Inductive sensor M18 metal face 79 mm connector M12 NPN NC Sn = 5 mm FE

The monolithic NMF18102-FE inductive sensor, housed in a full-metal body, is dedicated to checking the presence and position of steel components in modern industrial automation.

This M18 variant is a solution for industry where durability and reliability are essential. The versatile M18 size makes integration easier across many machine designs, control systems, and industrial installations.

Technical specification:

• Diameter: M18, increased resistance to shocks and vibration boosts operational reliability
• Length: 79 mm, elongated housing with increased mechanical rigidity and high durability
• Detection range: 5 mm, wear resistance thanks to the non-contact metal detection method
• Detected materials: Steel and other ferrous metals (aluminium ignored), detection focused on the actual steel part, not on individual aluminium filings, chips or dust remaining in the surroundings
• Correction factor K: K = 1 for steel (full, natural sensing range), the full rated range for steel makes it easier to design applications without additional assumptions about range reduction
• Housing: Threaded, a standard solution used in industrial automation and control systems
• Housing material: Stainless steel, high resistance to corrosion and chemical exposure
• Sensor face material: Stainless steel, high mechanical resistance to impact, abrasion, and damage
• Mounting: Flush mounting, mounting into metal surfaces per the flush standard
• Switching function: NC, used in safety functions and operational monitoring
• Plug type: M12, connector sensors allow quick, tool-free connection to industrial installations
• Supply voltage: DC 10-30V, widely used power supply in control systems

Applications

• Vehicle production – Applications of the FE inductive sensor include the detection of steel components in automated vehicle production systems.
• Robots welding steel structures – Applications of the FE proximity sensor include checking the presence of components in robots welding steel structures.
• Production of steel wire and rope – The inductive proximity sensor supports checking the presence of steel wire or rope during production.
• Checking before pressing of steel – Applications of the FE sensor include confirming the presence of the actual steel component before starting the next pressing stage.
• Multiple processes in a single solution – The FE inductive sensor is used wherever a single solution must handle multiple steel-related processes: cutting, stamping, welding, resistance welding, assembly and transport of components.

Benefits/Features

• Inductive proximity sensor for steel – enables contactless detection of a steel component, while aluminium components in the surroundings are not the actual detection target.
• Contactless detection of steel – the component can be detected without mechanical contact with its surface, while aluminium components in the surroundings are not the actual detection target.
• Part-presence checking – allows detection of the actual steel component in the production process, without being intended to detect aluminium contaminants.
• For applications with aluminium chips in the surroundings – performs well wherever aluminium chips generated during machining should not be treated as the detected element.
• Steel presence sensor – allows automatic checking of the presence of the actual steel component at a specific point in the process.

When to choose this model

• For checking parts before stamping – the inductive proximity sensor allows checking the presence of a steel component before the press starts operating.
• For positioning steel components – choose the part-position sensor when the correct placement of the steel component is a precondition for the next operation.
• For steel cutting and preparation stations – the part-position sensor allows checking the correct placement of the component before the process begins.
• For automatic feeding of steel components – the material presence sensor will perform well when checking the passage of a part through a specific point in the machine.

Connection

The sensor has an NPN output, so connect it with an M12 4-pin connection cable without LEDs. Cables with LEDs (NXOC12281…, NXOC12401…) have a yellow status LED wired for a PNP output and are not suitable for NPN sensors.