I actually think the clamps are destaco, but I can check monday. We just
use standard balluff or festo PNP flat pack cylinder prox switches. I
would suggest you supply 24V to the sensor off of the plc power supply,
then tie the signal output to an ice cube relay (or a phoenix contact
solid state relay) which would actually pass the current along the series
to the PLC, since the current may be too much for the sensor in a series
application. These things are only good for a few mA. Reliable as whiz
tho when properly used. The only bad thing about a magnetic sensitive
prox is the range of sensing is not 'precise' per se`. You can shade it
to one side or the other of the magnet stop position, this will make it
more accurate. This is the most common type of clamping sensor we use, by
far. Probably in the neighborhood of a couple of thousand of these
sensors in use at our plant.

The application's need is relatively simple so I may just do it that way.
The clamp opens quite a bit so if I were to use the prox to sense the clamp
body's position, I should be fine. No real chip debris in that area from
what I can see from the photos I received (I LOVE doing business without
traveling sometimes...)

Should solidify the plan this week. I appreciate all the information and
ideas from you and others on this.

Regards,
Joe Agro, Jr.
(800) 871-5022
01.908.542.0244
Automatic / Pneumatic Drills: http://www.AutoDrill.com
Multiple Spindle Drills: http://www.Multi-Drill.com

V8013-R