Banner Engineering DF-G1 fibre amplifier with IO-Link

Banner Engineering has added IO-Link communication to its DF-G1 fibre amplifier. The amplifier can now achieve point-to-point communication, allowing for complete configuration and monitoring capabilities.

The product features an intuitive interface, dual display, digital readouts and easy set-up and configuration. An updated mechanical design with an improved fibre clamp allows for ease of use and stable sensing performance. Enhanced with IO-Link communications, the device increases sensing capabilities for diverse applications, including plastic and glass assemblies, electronics assembly machines, pill and caplet counting and high-speed detection for registration mark or edge detection.

The introduction of IO-Link allows for full remote configuration of the fibre amplifier operating parameters and signal strength monitoring. When connected to an IO-Link Master, configuration and application trending data can be communicated to a host controller on the field bus network, allowing for convenient storing and reporting of sensing values.

The product provides full manipulation of all operating parameters, including switch point threshold, light operate or dark operate, various output timing functions, electronic gain level and sensor response speed. Operators can also implement one of six Expert Teach and Set methods to ensure optimal gain and threshold selection for each application, particularly in low contrast environments, such as small part or clear object detection.

Featuring thermally stable electronics, the device minimises warm-up drift and enables multiple amplifiers to be mounted side by side, with no reduction in the ambient temperature limit. Inherent thermal stability reduces machine start-up time and eliminates production delays due to ambient temperature changes. For additional flexibility, an intricate cross-talk avoidance algorithm allows two fibre-optic assemblies to be mounted in close proximity, sensing different features of the same target.