WF5-40B410 – Fork Sensors – SICK Sensor

Product Overview

• Part Number: 6028429 (Model: WF5-40B410).
• Sensor Type: Optical Fork Sensor (U-shaped).
• Light Source: Infrared (IR) light for high immunity to ambient light.
• Fork Dimensions: 5 mm width and 42 mm depth.
• Switching Frequency: Ultra-fast 10 kHz for high-speed lines.
• Output Type: Push-pull (PNP/NPN) with selectable light/dark switching.
• Connection: M8, 4-pin male connector.
• Enclosure Rating: IP65 rugged aluminum housing.

Product Description

The SICK 6028429, belonging to the advanced WFnext fork sensor family, represents a significant leap in industrial optical detection technology. Unlike traditional through-beam sensors that require time-consuming alignment between a separate sender and receiver, this sensor integrates both into a single robust aluminum frame. Its U-shaped “fork” design ensures that the optical axis is permanently aligned, making installation remarkably simple and resistant to mechanical vibration.

Equipped with a 5 mm fork width, it is specifically engineered for the precise detection of labels, double sheets, and small objects as tiny as 0.2 mm. It utilizes an infrared light source, which provides superior reliability in environments with high ambient light interference. The sensor is remarkably user-friendly, featuring intuitive plus/minus buttons that allow for manual sensitivity adjustments and switching mode selection (light vs. dark) directly on the device. With its high-speed 100 µs response time, it is a staple in modern packaging and printing industries where products move at extreme velocities and require micro-second accuracy for triggering processes.

Key Performance Features

• Micro-Object Resolution: Capable of detecting objects as small as 0.2 mm (MDO).
• High-Speed Processing: A response time of 100 µs and a jitter of only 40 µs ensures timing consistency.
• Integrated Setup: Simple manual adjustment via “+” and “–” buttons for sensitivity and key lock functions.
• Robust Construction: The die-cast aluminum housing is built to withstand harsh industrial vibrations.
• Versatile Switching: Dual PNP/NPN output capability allows it to integrate seamlessly with various PLC architectures.
• Environmental Stability: Operates reliably in temperatures ranging from -20 °C to +60 °C.

Ideal Applications

• Labeling Machines: Detecting opaque labels on carrier materials and monitoring gaps.
• Packaging Industry: Triggering pick-and-place operations and checking for the presence of thin films.
• Printing & Paper: Detecting holes, edges, or double-sheet feeding to prevent machine jams.
• Electronics Assembly: High-precision detection of small components on high-speed conveyor belts.
• Automated Sorting: Counting small parts and monitoring objects with complex geometries that require a fixed light path.

Features

Mechanics/Electronics

• ¹⁾ Limit values, reverse-polarity protected, operation in short-circuit protected network: max. 8 A.
• ²⁾ May not exceed or fall below U_v tolerances.
• ³⁾ With light/dark ratio 1:1.
• ⁴⁾ Reference voltage DC 50 V.
• ⁵⁾ Depending on fork width.

Ambient data