Signal tower lights and individual indicator lights are still commonly used as the standard solution for visualising the current status of machines and systems. They offer immediate, easy-to-read signals that help operators quickly identify operating conditions and intervene when needed.
Modern LED technology opens up a whole new range of possibilities. ifm is now launching new LED strips that enable innovative visualisation concepts. The strips are available in lengths ranging from 250 mm to 5,000 mm and comprise up to 320 LEDs, each of which can be individually controlled in terms of colour and brightness. ifm uses a special manufacturing technology for its LED strips: the flexible printed circuit with the LEDs is fully encapsulated in plastic using a special extrusion process. This ensures a high IP 69K protection rating, making the LED strips the ideal choice for food applications. Should an LED ever fail, the rest of the strip will continue to function without any restrictions thanks to an integrated bypass system. Thanks to their flexibility, the strips can also be installed on curved surfaces.
Predefined operating modes
Users can control the LED strips via the matching DV1617 control unit. This allows them to select from a range of predefined operating modes. In Segment Mode, individual segments of the strip can be defined and then controlled independently Particularly noteworthy is the Run Mode, which enables the display of a moving light pattern.
This makes it possible, for example, to visualise the position of a product on a moving conveyor belt. The Bargraph Mode displays values as a bar chart. The Position Mode, in turn, allows specific positions to be displayed clearly and unambiguously.
