Ultrasonic sensor without blind range - thanks to 3D printing

SNT Sensortechnik AG: Thanks to a sensor head produced by a 3D printing process, the sound beam is deflected by 90°. As a result, the blind range which is typical and sometimes unwanted in ultrasonic sensors is eliminated. The sensor can detect targets directly from the sensor head. The measuring range is 180mm. Versions with both switching and analog outputs are available. Additionally the sensor has a very low depth of only 20mm due to this design.

This compact design is only possible using the 3D printing process. With conventional mechanical manufacturing such a head could not be produced.

A typical application is the level measurement in smaller containers. For the sensor, it does not matter what kind of material is scanned and whether it is solid or liquid.