Banner Engineering Enhances DF-G1 Fiber Amplifier with IO-Link Communication

Banner Engineering announces it has added IO-Link communication to its industry-recognized DF-G1 fiber amplifier. With IO-Link, Banner’s DF-G1 fiber amplifier can achieve point-to-point communication, allowing for complete configuration and monitoring capabilities.

The DF-G1 features an intuitive interface, dual display, digital readouts and easy set-up and configuration. An updated mechanical design with an improved fiber clamp allows for ease-of-use and stable sensing performance. Enhanced with IO-Link communications, the DF-G1 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 product-leading edge detection.

"The introduction of the IO-Link communication allows for full remote configuration of the DF-G1 fiber amplifier operating parameters and signal strength monitoring," said Dennis Smith, Technical Marketing Manager, Banner Engineering. "When connected to an IO-Link Master, DF-G1 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."

Offering complete user control, the DF-G1 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 DF-G1 minimizes warm-up drift and enables multiple amplifiers to be mounted side-by-side, with no reduction in the ambient temperature limit. Inherent thermal stability also provides cost-saving advantages by reducing machine start-up time and eliminating production delays due to ambient temperature changes. For additional flexibility, an intricate cross-talk avoidance algorithm allows two fiber optic assemblies to be mounted in close proximity, sensing different features of the same target.

The DF-G1 is powered by a high-performance 32-bit microprocessor with a 12-bit analog-to-digital converter, and provides response speeds as fast as 200 µs to meet high-speed requirements.

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