Heidenhain introduces its new LIC 4000 encoder, which applies absolute position measurement technology to a multi-substrate scale tape linear encoder design. According to the company, its specialized scanning technologies are “insensitive to contamination and therefore guarantee a high degree of equipment availability and a high traverse speed, while at the same time achieving a high resolution of 1 nanometer.”

Absolute encoders, which provide the current position immediately upon switch-on, offer high technological reliability and safety because they can operate without the reference runs that would otherwise be necessary. Absolute encoders also are especially well suited for use on direct drives.
Together with the current position, the commutation offset is known immediately upon switch-on and the motor can immediately be provided with power and held in the control loop. Critical operating states, such as switching on a vertical axis with direct drive or retraction after an emergency stop, are controlled safely.
These encoders feature up to 27 meters of measuring length and use the fast, purely serial EnDat 2.2 interface. Their dimensions match those of Heidenhain’s existing Lida 400 incremental linear encoder. This makes it easy to retrofit existing machine tools, providing absolute measurement technology by just exchanging the encoders. Only the subsequent electronics must be adapted correspondingly.
Heidenhain’s exposed linear encoders also feature customer-friendly mounting tolerances, high traversing velocity, and low height of the scanning head. More information is available via e-mail .
– Edited by Renee Robbins, senior editor
Control Engineering News Desk