The ECI 119 Absolute Inductive Rotary Encoder is now available:
Continuing its tradition of high quality products and service, HEIDENHAIN has released a new absolute, inductive rotary encoder, intended for high volume production. Expanding on the established ExI 13xx and ExI 11xx series, the ECI 119 is a singleturn, absolute encoder offering a 50 mm through shaft, along with 524288 (19 bit) positions per revolution. The ECI 119 offers ± 90” system accuracy.
This encoder is well suited for electrical motors, specifically direct drives. It’s incredibly compact profile allows it to be integrated into the motor in many applications, including general automation, electronics and packaging industry, robotics, plastic injection molding machines, along with swivel and tilting axes.
The ECI 119’s modular design, having no ball bearings, adds no frictional moment to motor operation. Having no bearings also eliminates mechanical self-heating in the encoder. This, coupled with a broad operating temperature range of -20 °C to +115 °C, permits efficient motor usage and requires no extraneous cooling methods for the rotary encoder. And when being used on electric motors, transmissions of shaft currents have been eliminated. A large, 50 mm through shaft offers many advantages to users, including reduced construction and design methods. This hollow shaft allows plumbing such as electrical cables, shafts, supply lines, or even laser beams to be routed through it.
As mentioned above, the ECI 119 has an extremely low profile. The outside diameter is 92 mm and the overall housing height is 19 mm. To further meet customer’s application needs, HEIDENHAIN is releasing 30 mm and 38 mm hollow shaft versions. A new feature for HEIDENHAIN inductive encoders is the integrated encoder shaft locking ring. When placed on a flat, level surface, this allows the rated scanning gap to be set and the shaft locked in place with a quick turn of the hand. The locking ring also acts as a cable connector cover, preventing the encoder to be connected to electronics with a locked shaft.
This absolute encoder uses HEIDENHAIN’s EnDat serial data interface. Two types of output are offered, purely serial data (EnDat21) or serial data with 1 Vpp incremental signals (EnDat 01). Using the purely serial interface is advantageous to users because it will ensure compatibility with future product developments. The EnDat 2.1 bidirectional interface offers many advantages to users.
Not only can incremental and absolute position data be transferred, but information stored in the encoder can be transferred or new information can be saved to the encoder. Serial data transfer is also less susceptible to electronic noise, which allows for faster transmission speeds, as well as improved interpolation error. EnDat 2.1 can be run with a maximum clock frequency of 2 MHz, but the clock frequency is also dependent on the transmission cable length. As cable length increases, the clock frequency must decrease. Although EnDat is the standard interface for the ECI 119, SSI interface is also an available option if minimum volumes are met.
In regards to mounting, HEIDENHAIN’s rigorous instructions must be met in order to ensure the encoder will operate within its stated specifications. Mounting the ECI 119 also requires specific tools such as the IK 215 PC card along with the ATS software. With the help of the ATS software mounting wizard, the quality of the mounting and signal can be easily and efficiently checked. The mounting wizard measures the scanning gap while simultaneously using valuation numbers to assess signal quality, ensuring quick and reliable mounting. The mounting wizard allows the mounting quality to be assessed without full operation of the motor. This can prevent damage to the encoder, motor, and any other drive components. The software is also relatively simple to use and provides warnings if the correct procedure is not followed.
Customers ordering the ECI 119 for high volume production or as a sample will receive free, on-site training and first time installation from HEIDENHAIN personnel. That is why HEIDENHAIN requires customers receive detailed counseling about the application and detailed training on the mounting of the encoder. That being said, once trained and equipped with the proper tools, mounting is quick and simple.
To use the adjusting and testing package, the IK 215 PC expansion board and ATS adjusting and testing software is needed. The IK 215 accepts the following encoder inputs: EnDat 2.1 or 2.2, FANUC serial interface, Mitsubishi High Speed Serial Interface, and SSI. It is compatible with Windows XP, or Vista upon request, and requires 20 MB free space on the hard disk. The ATS software is available in German or English and features position display, connecting dialog, diagnostics, mounting wizard for ECI/EQI, additional functions supported by specific encoders, and memory contents.
During installation and operation, the following should be considered:
- Axial runout of flange mounting surface
- Radial runout of the motor shaft
- Maintaining the scanning gap while taking into account the
superimposition of motions such as:
- The length relation of the motor shaft and housing under temperature influence depending on the motor bearing
- The bearing play
- Nondynamic shaft offsets due to load
- The effect of engaging motor brakes
After analysis of the application, values for the listed criteria should fall within the minimum and maximum specifications during all operating conditions. The general mechanical and electrical information in the “Position Encoders for Servo Drives” brochure should always be kept in mind during operation of the encoder.
For more information or to purchase, click on the following link for ECI 119 or call us at 1-800-682-4224 or email us at sales@cgco.com for pricing and delivery.
