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Omron / Sentech ZW-8000T / ZW-7000T / ZW-5000T (controllers) machine vision sensor
Omron / SentechLaser measurement sensors
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Omron / Sentech ZW-8000T / ZW-7000T / ZW-5000T Confocal Fiber Displacement Sensor Controllers

ZW-8000T

The ZW-8000T/7000T/5000T are the Export Trade Control Order compatible sensor controllers of Omron's ZW Series, which use a white-light confocal principle to measure height, transparent-object thickness and shape on shiny, angled or curved surfaces (up to ±25° inclination) where laser triangulation struggles. Each controller integrates the optical unit (light source and spectrograph) and connects to a single ZW-S/SP/SPR sensor head via a 3 mm flexible fiber cable, delivering 0.25 µm static resolution; the ZW-8000T targets ultra-high precision (60–7,500 µs cycle), the ZW-7000T ultra-high speed (20–400 µs, sampling as fast as 20 µs) and the ZW-5000T cost-effective standard measurement (80–1,600 µs). Interfaces include EtherCAT, EtherNet/IP, Ethernet (100BASE-TX/10BASE-T), RS-232C up to 115,200 bps, a 32-pole parallel I/O connector with NPN/PNP dual outputs, an analog voltage output (−10 to +10 V) and analog current output (4–20 mA). The units run on 21.6–26.4 VDC, have an IP20 polycarbonate chassis, mount on DIN rail and operate from 0 to 40 °C.

Brand
Omron / Sentech
Sensor type
Distance / displacement (confocal)
Sensing method
White-light confocal, fiber-coupled
Light source
White light (LED, confocal spectroscope; Risk Group 1 per IEC62471)
Range / distance
Measuring range up to ±2 mm (ZW-8000T/5000T) / ±3 mm (ZW-7000T), per sensor head
Response time
Measuring cycle 20 µs to 400 µs (ZW-7000T); 60–7,500 µs (ZW-8000T); 80–1,600 µs (ZW-5000T)
Resolution
Static resolution 0.25 µm (T controllers: fixed 0.25 µm minimum)
Linearity
Linearity ±0.3 µm (ZW-8000T, best head); ±0.45 µm to ±3.0 µm depending on head/series
Output type
Analog (−10..+10 V, 4–20 mA), NPN/PNP transistor judgment outputs, IO
Communication
EtherCAT, EtherNet/IP, Ethernet (100BASE-TX/10BASE-T), RS-232C (max 115,200 bps), 32-pole parallel I/O
Supply voltage
21.6 to 26.4 VDC (24 VDC nominal, incl. ripple)
Connection
32-pole parallel/expansion connector, RJ45 (EtherCAT/Ethernet), analog terminal block; fiber head connector
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Technical overview

The ZW-8000T/7000T/5000T are not sensor heads but the controllers behind them: each unit integrates the white-light source and spectrograph for Omron's ZW Series confocal fiber displacement system, and connects to a single ZW-S/SP/SPR sensor head over a 3 mm flexible fiber cable. The measuring principle is white-light confocal rather than laser triangulation, which is the whole reason to specify this family. Because the controller resolves distance by which wavelength of the broadband white LED source comes into focus at the target (a Risk Group 1 source per IEC62471, not a laser), it stays accurate on shiny, mirror-like, angled or curved surfaces tilted up to plus or minus 25 degrees where a triangulation spot would smear or drop out. The same optical path also measures the thickness of transparent objects, which a single-spot triangulation laser cannot do. For an installer this means you can point one of these at polished metal, glass, a curved lens, or a coated surface and get a stable height reading where a cheaper laser gauge would struggle.

The three controllers share the 0.25 um static resolution and the same interface set, and differ mainly in speed and precision tier, so you choose by cycle time. The ZW-8000T is the ultra-high-precision unit with a 60 to 7,500 us measuring cycle and the best linearity in the family at plus or minus 0.3 um (best head); the ZW-7000T is the ultra-high-speed unit, with a 20 to 400 us cycle and sampling as fast as 20 us, and is also the only one offering the wider plus or minus 3 mm measuring range per head versus plus or minus 2 mm on the 8000T/5000T; the ZW-5000T is the cost-effective standard unit at an 80 to 1,600 us cycle. Linearity across heads and series runs from plus or minus 0.3 um up to plus or minus 3.0 um, so the actual measurement budget depends as much on which sensor head you pair as on which controller you pick. The measuring range is a per-head property, so the controller alone does not fix your standoff; that is a head selection decision.

