Photoelectric Sensors for Reliable Detection

Through-beam is the most reliable and has the longest range but needs wiring on both sides. Retro-reflective needs wiring on one side plus a reflector. Diffuse sensors need nothing opposite, but their range depends on the object's colour and surface, background suppression versions fix that by detecting only up to a set distance.

Use a retro-reflective sensor designed for transparent objects, ideally with coaxial optics, such as the Optex FA Z3R-Q / ZR-QX series. It detects the small attenuation of light that a clear object causes.

A diffuse sensor that measures by triangulation and switches only for objects closer than a set distance. Anything behind that point (a conveyor, machine frame or wall) is ignored, so dark and shiny objects are detected reliably.

When space is tight, the sensing point is hot or hard to reach, the parts are very small, or the process is very fast. Only the passive fiber head goes to the sensing point; the amplifier is mounted in the panel.

Yes. the Optex FA Z4 Series supports IO-Link, which lets the PLC set parameters and read diagnostics and signal levels for easier setup and predictive maintenance.

Match your PLC input card: PNP (sourcing) sensors suit sinking inputs, NPN (sinking) sensors suit sourcing inputs. Tell us your PLC and we'll confirm the right output variant for the sensor you choose.