Machine Guarding at the Point of Operation

When using a safety light curtain for point of operation applications, it is critical to ensure that there are no gaps where a finger or hand could go around the protective beam of light undetected. 

Many safety light curtains now feature end-to-end sensing, which means that the protective beams of light extend across the entire length of the light curtain.  In the image to the left, you can see that the beams go all the way to the end of the light curtain, which means there are no gaps even when light curtains are cascaded together in various configurations.

If there are blind zones or other gaps, these must be taken into consideration when designing the safety system.  A risk assessment is an important first step in any safety project to ensure that considerations like these are accounted for and addressed before implementation. 

Industrial environments can be punishing for safety devices.  When choosing an industrial safety device, consider the surrounding environment to ensure that the ruggedness of the device meets your application requirements. For example, features like heavy-duty aluminum housing and a recessed lens protect safety light curtains from damage due to impact. 

In addition, in food processing applications, light curtains mounted close to the process must endure frequent high pressure, high temperature washdown to adhere to food safety standards.  Many light curtains can be equipped with IP69K-rated protective enclosures to ensure reliable operation in these harsh conditions.