Photoelectric sensors - W2

SICK Sensors Photo Electric Sensor

Photoelectric sensors - W2

Photoelectric sensors - W2 is a SICK photoelectric sensors family for industrial automation and machine integration, built around the published W2 product architecture. The official SICK documentation defines the family’s sensing, safety, measurement or feedback function and provides the configuration information needed for selection. Key published values include Sensing range, retro-reflective: Up to 1.2 m on documented variant; Sensing range, through-beam: Up to 2.5 m on documented variant; Connection: M8 / cable depending on type. The range is suited to compact machine sensing, conveyors, packaging applications, with the exact ordering code determining any variant-specific electrical, mechanical or interface options.
  • Brand SICK
  • Category Sensors
  • Subcategory Photo Electric Sensor
Interested in this product? Photoelectric sensors - W2
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W2 – Product Overview

Photoelectric sensors - W2 is part of SICK's industrial photoelectric sensors portfolio. The W2 family is designed for professional machine, production and process environments where dependable sensing, safety monitoring, measurement or motion feedback is required. This product entry is written as customer-facing ecommerce content and keeps the technical identity tied to the SICK family documentation rather than introducing unsupported specifications.

Core Function and Operating Principle

The core function of the W2 family is to provide a defined, repeatable signal to the automation system. The published source describes the product around its operating principle and configuration structure, while the technical table below records the values that can be stated directly from the SICK documentation. Where a parameter is configuration-dependent, that dependency is retained rather than replaced with an assumed single value.

The documented application strengths of this family include “Compact W2 photoelectric platform” “Coaxial/autocollimation optics on selected retro-reflective variants” “PinPoint LED for precise optical sensing” “Up to 1.2 m retro-reflective range on documented variants”. These characteristics make the range relevant where repeatable machine signals, controlled sensing, dependable safeguarding, process measurement or motion feedback are required.

Technical Performance

The SICK documentation publishes Sensing range, retro-reflective: Up to 1.2 m on documented variant; Sensing range, through-beam: Up to 2.5 m on documented variant; Connection: M8 / cable depending on type. These values define the engineering envelope described by the source material and should be read together with the selected ordering code where the family contains multiple configurations.

Electrical, Interface and Connection Details

The published SICK configuration defines the electrical and communication architecture for W2. Depending on the documented type, this can include the stated supply, switching outputs, analog signals, safety outputs, industrial communications, connectors or other interfaces. The specification table keeps those source values explicit so they can be checked during engineering and purchasing.

Mechanical and Environmental Design

The family is intended for industrial installation, with the source documentation defining its housing, enclosure, temperature, mechanical and connection characteristics where these are published. No additional material or environmental ratings have been added where SICK does not publish them for the family row.

Configuration, Commissioning and Integration

For system integration, selection should follow the required sensing or safety range, output behaviour, connection, mounting arrangement and environmental conditions. The SICK documentation is structured around ordering variants, so the exact part number should be checked before purchase or installation. This is particularly important where the family offers multiple electrical interfaces, optical arrangements, resolutions, safety functions or housing options.

Commissioning should use the SICK installation and configuration documentation for the selected ordering code. Confirm mechanical clearances, electrical compatibility, required accessories, safety architecture and application-specific parameters before putting the device into service. For safety-related products, the final system design must follow the applicable SICK documentation and the relevant safety standards for the complete machine.

Typical Industrial Applications

The published SICK application scope for this family includes Compact machine sensing, Conveyors, Packaging. The appropriate use depends on the actual machine architecture, target object or medium, required operating range and selected variant. The family is particularly suited to engineering-led procurement where exact product configuration matters.

Key Product Benefits

  • Compact W2 photoelectric platform
  • Coaxial/autocollimation optics on selected retro-reflective variants
  • PinPoint LED for precise optical sensing
  • Up to 1.2 m retro-reflective range on documented variants
  • Up to 2.5 m through-beam range on documented variants
  • PNP, NPN and IO-Link options across the family
  • M8 and cable connection variants

Technical Selection Notes

Use the official SICK ordering configuration to select the exact version required for the installation. The technical table below is the source-backed selection reference for this ecommerce listing; it deliberately avoids filling unsupported values with estimates or generic industry assumptions.

Technical Specifications

Technical parameterPublished SICK value
Functional principlesRetro-reflective with minimum reflector distance; retro-reflective without reflector minimum distance; through-beam
Light sourcePinPoint LED / LED
LightVisible red; infrared depending on type
Sensing range, retro-reflectiveUp to 1.2 m on documented variant
Sensing range, through-beamUp to 2.5 m on documented variant
Output optionsNPN / PNP / IO-Link depending on type
ConnectionM8 / cable depending on type
Switching modeLight / dark depending on type

Values above are taken from the official SICK source listed in the Source_Map sheet. Where the SICK family contains multiple ordering variants, the published range or dependency is retained exactly rather than generalized.

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