Indexing plungers with position signal

Indexing plungers very often fulfill safety functions – but this isn’t the only time when it is important to obtain feedback about their position. With the new series GN 817.6, Ganter now also allows automated status checks.

A new indexing plunger? Yes and no: The new Ganter standard part GN 817.6 offers the familiar basic functionality of a proven indexing plunger but with the key addition of an integrated sensor. This reports the position of the plunger pin by means of an electrical signal – over a cable connection terminating with an M8 standard connector. Three-wire signal transmission by cable was deliberately selected by Ganter. This is safer, more stable and, above all, easier to integrate than a wireless connection, which would have to get by without any status display in order to prolong the battery change intervals.

If the plunger pin has passed two thirds of the plunger distance upon operation, the sensor reports correct plunging: visually via the LED display on the sensor and in the form of a high signal via the cable to a downstream control unit. The position indication is handled by a small permanent magnet in the plunger pin as well as the sensor, which is compactly inserted into the prepared ring groove beneath the black actuating button in any orientation and held in place with a clip. The user can freely select the outgoing direction of the sensor cable by twisting it to easily adapt it to the specific installation situation.

The indexing plunger is available with and without rest position in all typical sizes from 4 to 16 millimeters pin diameter and thread sizes from M8 to M24 – making it suitable for all application scenarios.

Thanks to the standard connection dimensions, the plunger can easily be used as a replacement for typical indexing plungers. All variants consist of Stainless Steel because this material only minimally shields the integrated magnet, thereby avoiding interference with the functioning of the sensor.

The Stainless Steel-Indexing plunger GN 817.6 with electronic status check is in good company in the Ganter selection. Roughly 30 product series, including U-handles with power switching, hinges with safety switch and electrical level monitoring devices, are offered along with the EPLAN macros required for documentation.