How to find the right Linear Sensors AI guide
Written by an AI model from its trained knowledge.
What the AI looks for in Linear Sensors
- Stroke length
- Choose a measuring stroke at least equal to the full travel to be measured, with margin. Travel beyond the stroke damages contact sensors or reads out of range.
- Contact vs contactless
- Resistive (potentiometric) sensors are cheap but wear. Prefer LVDT, magnetostrictive or inductive types for high-cycle or dirty environments. Wiper wear is the main failure mode of resistive linear sensors.
- Output signal
- Match the output (ratiometric voltage, 0-10 V, 4-20 mA, SSI, IO-Link, or AC for LVDTs needing signal conditioning) to your controller. Raw LVDTs need a separate conditioner to produce a usable signal.
- Resolution and linearity
- Compare linearity as % of full scale and resolution on the datasheet. These separate positioning-grade sensors from rough indication.
- Mounting and protection
- Check rod-end, slider or draw-wire mounting and an IP rating suited to the environment. Misalignment loads destroy rod-style sensors.
Brands that matter
- Temposonics: Magnetostrictive position sensors, common in hydraulic cylinders.
- Balluff: Magnetostrictive and inductive linear position sensors.
- Novotechnik: Potentiometric and contactless linear transducers.
- TE Connectivity: LVDTs and other position sensors.
- Bourns: Slide potentiometers and position sensors for electronics.
What to avoid
- Resistive linear pots in high-vibration or high-cycle machines.
- Buying a bare LVDT without a matching signal conditioner.