Contactless displacement measuring system for use with Hoerbiger-Origa electric and pneumatic linear actuators monitors the position of the piston within the barrel of the actuator.

Hoerbiger-Origa has developed SFI-plus, a new contactless displacement measuring system for use with their electric and pneumatic linear actuators. Based on an incremental encoder, the pulse train from which monitors the position of the piston within the barrel of the actuator, SFI-plus can be used as a standalone monitor or, for more demanding applications, integrated with a PLC (programmable logic controller). For instance in a cut-to-length application where the required length changes frequently - say for bespoke window frame manufacture - various set points can be held in the PLC's memory as part of the specification for each unit and accessed as part of a real-time automation control system.

Another potential use would be in a two or three dimensional scanning operation, such as monitoring a web of material for blemishes; the co-ordinates of any imperfection can be automatically logged for later correction.

The SFI-plus is available in two positional resolutions, 1mm and 0.1mm and has a travel velocity of up to m10m/s.

It is fully encapsulated to IP76, has an operating temperature range of -25 deg C to +80 deg C and is insensitive to shocks and vibrations, yet is compact in size so can easily be retrofitted to existing motion systems.

The mounting kit supplied with the SFI-plus is so simple that it can be fitted in minutes using nothing more than a screwdriver.