Sick VL18-4P6640 Photoelectric retro-reflective sensor PNP M18 78 mm 0.05-3.7 m IP67

Sensor purpose and audience

The Sick VL18-4P6640 is a cylindrical photoelectric retro-reflective sensor with an M18 thread and 78 mm housing length. It targets automation engineers and maintenance technicians who need reliable presence detection on conveyors, packaging lines or material-handling equipment. The PNP switching output and selectable light/dark mode suit standard 10-30 V DC control circuits. Buyers who require a through-beam or diffuse sensing principle, or a different thread size, should choose another model.

Bundled items and software impact

No accessories, reflectors, mounting brackets or configuration software are mentioned in the supplied data. The sensor ships with a 4-pin M12 male connector only, so the installer must source a compatible cable, a suitable reflector and any mounting hardware separately. Without these additions the device cannot complete a detection path or connect to the control system.

Practical limits of the interface

The sensor operates on 10-30 V DC with a maximum output current of 100 mA and a switching frequency of 250 Hz. Its infrared LED produces a 150 mm light spot at 3 m with a 2.8° dispersion angle. The sensing range extends from 0.05 m to 3.7 m, while the specified operating range is 0.05 m to 3 m. The IP67 enclosure rating and –25 °C to +70 °C temperature span define the environmental boundaries for continuous operation.