Leuze FT328.3/2N (Order Code: 50122720)

Product Overview: The Leuze FT328.3/2N energetic diffuse photoelectric sensor is a high-performance short-range object diagnostics instrument belonging to the world-renowned cylindrical Series 328 portfolio, engineered and manufactured by Leuze in Germany. Within modern automated machinery frameworks, high-velocity conveyor lines, automated packaging blocks, and high-speed automatic labeling systems, executing non-contact target tracking with minimal hardware footprint is a baseline structural priority.

The FT328.3/2N variation integrates both the light transmitter and receiver nodes onto a single front optical plane, operating completely independently without requiring an external retro-reflective reflector or separate receiver blocks, significantly driving down hardware material overheads and simplifying field mechanical installation routing.

Sensing Principle Paradigm and Product Nomenclature Breakdown: The underlying technological paradigm driving the FT328.3/2N variant leverages sophisticated Energetic Diffuse Reflection physics based on light-return volume calculations. The sensor projects a focused visible Red LED beam with a 620 nm wavelength outward into the proximate spatial tracking zone. When an oncoming medium (such as a structural cardboard box, processing bottle, or plastic packaging container) steps into the spatial cross-section, its physical surface area diffusely reflects the red light wavefront back into the optical lens array of the device. Once the accumulated returned light energy threshold matches internal calibrated parameters, the internal solid-state logic gates instantly switch state to pass automated control data over long cable runs.

According to Leuze's official ordering criteria, the model string FT328.3/2N decodes into the following technical matrix:

• FT: Specifies an advanced non-contact Diffuse Reflection sensor type.

• 328: Belongs to the high-reliability industrial Series 328 hardware family.

• 3: Represents the newly upgraded high-efficiency optical processing configuration block.

• 2: Configures the primary digital channel (OUT1) for NPN Light Switching mode (Current loop active when light reflections return).

• N: Configures the secondary digital channel (OUT2) for NPN Dark Switching mode (Current loop active when beam return is broken).

Providing both Light ON and Dark ON channels concurrently via dedicated signal lines allows automation technicians to select the preferred logic loop straight from the hardware without building secondary logic-inverting code loops inside the supervisory PLC system, accelerating cycle runtimes.

Sensing Range Profiles Across Target material Finish Contrast: Because energetic diffuse technology relies entirely on tracking raw returned light volumes, the effective operational switching distance is heavily bound to the relative contrast, color, and finish of the passing target medium. Laboratory compliance auditing verifies the following assured dynamic bounds:

• Standard White Surfaces (90 percent reflectivity target matrix): Assured operating range covers seamlessly from 1 mm to 215 mm. The absolute theoretical maximum limit under clean facility conditions can reach up to 280 mm.

• Neutral Gray Surfaces (50 percent reflectivity target matrix): Assured operating range covers stably from 1 mm to 190 mm.

• Standard Matte Gray Surfaces (18 percent reflectivity target matrix): Assured operating range covers from 3 mm to 150 mm.

• Deep Carbon Black Surfaces (6 percent reflectivity target matrix): Assured operating range covers smoothly from 5 mm to 125 mm.

🛠️ CRITICAL FIELD CONTROL & HARDWARE ADVANTAGES:

• Proprietary A2LS Active Ambient Light Suppression Technology: Armed with Leuze's custom A2LS filtering algorithm, the sensor isolates its own pulsed light frequency and entirely rejects ambient light pollution from high-power factory halogen arrays, industrial overhead lighting setups, or direct solar glare, eliminating false output triggers on the plant floor.

• Integrated Digital Teach Button Interface: Shifting away from legacy optical instrumentation utilizing manual mechanical potentiometer dials prone to wiper degradation, slot stripping, or vibration-induced drift, the FT328.3/2N features a solid-state Teach Button. Installation crews simply engage the button right at the machine location to instruct the integrated microprocessor to lock onto current boundary profiles with tight resolution, stabilizing plant changeovers during model shifts.

Severe-Duty Environmental Hardening Specifications: Forged with a standard cylindrical M18 x 1 mechanical threading outline and a compact total casing length of 46 mm, the outer shell framework combines high-density industrial ABS polymers with a rugged stainless steel mechanical sub-structure, protecting internal components from extreme workspace vibration forces. Certified to international IP67 protective ingress ratings, it provides a dust-tight barrier impervious to fluid splashes.

The defining technical asset differentiating this specific model variant from connectorized M12 builds centers on its electrical interface: the device incorporates a pre-wired, high-flex 2-meter PUR jacketed cable housing a 4-conductor wiring loom. The premium polyurethane (PUR) jacket offers superb defense against aggressive industrial grease, oil matrices, and plant floor chemical solvents while sealing the housing completely against fluid entry in damp locations.

The internal solid-state circuitry is reinforced with native reverse polarity power isolation and output short-circuit barrier containment, running smoothly on a flexible industrial utility range of 10 to 30 VDC and handling demanding thermal environments spanning from minus 40 up to plus 60 degrees Celsius (ideal for industrial flash-freezing networks). Resolving process velocity changes with an ultra-fast response speed of precisely 1 ms (matching an electronic switching pulse frequency of 500 Hz), the sensor tracks high-density product currents without data dropouts.