Packaging Options for the MaxSonar Sensors

Key Takeaways

  • Maxbotix Inc., offers a variety of housing types for many of our popular sensors
  • The WR full horn housings generally provides the best performance
  • Compact WR housings provide wider beam patterns with weaker detections

Over the past 10 years, MaxBotix expanded the number of packaging options available for each many of our sensors. Each option provides unique benefits to certain mounting integrations. This article provides a brief overview of every packaging style.

EZ Packaging Style

This style operates best in protected environments. Do not use this style in locations that experience the following conditions: rain, snow, dense fog, or heavy dust. You can read more about protected vs non-protected environments in this article.

The EZ packaging option comes in three variations. The variations depend solely on the selected sensor line and cannot be changed on request. Each of the EZ variations is shown below. Each sensor offers mounting holes and a similar footprint.

HRUSB-MaxSonar-EZ Products

HRUSB-MaxSonar-EZ Products

This sensor type uses a USB connection and has a flat back.

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LV-MaxSonar-EZ Products

LV-MaxSonar-EZ Products

This sensor types uses the 7 pin MaxSonar connection and has a flat back.

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XL-MaxSonar-EZ Products

XL-MaxSonar-EZ Products

This sensor types uses the 7 pin MaxSonar connection and requires a cutout for the back.

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The majority of our housing options are available in our IP67 sensors. These IP67 rated options operate well in all environments including ones that experience the following conditions: rain, snow, dense fog, or heavy dust. You can read more about protected vs non-protected environments in this article.

Full Horn housing optionStandard Housing (the full horn): The horn on our standard housing focuses the acoustic energy of the sensor and results in a longer and narrower detection zone than that offered by the other housing options. The opposite end of this housing is threaded in the 3/4" national pipe thread straight style for easy installation in your application.

Compact housing optionCompact Housing (the WRC): The WRC package is the same as the standard housing except the horn no longer extends beyond the transducer. This is ideal for integrations where the full horn will not fit. This compact version of the sensor has a detection zone that is a bit shorter and wider than the standard housing.

Ultra Compact housing optionUltra Compact Housing (Green PCB and Transducer only): Available only for some select sensor lines, this is our smallest packaging option and can be used in areas where space is at a premium. The ultra compact housing allows you to use the sensor with or without a horn designed into your application. When a horn is not used, it has a similar beam pattern to the compact housing. To maintain IP67 integrity, the user is required to ensure proper sealing methods are followed.

NPS housing option1" NPS Housing: This housing is a fully threaded National Pipe Thread Straight housing with the same beam pattern as the compact housing. This is designed to fit into a common 1”NPS port hole.

BSPP housing option1" BSPP Housing: This housing is identical to the 1" NPS except that it has British Standard Pipe Parallel threading. This is designed to fit into a common 1”BSPP port hole.

30mm 1.5 housing option30mm 1.5 Housing: This housing is similar to the 1" NPS housing except that it has 30mm 1.5 threading. This is designed to fit into a common 30mm 1.5 port hole.

MB8450 housing optionThe MB8450 is an altogether unique packaging option in the fact that the IP67 transducer is separate from the PCB and can be plugged in. This allows the user to mount the transducer independent from the PCB control board.

If your packaging needs are not met by one of the above options, you can always consider completing a custom development using our NRE development process. You can read more about the NRE process at this link.

If you have any questions about a sensor's specifications, contact our technical support team. We will be more than happy to help.

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