Capacitive Proximity Sensors
Carlo Gavazzi is a market leader in capacitive proximity sensor technology with one of the broadest and advanced portfolios in the industry. With over 35 years of experience, Carlo Gavazzi knows what it takes to manufacture sensors that are designed to withstand the rigors of your toughest applications. With local sales support centers located in 22 countries and independent distribution in over 100 countries, Carlo Gavazzi product and technical support is available around the world.
What is a Capacitive Sensor?
Carlo Gavazzi is a market leader in capacitive proximity sensor technology with one of the broadest and advanced portfolios in the industry. With over 35 years of experience, Carlo Gavazzi knows what it takes to manufacture sensors that are designed to withstand the rigors of your toughest applications. With local sales support centers located in 22 countries and independent distribution in over 100 countries, Carlo Gavazzi product and technical support is available around the world.
Dielectric Constant Chart - Capacitive Sensors can detect anything greater than 1.2| Material | Dielectric Constant |
Material | Dielectric Constant |
Material | Dielectric Constant |
Material | Dielectric Constant |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABS Pellets | 1.5 - 2.5 | Com, refuse | 2.3 - 2.6 | Oil, Turpentine | 2.2 | Rice | 3 - 8 | |||
| Acetone | 19.5 - 20 | Epoxy resin | 2.5 - 6 | Oil, vegtable | 2.5 - 3.5 | Rubber, hard | 4 | |||
| Acrylic resin | 2.7 - 6 | Ethyl alcohol | 24 | PE Pellets | 1.5 | Rubber, raw | 3 - 5 | |||
| Air, vacuum | 1 | Flour | 2.5 - 3 | Perspex | 3.2 | Sand | 3 - 5 | |||
| Alcohol, industrial | 16 - 31 | Fly ash | 1.5 - 1.7 | Petroleum | 2.2 | Silicon | 2.8 | |||
| Aluminum powder | 1.6 - 1.8 | Glass | 5 | Polyamide | 5 | Soap powder | 1.2 - 1.5 | |||
| Aluminum sulphate | 6 | Grain | 3 - 8 | Polyethylene | 2.3 | Sodium sulfite | 5 | |||
| Araldit | 3.6 | Hexane, liquid | 5.8 - 6.3 | Polypropylene | 2.3 | Soft rubber | 2.5 | |||
| Asphalt | 2.5 - 3.2 | Hydrochloric acid | 4 - 12 | Polystyrene | 3 | Starch | 2 - 5 | |||
| Bakelite | 3.6 | Iron oxide | 14.2 | Polyvinyl chloride | 2.9 | Sugar | 3 | |||
| Calcium carbonate | 1.8 - 2.0 | Kerosene | 2.8 | Porcelain | 4.4 | Sugar, granulated | 3 | |||
| Calcium oxide | 11.8 | Marble | 8 | Potassium chloride | 4.6 | Sulfuric acid | 84 | |||
| Calcium sulphate | 5.6 | Mica | 6 | PP pellets | 1.5 - 1.8 | Teflon | 2 | |||
| Carbon dioxide | 1.6 | Nitrogen, liquid | 1.4 | Presipan | 4 | Toluene, liquid | 2.0 - 2.4 | |||
| Celluloid | 3 | Nylon | 4 - 5 | Paraffin | 2.2 | Urethane | 6.5 - 7.1 | |||
| Cement | 1.5 - 2.1 | OIl, heavy | 2.6 - 3.0 | PVC powder | 1.4 | Water | 48 - 80 | |||
| Coffee, powder | 2.4 - 2.6 | Oil, mineral | 2.1 | Quartz glass | 3.7 | Water, chlorine | 2 | |||
| Coke | 1.1 - 2.2 | Oil, transformer | 2.2 | Quartz sand | 4.5 | Wheat powder | 2.5 - 3 |
How to Properly Select a Capacitive Proximity Sensor
There are many factors to consider when selecting the best capacitive proximity sensor for your application. These considerations can be broken down into five categories, which can be found on this TOP TIPS resource paper we did in conjunction with Plastics, Machinery and Manufacturing (PMM) and Machine Design. View
Our Capacitive Proximity Sensor Range
CA Series
Select Product
- Capacitive sensors with M30, M18 plastic or stainless steel housing and M12 with plastic housing
- Flush and non-flush versions
- Adjustable sensitivity
- 2 wire AC/DC versions with MOSFET output
- DC versions with PNP, NPN or IO-Link outputs
- Humidity compensation
- Cable or quick disconnect plug connection
EC Series
Select Product
- Capacitive sensors with M30 plastic or stainless steel housing
- Flush and non-flush versions
- Adjustable sensitivity
- 2 wire AC SCR output (20 - 250 VAC / 500 mA)
- Cable or quick disconnect plug connection
CD Series
Select Product
- Capacitive sensors with plastic flat pack housing
- DC versions with PNP, NPN output
