SICK (www.sickusa.com), one of the world’s leading manufacturers of sensors, safety systems, machine vision, and automatic identification products for factory and logistics automation, today announced the launch of the world’s smallest safety light curtain, the miniTwin. Unlike any other light curtain offered by SICK, the miniTwin provides end-to-end protective coverage along the entire length of the stick. Customers will no longer need to stock senders and receivers, due to SICK’s patented twin-stick principle.
With a cross section of 15 mm x 32 mm, the miniTwin is by far the smallest safety light curtain on the market that does not require a third box for evaluation. The twin-stick principle relates to the functions of a sender and a receiver built into one stick. Customers still need two sticks to complete the system, but they are identical “twins.” The miniTwin is a Type 4 safety light curtain. Its small profile makes it ideal for small machine applications typically found in the electronics industry and automotive small parts suppliers. OEMs will now be able to build safety into their machine rather than installing large light curtains on the front.
With end-to-end coverage, a ‘dead zone’ is no longer an issue in applications where light curtains are cascaded. Two or three sets of miniTwin sticks can be cascaded together and wedged right next to each other without loss of resolution. This allows the light curtains to be mounted closer to the machine, increasing productivity.
The miniTwin is available in lengths from 120 mm up to 1200 mm (in 60 mm increments), allowing customers to choose a light curtain that closely matches the size of the opening they are trying to guard. With three resolutions to choose from (14 mm/24 mm/34 mm), there is a variant for all protective operation needs. Mounting brackets are included with every order.