Connectors - Microscan QX Hawk User Manual

Connectors

Connectors

Industrial cabling and connectivity schemes must be able to withstand environmental
extremes of heat, cold, and moisture, and be secure enough not to be disconnected or
damaged inadvertently in the course of day-to-day operation.
The current industry standard for connectivity is a sealed, circular connector such as the
M12. The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)
describes them as fixed and free screw-locking connectors. This type of connector is widely
available off-the-shelf from manufacturers such as Turck, Lumberg,
Molex, or Binder.
The QX Hawk uses sealed, circular connectors with Ultra-Lock™ technology. Ultra-Lock
connectors are more resistant to harsh industrial conditions, and are easy to connect.
Ultra-Lock Connectors
Microscan has adopted Ultra-Lock connectivity because of speed, ease-of-use, and
ingress protection considerations. The main advantage of the Ultra-Lock system is that
only two steps are required at every connection point:
1. Align the connector and receptacle keys;
2. Push the connector into place. (Do not twist the connector, as this can bend the pins.)
Ultra-Lock connectors are "operator-independent". This means that they are not subject to
under-tightening or over-tightening, both of which are common problems with screw-down
connectors, and both of which undermine the moisture-resistant seal.
Ultra-Lock Connector
Another advantage of the QX Hawk's Ultra-Lock connectivity scheme is that the Ultra-Lock
receptacles on the imagers and the QX-1 Interface Device also accept screw-down connectors,
giving users the flexibility to use either Ultra-Lock or screw-down connectors.
"Ultra-Lock" is a trademark of Woodhead (Molex).
3-2
Traditional Threaded Connectors
QX Hawk Industrial Imager User's Manual
standard for M12 connectors
Phoenix Contact,