Heidenhain's LIC 3100 Encoder Offers Simple Mounting

Heidenhain says its LIC 3100 motion feedback encoder is usable for absolute positioning with machines in the semiconductor, metrology and robotic industries. This absolute kit encoder fits between Heidenhain’s LIC 4100 and 2100 series, and Heidenhain expects it will be of special interest to users because it is tolerant to contamination and has loose mounting tolerances.

A sturdy, stainless-steel tape carries the graduation of the new LIC 3100 encoder, and its two-track graduation results in a period of 80. This steel tape scale has a two-track graduation, resulting in a period of 80 microns. Heidenhain offers the tape scale in rolls at 3 m, 5 m and 10 m lengths, and says users can insert it into an aluminum extrusion for better thermal growth behavior or mount it directly to the motion axis surface with an adhesive backing on the steel tape.

The reader head of the LIC 3100 can output a measuring step of just 10 nanometers and maintain a velocity of 10 meters per second. Heidenhain offers it with the EnDat 2.2 high-speed serial electrical interface as well as five others, emphasizing compatibility with motion controllers. The interpolation error, or cyclical error, is merely +/- 100 nanometers, enabling the encoder to provide smooth constant velocity and enhance the efficiency of linear motors.

Heidenhain says mounting the reader head to the scale is fast and simple due to forgiving mounting tolerances and handheld diagnostic tools like Heidenhain’s PWT 101. Users can program a zero-datum position anywhere along the scale length.