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Brand: SICK
SICK GL6L-P3211 G6 Retro-Reflective Sensor
Description
GL6L-P3211 is a SICK G6 retro-reflective photoelectric sensor (part no. 1117677) that sends a light beam to a reflector and switches when an object interrupts it. The catalogue summary lists: sensing range min. / max.: 0.08 m / 12 m; functional principle: Photoelectric retro-reflective sensor; switching output: PNP; switching mode: Light/dark switching; connection type: Connector M8, 3-pin.
GL6L-P3211: function, principle and typical use
A triple reflector returns the light to the sensor even when it is not perfectly aligned, and the sensing range in the table depends on the reflector type used for the measurement, so a smaller reflector or a dirty one shortens the usable range. Polarisation filters in the sensor allow shiny objects to be detected: a mirror-like surface reflects light without rotating its polarisation, so it is not mistaken for the reflector.
Sensors without a polarising filter can be fooled by glossy packaging, so check the light type and the principle listed for this type. Alignment is straightforward: the visible spot should hit the reflector in its centre, and the signal indicator LED shows whether enough light returns.
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Type code | GL6L-P3211 |
| Part number | 1117677 |
| Product family | G6 |
| Functional principle | Photoelectric retro-reflective sensor |
| Sensing range: Sensing range min. | 0.08 m |
| Sensing range: Sensing range max. | 12 m |
| Sensing range: Maximum distance range from reflector to sensor (operating reserve 1) | 0.08 m … 12 m |
| Sensing range: Recommended distance range from reflector to sensor (operating reserve 2) | 0.08 m … 10 m |
| Sensing range: Reference reflector | Reflector P250F |
| Sensing range: Recommended sensing range for the best performance | 0.08 m … 4.2 m |
| Polarisation filter | Yes |
| Emitted beam: Light source | Laser |
| Emitted beam: Type of light | Visible red light |
| Emitted beam: Shape of light spot | Point-shaped |
| Emitted beam: Light spot size (distance) | Ø 3.5 mm (1,000 mm) |
| Emitted beam: Maximum dispersion of the emitted beam around the standardized transmission axis (squint angle) | < +/- 1.5° (at TU = +23 °C) |
| Key laser figures: Normative reference | IEC 60825-1 / CDRH 21 CFR 1040.10 & 1040.11 |
| Key laser figures: Laser class | 1 |
| Key laser figures: Wave length | 680 nm |
| Key laser figures: Pulse duration | 2 µs |
| Key laser figures: Maximum pulse power | ≤ 11.9 mW |
| Key laser figures: Average service life | 100,000 h at Ta = +25 °C |
| Adjustment: Potentiometer | For setting the sensing range |
| Adjustment: Operating mode switch | For inverting the switching function (light/dark switching) |
| MTTFD | 1,005 years |
| DCavg | 0 % |
| Supply voltage UB | 10 V DC … 30 V DC |
| Usage category | DC-13 (According to EN 60947-5-2) |
| Current consumption | ≤ 20 mA, without load. At UB = 24 V |
| Digital output: Number | 1 |
| 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; cULus certificate; Laser safety (IEC 60825-1) declaration of manufacturer |
Type code GL6L-P3211 and what to check before ordering
For the control cabinet and the cable run, the relevant figures are range of 0.08 m; supply of 10 V DC … 30 V DC; frequency of 1,000 Hz; current of ≤ 20 mA, without load. At UB = 24 V; response time of ≤ 625 µs.
For the mounting location, note dimensions is 12 mm x 31.5 mm x 21 mm; light source is Laser; wavelength is 680 nm; enclosure rating is IP67 (EN 60529); weight is approx. 60 g; vibration is 10 Hz … 55 Hz (Amplitude 0.5 mm, 3 x 30 min (EN60068-2-6)); operating temperature is –20 °C … +50 °C.
Compare the complete type code with the unit being replaced.
Typical uses are detection of boxes and containers on conveyors, door and gate monitoring, pallet and vehicle presence, and counting in packaging machines.
Related SICK products: SICK GL6G-P4211 Retro-Reflective Sensor, SICK WL4SL-3P2232 W4 Retro-Reflective Sensor, SICK GL6-P1212 G6 Retro-Reflective Sensor Set, 2 m Cable, SICK WL12G-3V2572 Retro-Reflective Sensor, SICK GL6-P4211 G6 Retro-Reflective Photoelectric Sensor, M8 and SICK WL4SLG-3P5254H W4 Retro-Reflective Sensor.
Setting up the GL6L-P3211 on site
The GL6L-P3211 is a retro-reflective sensor, so the emitter and receiver are in one housing and the light beam returns from a reflector mounted opposite. SICK specifies the reflector P250F as the reference reflector. The maximum distance from reflector to sensor is 0.08 m to 12 m (operating reserve 1) and the recommended range is 0.08 m to 10 m (operating reserve 2). For the best performance SICK recommends 0.08 m to 4.2 m, so a short, well-aligned beam gives the most margin against dust and misalignment.
Commissioning uses three simple elements described in the data sheet:
- Potentiometer for setting the sensing range.
- Operating mode switch for inverting the switching function between light switching and dark switching.
- Two LEDs: green is static on when power is on; yellow shows the status of the received light beam (static on when no object is present, static off when an object is present).
The polarisation filter helps the sensor ignore reflections from shiny objects passing through the beam, which is useful on conveyors carrying metal cans or film-wrapped packs.
Why the laser light source matters
The visible red laser (680 nm, laser class 1) produces a point-shaped light spot of about Ø 3.5 mm at 1,000 mm. SICK states the smallest detectable object as typically 3.5 mm at 1 m distance. This makes the sensor suitable for detecting small parts, edges and narrow gaps where a standard LED sensor would have a much wider spot. The visible beam also makes alignment easy. SICK’s data sheet warns not to look into the laser beam intentionally or point it at people’s eyes. The electrical side is simple: 10 to 30 V DC supply, one PNP output rated up to 100 mA, response time up to 625 µs and a switching frequency of 1,000 Hz.
Documents and quotation
The official SICK data sheet for GL6L-P3211 (part no. 1117677) is attached as a PDF. 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 GL6L-P3211 official data sheet (part no. 1117677) 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 GL6L-P3211?
It is a SICK retro-reflective sensor (G6), part no. 1117677. The catalogue summary reads: Sensing range min. / max.: 0.08 m / 12 m; Functional principle: Photoelectric retro-reflective sensor; Switching output: PNP; Switching mode: Light/dark switching.
What supply does the GL6L-P3211 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: IP67 (EN 60529). Ambient operating temperature: –20 °C ... +50 °C. Confirm both against the site before ordering.
Does the page include the data sheet?
Yes. The official SICK data sheet for part no. 1117677 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 GL6L-P3211?
Compare the full type code and part number 1117677 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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