Draw wire sensor WAYCON SX50-500-420A-SA12 is low-cost, compact sensors which accurately measure the position or change in position of objects. Core components of a draw wire sensor are a precision measuring wire and a sensor element (e.g. potentiometer or encoder), which convert the path change into a proportional electrical signal. The maintenance-free draw wires are particularly quick and easy to assemble and are used because of their reliability in all areas of industry.

The key component of a draw wire sensor is a highly flexible stainless-steel wire rope, that is single-layered wrapped around an ultra-light capstan. This capstan is connected to the sensor housing by a pre-loaded spring. The end of the steel wire rope, that is equipped with a rope clip gets connected to the target object. As soon as the distance between sensor and target object changes, the steel wire rope gets pulled out of the sensor and is rolled off the capstan (or vice versa). The axle of the capstan is permanently attached to a sensor element. If there is a rotation of the capstan due to a change in the distance to the target object, the sensor element will turn accordingly, and a proportional electric signal is output.