Incorporating Crouzet Optical Sensors Into Systems Design

By Author: Vikram Kumar
Total Articles: 9694
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The modern industrial world revolves around the concept of automation, and indeed that is the very essence of what the word “industrialization” means. Most people are aware that advances in technology and machinery drove the industrial revolution, and that its effect was to allow machines to perform tasks that could previously only be accomplished by human hands. What most people do not really understand is just how industrialists accomplished this feat of mechanization and automation. Part of the solution was optical sensors, of the sort that were the predecessors of modern sensors like Crouzet optical sensors. These optical sensors are now used to control the movements of everything from Convum suction cups to pneumatic cylinders and grippers.

The problem with automation that had to be solved in order for the industrialization process to proceed was that machines are essentially stupid. A mechanical arm might be able to lift enormous loads, but without eyes and a brain, it can only go where guided by a human hand. This required that there be a human operator, thus negating some of the efficiency that could be gained ...
... through automation. Optical sensors act like the eyes for a piece of machinery, telling it when there is something there that needs to be moved or picked up. In this way, the idea of automation was provided a great leap forward, as machinery could now function much more independently without the need for human guidance.

Electrical Systems

One factor that you will have to consider carefully when you are designing your system or perhaps considering incorporating optical sensors into an existing system is the need to integrate the sensors with your electronic systems. Different types of equipment may make use of different types of electrical wiring and controls, and it is important that you first determine the compatibility of your electronics and optical sensors before you purchase them. You would hardly want to spend money on the sensors only to find out that they do not fit with your planned or existing electronics setup.

Types

You should also take the time to familiarize yourself with the various types of optical sensors that are available. The specific type of optical sensor that you require will vary with the task that you need it to perform, and you can tailor your design to include several different types of optical sensors if necessary.

For example, one type of optical sensor senses the presence of objects when the objects come into position, and your system can be programmed to activate once the presence of the object is sensed. On the other hand, another type of optical sensor senses when there is no object or obstruction at a particular position, and can be used to trigger a different event, such as the retraction of a pneumatic arm.

Whether you have Convum suction cups that need to be directed to pick up objects when they arrive at the proper location, or a pneumatic drill that needs to drill holes in a particular object when it is in position, Crouzet optical sensors can act as the eyes for your system, enabling the automation of these processes and making your system that much more efficient.

Crouzet optical sensors are an invaluable component for the automation of pneumatic equipment like Convum suction cups , and systems could not be half as complex without these optical sensors that are available from DAS Services Inc.