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Brand: SICK
SICK WTB9-3P3461 W9 Background Suppression Sensor
Description
WTB9-3P3461 is a SICK W9 photoelectric proximity sensor (part no. 1049051) that detects objects up to a set distance and ignores whatever lies behind that distance. The catalogue summary lists: functional principle: Photoelectric proximity sensor; functional principle detail: Background suppression; switching output: PNP; switching mode: Light/dark switching; connection type: Cable with M12 male connector, 4-pin, 120 mm.
How the WTB9-3P3461 works and where it fits
Everything beyond the set switching distance is treated as background, so a dark object in front of a bright wall is still detected reliably. Plain diffuse sensors depend on how much light an object reflects, so a white box and a black rubber part at the same distance give very different signals.
Triangulation reduces that dependence, which is why this principle is the usual choice for conveyors with mixed products, for fill-level checks through open containers and for positions where a machine frame sits close behind the target. Darker or shinier objects change the usable range and the distance needed between object and background, so test with your real product before fixing the setting.
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Type code | WTB9-3P3461 |
| Part number | 1049051 |
| Product family | W9 |
| Functional principle | Photoelectric proximity sensor |
| Functional principle detail | Background suppression |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 12.2 mm x 50 mm x 23.6 mm |
| Housing design (light emission) | Rectangular |
| Mounting hole | M3 |
| Sensing range max. | 20 mm … 350 mm |
| Sensing range | 20 mm … 200 mm |
| Light source | PinPoint LED |
| Light spot size (distance) | Ø 4.5 mm (75 mm) |
| Adjustment | Potentiometer, 5 turns |
| Supply voltage UB | 10 V DC … 30 V DC |
| Current consumption | 30 mA |
| Switching output | PNP |
| Output function | Complementary |
| Switching mode | Light/dark switching |
| Output current Imax. | ≤ 100 mA |
| Response time | < 0.333 ms |
| Switching frequency | 1,500 Hz |
| Connection type | Cable with M12 male connector, 4-pin, 120 mm |
| Circuit protection | A; B; C |
| Weight | 80 g |
| Housing material | Plastic, VISTAL® |
| Optics material | Plastic, PMMA |
| Enclosure rating | IP66; IP67; IP69K |
| Ambient operating temperature | –40 °C … +60 °C |
| Ambient temperature, storage | –40 °C … +75 °C |
| MTTFD | 1,030 years |
| Declarations and certificates in the data sheet | EU declaration of conformity; UK declaration of conformity; ACMA declaration of conformity; Moroccan declaration of conformity; China RoHS; China Compulsory Product Certification (CCC) exempt; ECOLAB certificate; cULus certificate; Photobiological safety (DIN EN 62471) certificate |
Type code WTB9-3P3461 and what to check before ordering
Supply and signal data as listed: response time of < 0.333 ms; range of 20 mm … 350 mm; current of 30 mA; supply of 10 V DC … 30 V DC; frequency of 1,500 Hz; connection of cable with M12 male connector, 4-pin, 120 mm; outputs of PNP.
Fitting and site conditions are covered by these entries: light source is visible red light; enclosure rating is IP66; IP67; IP69K; weight is 80 g; operating temperature is –40 °C … +60 °C; housing is plastic, VISTAL®; dimensions is 12.2 mm x 50 mm x 23.6 mm; wavelength is 650 nm.
A single character in the type code can change polarity or connector.
For installation, align the sensor so the object passes through the middle of the sensing range, keep the front screen clean and fix the bracket firmly; vibration of the mount moves the spot as much as it moves the object.
Documents and quotation
Attached to this page: the SICK data sheet for WTB9-3P3461, part no. 1049051, as published by SICK. Send the type code, quantity and delivery location through the RFQ form and Seven Star LLC, an independent supplier in Muscat, will respond with a quotation. Similar products sit under Sensors & Transmitters. Confirm the full code against the device it replaces; if this page and the data sheet ever disagree, follow the data sheet.
Datasheets & Documents
- Datasheet SICK WTB9-3P3461 official data sheet (part no. 1049051) Download
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About brand
SICK is the German maker of industrial sensors: photoelectric and proximity sensors, safety laser scanners and light curtains, encoders, distance sensors, code readers and gas analysers. Erwin Sick, an optics engineer, founded it in Munich in 1946, and in 1952 it introduced its first marketable accident-prevention light curtain, which protected press operators by stopping the machine when a hand broke the light beam. The company moved to Waldkirch in the Black Forest in 1956 and is still headquartered there. It is a privately held company, and has been an Aktiengesellschaft (AG) since 1996.
