Heidenhain Touts Encoder Technology at Automate 2017

Keeping with its tradition of releasing new and enabling technology, Heidenhain recently displayed its new rotary ring encoder for drive technology at the Automate Show in Chicago. This new inductive 90 mm hollow-shaft rotary encoder series is called the ECI/EBI 4000, and is specially designed for applications in a variety of machines, such as injection molding machines, film and foil production machines, paper machines as well as electric presses and other production machines.

This new series was designed as a motor feedback system to be used specifically with direct drive torque motors, therefore special attention was paid to creating an innovative, complete package that meets the application conditions prevailing in this industry. Such features such as an operating temperature range up to 115°C, a maximum speed up to 6,000 rpm, and a maximum vibration load up to 400 m/s2 for scanning unit and 600 m/s2 for rotor according to EN 60068-2-6, impressively demonstrate this.

The scanning is performed through a circumference scanning method. With a position resolution of 20 bits, this scanning principle has an extremely positive effect on the mounting and operating tolerances of the application allowing an axial offset of the scale drum to the scanning unit in a range of ±1.5 mm with a maximum drive shaft runout tolerance of 0.2 mm, which is very generous. Furthermore, the inductive circumference scanning makes it possible to largely compensate position errors that are common to modular encoders when the center of rotation of the drive shaft shifts.

With the new inductive ECI/EBI 4000 encoders, machine manufacturers can replace the outdated typical toothed-belt drives for coupling a motor feedback system to torque motors. In addition to eliminating numerous components, this also ensures wear-free operation, mounting tolerances that permit easy installation, and an increase in control bandwidth which can lead to a significant gain in dynamics.