Low-Cost Kit Encoders for Stepper Motors
Position Control on a Budget
POSITAL has expanded its line of kit-style encoders for feedback for servo and stepper motors with new models that utilize the same mounting form factor as incremental kit encoders from US Digital, Broadcom and other manufacturers.
- Mechanical Drop In Replacement for Easy Upgrade to Absolute Position Control
- Same Footprints as US Digital's E5 Models and Broadcom's (Avago) HEDS-5500 Models
- Now Available with SSI and BiSS C Communication Interfaces
- Identical Assembly Procedure - No Training Required
- Various Hub Diameters from 4 mm to 10 mm (and 1/4 to 3/8 inch)
- Magnetic Technology Which Is Generally More Robust Than Optical
- Improved Connectivity via M12 Connector Additionally Available
See our Cross Reference Guide
POSITAL kit encoders provide absolute position feedback so that the control system always has complete information on the physical position of the mechanical components that it is directing. “Absolute position feedback is a natural way of providing accurate position control” comments Jim Stevens, market specialist for robotics at POSITAL. “Almost any position feedback application could be absolute-based. Many current systems were designed around incremental encoders because incremental feedback devices were historically much less expensive than their absolute counterparts.” However, with the introduction of POSITAL’s absolute kit encoders at prices much more in line with incremental devices, system designers no longer have to work around the shortcomings of incremental feedback in an absolute position world.
Incremental encoders are effective for speed control. However, to monitor absolute position, the controller needs to maintain a complete count of the number of pulses received from the encoder. This can lead to problems. If, for example, the pulse count becomes corrupted due to a power outage, or if the control system fails to update the pulse count when the machine moves, positional accuracy is lost. The usual remedy is to “re-home” the machine by returning it to a known reference position and zeroing the pulse counts. By contrast, absolute encoders measure position directly. After a power outage, the controller can re-establish complete knowledge of the position of mechanical components by simply polling the sensors and reading their rotational position.
Multiturn Absolute Kit Encoders Provide Robust Solution
Multiturn Absolute Kit Encoders from POSITAL are based on magnetic sensing technology which provides a very robust encoder solution. The multiturn counting system is powered by Wiegand wire energy harvesting technology, which enables the absolute encoder to maintain true absolute position over power cycles and rotation of the encoder during power off conditions.
With 17 bits (131072 positions) of single turn resolution and 16 bits (65536 turns) of multiturn range, KCD Absolute kit encoders from POSITAL are ideal for position control applications.