SICK company profile
| Founded | 1946, Munich, Germany, by Erwin Sick (1909–1988) |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Waldkirch, Baden-Württemberg, Germany (since 1956) |
| Ownership | Privately held; after the founder's death in 1988 his widow Gisela Sick became the main shareholder. Legal form SICK AG since 1996 |
| Size | More than 12,000 employees and group revenue of about EUR 2.3 billion (company figures for 2023) |
| First breakthrough | Accident-prevention light curtain for presses, shown in Hanover in 1952 |
| International growth | First foreign subsidiary in France in 1972, United States in 1976; today sales and service companies worldwide |
| Product families | Photoelectric, inductive, capacitive, magnetic and ultrasonic sensors; safety laser scanners, light curtains, safety controllers and relays; encoders and motor feedback systems; distance sensors and LiDAR; barcode and 2D code readers and machine vision; gas analysers, dust and flow measurement for process and emissions monitoring |
Milestones
- 1946: Erwin Sick receives a licence to run his engineering firm in Munich.
- 1952: The first marketable accident-prevention light curtain is presented in Hanover and goes into series production.
- 1956: The company moves to Waldkirch with 25 employees.
- 1972 and 1976: Subsidiaries are founded in France and the United States.
- 1996: SICK becomes an Aktiengesellschaft.
- Today: Sensors for factory and logistics automation, machine safety and process analysis, with a large share of revenue outside Germany.
Choosing a SICK sensor
For object detection, the sensing principle comes first. A retro-reflective sensor (WL series) sends light to a reflector and switches when an object breaks the beam; it is reliable over long distances and easy to align. A sensor with background suppression (WTB series) detects an object at a set distance and ignores what is behind it, which suits conveyors with shiny or dark backgrounds. A through-beam pair (WS/WE) gives the longest range and the highest reliability in dust. For transparent bottles and film, use a model built for transparent objects (for example WL12G-3B or WL150-P420). The digits in the code also matter: "P" usually means a PNP output and "N" NPN, and the last digits set the connector or cable. For machine guarding, a safety laser scanner such as nanoScan3 or microScan3 protects an area, while a safety controller such as Flexi Soft combines several safety devices.
Where SICK products are used
In Oman and the GCC, SICK sensors are used in packaging and bottling lines, food and beverage plants, logistics and airport baggage handling, cement and steel plants, ports and cranes, automated warehouses, and on machines built by European OEMs. SICK safety scanners guard robots and automated guided vehicles, and its encoders give position feedback on motors, hoists and conveyors.
SICK products we list
| Family | Examples |
|---|---|
| Photoelectric sensors | WL12-3P2431, WTB12-3P2431, GTB6-P4211, VL18-4P3240, WL12G-3B2531, WS/WE100, KT5W contrast, W26 IO-Link |
| Proximity, cylinder and ultrasonic sensors | IME12-08NPSZC0S, IME18-05BPSZC0S, MZT8, UM18 4-20 mA, UM30, UFN3 fork |
| Machine safety | nanoScan3, microScan3, S300 Professional, Flexi Soft FX3-CPU1, FX3-XTIO, ReLy OSSD |
| Encoders and motor feedback | DFS60B, AFM60 PROFINET, AFS60 SSI, ATM60 PROFIBUS, SRS50, EFS50 |
| Distance sensors and code readers | DT50, DL50, DT35, Lector632 |
Ordering SICK products: what we need
Send the type code and the 7-digit SICK part number from the label (for example WTB12-3P2431 together with its part number). For a replacement sensor, add the output (PNP or NPN), connection (M8, M12 or cable) and sensing distance. For encoders, add the interface (incremental, SSI, PROFIBUS, PROFINET), resolution and shaft type. For safety scanners, tell us the model and whether the existing configuration needs to be kept.
Facts checked against SICK's published company history and annual figures, October 2026.
Browse SICK products by category: Sensors & Transmitters.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the SICK WTB9-3P3461?
It is a SICK background suppression sensor (W9), part no. 1049051. The catalogue summary reads: Functional principle: Photoelectric proximity sensor; Functional principle detail: Background suppression; Switching output: PNP; Switching mode: Light/dark switching.
What supply does the WTB9-3P3461 need?
Supply voltage is 10 V DC ... 30 V DC. Check the output and interface rows in the table for the signal levels.
What protection rating and temperature range are given?
Enclosure rating: IP66; IP67; IP69K. Ambient operating temperature: –40 °C ... +60 °C. Confirm both against the site before ordering.
Does the page include the data sheet?
Yes. The official SICK data sheet for part no. 1049051 is attached as a PDF and linked on this page; where it differs from the page text, the data sheet applies.
What should be confirmed before ordering the WTB9-3P3461?
Compare the full type code and part number 1049051 with the device being replaced, check supply, output or interface and mounting, and send the details through the RFQ form. Seven Star LLC is an independent supplier, not a SICK partner.
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