SICK insight: What is a magnetic cylinder sensor, and what is special about the new MZN1?

Thomas Deutscher: Magnetic cylinder sensors are used for determining the position of the piston in a cylinder. Pistons are detected through housing walls made of aluminium, brass or stainless steel. In order to achieve this the sensor is mounted on a cylinder body, e.g. in a C-slot. And here we come to the first important advantage of our new MZN1. As a result of its design it is not joined at just one point in the groove, but along its entire length. This provides a firmer, and in the case of heavy vibrations, safer sit and it cannot be pulled out of the slot. Moreover, the entire MZN1 (fixed by a screw) lies in contact with the floor of the groove, providing better switching properties. By the way, these two aspects also apply when used in C-slots with different dimensions, such as those found on SMC or Festo-cylinders. The customer now only needs to use a single sensor for these different C-slots to benefit from this, leading to increased flexibility in the use of MZN1 sensors and contributing towards optimised stores.

SICK insight: Plenty of advantages, probably making installation difficult, particularly with pneumatic cylinders that are already mounted?

Thomas Deutscher: No, and that’s the point. The MZN1, or its counterpart with a reed contact – the RZN1, are inserted into the groove from above. It is not necessary to dismantle cylinder caps to insert the sensor. And we have also designed the fixing screw for easy installation. Although they are extremely small they still have an M3 screw slot. The MZN1 can be attached with a standard screwdriver, the sort that a works electrician always carries around, for example, without the need for any especially small equipment.

SICK insight: What other magnetic cylinder sensors does SICK have in its programme?

Thomas Deutscher: We are in a position to offer our customers a complete programme from a single source. This now includes design-adapted magnetic cylinder sensors for all common cylinder types. They are optionally available as electronic or reed contact switches and with a plug connection or cable. For special applications, e.g. for welding lines in automobile construction, we have a weld-proof design with a Teflon coating. Thus keeping all options open for the user.

SICK insight: Variety of cylinder designs thus means variety of sensor types. But what can be done if a user wants to reduce the number of variants in unit lists and in stock?

Thomas Deutscher: We can react to this need with our mounting adapters. Thus, for example, MZT1/RZT1 magnetic cylinder sensors that have been developed for cylinders with T-slots can also easily be mounted on pull-rod and profile cylinders, round cylinders or cylinders with dovetail grooves by means of a suitable mounting adapter. The mounting adapter for round cylinders is characterised by, among other things, a stainless steel band. Unlike plastic mountings our adapters do not drift and thus ensure a constant switching point. An MZT1 with the appropriate adapter can replace up to four different sensors. This provides our customers with a high level of flexibility, and also allows storage costs to be optimised.

SICK insight: SICK is exhibiting at SPS/IPC/DRIVES in Nuremberg. What new developments will there be in the area of magnetic cylinder sensors?

Thomas Deutscher: In Nuremberg we are presenting a further magnetic cylinder sensor for T-slots. This new MZT6 sensor is based on the same product advantages as the MZN1 magnetic cylinder sensor for the C-slot. We would be pleased to give you more details on this new series making our stand well worth a visit – and not just for this reason.

SICK insight: So off to Nuremberg, and thank you very much for this conversation.