SIKO magnetic sensors as a low-cost alternative to optical sensors

Magnetic sensors stand out for their robustness and efficiency. Compared to optical sensors, they operate without contact, are wear-free, and are insensitive to contamination. Therefore, magnetic sensors require little or no maintenance. Additionally, installation is highly flexible: the distance between the magnetic sensor and the magnetic tape is significantly greater than that of optical measurement systems. The following designs are available:

Various structural sizes

Unique plug-in design

For installation in customer-specific housings

SIKO Magnetic Sensors: Incremental Measurement or Absolute Measurement?

When selecting the appropriate sensor, the first question arises regarding the measurement method: incremental or absolute? A common and frequently cited low-cost method is incremental displacement measurement: a magnetic tape is encoded with ordered north and south poles; the pole pitch determines the maximum resolution and system accuracy. The sensor head, equipped with sensor elements, moves over a defined distance on the coded tape and reads the magnetic field values, which are processed into square wave signals (count pulses). Counting the pulses merely statistics the displacement already traveled.

Magnetic absolute measurement involves a dual-track magnetic tape, meaning one side has an incremental track while the other track is absolutely encoded. This encoding occurs only once over a defined tape length. The advantage is that the sensor knows its exact position—even in the event of a power failure. In the case of power interruption, incremental measurement methods require a reference run so that the sensor can locate the defined reference point again and report it to the controller. To avoid this process step, SIKO offers so-called quasi-absolute sensor solutions. Necessary measurement information is buffered via battery. Thus, reference runs can be omitted in this system, for example after a power interruption. This is indispensable as a safety precaution in many fields of pharmaceutical and analytical technology. Using true absolute sensor technology completely avoids this problem.  

SIKO Magnetic Sensors: Active Magnetic Sensors or Passive Magnetic Sensors?

In addition to the distinction between incremental or absolute magnetic sensors, note whether they are active or passive sensors. MagLine passive sensors provide an output signal that is not directly usable, so they must be connected to downstream electronics such as MagLine measuring indicators or MagLine computing electronics. SIKO active magnetic sensors convert the received signal and feature standardized interfaces through which information is transmitted to the superior controller, i.e., the client's downstream electronics. MagLine series MS sensors have passive characteristics, while MSK sensors operate actively outward.  

SIKO Magnetic Sensors: Magnetic Length Measurement and Magnetic Angle Measurement in Many Fields

SIKO magnetic sensors are used in many different fields, especially in contaminated environments and heavy-duty applications. Application areas include, for example:

1. Linear drives for pin drilling tables, engineered wood flooring production, tubular film packaging.

2.CT- Hospital beds, solar trackers (solar power plants), circular saws, stone cutting.

3. Stage technology, forklift technology, waste and scrap compaction, stone cutting.

4. Wind power installations, elevator technology, pipe bending technology, access control.

Refer to the above requirements to select which style of SIKO magnetic sensing technology is needed and for which applications. The SIKO magnetic sensor family includes all optimally matched sensor components, from magnetic tapes to measuring indicators.