Lika’s incremental and absolute linear encoders are suitable for demanding industrial applications and combine high performance with rugged mechanical design and a wide choice of options. They can be an attractive alternative to conventional optical encoders.
They adopt magnetic sensing technology, so they operate without contact and ensure virtually wear- and maintenance-free operation.
Magnetic technology is highly immune to external interferences such as light, oil, grease, water, chemical contaminants, etc. and can easily adopt PCB protection methods such as encapsulating, tropicalization, conformal coating and varnishing. Thus, they can achieve the highest protection rates (IP67 to IP69K) and reliably operate in the harshest industrial environments.
Linear encoders have a modular structure.
They basically consist of two components: a readhead and a magnetic tape. These components are not in contact, so the risk of failures due to vibrations, shocks, or mechanical stresses is extremely limited. Their design and features also simplify installation with minimal mounting time.
There are no moving parts and none of the mechanical components of a conventional rotary encoder are used (flange, shaft, bearings, etc.). The limited use of both mechanical parts and miniaturized circuitry minimize the overall footprint.
Lika’s range of linear encoders includes a wide variety of both incremental and absolute devices and also a number of solutions dedicated to custom applications such as lateral reading sensors, sensors for toothed wheels and racks and sensors for UHV installations.
A further remark: using IF55 gateways, linear encoders with SSI serial interface (i.e. the entire absolute range) can be easily integrated into the most popular industrial Ethernet networks: Profinet, EtherNet/IP, POWERLINK, EtherCAT, and MODBUS-TCP (but also into conventional fieldbuses: CANopen, Profibus, and DeviceNet). They can be ideally combined for installation in plant retrofits and in tight spaces where bigger rotary encoders aren't feasible.
Among the “standard” and most widely used models are SME11, SME21 and SMS11, SMS21 incremental linear encoders and SMA2 absolute linear encoder.
SME11 / SME21 are the incremental linear encoders with high resolution down to 0.5 µm designed for demanding motion control applications. They generate quadrature signals with inverted and Index signals via Push-Pull (HTL) and Line Driver (TTL) output circuits.
SMS11 / SMS21 sinusoidal linear encoders provide Sine/Cosine 1Vpp with interpolatable output signals and accuracy down to 1,000 µm.
Thanks to their rugged frame and encapsulated electronics, SME11 / SME21 and SMS11 / SMS21 are fully protected against dust, oils, liquids, contaminants, shocks, and vibrations (IP67 protection). The large permissible tolerances and air gap (up to 2 mm / 0.079”) ease installation and enable minimal mounting time. All models offer diagnostic LEDs as a standard.
SMA2 absolute linear encoder is ideally suited for position and speed feedback applications where small size, finest resolution, and greatest accuracy are mandatory.
SMA2 provides high resolution down to 1 µm and high accuracy of ±2 µm. The max. measuring length is 8.1 m (26.57 ft) and the max. speed is 10 m/s. It is paired with MTA2 double track magnetic tape, so it is able to deliver both the absolute information for position feedback through BiSS-C and SSI interfaces and the incremental information for speed feedback through NPN level output circuit.
SMA2 is very compact and slim, yet it preserves its toughness. The fully encapsulated electronics (IP67 protection rate) is optimally protected against dust, oil, grease, water, shocks, vibrations. Typical applications are linear motors, pick & place robots and electronic assembly systems.