Break the Beam, Stop the Machine

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