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Omron / Sentech E3AS-HF6000 (DMN/DMT/SMN/SMT) machine vision sensor
Omron / SentechPhotoelectric sensors
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Omron / Sentech E3AS-HF6000 Series TOF Laser Sensor

E3AS-HF6000

The E3AS-HF6000 is a TOF (Time-of-Flight) reflective laser sensor with a built-in amplifier that detects targets from 50 to 6,000 mm largely independent of target color and material, using a Class 1 red laser (660 nm) and a high-sensitivity photodiode. It offers selectable response times of 2/10/50/200 ms, NPN (MN) or PNP (MT) control output plus IO-Link Ver. 1.1 (COM3, 230.4 kbps), and a 4-20 mA current output, with auto mutual-interference prevention and an OLED display for setup. The rugged aluminium die-cast housing with SUS304 cover is rated IP67/IP69K/IP67G and operates from -30 to 55°C, suiting harsh, high-pressure-washdown environments. Variants differ by beam (S = spot/parallel, D = diffusion/parallel) and connection (-2M pre-wired 2 m, -M1H M12 horizontal, -M1V M12 vertical, -M1TJ 0.3M M12 Smartclick pigtail).

Brand
Omron / Sentech
Sensor type
Photoelectric (TOF laser) sensor
Sensing method
Time-of-Flight (background suppression)
Light source
Red laser diode, 660 nm, Class 1
Range / distance
50 to 6,000 mm
Response time
2 / 10 / 50 / 200 ms selectable
Output type
NPN (MN) or PNP (MT) open-collector; NO/NC selectable
Communication
IO-Link Ver. 1.1 (COM3, 230.4 kbps); also 4-20 mA analog output
Supply voltage
10 to 30 VDC (incl. 10% ripple p-p), Class 2
Connection
Pre-wired 2 m / 5 m, M12 connector (horizontal/vertical), or M12 Smartclick pigtail 0.3 m
Housing material
Case: aluminium die-cast (chrome plating); cover: SUS304
Weight
Sensor only approx. 167 g (2 m pre-wired); approx. 280 g packed
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Technical overview

The E3AS-HF6000 is a reflective Time-of-Flight (TOF) laser photoelectric sensor with a built-in amplifier, which means the emitter, the high-sensitivity receiving photodiode and all of the detection electronics live in a single self-contained head wired directly into the cell. Rather than triangulating like a background-suppression diffuse sensor, it measures the round-trip flight time of a 660 nm Class 1 red laser pulse, so the switching point is defined by absolute distance from 50 to 6,000 mm and stays largely independent of target color, gloss and material. For an installer this is the key behavioral difference: a black box and a white box at the same distance trip at the same point, and a shiny or matte surface does not shift the setpoint the way it would on a conventional diffuse-reflective sensor. The visible red spot also makes alignment and teach-in straightforward, and the on-head OLED display lets you read and set the distance threshold numerically instead of fiddling with a potentiometer.

Electrically the sensor is built to drop into existing PLC and IO-Link architectures without a separate amplifier or controller. It runs on 10 to 30 VDC (Class 2) and is offered in both NPN (the MN variants) and PNP (the MT variants) open-collector switching output, with NO/NC selectable, so it can be used purely as a discrete presence/trigger contact. Beyond the switch point it also exposes IO-Link Ver. 1.1 (COM3 at 230.4 kbps) for parameterization, diagnostics and process data, plus a 4-20 mA analog current output that turns the same head into a continuous distance transmitter for level, position or height measurement. Response time is selectable at 2 / 10 / 50 / 200 ms, letting you trade speed against stability: 2 ms suits fast conveyor edges and indexing, while the slower settings add filtering for noisy or marginal targets. Auto mutual-interference prevention means multiple E3AS heads can be mounted close together, for example across adjacent lanes, without cross-talk corrupting their readings.

