Backgrounder for Omron's F3SG-RA Safety Light Curtain
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Global manufacturers face the challenge of running operations in multiple countries around the world, where safety is often dependent upon the ability of personnel to comprehend instructions for operating critical safety equipment in a foreign language. While manufacturers of safety equipment typically translate their manuals into languages native to the areas where they are used, operators of this equipment may be left scratching their heads when a problem occurs that isn’t addressed in the manual.
One of the most popular machine safeguarding devices implemented around the world is light curtains. Two parallel arrays of sensors are used to control access to the hazardous equipment by emitting harmless infrared light beams across a plane. When any of the sensor beams are obstructed, the light curtain control circuit initiates a stop signal to the guarded machine. Light curtains can be mounted in either a horizontal or vertical plane, and can guard areas many meters wide—sometimes as large as 20 meters.Â
While light curtains are inherently reliable, the potential exists for problems such as a DIP switch being set to the wrong value or a broken wire. Internal diagnostics are used to provide information about the cause of an error, but these diagnostics are only useful to the extent they can be understood by the operator.
Omron has taken on a unique approach to this problem. Omron’s new F3SG-RA global safety light curtain comes with stickers in 8 languages—English, Spanish, French, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, German and Italian. Each sticker has a QR code that can be scanned by an operator with a smartphone or tablet whenever a problem occurs. Scanning the code brings up a website that provides online support and troubleshooting in the user’s language, keyed to the diagnostic signals provided by the light curtain. The QR code also provides quick access to a manual in the user’s language.
For example, the lockout indicator on the light curtain receiver might be blinking along with the on/off indicator. When the user goes to the troubleshooting website, they will first be asked to select the component with the indicators blinking. When they select the receiver, they will select the status of the lockout indicator. The user would select “blink” and then choose the number of blinks—in this case they would select “one”. Finally, the user will be asked to select the blinking indicators and pick the on/off indicator. The user would then be presented with a graphic showing the lights that are blinking and will need to confirm the combination to see the solution. The answer instantly appears: “Safety output lines may be short-circuited to each other or another signal line may be short-circuited to the safety output line. Wire the safety output lines properly.”
Omron also provides a feature that allows manufacturers to select one light curtain regardless of where their machines may ship. In Europe and North America, PNP outputs are normally used while NPN is the standard in Asia—causing manufacturers to use two different models in their Asian and North American/European plants. The situation is further complicated by the fact that companies manufacturing outside their home territory—such as plants operated by Japanese auto manufacturers in the US—often follow the standards used at their home plant. Omron is perhaps the only light curtain provider that makes it possible to switch from PNP to NPN (and vice versa) with a DIP switch, allowing a single model to be used around the world.
This new light curtain series also simplifies the installation process. The traditional approach for mounting light curtains typically involved mounting a bracket to the top and bottom of the emitter and receiver, and then lining up the brackets with holes and fastening it to the machine. The F3SG-4RA series features mounting brackets that slide onto channels in the light curtain body, with just a single 3 mm hex head to tighten. This enables positioning anywhere along its length without additional screws, washers and clamps and helps to simplify and shorten installation. To reduce wiring and installation time, the unit also comes with Omron SmartclickTM connectors, requiring just a 1/8 turn to get a secure and reliable IP67 waterproof connection.
For additional technical information or details please contact:
Mike Frey    Product Marketing Manager - Safety Light Curtains & Laser ScannersÂ
Office 847-285-7273Â
Mobile 224-203-0014
mike.frey@omron.com
Omron Automation and Safety -- Greenspoint Parkway -- Suite 200 -- Hoffman Estates, IL 60169 Â
Matt Dodds Product Marketing Manager – Safety
Office 416-286-6465 Ext. 4987
Mobile 416-995-8641
matt.dodds@omron.com
Omron Automation and Safety -- 885 Milner Avenue, Toronto, ON. M1B 5V8 Canada
