Active sensors for laser safety
LaserSpy – Laser protection for new performance horizons
Modern laser beam sources are becoming increasingly powerful and overtax conventional safety systems
An example
A protective wall of test class T1 in accordance with the IEC/EN 60825-4 standard must withstand “worst-case irradiation” for 30,000 seconds in automated production operation. This corresponds to a 20 kW load for more than 8 hours – too high even for double-wall systems. Even a T2 service life of 100 seconds can hardly be realized economically with passive measures.
Modern solution
Electronically actively monitored laser safety barriers.
Technology
Laser-Spy – an active sensor system that detects incorrect irradiation at lightning speed and triggers the safety circuit.
Ingenious principle
The Laser-Spy is an optical sensor. It monitors a room devoid of light, such as that created by the construction of a protective wall made of double panels, for the entry of laser radiation. If the first wall is penetrated by a laser beam, the highly sensitive sensor measures the radiation generated in the room, opens the safety circuit and switches off the radiation source via an emergency stop before the beam can escape from the protective wall.
Intelligent design
The LaserSpy sensor has a redundant design and consists of several detectors arranged concentrically around a detector core, as well as evaluation electronics that continuously monitor themselves and thus ensure the correct functioning of the detectors. A laser spy detector can monitor a radius of 3.5 m. When installed, the sensor system complies with protection class IP 65.
Universal use
The individual Laser-Spy sensors have a particularly compact design and are easy to install – even on existing double-wall cabin elements. A mounting hole for the sensor core and four fixing holes for the sensor housing on the outer wall of the cabin elements – the prerequisites for installation are quickly created
Clear lead in the process with LaserSpy.
Advantages:
Independent error detection
Immediate emergency stop
In the event of a hazardous situation caused by the processing laser firing at the cabin wall, the LaserSpy triggers within a maximum of 15 ms after the radiation enters the cavity of the double wall and opens the safety circuit.
Safety level category 4/PL e in accordance with EN ISO 13849-1:2016-06 and SIL 3 in accordance with DIN EN 61508:2011-2
As a stand-alone device, the LaserSpy meets the highest requirements for a safety switching device and is certified as such by TüV.
Simple, economical cabin modules
Thanks to the LaserSpy, the cabins can be realized in normal sheet metal construction. There is no need to use expensive and difficult-to-process special components.
Thinner protective walls with higher laser power possible
Instead of constantly increasing the wall thicknesses, active monitoring means that normal sheet thicknesses can still be used in most cases.
Ideal for retrofitting
In many cases, the conversion of current single-walled cabins to double-walled cabins can be accomplished with relatively simple measures, so that a passive cabin can quickly become an actively monitored production cell and nothing stands in the way of using more powerful laser beam sources.
Easy to install, without special knowledge, without special tools
If the cabin walls are prepared accordingly, the mechanical installation of the LaserSpy sensor only requires a screwdriver. With analogue preparation of the wiring and cabling in or to the system control by qualified specialist personnel, the electrical connection effort is minimized to plugging in two circular connectors.
Activate your laser safety barriers and make your systems fit for more laser performance – quickly and easily with LaserSpy. The LaserSpy sensor is approved as a safety-relevant monitoring element for operation on laser cabins and can be easily retrofitted.
