Balluff Smart Level sensors reliably detect correct liquid level despite the presence of foam.

Medical cleanroom manufacturing technicians are adopting new generations of “enabling” devices that contribute to high throughput and reduced manufacturing costs.

For example, with foolproof “two-in-one” technology, self-adjusting SmartLevel capacitive sensors can detect, without false alarm, down to one microsiemens of conductivity, even if alien material such as foam, froth, and residue is on the sensing element. Sensors with this technology can sense through bulkheads and non-metallic barriers up to 10 mm in thickness to “see” the target. Reagents, sterilizer fluids, saline/Ringer’s lactate and blood/blood products are all typical targets.

Pneumatic sensing on cylinders always presents issues for medical manufacturers because of unreliable sensing technology typically found on OEM cylinders. Generally, either Hall Effect sensors or reed switches are used on pneumatic cylinders to indicate extend or retract position. But Hall Effect types can drift and are generally not short-circuit protected (SCP) or reverse polarity protected (RPP). Reed switches, although very inexpensive, are essentially mechanical devices that fail with regularity in manufacturing processes. Alternative MR and GMR (magnetoresistive and giant magnetoresistive) type sensors generally work on any brand or model of cylinder regardless of piston magnet, Gauss strength or magnet orientation. These also provide tighter switch points and have SCP and carry a lifetime warranty against failure.

A new bifurcated “two-in-one” sensor innovation combines two separate sensors into a common connector, eliminating one wire back to the host control, terminal strip, or multiport interface junction box.