With a voltage range of 10 to 30 VDC, a new laser sensor can recognize an object as small as 0.05 mm at a maximum distance of 50 m. The visible through-beam design ensures simple focus adjustment and a reaction time of 100 msec. Housed in a stainless steel enclosure, the sensor can be used to control the overall height of an object, check for presence or position in hostile environments, remotely determine tool breakage, detect clear plastic bottles, and monitor stack heights in applications with lateral reflections. The sensor can also detect breaks and tears in yarn or filaments in textile or wire winding machinery. To eliminate operator risk, the sensor operates in Laser Protection Class 2 with less than 1 mW output. No additional amplifier is required.