Robot Safety — Light Curtain Minimum Distance
Light Curtain Minimum Distance calculation per the machinery-safety standards (ISO 13855/13857, ISO 10218, ISO/TS 15066).
The 2,000 mm/s constant is a standing person's hand speed — the curtain must sit far enough that the machine stops before fingers arrive. Measure T with a stop-time meter, not the datasheet: aging brakes stretch stopping time and quietly shrink your margin every year.
Formula
Note: Safety calculations here are layout-planning aids ONLY. The legally required values must come from the cited standards' full tables and a documented risk assessment by a qualified person.
Light Curtain Minimum Distance calculation per the machinery-safety standards (ISO 13855/13857, ISO 10218, ISO/TS 15066). A free industrial robot kinematics & cell design tool — no sign-up, no upload, instant results in your browser.
About Robot Safety — Light Curtain Minimum Distance
Robot Safety — Light Curtain Minimum Distance computes the governing relationship S = K·T + C, K = 2000 mm/s, C = 8(d − 14) [ISO 13855] live as you type. The 2,000 mm/s constant is a standing person's hand speed — the curtain must sit far enough that the machine stops before fingers arrive. Measure T with a stop-time meter, not the datasheet: aging brakes stretch stopping time and quietly shrink your margin every year. Defaults are pre-filled with realistic values for this exact scenario, and the worked example substitutes your numbers step by step so the math is never a black box.
How to use Robot Safety — Light Curtain Minimum Distance
- 1Enter your values — Total stopping time T, Curtain resolution d (sensible defaults are pre-filled).
- 2Read the live results: Minimum safety distance, Penetration allowance C.
- 3Check the "with your numbers" line to see S = K·T + C, K = 2000 mm/s, C = 8(d − 14) [ISO 13855] substituted step by step.
- 4Adjust inputs until the scenario matches yours, then copy or share the result.
Why use Robot Safety — Light Curtain Minimum Distance?
- ✓Instant, free and private — every calculation runs client-side in your browser; nothing is uploaded
- ✓Built on the stated formula S = K·T + C, K = 2000 mm/s, C = 8(d − 14) [ISO 13855] with authoritative sources cited on the page (ISO 13855 — Positioning of safeguards w.r.t. approach speeds; ISO 13857 — Safety distances (upper/lower limbs); ISO/TS 15066 — Collaborative robots: power & force limiting)
- ✓The 2,000 mm/s constant is a standing person's hand speed — the curtain must sit far enough that the machine stops before fingers arrive.
- ✓SI ⇄ Imperial toggle converts your inputs in place, so you can work in the units your drawings use
Frequently asked questions
What formula does the robot safety — light curtain minimum distance use?+
It evaluates S = K·T + C, K = 2000 mm/s, C = 8(d − 14) [ISO 13855], exactly as published. Sources: ISO 13855 — Positioning of safeguards w.r.t. approach speeds; ISO 13857 — Safety distances (upper/lower limbs); ISO/TS 15066 — Collaborative robots: power & force limiting. The substituted worked example on the page lets you verify every step against the textbook.
How should I read the result — and how far can I trust it?+
The 2,000 mm/s constant is a standing person's hand speed — the curtain must sit far enough that the machine stops before fingers arrive. Safety calculations here are layout-planning aids ONLY. The legally required values must come from the cited standards' full tables and a documented risk assessment by a qualified person.
When is this calculator the right tool for the job?+
Light Curtain Minimum Distance calculation per the machinery-safety standards (ISO 13855/13857, ISO 10218, ISO/TS 15066). A free industrial robot kinematics & cell design tool. Measure T with a stop-time meter, not the datasheet: aging brakes stretch stopping time and quietly shrink your margin every year. For neighbouring scenarios, the related tools below cover the same engine with different presets.
Does it support both metric and imperial units?+
Yes — the SI ⇄ Imperial toggle converts the values already in the fields, preserving the physical quantity, so you can flip mid-calculation without re-entering anything.
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