Product Catalog
Position and Motion Sensors
The first question: what material is the sensor detecting?
Which sensor detects what
| Type | Detects | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Inductive | Metal only | Short sensing range |
| Capacitive | Metal, plastic, liquid, granular | Affected by moisture, dirt |
| Optical | Anything that blocks light | Lens fouled by dust |
| Magnetic (cylinder) | Piston inside a cylinder | Cylinder needs a magnetic piston |
Frequently asked questions
Inductive or capacitive sensor — which do I need?
If detecting metal, inductive is more stable and less affected by dirt. For plastic, liquid, wood or granular material, use capacitive.
My sensor detects inconsistently — why?
Check in order: operating near the sensing range limit, lens/surface contamination, vibration shifting mounting position, and electrical noise.
NPN or PNP output — which do I choose?
That's about your control system's (PLC) input type, not the sensor. Tell us your PLC's input type and we'll send the matching output.
How do I detect a cylinder's position?
With a magnetic sensor — it senses a magnetic piston from outside the cylinder body. Confirm your cylinder has a magnetic piston first.