Now available from Positive Contact Sensors is the new PCS-100 tool, object and free space monitoring system that can be used on a wide variety of machine tools and automatic processing machines.

A simple, effective, affordable and practical solution for preventing the chain reaction of broken tooling that leads to down time, scrapped parts, re-manufacturing and machine tool damage; the PCS systems are designed and manufactured to be simply installed and operated in the toughest environments.

The PCS-100 is a mechanically adjustable sensor system that enables the customer to simply set or change the sensing needle sweep from 0 to 180 degrees in a clockwise or counter clockwise direction. Capable of over 200 cycles per minute, the PCS-100 can keep pace with the fastest of machine tools.

The sensors can be easily installed, it only requires a 24V DC power supply and a spare machine M function or an existing sensor/alarm circuit for the corresponding SCU-100 control unit. Installation instructions are provided with each PCS-100 package, whilst the sensors can be mounted horizontally or vertically with magnetic bases that complete the flexibility and ease of use philosophy the PCS system employs. With magnetic bases and bespoke brackets, the PCS-100 can be installed on a vast selection of machining centres and turning centres.

The tool monitoring system can check for breakages on cylindrical tools such as drills, taps, reamers, milling cutters and special form tools. The PCS-100 can monitor problematic tools regardless of diameter changes on vertical and horizontal machining centres. On single and multi-spindle lathes and drilling machines the positive contact sensors are a popular choice credit to their small size that fits into compact work envelopes. Additionally, the checking speed on highly automated machines and the sealing that protects the sensor and the main slide tooling all contribute to the ideal cost effective tool monitoring system.

For free space and object monitoring, the PCS system can check mis-feeds on barfeeders, provide cut-off confirmation on lathes and monitor part pick-up on sub spindle turning and component ejection.

The PCS system consists of a uni-body design with a gearbox free construction and unique V-cup cap seal that makes the units capable of operating under coolant streams, severe swarf and heat contact that is commonplace in congested machining envelopes. The standard sensing needle is 140mm long with a 200mm needle available as an option. The needles can also be bent into configurations to suit the needs of the end user.

For a more advanced solution Positive Contact Sensors can also supply the PCS-250 sensor system. This sensor learns and remembers tool or object location at the touch of a button through a 300 degree clockwise or counter clockwise swing direction. The PCS-250 has a tough and compact construction that can be expected from a high quality rotary positional tool sensor with advanced software that provides the narrowest standard checking window currently available. The result is a high speed sensor that's capable of combating the toughest of machining environments. For further details on the PCS-100 and PCS-250 tool monitoring system, please contact Positive Contact Sensors.