Detecting different metal objects and control cylinder with SIG200 and SIG100

Today we will show you a nice application from a customer.

The customer wants to detect different metal objects on a conveyor belt. ST37, aluminum, brass and stainless steel have to be differentiated. The goal is to control different cylinders to sort the metal objects with the same quality. The whole system should function as a stand-alone system.

Our solution is a standalone solution with one SIG200, one SIG100, one WTB4…A00, one IMC18…A00 and four GL6 with reflectors.
With the IMC we can differentiate the different metals and with the SIG200 we can make the logic to control everything.
The application and the setup is as shown in the screenshots below.

Configuration SIG200
At the tab “IO-Link ports” you have to upload the IODD’s for the sensors and choose it at the drop-down menu named “IODD file” from the expected port. In this example, port one is the SIG100, port two is the WTB4…A00 and port three is the IMC…A00.


At the “IO-Link Device” tab you have to change the input process data to “PDOut option 1 (IL1…IL16)”



The next step is the logic editor.

The logic in a short form. Compare the analog value from the IMC with constant value to figure out which material is in front, set the RS flip flop till the material passes the correct conveyor and is moved with the pneumatic cylinder. The signal for the pneumatic cylinder will be transferred via IO-Link to the SIG100. The SIG100 controls the pneumatic cylinders and with a back loop to the SIG200 the complete function will be reset.


The configuration of the SIG100. Pin2 and Pin4 of the first two ports are used to control the valves of the pneumatic cylinder. Pin 4 from port 3-6 are used for the GL6. The configuration and the function is like shown below.

The logic is as already described with the SIG200.