- Ideal for monitoring liquids through non-metallic container walls
- Compensation for residue build up on container walls
- Adjustable sensitivity
VC Series
Select Product
- Sensors with 32mm smooth plastic housing
- Powered by 24-230 VAC/DC
- Adjustable sensitivity
- Available with built-in adjustable ON or OFF delay timer
- 3 A relay output
CB Series
Select Product
- Capacitive Sensors with 18mm or 32 mm smooth plastic housing
- DC versions with NPN, PNP or relay output and AC versions with SCR or relay output
- ATEX versions for use in atmospheres with presence of explosive dust
- Adjustable sensitivity
ECH Series
Select Product
- High/Low Temperature Capacitive Sensor from -196 to +180 C
- Separate sensor head and control unit
- NPN or PNP output
- Adjustable sensitivity
CONE Series
Select Product
- Quick disconnect cables for sensors with M12 and M8 connectors
- 2, 5, and 10 metre lengths. (Other lengths upon request)
- Angled or straight connectors
- PVC or PUR cable versions
Accessories
Select Product
- IO-Link hand-held configurator for configuring IO-Link sensors
- IO-Link Masters with EtherNet IP, Profinet, or Modbus TCP bus interface
- Brackets
Applications for Capacitive Proximity Sensors
Rather than focusing only on producing high-quality parts, which is still a priority, many injection and extrusion manufacturers are looking to streamline their processes and reduce scrap with the concept of ‘smart’ machines.
At Carlo Gavazzi we can help injection molding equipment manufacturers facilitate the transition to ‘smart machines’ through our NRG digital solid state relays for precise temperature control and IO-Link capacitive sensors for monitoring levels of plastic pellets in machine material delivery systems.
Agriculture Feeding Systems – feeding distribution systems are critical to the quality and safety of livestock farming; automation contributes to a better animal welfare and higher production. The food distribution can be controlled by capacitive sensors, often combined with a solid state relay and soft starter.
Agriculture Harvesting Machinery – agricultural machinery needs reliable and durable parts and components capable of working long hours in difficult external conditions, exposed to harsh environmental operating conditions. Capacitive sensors can detect the presence of grain, plants, or product to signal a fill level.
Agriculture Seed Silos – Capacitive sensors are an efficient means for level measurement in silos, dryers, and storage containers.
Increasing demand for integrated automation in the production, distribution and storage of electronics, wafers and PCB’s, require accurate monitoring of positions for collision-free transportation.
Fast and accurate detection and even product counting are among the critical functions capacitive sensors offer to drive process efficiency and productivity. Thanks to the embedded functions using capacitive sensors with IO-Link, a high degree of control and diagnostics are possible.
Food and Beverage Packaging – Accurate detection and integrated automation functions in complex and flexible food and beverage packaging conveying systems are crucial to reach maximum productivity, to reduce downtime and enable predictive maintenance.
Carlo Gavazzi capacitive sensors are used to detect presence of product with any color or transparency, fill level in bottles / containers, verify presence of caps on bottles, and more. Additionally, field devices (including capacitive sensors) can be connected using IO-Link for the highest level of automation control and integration.
Digital printing processes are widely used in conveying handling systems for packaging lines, tile and ceramic production. Capacitive sensors can detect the presence of product to ensure positioning for handling and printing as well.
Additionally, ink levels can be detected by a capacitive sensor to increase quality and reduce downtime of the printing process.
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