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    • Machine Guarding at the Point of Operation

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    Guard Hazards Where Work is Performed

    The point of operation on a machine is where the work is performed.  Guarding the point of operation is critical to protecting personnel from accident or injury as well as preventing equipment damage.   

    In many point of operation applications, operators must work in very close proximity to the hazard.  Hard guards can be impractical in these applications, as they can reduce ergonomics and productivity of operators.  Optical sensing technologies, like safety light curtains, protect the point of operation while allowing operators to interact with the machine more seamlessly. 

    Overview
    Applications
    Products
    How Safety Light Curtains Protect Points of Operation
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    What are Safety Light Curtains?

    Safety light curtains typically consist of an emitter and receiver—where the emitter sends beams of light to the receiver—creating a sensing screen that guards machine hazards  The light curtain can detect when an individual or object interrupts any beam in the screen and can trigger a halt to the hazardous motion.  

    Safety light curtains can be rated Type 2 or Type 4 depending on the level of risk they protect against, and they come in a variety of resolutions (distance between beams) to detect an arm, hand, or finger. The specific resolution required will depend on your application, how far away the light curtain is placed from the hazard, and how quickly the hazardous motion can be halted based on a minimum safety distance calculation. 

    Please note: The information on this page is meant for educational purposes only and is accurate as of the time of publication. Always consult a safety expert about your specific application before implementing any machine safety measures.

    Considerations for Point of Operation Applications
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    Blind Zones

    End-To-End Sensing Ensures No Gaps in Protection

    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. 

    Space Constraints

    Ergonomic Safety for Even the Tightest Spaces

    Optical safety devices often save space and improve operator ergonomics compared to doors and other hard guards.  Safety light curtains facilitate a more seamless operator interaction with the machine, which can help improve productivity.

    Near the point of operation, space is often limited.  While safety light curtains are available in a wide range of protective heights, they can also be extremely compact and low profile for even the tightest spaces.

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    Harsh Environments

    Rugged Design Ensures Safety in All Environments

    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. 

    Featured Products
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    LS Series

    Easy-to-Use, Full-Featured Safety Light Curtain

    Las cortinas de seguridad LS son dispositivos de seguridad intuitivos y fáciles de usar que se utilizan para proteger la máquina. Están construidas para resistir los desafíos que se encuentran comúnmente en entornos de fabricación y envasado.

    • Modelos completos con opciones para satisfacer una amplia gama de aplicaciones
    • Carcasa de aluminio resistente y ventana empotrada para evitar daños en entornos hostiles
    • Detección de Extremo a Extremo
    • Alineación altamente visible e indicadores de diagnóstico
    • Resolución de 14, 23 y 40 mm (capacidad de detección)
    • Disponible en 23 alturas de área definidas de 280 a 1820 mm en incrementos de 70 mm
    • Clasificación ambiental IP65/IP67 con modelos IP69K disponibles
    LP Series

    Full-Featured, Low Profile Safety Light Curtain

    El perfil compacto de ahorro de espacio es ideal para máquinas más pequeñas, pero lo suficientemente robusto para satisfacer las demandas de las prensas de gran potencia.

    • Detección continua sin zonas ciegas.
    • Resolución de 14 mm o 25 mm alturas de área definidas de 270 mm a 1810 mm (10.6 a 71.2 pulgadas)
    • Perfil compacto y múltiples opciones de montaje para una amplia gama de aplicaciones de seguridad de máquinas.
    • Supera los requisitos de confiabilidad de control de OSHA/ANSI, certificado según cULus NIPF y certificado CE según Tipo 4, Categoría 4PLe y SIL
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    SLC4 Series

    Compact Light Curtain for Simple Applications

    Las cortinas de seguridad SLC4 son nuestras cortinas más cortas y compactas para proteger los puntos de acceso y operación en máquinas de producción más pequeñas y equipos similares.

    • Alturas de área definidas desde 160 mm hasta 320 mm.
    • Rango de detección 0.1 m a 2 m (4 pulgadas a 6.5 pies)
    • Se encuentran disponibles modelos de resolución de 14 mm (detección de dedo) o de 24 mm (detección de mano)
    • Carcasa de aluminio interior resistente con cubierta de policarbonato IP65
    • Funcionalidad básica con reinicio/rearmado automático (salida en modo Trip)
    • Diseño de sensado de Extremo a Extremo (sin zona ciega)
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