Keyence's FT (flash thermo) series of sensors provide fast, non-contact surface temperature detection on production lines in a wide variety of applications. They offer very high stability, and above all, the fastest response time on the market (15ms). Keyence's FT series has been extended by 6 new models, 4 for low to medium temperatures from 0 to 500°C, with different ranges (fine, medium, long and ultra-long range), and 2 for high temperatures from 0 to 1350°C (medium and ultra-long range). These new models extend the variety of temperature management applications on FT production lines. They can be used, for example, for die-casting, forging and brazing at temperatures in excess of 1000°C, as well as for glass shaping and glue-spot detection on packaging. A choice of housings is available to meet the needs of even the most demanding environments.
15 ms response time
Keyence has considerably reduced the response time of the thermopile responsible for detecting temperatures within the new FT Series, firstly by refining the far-infrared resonance film as much as possible, and secondly by positioning the thermocouples in a geometrically logical configuration, enabling absorbed heat to be detected quickly and accurately. These new sensors offer a response time of 15 ms, ten times faster than competing sensors in the same class for high cycle rates.
Measurement stability and compactness
One of the most important features of the FT series is its stability. Stable temperature display, even in changing conditions, is guaranteed by an IPC (integrated protection circuit) developed specifically for this purpose by Keyence, which performs internal averaging. The sensor does not measure instantaneous values, but calculates an average over a period of time. Keyence has also developed a novel floating structure: the cylindrical housing containing the sensing component is suspended inside the sensor head. This creates a thermal buffer zone between the sensing component and the ambient air, reducing the size of the sensor by a factor of 5 compared with conventional models.
Easy to install
The compactness of the models makes them easy to install, as do the two laser pointers that clearly indicate the field of detection. In addition, the FT series has the advantage of being calibrated at the touch of a button, with complex configuration calculations now automatic. Previously, the emissivity of the object to be detected had to be set beforehand to obtain the correct temperature, as this characteristic differed according to the material. With the FT Series, the user simply enters the object's current temperature, and the emissivity is automatically calculated from this. This function comes with an accessory: on objects with low emissivity, a black ribbon body can be used to calibrate the device and stabilize detection.
Learn more: www.keyence.fr