40-1640	40	42	1640
MQ44/40-1720	40	44	1720
MQ46/40-1800	40	46	1800
MQ48/40-1880	40	48	1880
MQ50/40-1960	40	50	1960
MQ52/40-2040	40	52	2040
MQ54/40-2120	40	54	2120
MQ56/40-2200	40	56	2200
MQ58/40-2280	40	58	2280
MQ60/40-2360	40	60	2360

29 listed entries at 10 mm pitch · 87 across this table. Beam span is calculated as H = (N − 1) × K; it is not overall housing length or proof of detection capability. Some entries expand catalogue ranges. Confirm the complete ordering code and availability before ordering; inclusion is not a stock claim.

Downloads

MQ Series Technical Manual & Installation Guide (English)22 pages: full model selection tables for all three pitches, dimension formulas, wiring for both synchronisation modes, 12-point installation guide, commissioning test procedure, troubleshooting matrix, maintenance schedule and safety notes.0.54 MB

How to Select

Step 1 — establish the required minimum detectable object, then compare the catalogue pairs: 10 mm pitch / Φ15 mm detection; 20 mm / Φ25 mm; 40 mm / Φ45 mm. Neither pitch nor a body-part label replaces the application risk assessment and exact-model safety evidence.
Step 2 — protection height from the opening: H must cover the whole reachable opening; remember a blind zone of ½ pitch exists beyond the first and last beam, so position the housing so those margins overlap solid guarding.
Step 3 — range band from the installed separation: order the band containing your actual TX–RX distance (01/03/05/07). Do not over-specify — the correct band improves signal margin and reduces crosstalk between neighbouring curtains.
Step 4 — output from the machine input: NPN (sinking) for common-positive input circuits, PNP (sourcing) for common-negative — the usual European convention. Check the machine schematic, not habit.
Step 5 — logic: NC (code C) is the safety convention, because a broken wire or lost supply then produces a machine stop, not a false clear. Choose NO only when the existing input logic demands it.
Step 6 — check total length L = beams × pitch + 57 mm against the mounting space, allowing clearance below for the cable to exit and bend without strain.

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

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

Your risk assessment requires a documented IEC 61496 Type class or ISO 13849 Performance Level printed on the device

Why not: The Essence Edition manual states TUV/CE certification covering design and manufacturing process, but does not print a Type 2 / Type 4 class or a PL figure.

Use instead: Request the certificate and its scope before ordering, or specify from the DQT4 family, whose pages state the Type 4 architecture of IEC 61496 explicitly.

The hazard is ejected or falling objects rather than intrusion

Why not: A light curtain detects something entering its plane. It offers no protection against workpieces, tooling fragments, chips, sparks or swarf thrown out of the machine, nor against objects falling from above.

Use instead: Fixed physical guarding, in addition to the curtain — the two solve different problems.

A person can reach the hazard from above, below, behind or around the guarded plane

Why not: The curtain guards only the plane it spans, and each housing end carries a blind zone equal to half the beam pitch.

Use instead: Mechanical guarding on the unguarded approaches, additional curtains, or a layout where the blind zones overlap solid structure.

The transmitter-to-receiver separation exceeds 7 m, or differs from the ordered range band

Why not: Beyond 7 m the signal margin is insufficient; and a unit configured for the 0–1 m band will not reliably span 5 m even though the series as a whole covers that distance.

Use instead: Order the range band that contains your actual installed separation (01 / 03 / 05 / 07), or reduce the span.

The receiver would look directly into the sun, a skylight, a welding arc or a high-intensity lamp

Why not: Ambient light immunity is rated at 10,000 Lux, which is strong but not unconditional against a direct high-intensity source aimed into the lens.

Use instead: Rotate the installation, fit a shade or hood, or swap transmitter and receiver positions so the receiver faces away from the source.

You need something to lean on, stand on, hang tooling from, or stop a moving workpiece

Why not: The aluminium profile is not a structural member. Impact damage voids both the IP65 sealing and the certification, and may cause the safety function to fail without warning.

