Sensors for Pneumatic Systems - Magnetic & Proximity

Knowing What's Happening, All the Time

A machine without sensors is blind. Doesn't know if a part arrived. Doesn't know if a cylinder moved. Fokca sensors give machines eyes. Inductive proximity for metal detection – 1 to 40mm. Capacitive for any material – plastics, wood, liquids. Magnetic for cylinder position – 5 to 70mm. Housings M8 to M30. PNP or NPN. IP67 rated.

Photoelectric sensors – through-beam up to 20 meters, retro-reflective to 8 meters, diffuse to 1 meter. Magnetic switches for T-slot, C-slot, band mount cylinders. Pressure sensors with digital display, analog output 4-20mA or 0-10V, vacuum to 10 bar. Limit switches with roller plunger, roller lever, adjustable rod. Brackets, cables, housings – everything to mount them.

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Industrial Sensors

Automation runs on feedback. A machine without sensors is blind – it doesn't know if a part is present, if a cylinder has extended, if pressure has dropped. Fokca industrial sensors give your machines the eyes they need.

What Sensors Do?

Sensors detect. They tell the control system what's happening in the physical world. Position. Presence. Pressure. Without them, you're guessing.

● Proximity Sensors – Detecting Without Touching

Type	Detects	Range	Best For
Inductive	Metal only	1–40 mm	Cylinder position detection, metal part presence
Capacitive	Metal, plastic, wood, liquid	2–25 mm	Level detection, non-metal object sensing
Magnetic	Magnetic fields	5–70 mm	Pneumatic cylinder position sensing

Inductive Sensors – What You Need to Know

• Housing diameters: M8, M12, M18, M30. Rectangular styles also available.

• Output: PNP (sourcing) or NPN (sinking). NO or NC programmable.

• Connection: 3-wire DC. 2-wire DC/AC options.

• Protection: IP67 standard. IP69K for washdown.

• Temperature: -25°C to +70°C.

● Photoelectric Sensors – Light-Based Detection

Mode	Range	Use When
Through-beam	Up to 20 m	Long-distance, highly reliable detection. Emitter and receiver are separate. Requires precise alignment
Retro-reflective	Up to 8 m	Medium range with easy setup. Requires a reflector. Polarized versions handle shiny objects well
Diffuse-reflective	Up to 1 m	Short range using a single device. Less precise for distance control
Background suppression	30–300 mm	Precise position detection. Effectively ignores background interference

Features That Matter

• Visible red light – easy alignment

• Adjustable sensitivity – fine-tune for your application

• Light-on/dark-on selectable – flexibility in setup

• IP67 – survives harsh environments

● Magnetic Switches – For Cylinder Position

• Reed switches: Simple, economical. For general use.

• Solid-state switches: Longer life, faster response. No contact wear.

• Mounting: Band mount, T-slot, C-slot. Match your cylinder groove.

• Output: 2-wire or 3-wire (PNP/NPN).

• LED indicator: Visual confirmation. Saves troubleshooting time.

● Pressure Sensors – Monitoring the Invisible

• Electronic pressure sensors: Digital display, programmable switching.

• Analog output: 4-20mA or 0-10V. For continuous monitoring.

• Pressure ranges: Vacuum (-100 kPa) to 10 bar.

• Connections: R1/8, G1/8, G1/4.

• Applications: System pressure monitoring, pressure drop detection, pump control.

● Limit Switches – Simple and Tough

• Standard limit switches: Durable, high current capacity.

• Miniature limit switches: Compact for tight spaces.

• Actuator types: Roller plunger, roller lever, adjustable rod, push plunger.

• Contact configuration: 1NO+1NC standard. SPDT, DPDT options.

What You Need to Mount Them?

● Sensor brackets: For proximity, photoelectric, limit switches.

● Cables: Pre-wired, M8 and M12 connectors, various lengths.

● Protective housings: For washdown, high temperature.

● Reflectors: For retro-reflective sensors.

How to Actually Choose a Sensor?

● For Position Detection:

1. Material: Metal → inductive. Any material → capacitive or photoelectric.

2. Distance: Short (<10mm) → inductive. Medium (10mm-1m) → photoelectric. Long (>1m) → through-beam.

3. Environment: Dusty/dirty → through-beam. Washdown → IP69K inductive.

● For Cylinder Position:

1. Cylinder type: T-slot, C-slot, or band mount → matching magnetic switch.

2. Output: Match your PLC input (PNP or NPN).

3. Environment: Standard or high-temperature.

● For Pressure Monitoring:

1. Pressure range: Sensor must cover your operating pressure.

2. Output: Switching only, or analog monitoring?

3. Display: Digital for local reading, or remote only.

Common Problems and Likely Causes

Problem	What to Check
False triggering	Electrical noise or stray light. Check shielding and adjust sensitivity
No detection	Incorrect sensing distance or misalignment. Check specifications and realign
Intermittent operation	Loose connections or damaged cable. Check wiring and replace cable if needed
Magnetic switch not working	Incorrect type for cylinder groove. Check compatibility
Photoelectric unstable	Dirty lens or reflective background. Clean lens and adjust position

Questions Customers Actually Ask

Q1: PNP vs NPN – what's the difference?

PNP (sourcing) switches the positive voltage to the load. NPN (sinking) switches ground to the load. Choose based on your PLC input type.

Q2: Shielded vs unshielded – which do I need?

Shielded sensors can be flush-mounted in metal but have shorter sensing distances. Unshielded have longer sensing distances but need space around the sensing face.

Q3: Can I use magnetic switches on any cylinder?

Only cylinders with magnetic pistons. Most ISO standard cylinders offer magnetic piston options.

Q4: Reed vs solid-state – what's the difference?

Reed switches are economical, simple, but have limited life in high-cycle applications. Solid-state have unlimited life, faster response, but cost more.

Q5: Hazardous locations – do you have sensors?

Yes, select explosion-proof sensors are available. Tell us your requirements.

Why Fokca for Sensors?

One source for proximity, photoelectric, magnetic, pressure, and limit switches. Compatible with major global brands. IP67/IP69K protection for real industrial environments. Competitive pricing. Technical support that helps you choose. Most items in stock.

Magnetic Switches

Proximity Sensors

Photoelectric Sensors

Limit Switches