SICK WL12L-2B530 Laser Retro-Reflective Sensor, 18 m

W12 laser reflex sensor for small objects and long beams

The SICK WL12L-2B530 (part no. 1018252) is a W12 retro-reflective sensor with a class 2 red laser, polarisation filter and autocollimation optics, so it works without a minimum distance to the reflector. It reaches up to 18 m with a spot of only 0.8 mm at 300 mm, and the optics can be focused from 300 mm to infinity. These features make it a tool for detecting small objects and fast-moving parts.

The metal rectangular housing carries an M12 5-pin plug and an output that can be wired PNP or NPN, with IP67 and IP69K ratings.

Technical specifications

Laser safety and alignment

The sensor emits visible red laser light of class 2 with pulses of 4 microseconds and a maximum pulse power below 5 mW, as stated in the data sheet. SICK warns not to look intentionally into the laser beam and never to point it at anyone eyes. Include this in the machine risk assessment and fit the warning labels that come with the product.

The red spot makes alignment easy, and the focus ring brings the spot to a sharp point at the reflector for detecting objects of a few millimetres. The data sheet quotes a service life of 50,000 h at +25 °C, shorter than the 100,000 h of LED types. Choose this model only when small-object resolution or long range justifies a laser source.

Ordering and variants

Quote WL12L-2B530 with part no. 1018252. SICK lists other versions with suffixes such as A01 or S05 for different connections or functions; these are different part numbers. A reflector is not in the delivery, so order a PL80A or similar separately.

Why autocollimation and polarisation matter

In a conventional retro-reflective sensor the sender and receiver lenses sit side by side, creating a blind zone close to the sensor where the reflected light misses the receiver. With autocollimation the transmitted and received light share the same optical axis, so the WL12L-2B530 detects objects right up to the front screen and works with a reflector at any distance up to 18 m. The polarisation filter means only light whose polarisation has been rotated by a prismatic reflector is accepted, so shiny objects such as foil, metal cans or polished parts passing through the beam are not mistaken for the reflector.

Typical applications

• Detecting thin edges, wires, pins and small components on assembly lines.
• Monitoring long conveyor sections, gantries and storage aisles where an 18 m beam is useful.
• Counting or timing fast-moving products, using the 2,500 Hz switching frequency.
• Height and presence checks where the narrow beam must pass through small gaps.
• Wash-down areas in food and beverage plants, where the IP69K rating applies.

Installation tips

• Mount the sensor with the supplied BEF-KH-W12 clamps on a rigid bracket; at long ranges a small angular movement shifts the spot significantly at the reflector.
• Focus the beam at the reflector distance or the object plane where small-object detection is required, then set sensitivity with the potentiometer.
• Select PNP or NPN and light or dark switching through the wiring of the L/D control cable to suit the PLC input.
• Use a polarisation-compatible prismatic reflector; reflective tape without the correct microprism structure may not work with the polarisation filter.
• Keep the front screen clean; a laser spot is more sensitive to dust and droplets on the optics than a large LED spot.

Working in Gulf environments

The operating limit of +50 °C is lower than many outdoor summer surface temperatures in Oman, so use this sensor indoors or in shaded, ventilated positions. Airborne dust in cement, mining and logistics sites gradually reduces the signal; plan regular cleaning of the lens and the reflector. Laser class 2 requires warning labels and awareness training under the plant’s safety procedures.

Wiring the M12 connector

The five-pin M12 plug carries the supply (10 to 30 V DC), the switching output and the L/D control line. Use a shielded or at least separately routed cordset away from motor cables and inverter outputs, because the 200 µs response time makes the sensor capable of reacting to short electrical interference as well as to genuine objects. A protection class III device should be fed from a SELV/PELV power supply.

RFQ checklist

• Type WL12L-2B530 and part number 1018252.
• Reflector type and size.
• M12 5-pin connecting cable length and type.
• Mounting bracket if different from the supplied clamps.
• Quantity and delivery point.

Documents and quotation

This page links the original SICK data sheet for WL12L-2B530 (part no. 1018252). Values in the specification table were copied from that document. Seven Star LLC supplies SICK products as an independent supplier in Muscat; send your request with the exact type and part number, the quantity and the delivery point, and mention any need for a reflector, bracket or mating cordset. Please verify the details with us before placing an order, since the manufacturer may change data without notice. See also sensors and transmitters and the SICK WTB4-3 miniature photoelectric sensor.