On the integration side these are DIN-rail controllers built for a panel, not field-mounted IP67 sensors. The chassis is polycarbonate, rated IP20, roughly 140 by 40.8 by 124 mm, about 950 g for the 8000T/7000T main unit (900 g for the 5000T), and it runs on 21.6 to 26.4 VDC (24 VDC nominal) across a 0 to 40 degree C operating range. Connectivity is deliberately broad: EtherCAT and EtherNet/IP for fieldbus integration, standard Ethernet (100BASE-TX/10BASE-T), RS-232C up to 115,200 bps, a 32-pole parallel I/O connector with NPN/PNP transistor judgment outputs, plus an analog voltage output of minus 10 to plus 10 V and an analog current output of 4 to 20 mA. That spread lets the controller act either as a pass/fail judgment device feeding a PLC over its threshold outputs, or as a high-rate measurement source streaming the actual displacement value over EtherCAT or as a 4 to 20 mA / plus-minus 10 V analog signal into a data-acquisition or closed-loop system.

Best for

  • Non-contact height and step measurement on shiny, mirror-finish or polished metal parts where laser triangulation glints or dropouts make readings unstable
  • Thickness measurement of transparent objects such as glass, film and coated layers using the confocal principle that single-spot lasers cannot perform
  • Profiling and displacement on curved or angled surfaces tilted up to plus or minus 25 degrees, including lenses and machined contours
  • Ultra-high-speed inline gauging on fast-moving lines by pairing a head with the ZW-7000T (20 to 400 us cycle, 20 us sampling) and feeding the result over EtherCAT
  • Sub-micron precision dimensional checks in electronics, semiconductor and pharma assembly where 0.25 um static resolution and tight linearity are required

Selection notes

  • Choose the controller by speed/precision tier: ZW-8000T for ultra-high precision (60 to 7,500 us, plus or minus 0.3 um linearity best head), ZW-7000T for ultra-high speed (20 to 400 us, 20 us sampling) and the wider plus or minus 3 mm range, ZW-5000T for cost-effective standard measurement (80 to 1,600 us).
  • Measuring range is a property of the ZW-S/SP/SPR sensor head, not the controller, so spec the head to set standoff (plus or minus 2 mm for 8000T/5000T, up to plus or minus 3 mm for 7000T) and confirm the actual linearity budget, which spans plus or minus 0.3 um to plus or minus 3.0 um across heads and series.
  • Each controller drives exactly one sensor head over the 3 mm flexible fiber cable; size the count of controllers to the number of measurement points and route the fiber away from tight bends.
  • Plan the interface up front: use EtherCAT or EtherNet/IP to stream the measured value, the 32-pole parallel I/O with NPN/PNP judgment outputs for simple pass/fail to a PLC, or the minus 10 to plus 10 V / 4 to 20 mA analog outputs for DAQ or closed-loop control; RS-232C tops out at 115,200 bps.
  • This is panel hardware: IP20 polycarbonate chassis on DIN rail, 21.6 to 26.4 VDC supply, 0 to 40 degree C operating range, so it must sit in a clean enclosure with a regulated 24 VDC feed, not out on the machine.
  • These are the Export Trade Control Order compatible (T) variants with a fixed 0.25 um minimum static resolution; verify that this trade-compliant tier meets your accuracy target before designing it in.

Specifications: General
BrandOmron / Sentech
Sensor typeDistance / displacement (confocal)

Specifications: Performance
Range / distanceMeasuring range up to ±2 mm (ZW-8000T/5000T) / ±3 mm (ZW-7000T), per sensor head
Response timeMeasuring cycle 20 µs to 400 µs (ZW-7000T); 60–7,500 µs (ZW-8000T); 80–1,600 µs (ZW-5000T)
ResolutionStatic resolution 0.25 µm (T controllers: fixed 0.25 µm minimum)
LinearityLinearity ±0.3 µm (ZW-8000T, best head); ±0.45 µm to ±3.0 µm depending on head/series

Specifications: Interface
CommunicationEtherCAT, EtherNet/IP, Ethernet (100BASE-TX/10BASE-T), RS-232C (max 115,200 bps), 32-pole parallel I/O
Connection32-pole parallel/expansion connector, RJ45 (EtherCAT/Ethernet), analog terminal block; fiber head connector

Specifications: Electrical
Supply voltage21.6 to 26.4 VDC (24 VDC nominal, incl. ripple)

Specifications: Environment
Operating temperatureOperating 0 to 40 °C; storage −15 to +60 °C (no freezing/condensation)
IP ratingIP20 (IEC60529)

Specifications: Sensing
Sensing methodWhite-light confocal, fiber-coupled
Light sourceWhite light (LED, confocal spectroscope; Risk Group 1 per IEC62471)

Specifications: Output
Output typeAnalog (−10..+10 V, 4–20 mA), NPN/PNP transistor judgment outputs, IO

Specifications: Mechanical
Housing materialChassis: PC (polycarbonate); DIN-rail mountable
DimensionsApprox. 140 mm (H) × 40.8 mm (W) × 124 mm (D), DIN-rail mount
WeightApprox. 950 g (ZW-8000T/7000T main unit) / 900 g (ZW-5000T)

Frequently asked questions

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