Laser displacement sensor by Acuity takes 9,400 measurements per second

The Acuity AR100 laser displacement sensor

Acuity products are available via Durham Instruments, including the ultra-compact AR100 – among the smallest laser displacement sensors in the world. This device comes with ranges from ten to 500 millimetres (mm) in only one case size, making it ideal for high-performance applications with tight size and mass budgets.

The AR100 offers a linearity of plus or minus 0.05 per cent of the measurement range of most similar devices, and it can take 9,400 measurements per second.

No sacrifice of speed

This compact laser triangulation sensor weighs a mere 40 grams without its cable and measures only 17 by 45 by 30½ mm, with six ranges available: ten, 25, 50, 100, 250, and 500 mm. With improvements in detectors and miniaturized optics, Acuity has created a rare triangulation laser with long ranges and high accuracy. The 500-mm model has 0.1 per cent linearity and 0.02 per cent resolution over the full measurement range, while the other ones have 0.05 per cent linearity and 0.01 per cent resolution. Speed is never sacrificed, with a maximum sampling rate of 9.4 kilohertz.

The instrument comes with a Class 2 eye-safe laser in red or blue; at 660 nanometres, the red laser works well for most applications and is less expensive, but the blue option (405 nanometres) may be preferable for targets that absorb or emit too much red light. All Acuity laser sensors operate based off non-contact measurement, and the AR100 enclosure can withstand dusty environments and occasional splashes, as signified by its IP67 rating.

For communication with a computer or PLC, the user can select a standard RS232 or optional RS485 serial interface. The AR100 also comes with an analog output, with a choice between 4-20mA or zero to ten volts. The sensor also has a limit output for indicating alarms, which can be useful for triggering external devices when targets reach set positions.

The AR100 is a versatile device, and Durham Instruments deems it suitable for general manufacturing, aerospace, automation, food processing, forestry, the medical field, the military, mining, packaging, power generation, and transportation.

For more information, contact Durham Instruments.

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