Use instead: A separate mechanical protection bar in front of the curtain wherever impact is possible.

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.

IEC 61496 Type class (2 or 4), ISO 13849 PL/Category, PFHd and mission time are not printed in the Essence Edition manual — the TUV/CE statement covers design and manufacturing process; request the certificate and its scope for machine-file documentation.
EMC test standards and levels are not itemised in the manual.
Unit weight per model is not published.
M12 connector pin assignment table is not printed (wiring is by wire colour on the factory-fitted cables).
Indicator LED states are described functionally (steady operating / stable clear / fault annunciation) but a full LED table is not included.
Wire-sync (W) version: only the CP conductor and shared-supply requirement are specified; any further pin differences ship with the order documentation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the MQ series really need no cable between transmitter and receiver?

Correct — in the standard optically synchronised version, timing is carried inside the light beam itself, so no conductor of any kind runs between the two units, and they may be powered from completely separate 24 V DC supplies. Only the wire-sync variant (code W) runs a CP conductor, and that version must share one supply and 0 V reference.

What does the ordering code MQ-2010NC03E mean?

20 beams at 10 mm pitch, NPN output, NC logic, range band 03 (1–3 m), top-and-bottom brackets (E). Protection height works out to (20−1)×10 = 190 mm and housing length 20×10+57 = 257 mm.

How do I compute protection height and housing length?

H = (beam count − 1) × pitch, measured beam-centre to beam-centre. L = beam count × pitch + 57 mm, end cap to end cap — the 57 mm constant is the 12 mm top cap plus 45 mm bottom cap/cable outlet, with the two half-pitch blind zones absorbed into the formula.

Which pitch should I choose?

Compare the required minimum detectable object with the listed specifications: 10 mm beam pitch corresponds to Φ15 mm detection, 20 mm to Φ25 mm, and 40 mm to Φ45 mm. Confirm the protective height, approach paths, total stopping time and exact-model safety documentation; the pitch number is not itself the detection capability.

Why is NC logic recommended for safety circuits?

With NC (code C) the output conducts while the field is clear and opens on interruption or loss of supply — so a cut cable, unplugged connector or dead supply produces the same machine-stop state as an intrusion. NO logic would read those failures as "all clear".

Can two MQ curtains work close to each other without interference?

Yes, with the measures the manual specifies: alternate the orientation of adjacent pairs (TX up / RX down on one, reversed on the next) so no two transmitters face the same way, and order different sensing-distance bands for neighbouring units. Verify each curtain with the test rod after installation.

What test rod do I use at commissioning?

Match the rod to the pitch: Φ15 mm for 10 mm, Φ25 mm for 20 mm, Φ45 mm for 40 mm. Pass it slowly through the field near the transmitter, at mid-span and near the receiver, top to bottom — the output must indicate blocked at every point with no gap, and the machine-stop must be verified under controlled conditions.

Is the MQ curtain enough on its own to make a machine safe?

No light curtain is. The output must feed a control chain capable of stopping the hazard — typically a compatible safety relay such as DA31, a safety controller or a safety PLC input — and the whole chain, including the selected curtain's safety documentation, electrical compatibility, the machine's measured stopping time and the resulting mounting distance, must be verified together. The curtain also gives no protection against ejected parts or approach from unguarded directions.

What arrives in the box?

A complete matched set: transmitter and receiver (pre-fitted 3 m cables with direct M12 connectors), one set of mounting brackets (top-and-bottom type E by default, or side type L per the code), the full fixing kit, and the instruction manual. TX and RX are a matched pair — never mix units from different sets.

What options exist beyond the standard tables?

Beam counts from 62 up to 256, non-standard pitches, a shielded-cable version (suffix S20n) for cable runs that must move or pass near noise sources, cross-beam scanning (X), and custom cable lengths (Cn) — all configured at order with your protection height, sensing distance and machine input type.

Related Categories and Example Products

Explore other functions that may be needed in a machine or line. The products below are category examples, not pre-validated electrical or safety combinations. Confirm each interface and application separately: Safety Relays · Safety Door Locks & Switches · Press & Press Brake Protection