Before installation, a safety light curtain does indeed require calibration. This is a key step to ensure its proper operation and to achieve the expected safety protection effect. The light curtain system consists of a transmitter and a receiver, forming an invisible protective barrier through infrared or laser beams. Only when the two are accurately aligned can the system correctly detect whether an object has entered the protected area.
First, the purpose of calibration is to ensure alignment of the optical axis. Each beam emitted from the transmitter must accurately reach the corresponding position on the receiver. If the optical axis deviates too much, the receiver may not be able to correctly receive the signal, resulting in false alarms or protection blind spots. Especially when using high-density or high-resolution light curtains, the beams are arranged very closely, requiring higher precision in alignment.
Secondly, calibration helps to avoid false triggering. There may be external factors in the environment such as dust, vibration, or strong light interference. If the light curtain is not well-calibrated, the system may frequently produce false alarms, affecting the normal operation of equipment. By precisely adjusting the position of the transmitter and receiver, the system’s anti-interference capability can be improved and its operational stability enhanced.
During installation, calibration of the light curtain usually involves the following steps:
- Initial installation of the transmitter and receiver. Fix both ends to the sides of the equipment or the protected area, ensuring they are roughly on the same horizontal line.
- Rough alignment. Use visual observation or device indicator lights to roughly align the beams. Most safety light curtains have status indicators on the receiver to show whether the beams are properly received.
- Precise calibration. Make fine adjustments to the angle and position of the transmitter or receiver until all beams are stably received. At this point, the indicator light on the receiver usually turns green, indicating smooth and accurate signal reception.
- Obstruction test. Use a hand or object to block a section of the light curtain and observe whether the system responds in time, such as immediately cutting off power to the equipment or issuing an alarm. If the response is slow or absent, the optical axis should be rechecked for misalignment.
- Recording and securing. Once calibration is complete, all fixtures should be firmly locked to prevent future misalignment due to vibration or movement. Installation parameters should also be recorded for later maintenance or repositioning.
During installation and calibration, attention should also be paid to environmental interference. For example, strong sunlight, high temperatures, dust, or electromagnetic interference may affect beam stability. Therefore, it is recommended to perform calibration in a relatively clean and stable environment.
In addition, modern high-end safety light curtain products are often equipped with self-diagnosis or automatic calibration functions. However, even so, manual calibration is still recommended during the initial installation to ensure the device is in optimal working condition.
In summary, the proper use of a safety light curtain depends on accurate calibration. No matter how advanced the product is, if the optical axis is not aligned, reliable safety protection cannot be provided. Therefore, before official operation, carefully completing the calibration process is the most basic guarantee for personnel safety and equipment operation.
