Siemens Introduce New Laser Scanner Designed for Transfer Carriages

Two new laser scanners extend the product range of the Siemens Industry Automation Division. The Simatic FS660 SR (short range) laser scanner is suitable for safety-related use in small protection zones of up to 2.15 meters. The Simatic FS670 laser scanner for motion monitoring has been specially designed for transfer carriages.

Typical applications for the Simatic FS660 SR include low-speed driverless transport systems of up to two meters with a short braking path. In fixed installations, the device, which is equipped with horizontal and vertical protection, is particularly suitable for access protection at low openings, e.g. at robot cells or to protect the area around cutters and presses. The new scanner has a 190 degree field of operation, four programmable and switchable protection zones and one invisible infrared laser (Laser Protection Class 1).

In addition to the standard safety functions for personnel protection, the new Simatic FS670 laser scanner for motion monitoring reliably calculates positioning distances and speeds. It monitors as many as six different speeds and, if necessary, automatically corrects the selected protection zone. This eliminates the need for additional incremental encoders for “speed-dependent protection zone monitoring”. This function is performed jointly by laser scanners and standard controllers. The new unit has eight programmable and switchable protection zones with ranges of between 2.15 and 4 meters (ranges of up to 6 meters will be available soon). The resolution can be adjusted from 30 to 150 mm. The protection zones are calculated automatically by the LS4Soft software.

Both scanners are certified according to Type 3 as per IEC/EN 61496-1 and -3, SIL 2 as per IEC 61508 and PL d as per EN ISO 13849. They are parameterized using the LS4Soft software.