ACM TS.60 Non-Contact Infrared Temperature Sensor

Overview

The ACM TS.60 is a precision-engineered non-contact infrared temperature sensor developed by ACM, an Austrian engineering consortium established in 1982. Designed for high-reliability industrial process monitoring, the TS.60 operates on the physical principle of infrared radiation thermometry—measuring the spectral radiant intensity emitted by objects within the mid-wave infrared band (typically 5–14 µm), which correlates directly with surface temperature according to Planck’s law and the Stefan-Boltzmann equation. Unlike contact-based thermistors or RTDs, the TS.60 eliminates thermal lag, mechanical wear, and contamination risk by acquiring temperature data without physical interaction. Its fixed-focus optical system enables consistent spot measurement across defined target distances (standard field-of-view: 15:1 D:S ratio), making it especially suitable for dynamic, high-speed production environments where real-time thermal profiling is critical—such as bottle surface monitoring in beverage bottling lines.

Key Features

• Non-contact infrared measurement with ±0.1 °C accuracy over 0–100 °C range, traceable to NIST-traceable calibration standards
• Industrial-grade 24 VDC power input (1 W nominal consumption) with reverse-polarity and overvoltage protection
• Digital RS-485 output compliant with Modbus RTU protocol, enabling seamless integration into SCADA, MES, and PLC-based control architectures
• Optimized optical path with fused silica lens assembly, delivering stable focus and minimal drift under ambient temperature fluctuations (operating range: −10 to +60 °C)
• Robust IP65-rated aluminum housing with stainless steel mounting interface, rated for continuous operation in humid, dusty, and vibration-prone factory environments
• Factory-calibrated emissivity setting (default ε = 0.95), with user-adjustable emissivity compensation via configuration software for materials including PET, glass, aluminum, and coated polymers

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The TS.60 is validated for surface temperature measurement of non-reflective, semi-opaque targets typical in food & beverage processing—including PET preforms, filled glass bottles, aluminum cans, and stainless-steel conveyors. It complies with EN 61326-1 for electromagnetic compatibility in industrial settings and meets CE marking requirements per Directive 2014/30/EU (EMC) and 2011/65/EU (RoHS). While not certified for intrinsic safety (ATEX/IECEx), its low-power design and isolation architecture support deployment in Zone 2 classified areas when installed per IEC 60079-14 guidelines. The sensor supports GLP/GMP-aligned data integrity workflows when paired with audit-trail-enabled host systems; raw temperature values include timestamping and diagnostic flags (e.g., signal saturation, lens contamination warning) transmitted via Modbus registers.

Software & Data Management

Configuration, diagnostics, and firmware updates are performed using ACM’s proprietary PC-based utility (Windows 10/11 compatible), which provides real-time waveform visualization, emissivity tuning, and linearization curve editing. All measurement data exported via RS-485 includes embedded metadata: sensor ID, UTC timestamp (synchronized via host), measurement status code, and environmental compensation index. When integrated with OPC UA servers or time-series databases (e.g., InfluxDB, PI System), the TS.60 supports automated trend analysis, SPC charting (per ISO 7870-2), and deviation alerting based on configurable upper/lower limits. Data logs adhere to FDA 21 CFR Part 11 principles when used with validated electronic record systems—ensuring attributable, legible, contemporaneous, original, and accurate (ALCOA+) data handling.

Applications

• Beverage industry: Real-time monitoring of PET bottle surface temperature post-stretch-blow molding and pre-filling to ensure thermal stability during carbonation and capping
• Pharmaceutical packaging: Verification of vial and ampoule surface temperatures during depyrogenation tunnel exit and lyophilization loading
• Food processing: Continuous thermal validation of metal conveyor belts, oven exit zones, and chilled filling heads in HACCP-critical control points
• Lab-scale process development: Non-invasive temperature mapping of reaction vessels, bioreactor jackets, and microfluidic chip surfaces
• Quality assurance labs: Reference-grade verification of contact probe calibrations against blackbody sources (NIST-traceable, 0–100 °C range)

FAQ

What is the recommended minimum target size for accurate measurement?
For optimal accuracy, the target diameter should exceed the sensor’s spot size at the chosen working distance—calculated as distance divided by optical ratio (15:1). At 300 mm distance, minimum measurable spot diameter is 20 mm.
Can the TS.60 measure through transparent barriers such as glass or plastic windows?
No—standard operation requires direct line-of-sight to the target surface. Optical windows must be IR-transparent (e.g., germanium, zinc selenide) and calibrated separately; standard acrylic or soda-lime glass blocks relevant IR wavelengths.
Is field recalibration possible without returning the unit to ACM?
Yes—users may perform two-point offset adjustment using certified blackbody sources (e.g., 25 °C and 75 °C); full span recalibration requires factory service.
Does the sensor support analog output options?
The TS.60 natively outputs digital RS-485 only; analog conversion (4–20 mA or 0–10 V) requires external protocol converter modules compliant with Modbus RTU.
How is ambient temperature drift compensated?
Internal thermistor network continuously monitors housing temperature and applies real-time correction to the IR signal path using stored polynomial coefficients derived from multi-point thermal soak testing.