Inductive, capacitive and photoelectric proximity sensors for industrial automation
Detect metal objects using electromagnetic fields. Robust and reliable for industrial applications with no physical contact required.
Detection Type
Metal Objects Only
Sensing Distance
1.5mm to 50mm
Operating Principle
Electromagnetic Field
Applications
Position, Presence, Counting
Cylindrical Sensor Sizes:
M5 (5mm diameter)
M8 (8mm diameter)
M12 (12mm diameter)
M18 (18mm diameter)
M30 (30mm diameter)
Rectangular Sensors:
Compact block styles
Flat pack designs
Heavy-duty variants
Output Configurations:
- 2-wire: AC/DC operation
- 3-wire: PNP/NPN switching
- 4-wire: Complementary outputs
- Special: Analog, IO-Link
Mounting Types:
- Flush mount: Can be mounted flush with metal
- Non-flush: Extended sensing range
- Threaded: Easy installation
- Unthreaded: Special applications
Special Versions Available:
NAMUR (Hazardous Areas)
IO-Link Enabled
Analog Output
Safety / SIL-rated
Weld-field Immune
High Temperature
Detect both metal and non-metal objects including liquids, granular materials, and plastics through capacitive sensing technology.
Detection Type
All Materials
Sensing Distance
2mm to 40mm
Operating Principle
Capacitive Field
Applications
Liquids, Plastics, Granular
Materials Detected:
- Metals (all types)
- Liquids (through containers)
- Plastics (various types)
- Granular materials
- Wood and paper
- Glass and ceramics
Key Applications:
- Liquid level detection
- Material presence in containers
- Non-metal part detection
- Filling level control
- Pharmaceutical packaging
- Food processing
Photoelectric Sensors
Use light beams to detect objects at longer distances with high precision.
Sensing Range
Up to 100m
Light Source
LED, Laser
Beam Types
Through, Reflective, Diffuse
Through-beam
Retro-reflective
Diffuse reflective
Fiber optic
Ultrasonic Sensors
Use sound waves to detect objects and measure distances with high accuracy.
Sensing Range
Up to 8m
Frequency
40-400 kHz
Applications
Distance, Level, Presence
Distance measurement
Level detection
Object profiling
Transparent object detection
Proximity Sensor Specifications Overview
| Feature |
Inductive Sensors |
Capacitive Sensors |
Photoelectric Sensors |
Ultrasonic Sensors |
| Detection Material |
Metals only |
All materials |
Opaque objects |
Most solid/liquid surfaces |
| Sensing Distance |
1.5mm - 50mm |
2mm - 40mm |
Up to 100m |
Up to 8m |
| Output Types |
2/3/4-wire, PNP/NPN |
2/3/4-wire, PNP/NPN |
PNP/NPN, analog |
PNP/NPN, analog, serial |
| Voltage Range |
10-30V DC, 20-253V AC |
10-30V DC, 20-253V AC |
10-30V DC |
10-30V DC |
| Connection |
Cable, M8/M12, terminal |
Cable, M8/M12, terminal |
Cable, connector |
Cable, connector |
| Protection Rating |
IP67, IP68, IP69K |
IP67, IP68, IP69K |
IP67, IP68, IP69K |
IP67, IP68, IP69K |
| Typical Applications |
Position sensing, counting |
Level detection, material presence |
Long range detection |
Distance measurement |
When to Use Inductive
- Metal object detection only
- Harsh industrial environments
- High-speed counting
- Position verification
- Machine tool applications
When to Use Capacitive
- Non-metal materials
- Liquid level detection
- Through-container sensing
- Granular material presence
- Food/pharmaceutical applications
When to Use Photoelectric/Ultrasonic
- Long distance sensing
- Transparent object detection
- Precise distance measurement
- Color/mark detection
- Clean room applications
Wiring Configurations:
| Wire Type |
Description |
Common Applications |
| 2-wire AC/DC |
Simple wiring, direct replacement of mechanical switches |
Basic applications, AC systems |
| 3-wire DC PNP |
Positive switching, sourcing output |
Most common DC applications |
| 3-wire DC NPN |
Negative switching, sinking output |
Asian market standard |
| 4-wire (Complementary) |
Both NO and NC outputs available |
Complex control systems |
Mounting Considerations:
- Flush Mounting: Sensor face flush with mounting surface
- Non-flush Mounting: Sensor protrudes from mounting surface
- Spacing: Maintain minimum distance between sensors
- Metal-free Zone: Clearance from metal objects
- Orientation: Proper alignment with target
