The task is clear: solenoid interlocks are designed keep a guard door locked until a hazardous overrun movement has come to a halt. Varied types of solenoid interlock have this same basic principle in common. Manufacturers, like the Schmersal Group, have more than just one series in their range – Schmersal has eight, in fact, each with its own specific application profile (Figure 1).

Slimline design, good integration

The AZM150 series, one of the newer types of solenoid interlock, is now available as a fundamentally overhauled version and is aimed at users looking for a more slimline design (Figure 2). It is suitable for mounting on standard 40 mm profile systems as well as for mounting on conventional machinery enclosures, particularly those with smaller guard doors. The AZM150 has only a small installation footprint and can be easily integrated into the surrounding structure, thus having no impact on machine loading and unloading. The locking force of 1,500N is also perfectly adequate for common applications in mechanical engineering.

When costs play a role

Another criterion is the desire for a cost-effective solution for a maximum safety level of PL d/Cat 3. This level is achieved just as efficiently with the electromechanical AZM150 as excellent tamper protection with coding level ‘High’. At this level, the designer or machinery builder benefits from needing to implement fewer additional measures in accordance with ISO 14119 to guard against tampering, such as inaccessible or concealed mounting. This makes the design ‘leaner’ and more straightforward indirectly being cost-effective.  

Wide range of uses