New range of absolute, incremental and magnetic encoders

Visitors to the co-located shows, which include Drives & Controls, IFPEX, and MACH, will be able to see demonstrations of a new 1 nm resolution incremental encoder, a new magnetic chip encoder, and a groundbreaking absolute optical encoder for rotary and linear applications that is capable of 10 atoms resolution at 220 mph. The Renishaw stand is located in Hall 5 (5439).

Absolute optical encoder
Renishaw’s new RESOLUTE™ absolute optical encoder system gives an astonishing market-leading resolution of just 1 nanometer at 100 metres per second for both linear encoder and angle encoder applications, yet still offers excellent dirt immunity. Absolute position is acquired immediately at system switch-on, so the exact orientation of axis and motor commutation angle are known without the need for a reference (datum) return. Large set-up tolerances also enable easy installation and high reliability, whilst low jitter and SDE (Sub-Divisional Error) meet the demands of high precision stages.

Additions to incremental encoder family
The TONiC range of incremental optical linear and rotary encoders now offers 1 nm and 2 nm resolutions, a dual output encoder interface, and is also available with Renishaw’s Dual Signal Interface (DSi). The new higher resolution options comprise a standard TONiC readhead and new interfaces that apply high interpolation rates to achieve very fine resolution and low jitter levels of just 0.51 nm RMS. For applications requiring one or more operations to be synchronised with a motion axis, the new dual output interface simultaneously provides analogue and digital signals. For high accuracy angle encoding, the new TONiC DSi allows two readheads to be used to improve the accuracy and repeatability of a motion system by eliminating eccentricity, bearing wander and all ‘odd’ error harmonics.

Magnetic encoder chip
Renishaw’s new AM4096 magnetic encoder IC offers 12-bit resolution (4096 steps per turn) and is capable of high speed operation to 30,000 rpm. Developed by Renishaw’s associate company RLS d.o.o., it provides UVW outputs with 16 poles (8 pole pairs), incremental, absolute, linear (potentiometer), tacho generator and sinusoidal outputs, and typical applications include commutation and high-speed motor control, position and velocity control, potentiometer replacement and optical encoder replacement.