Panasonic SF4B-A20CA-J05 Compact Safety Light Curtain

Technical Overview

Type 4 PLe SIL3 compact safety light curtain with 20 beam channels, 823.4mm protective height, 45mm object detection, 0.3-7m range, and IP65 rating.

Key Features

Type 4 PLe SIL3 safety rating for stringent protection
Compact profile with 19.6 mm width and 27.4 mm depth
Lightweight construction with plastic body and metal inner frame
Muting control function for individual beams to optimize material flow
Fixed and floating blanking functions for diverse application needs
Large multi-purpose indicator for clear beam, muting, and work status
PNP/NPN polarity support for flexible control system integration
External device monitor function for simplified safety circuit setup
Extraneous Light Check & Avoid (ELCA) function minimizes interference
Beam-axis alignment indicator for easy and precise installation
IP65 rated enclosure for industrial environment protection
Wide operating temperature range of -10 to +55 °C

Technical Specification Matrix

Parameter	Value
Safety Category	Type 4 PLe SIL3 (IEC 61496-1/2, ISO 13849-1)
Protective Height	823.4 mm (32.417 in)
Number of Beam Channels	20
Minimum Sensing Object	Ø45 mm (Ø1.772 in) for Arm / Foot Protection
Beam Pitch	40 mm (1.575 in)
Operating Range	0.3 to 7 m (0.984 to 22.966 ft)
Supply Voltage	24 V DC ±10% (Ripple P-P 10% or less)
Current Consumption (Emitter, Indicator OFF)	70 mA or less
Current Consumption (Receiver, Indicator OFF)	85 mA or less
Control Outputs (OSSD 1, OSSD 2)	PNP / NPN Open-Collector Transistor
Max Output Current (OSSD)	200 mA
OFF Response Time	14 ms or less
ON Response Time	80 to 90 ms
Degree of Protection	IP65 (IEC)
Ambient Operating Temperature	-10 to +55 °C (+14 to +131 °F)
Ambient Operating Humidity	30 to 85% RH (No dew condensation or icing allowed)
Vibration Resistance	10 to 55 Hz frequency, 0.75 mm amplitude (X, Y, Z for 2 hours each)
Shock Resistance	300 m/s² (30 G approx.) (X, Y, Z for 3 times each)
Emitting Element	Infrared LED (Peak emission wavelength: 850 nm)
Enclosure Material	Polycarbonate (Plastic body with Metal inner frame)
Cable Type (Pigtailed)	0.15 mm² (power line: 0.2 mm²) 12-core heat-resistant PVC, 0.5 m (1.640 ft) long
Physical Weight (kg)	0.91
Dimensions L x W x H (cm)	82.34 x 1.96 x 2.74

Industrial Applications

1. Machine Guarding for Robotic Workcells

This SF4B-A20CA-J05 safety light curtain can be integrated into robotic workcells to create a protective barrier around hazardous moving parts, ensuring operator safety. Its Type 4 PLe SIL3 rating meets stringent international safety standards. The 823.4 mm protective height is suitable for guarding access to smaller-to-medium sized robotic arms or processing stations. The slim 19.6x27.4 mm profile allows for installation without impeding machinery opening space.

Problem Solved

Prevents human operators from entering hazardous robotic workcell areas during operation, reducing accident risk while maintaining efficient production flow through quick detection and machine shutdown.

Robotic safetymachine guardingpersonnel protectionhazardous zoneType 4 PLe SIL3compact installation

2. Access Protection for Material Handling Systems

Ideal for safeguarding access points on conveyor belts, automated guided vehicle (AGV) loading stations, or material transfer systems. The 45 mm minimum sensing object detection is appropriate for arm/foot protection, while the 0.3 to 7 m operating range provides flexibility for various system sizes. The multi-purpose indicator can be used for muting applications, allowing materials to pass without stopping the system while detecting human intrusion.

Problem Solved

Ensures operator safety during material loading/unloading or maintenance access to moving parts in material handling, providing adaptable blanking functions for material throughput without compromising safety.

Conveyor safetyAGV accessmaterial transfermuting functionaccess control45mm object detection

3. Point-of-Operation Guarding on Assembly Lines

Suitable for guarding the point of operation on manual or semi-automated assembly lines, presses, or assembly machines where operators interact with processes. The compact design and embedded mounting options ensure the light curtain does not protrude, preventing collision with workpieces or operators. The PNP/NPN polarity support simplifies integration with existing control systems, and the IP65 rating provides robustness in industrial environments.

Problem Solved

Protects operators from pinch points and moving tooling at the point of operation on machinery, integrating seamlessly into tight spaces and offering flexible output configuration for diverse control architectures.

Point-of-operationassembly machine safetypress guardingcompact integrationPNP/NPN outputIP65 protection