Glossary · Protective devices and interlocks
Safety laser scanner
Also known as: AOPDDR
German: Sicherheitslaserscanner
In machine safety, a safety laser scanner is a protective device that monitors configurable areas using laser-based distance measurement. It is a type of electro-sensitive protective equipment that detects persons by diffuse reflection rather than beam interruption.
- Machine safety
- EU
In one sentence
A safety laser scanner monitors configurable protective fields by laser distance measurement; field sets and switching logic are safety parameters.
Example
An AGV switches between large and small protective fields of its safety laser scanner depending on speed, so that it always stops before reaching a person in its path.
How it applies
- Machine safety: Scanners are used for area protection around machines and for mobile machinery such as AGVs. Protective fields must be sized from the minimum distance calculation, including the scanner's measurement tolerance.
- Configuration: Field shapes, field switching and response times are safety parameters. Restrict access, keep configuration files under configuration control and verify fields on the machine after every change.
- Integrated systems: Scanners are often used for safety zoning, where different fields trigger different reactions, such as slowdown or stop.
- Technical documentation: Document the configured fields with drawings, the switching conditions and the verification test. Warn about conditions that impair detection, such as dirty optics or highly reflective surfaces.
Safety laser scanner vs. safety light curtain
A scanner measures distance in a plane and can monitor freely shaped areas. A safety light curtain detects the interruption of beams between emitter and receiver.