Heidenhain Rotary and Angular Encoders

Optical encoders are the preferred choice for position measurement, both linear and angular, when high accuracy is required.  Their performance is widely affected by deformation, temperature, and vibration.

Heidenhain manufactures some of the most precise angular encoders on the market, with accuracies at ~1/2 arc-secs., up to 18,000 lines.

The accuracy is influenced primarily by the following factors:

1. The quality of the graduation or deviation
2. The quality of the scanning process
3. The quality of the signal processing electronics
4. Eccentricity of the graduation to the bearing
5. Radial runout of the bearing
6. The elasticity of the rotary encoder shaft and its coupling to the motor shaft
7. The elasticity of the stator coupling
8. The interpolation error of the subsequent electronics

HEIDENHAIN supplies a calibration chart with each angular encoder documenting its inherent error.  The accuracy tests take the following into account:

1. The deviation of the angle encoder
2. The deviation caused by the coupling (always included for angle encoders with stator coupling)

Additional Information

For additional information on any Heidenhain products, please refer to the following PDF documents, or contact Dalatec.

• Angle Encoders Selection Guide
• Measuring angles with angle encoders
• Angle encoders with integral bearing
• Angle Encoders without Integral Bearing