Break the Beam, Stop the Machine

Safety Light Curtain systems emit pulsed infra-red beams between a sender and a receiver unit to create an invisible safety screen. Interruption to any beam is immediately detected and the Light Curtain safety circuits will effect a “STOP” to the machine cycle.

Machine Guard Safety Distances Calculator

LIGHT CURTAIN TO MACHINE TRAP SAFETY DISTANCE
The reference Standard is the EN 999 'Safety of machinery - the positioning of protective equipment in respect of approach speeds of parts of the human body'. The given information is indicative and synthetic; it is compulsory to refer to the complete EN 999 standard for a correct safety distance calculation. The minimum distance S in mm between the hazardous area and the detection point is expressed by the formula:

S = (K x T) + C

K is a parameter (mm/sec) linked to the approach speed of the human body or parts and is 2000 mm/sec where S < 500 mm

T is the total time (sec) necessary to stop the machine

C is an additional distance (mm) based on the device typology used in terms of resolution, where the resolution is the minimum dimension of an opaque object able to obscure at least one of the beams of the sensitive detection area.

C=8(d-14) but not less than 0 and d=the detection capability of the Light Curtain(mm) and subject to a minimum allowable separation of S of 100mm.

If S is found to be greater than 500mm when using a value of 2000 mm/s for K, then a value of 1600mm/s for K may be used. However, if the results of the calculation give a value less than 500mm, the seperation distance used should be 500mm. The formula becomes: S =(1600mm/s x T) 8(d-14 mm)

 

Common Stopping Distances

IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO SEE YOUR MACHINE STOPPING DISTANCES TRY USING OUR LIVE SAFETY STOPPING DISTANCE CALCULATOR



 

 

 

   
 
       
Overall machine
Stopping time (m/s)
Separation (mm) for Safety
Light Curtainwith 14mm
resolution
Separation (mm) for Safety
Light Curtainwith 30mm
resolution
Separation (mm) for Safety
Light Curtainwith 40mm
resolution
  C = 0 C = 128 C = 208
50 100 228 308
60 120 248 328
70 140 268 348
80 160 288 368
90 180 308 388
100 200 328 408
110 220 348 428
120 240 368 448
130 260 388 468
140 280 408 488
150 300 428 500
160 320 448 500
170 340 468 500
180 360 488 500
190 380 500 512
200 400 500 528
210 420 500 544
220 440 500 560
230 460 500 576
240 480 512 592
250 500 528 608