Q08 Miniature Square Inductive Proximity Switch
An 8 × 8 mm block that slips into slots no barrel sensor can enter — with the sensing face on the side or the top, your choice.
- 8 × 8 mm cross-section, polycarbonate housing
- Q082.5T: side-sensing, 23 mm; Q082.5F: top-sensing, 25 mm
- 2.5 mm rated sensing distance on steel
- DC 3-wire NPN / PNP, NO / NC — 8 part numbers
- Ø3 mm cable outlet, BN/BK/BU color code
Built for the space a barrel sensor wastes
A threaded barrel sensor needs a drilled hole, two nuts and wrench clearance. The Q08 needs none of that: the flat 8 × 8 mm block lies against the fixture wall or inside a milled pocket and is clamped or screwed in place, so the entire installation stays inside an envelope thinner than a fingernail is wide. That is why this format shows up in vacuum-gripper heads, small indexing slides and instrument mechanisms where mounting real estate is measured in single millimetres.
The two body versions solve the aiming problem mechanically. Instead of bending a bracket so a front-sensing barrel faces the target, you simply order the face you need: the T type watches sideways across its 23 mm body, the F type looks straight up from its end face. Both share the same footprint, cable and 2.5 mm rating, so swapping orientation late in a design costs nothing but a part number.
Side-Sensing (T) vs Top-Sensing (F)
Same 8 × 8 mm footprint, two factory-fixed viewing directions. Order the orientation that matches the target approach — the face cannot be changed in the field.
Model Selection Table
| Model | Sensing face | Sensing distance | Output | Body size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q082.5TN1 | Side (T) | 2.5 mm | NPN, NO | 8 × 8 × 23 mm |
| Q082.5TP1 | Side (T) | 2.5 mm | PNP, NO | 8 × 8 × 23 mm |
| Q082.5TN2 | Side (T) | 2.5 mm | NPN, NC | 8 × 8 × 23 mm |
| Q082.5TP2 | Side (T) | 2.5 mm | PNP, NC | 8 × 8 × 23 mm |
| Q082.5FN1 | Top (F) | 2.5 mm | NPN, NO | 8 × 8 × 25 mm |
| Q082.5FP1 | Top (F) | 2.5 mm | PNP, NO | 8 × 8 × 25 mm |
| Q082.5FN2 | Top (F) | 2.5 mm | NPN, NC | 8 × 8 × 25 mm |
| Q082.5FP2 | Top (F) | 2.5 mm | PNP, NC | 8 × 8 × 25 mm |
Model code = Q08 + 2.5 (sensing distance) + T/F (face) + N/P (output) + 1/2 (NO/NC). Supply voltage, IP rating, temperature range and switching frequency are not published for this series — contact the factory before specifying for washdown or outdoor duty.
Typical Applications
Narrow-Slot Detection
The T type reads targets through a side opening where no front-facing sensor could be aimed.
Micro Limit-Switch Replacement
Non-contact end-of-travel confirmation on small slides and cylinders, with no lever arm to wear or drift.
Compact Fixture Seat Checks
Confirms small metal parts are seated in jigs whose walls are only a few millimetres thick.
Pick-and-Place Modules
Adds position feedback inside miniature actuator assemblies without enlarging the module envelope.
Frequently Asked Questions
How small is the Q08 proximity switch really?
The body cross-section is 8 × 8 mm — about the footprint of a pencil eraser — with a length of 23 mm (side-sensing T type) or 25 mm (top-sensing F type). That lets it drop into milled slots and thin fixture plates where even an M8 threaded barrel sensor, our previous smallest square-peg-in-round-hole answer, has no room for its mounting nuts.
What is the difference between Q082.5T and Q082.5F?
Only the direction the sensing face points. The T type senses through the side wall of the block and is 23 mm long; the F type senses through the top (end) face and is 25 mm long. Pick whichever matches the direction your metal target approaches from, so you never have to bend a bracket to aim the sensor.
What sensing distance does the Q08 series offer?
Both variants are rated at 2.5 mm on a standard steel target, per the factory selection table. Design the installation for roughly 80% of the rated distance to allow for target material, size and temperature effects.
How is it wired?
DC 3-wire with a Ø3 mm cable outlet: brown (BN) to +supply, blue (BU) to 0 V, black (BK) as the switched signal. Each body type is available as NPN-NO, NPN-NC, PNP-NO or PNP-NC, so choose N for sinking PLC inputs and P for sourcing inputs.
What are the supply voltage and IP rating?
The factory documentation for the Q08 series specifies the housing (PC polycarbonate), dimensions, wiring and 2.5 mm sensing distance, but does not publish a voltage range or IP rating. Please confirm these with our engineers for your target environment — for a documented IP67 square sensor, see the larger Q25/Q30/Q40 series.
Can the Q08 replace a micro limit switch?
In many fixtures, yes. Because it detects metal without contact, there is no lever to wear out or misadjust, and the flat block screws flush against the fixture the same way a miniature limit switch does. Keep in mind it only detects metal targets and the load must be switched through the transistor output, not directly like a mechanical contact.
What is the MOQ and how do I order the right variant?
Send us the approach direction (side or top), output type (NPN/PNP) and logic (NO/NC) — or just your PLC brand and a photo of the mounting spot — via the contact page. Our sales team will confirm the exact part number, MOQ, unit price and export lead time.