Mechanically this is a washdown-grade industrial sensor, not a benchtop device. The case is chrome-plated aluminium die-cast with a SUS304 stainless cover, and it carries IP67, IP69K and IP67G ratings, so it is built to survive high-pressure, high-temperature wash-down and food-area cleaning. It operates across -30 to 55 C, weighs about 167 g in the 2 m pre-wired form, and measures 26.5 (W) x 58.6 (H) x 51.2 (D) mm. Connection options cover the common field cases: pre-wired 2 m or 5 m cable, M12 connector in horizontal or vertical orientation, or a short M12 Smartclick pigtail, which matters when you are mounting into a tight or frequently re-cabled fixture. The combination of a 6 m range, material-independent TOF detection and a hose-down housing is what positions this head for harsh logistics and food/beverage lines rather than clean assembly cells.

Best for

  • Long-range presence and gap detection on conveyors and sortation lines, where the 50 to 6,000 mm TOF range lets a single head watch a wide lane or a far-side guide rail regardless of carton color or finish
  • Wash-down and food/beverage production, where the IP67/IP69K/IP67G stainless-and-die-cast housing and -30 to 55 C rating survive high-pressure, high-temperature cleaning
  • Box, tote and pallet detection in logistics, where material-independent switching prevents the false trips that black, glossy or mixed-material packaging causes on ordinary diffuse sensors
  • Continuous height, level or stack-position measurement via the 4-20 mA analog output, using the same head as a distance transmitter rather than a simple switch
  • Mixed PLC and IO-Link installations needing remote setup and diagnostics, using IO-Link Ver. 1.1 (COM3) for parameterization while retaining a discrete NPN/PNP trigger output

Selection notes

  • Choose the output and wiring variant up front: MN parts give NPN and MT parts give PNP open-collector switching, and connection is fixed by suffix (pre-wired 2 m/5 m, M12 horizontal -M1H, M12 vertical -M1V, or M12 Smartclick pigtail), so confirm both against your PLC inputs and panel layout before ordering
  • Match the beam style to the task: S variants use a spot/parallel beam for small or precise targets and D variants use a diffusion/parallel beam for broader coverage, which affects how forgiving the sensor is of target position within the 6 m range
  • Set response time to the application, not the default: 2 ms for fast conveyor edges and indexing, and the 10/50/200 ms settings to add filtering and stability on marginal, vibrating or low-contrast targets
  • Decide early whether the head is a switch or a transmitter: it provides a discrete NO/NC output, IO-Link process data, and a 4-20 mA analog output, but the analog path is what you wire for true continuous distance/level measurement rather than thresholded presence
  • Plan for the environment: the -30 to 55 C operating window and IP69K rating cover wash-down and cold areas, but storage is -30 to 70 C with no icing or condensation, and the chrome-plated aluminium/SUS304 housing should be confirmed compatible with your specific cleaning chemistry
  • Where several heads sit close together across lanes, rely on the built-in auto mutual-interference prevention rather than manually staggering mounts, since it is designed to keep adjacent E3AS sensors from cross-talking

Specifications: General
BrandOmron / Sentech
Sensor typePhotoelectric (TOF laser) sensor

Specifications: Performance
Range / distance50 to 6,000 mm
Response time2 / 10 / 50 / 200 ms selectable

Specifications: Interface
CommunicationIO-Link Ver. 1.1 (COM3, 230.4 kbps); also 4-20 mA analog output
ConnectionPre-wired 2 m / 5 m, M12 connector (horizontal/vertical), or M12 Smartclick pigtail 0.3 m

Specifications: Electrical
Supply voltage10 to 30 VDC (incl. 10% ripple p-p), Class 2

Specifications: Environment
Operating temperatureOperating: -30 to 55°C; Storage: -30 to 70°C (no icing/condensation)
IP ratingIP67 (IEC60529), IP69K (ISO20653), IP67G (JIS C 0920 Annex 1)

Specifications: Sensing
Sensing methodTime-of-Flight (background suppression)
Light sourceRed laser diode, 660 nm, Class 1

Specifications: Output
Output typeNPN (MN) or PNP (MT) open-collector; NO/NC selectable

Specifications: Mechanical
Housing materialCase: aluminium die-cast (chrome plating); cover: SUS304
WeightSensor only approx. 167 g (2 m pre-wired); approx. 280 g packed
Dimensions26.5 (W) x 58.6 (H) x 51.2 (D) mm (pre-wired); depth 68.4 mm with M12 horizontal connector

Frequently asked questions

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