Protection of personnel and equipment on the plant floor is a major concern, but at the same time, safety systems should be reasonably flexible and should not have a negative affect on plant productivity. That ‘dream ticket’ seems to have been realised in an innovative new product development from Rockwell Automation.
The Allen-Bradley SensaGuard family of RFID-coded, non-contact safety switches are Category 4/SIL 3 rated (compliant with EN954-1), and TUV functional safety approved to IEC61508. But unlike lower rated switches, SensaGuard will shut down a machine if a failure occurs before there is a demand on the safety device – which improves machine operator safety. It is particularly suitable for machines where multiple access doors must be monitored up to Safety Category 4/SIL 3.
In addition, it does not need a dedicated controller, allowing system designers to use one relay to support the entire safety system, including light curtains, e-stops and non-contact switches. This feature helps reduce machine wiring costs. SensaGuard also contains built-in diagnostic capabilities; green LED lights let operators know a machine is running safely, but if a failure occurs, red LEDs alert operators directly to the problem switch, simplifying troubleshooting.
Featuring the latest generation of RFID technology for coding and inductive technology for sensing, SensaGuard offers a large sensing range and tolerance to misalignment. Various package styles are offered, including tubular, these are mounted using a standard bracket for convenience and flexibility. The unit is IP69K rated and offers short-circuit and over-voltage protection.