Let’s start with a question: Could a pair of slip-joint pliers be used to drive a nail into a 2 x 4? Sure it could. It requires persistence, and there’s often a great deal of profanity involved, but it can be done. Don’t ask me how I know this. The pliers get the job done, but quite obviously, they’re not the right tool for the job.
But this isn’t a DIY carpentry blog, it’s a blog about industrial sensors. So what does any of this have to do with industrial sensors? Just as it’s important to select the right tool to pound a nail into a piece of wood, it’s also important to choose the right sensor when faced with a sensing task.
For example, let’s say you have an application that requires a position sensor that is going to be subjected to regular, high-pressure wash down. Could you use a standard, IP67-rated sensor? Sure you could, it would work just fine…For a while. And then the profanity would begin again. Fortunately, there are purpose-built sensors designed for just such applications. Or, let’s say you use sensors as part of a welding process, and the weld slag build-up is murdering your sensors. Rather than trying to drive nails with pliers, why not select a hammer right from the start? The right tool for the job.
Most applications for industrial sensors can be solved with standard, general-duty products. But if you have an application that falls outside the “most” category, you’ll save yourself a lot of headaches and frustration by selecting the right tool for the job upfront.
So, whether your “nail” is actually an area with explosive gases, a confined space, tank of sterile liquid, or a welding application, put away those pliers, and get yourself a hammer.
For me, anything is hammer;
except screwdriver …
…that is chisel.