Electro-mechanical or pneumatic-mechanical: Reliable switching elements are essential for the safe operation of a vacuum system. The product family of mechanical vacuum switches VS-V-EM-ST (electro-mechanical) and VS-V-PM (pneumatic-mechanical) from J. Schmalz GmbH ensures efficient process monitoring and control in automated handling.

In the low-cost basic version, both switches are made of a sturdy PA plastic housing (polyacetal) with an internal thread M5 for the vacuum connection. The electrical-mechanical VS-V-EM-ST switch is used wherever an electrical signal is required when the desired vacuum value is reached for safety reasons. For example, for the driving release of a new handling cycle or to check whether the suction gripper has gripped the workpiece to be transported safely. The VS-V-EM-ST can switch voltages up to 230 VAC / 24 VDC or currents up to 6 A. To protect against external mechanical influences when used in harsh working conditions, such as the wood, metal or packaging industry, the switch can be upgraded with a housing cover to protection class IP 65. It is therefore suitable for applications in the metal, wood and packaging sectors - wherever adverse environmental conditions prevail and naturally contamination, dusts and liquids occur.

High vacuum, ultra high vacuum and extremely high vacuum

With the purely pneumatic switch design VS-V-PM, control circuits or valves can be controlled without electrical connections and signals. When the set vacuum value is reached, the switch releases a pneumatic signal for further processing. The VS-V-PM is available in the switching functions NO (Normally Open) and NC (Normally Closed). Due to the large cross-section of the valve, high pressures up to 100l / min can be switched.

The setting of the switching point for the desired vacuum value is carried out in both switch versions via a set screw. The hysteresis is pre-set with a defined tolerance of ± 5 mbar over the entire working range. For monitoring the system vacuum, this means more process reliability - the hysteresis range is defined much more precisely than that of comparable mechanical switches.

Further advantages are the compact shape and the low weight, which facilitates the installation in handling and gripper systems and does not affect the system load or the movement and positioning dynamics. Thus, the mechanical vacuum switches are suitable for use in all areas of automated handling, such as in spring systems in the automotive industry, in the plastics industry and in other applications and contribute to increasing process reliability.

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