Laser Displacement Sensors

Choosing Laser Displacement Sensors components

Laser displacement sensors are model-specific to the application — measuring range, reference distance, resolution, and spot size are all encoded in the part number, and these together determine whether the sensor will work for a given measurement. Substituting a "similar" sensor with different range or resolution usually does not give the expected results.

Specs to confirm before ordering:

Reference distance (working distance from sensor face to nominal target position)
Measuring range — symmetric (±5 mm around reference) or single-sided
Resolution at full measuring range — typically 0.1 µm to 100 µm depending on model
Linearity error across the range (typically 0.1–0.5% of full scale)
Spot size at the reference distance — smaller spot detects finer features, larger spot averages texture
Sampling rate — important for high-speed surface scanning
Target material compatibility — diffuse-only (standard), diffuse + specular (advanced), with surface-roughness handling
Output: analog voltage/current, RS-485/RS-232 digital, Ethernet, EtherCAT, PROFINET
Controller pairing — head and controller are part-number matched

Common gotchas: a Keyence LK-G or LJ-V sensor head must be paired with its specific controller (LK-G3001P, LJ-V7000), and the calibration is stored in the controller — swapping just the head changes the calibration. A higher-resolution sensor at the same range costs more and samples slower; over-specifying resolution wastes budget. Surface texture affects readings — a polished surface and a sandblasted surface at the same nominal distance can read different by tens of micrometers because the laser spot averages differently. Hot, glowing targets (above ~500 °C) interfere with the receiver and need specialized high-temperature laser sensors.

Typical applications: thickness measurement of metal strip and film, runout measurement on rotating shafts, gap and flush inspection on automotive assemblies, height verification on populated PCBs, and wear monitoring on tooling. On legacy installations, exact-OEM replacement preserves head-to-controller calibration and the data format expected by the supervisory system.

For obsolete laser displacement sensors, send the OEM part number for a sourcing quote.

Do you stock obsolete laser displacement sensors?

Yes. Discontinued Keyence LK-G first generations, retired Micro-Epsilon optoNCDT codes, end-of-life Sick OD-series, and earlier Cognex DS displacement are sourced through our supplier network.

Do head and controller need to match by part number?

Yes for most precision systems. Calibration is stored in the controller and tied to the head. Mixing heads and controllers across part numbers voids the factory calibration and gives inaccurate readings.

Can I get a calibration certificate?

When the unit ships with its original documentation, yes. When the certificate is not available, we state so before purchase. Re-calibration by the OEM or a calibration lab can be arranged separately for an additional fee.

Will the sensor work on shiny aluminum?

Some standard diffuse-only sensors struggle with very specular targets. Advanced sensors with specular-reflection handling or with multiple-pixel averaging perform better. Check the OEM compatibility chart for your target material.

How is the sensor mounted for thickness measurement?

Two sensors facing each other from above and below the target, with the controller calculating the difference. Both sensors must be the same model, calibrated relative to a known reference, and rigidly mounted to prevent drift.

What is the warranty?

12-month functional warranty on the device. Calibration drift outside the factory specification within that window is covered; user-induced damage or extended-use drift is not covered.

Laser Displacement Sensors

Keyence LB-11 Sensor Head

Keyence LB-1103 Amplifier Unit

Keyence LB-301 Amplifier Unit

Keyence LB-70 Amplifier Unit

Keyence LK-031 Sensor Head, Small Spot

Keyence LK-086 Sensor Head

Keyence LK-2001 Controller

Keyence LK-2011 Controller

Keyence LK-2101 Controller

Keyence LK-2503 Controller

Keyence LK-503 Sensor Head, Small Spot, Laser Class 2

Keyence LK-C2 Sensor Head to Controller Cable

Keyence LK-CC100 Communication Unit

Keyence LK-DN100 Communication Unit

Keyence LK-G10 Sensor Head: Super Precision, Small spot

Keyence LK-G15 Sensor Head: Super Precision, Wide beam

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