Manual

MINI-BEAM
®
Sensors
SM312W and SM312DBZ
page
2
Banner Engineering Corp. Minneapolis, U.S.A.
www.bannerengineering.com Tel: 763.544.3164
MINI-BEAM Installation and Alignment
Proper operation of a SM312W or SM312DBZ sensor requires that it be mounted securely
and aligned properly. The wide-angle optics of these sensors makes sensor alignment very
forgiving.
1) Begin with the sensor at the desired distance from the object to be sensed, and at the
approximate position where it will be mounted. Any background should be as far
behind the object as possible (at least three times the sensor-to-object distance), and
as dark a color as possible, compared to the object. Ideally, the object should present
its largest reflective surface to the sensor.
2) Apply power to the sensor, and advance the 15-turn GAIN control to maximum
(clockwise end of rotation). The GAIN control is clutched at both ends to avoid
damage, and will free-wheel when either end point is reached.
If the sensor is seeing its reflected light, the sensor alignment LED should be on.
Move the sensor up-down-right-left (include angular rotation) to obtain the fastest
receiver LED pulse rate. If a pulse is not observable (too fast to count), reduce the
GAIN control(counterclockwise rotation) to obtain a countable pulse rate.
3) Repeat the alignment motions after each GAIN reduction. When you have found the
sensor orientation that produces the fastest pulse rate, mount the sensor solidly in
that position. Increase the receiver GAINto maximum. Test the system by removing
the object from the sensing position. The alignment LED indicator should go off. If
the LED indicator does not go off, the sensor is reacting to light reflected from a
background surface. Reduce the GAIN setting until the alignment indicator goes off,
plus two additional full turns. Again place the object in the sensing position. If the
alignment indicator does not come on, the sensor is receiving as much or more
light energy from the background as from the object. Consider the following
alternatives:
a) move the sensor closer to the object and reduce the sensitivity (GAIN);
b) reduce background reflectivity by painting the background with flat-black
paint, or by scuffing the background or cutting a hole through it;
c) tilt the sensor or the background so that the sensing beam is not
perpendicular to the background.
15 Turn
Gain
Adjustment
and Light/Dark
Operate Switch*
Gasketed
Acrylic Cover
AID Indicator LED Lights when the
sensor sees the reflection of its own modulated
light and pulses at a rate proportional to the
strength of the received light signal.
Object
Up
Down
Left
Right
SM312DBZ or
SM312W
* Note regarding Light/Dark operate switch:
Turn switch fully clockwise for light operate (sensor outputs conduct when sensing light is present)
Turn switch fully counterclockwise for dark operate (sensor outputs conduct when sensing light is not present)
DIFFUSE MODE ALIGNMENT
SM312W and SM312DBZ