Optical and inductive encoders glossary

ABBE ERROR

Abbe Error is an error mechanism where angular errors in a rotary axis are magnified by distance from the axis.

ABSOLUTE

An absolute position is one which is complete in itself and is defined independently of any other position or value. Absolute encoders come in three main types: true absolute, pseudo-absolute and battery-powered absolute.

True absolute

Position determined immediately on switch-on

No battery back-up

No movement necessary

Pseudo-absolute

Also known as ‘distance-coded'.

Encoder must move a short distance to determine absolute position

Encoder scale has reference marks at unique distances apart; when the readhead moves over two adjacent reference marks, the controller can calculate the absolute position from the unique spacing between these references marks

Battery-powered absolute

Fundamentally an incremental encoder with reference mark capability, this type of absolute encoder uses a battery to keep the encoder constantly powered and reading position so that the absolute position is never lost, even when the host system is powered down.

Advanced Diagnostic Tools

Renishaw provides a range of optional Advanced Diagnostic Tools for assisting with challenging motion control installations:

• The ADTpro-100 offers a colour touch screen, displaying detailed encoder information without the need to connect to an external computer. No other additional set-up equipment is required. ADTpro-100 is compatible with Renishaw incremental optical encoders.

• The ADTi-100 is compatible with a selection of Renishaw incremental optical encoders and works with ADT View software to offer a visual indication of the following readhead outputs.

• The ADTa-100 includes an array of seven multicolour LEDs to indicate signal strength. This allows the readhead setup to be quickly checked without requiring a PC or laptop

ANGLE ENCODER

An encoder for measuring angle. Also called an ‘angular encoder'.

The term rotary encoder to describe all encoders that measure angle. Angle encoders are defined as having an accuracy of better than +/- 5 arc seconds and a line count above 10000. Rotary encoders have specifications that fall outside this category.

AOC

Automatic Offset Control. A signal processing function that independently adjusts the offset for the output sine and cosine signals.

ARC SECOND

1 arc second is 1/3600 of a degree.

Therefore:

1 degree = 60 arc minutes = 3600 arc seconds.

ASTRiA™ INDUCTIVE ABSOLUTE ENCODER

The ASTRiA inductive rotary absolute encoder achieves an impressive total system accuracy of ±40 arc seconds and 23 bit resolution (for a Ø100 mm size), which is made possible by a robust mechanical design and advanced signal processing.

ATOM™ OPEN INCREMENTAL ENCODER

A range of miniature optical incremental encoders from Renishaw, providing leading-edge dirt immunity, signal stability and reliability. ATOM is the world's first miniature encoder to use filtering optics with Auto Gain Control (AGC) and Auto Offset Control (AOC), also found in the compact TONiC™ encoder range, delivering excellent metrology performance and class-leading accuracy.

The ATOM readhead offers speeds to 20 m/s and resolutions to 1 nm. Scale options include a range of linear scales in stainless steel and glass and rotary RCDM glass discs in diameters ranging from 17 mm to 108 mm, all with a choice of either 40 µm or 20 µm scale pitch.

ATOM DX™ OPEN INCREMENTAL ENCODER

The ATOM DX encoder series is Renishaw's smallest incremental optical encoder, with digital output direct from the readhead. It provides positional feedback, onboard interpolation and filtering optics all in a miniature package.

Compatible with the optional Advanced Diagnostic Tool ADTi-100 and ADT View software to give in-depth advanced diagnostic information to aid optimisation of encoder installation and in-field fault finding to satisfy the most demanding motion control applications.

The ATOM DX encoder also offers resolutions down to 2.5 nm and a wide range of configurations.

ATOM DX is supplied in cabled and top exit variants with either 20 µm or 40 µm scale options.

BOX SIZE

The box size helps define the spacing between distance-coded reference marks.

Distance-coded reference marks are available with a variety of formats, but the most common is known as the box method. This places periodic reference marks at a fixed distance (these form the box), with a third reference mark at a unique distance in-between.

CALIBRATION

1) To determine, check, or correct the accuracy of a measurement system.

In encoder terms, this means to compare the position reported by the encoder against a laser, gauge or other known article.

2) To set the incremental signal level and reference mark phasing in a TONiC or ATOM encoder.

CENTRUM™

Renishaw rotary (angle) stainless steel encoder scale disc, including the following model:

• CSF40: incremental, self-centring, easy to install, compatible with ATOM DX readheads.

CLOCK FREQUENCY

This phrase usually refers to the frequency of the clock on the input of the receiving electronics (normally the drive or controller).

Each clock cycle, the input electronics look for a state-change on the line receivers. If a state-change occurs, the count is incremented or decremented accordingly.

If the output of the encoder is faster than the clock on the input electronics, 2 states can change in 1 cycle, which confuses the quadrature decoder.

Note that digital filters are sometimes applied to the input. These remove noise glitches, but also reduce the effective clock frequency of the receiving electronics.

CLOCKED OUTPUT

All TONiC and ATOM encoders and high-resolution versions of RG2/RG4 have digital outputs that are clocked. This means the interpolator checks the Lissajous and changes the state of the digital output if necessary, once per clock cycle.

A variety of clock frequencies are available and our datasheets include recommendations for clock frequencies of the receiving electronics, including allowances for slew in the cable and line receivers, etc. For instance, a 20 MHz TONiC interface actually has an internal clock of about 16 MHz.

Note that this is different to Retiming.

CLOCK SPEED

This is another phrase for Clock Frequency.

COMPONENT READHEAD

A component readhead is a product designed to be embedded inside an OEM product. They often feature much reduced casework and interface circuitry compared with a complete sealed conventional readhead. Component readheads normally require more applications engineering from the customer, such as extra shielding and interpolation is often performed externally.

RGH34 and RoLin are examples of component readheads.

CONTROLLER

The ‘brain' of the machine that controls movement and operations.

A wide range of controller products are available. Many are multi-purpose, but some are dedicated to specific tasks:

CNC controllers (Computer Numerically Controlled) are optimised for machine tool applications, for instance. Many controllers include complex algorithms that improve the performance of the machine.

Modular systems, such as Delta Tau's UMAC can be expanded with accessory cards to exactly meet a customer's requirements.

‘Controller' is often used as a generic term, sometimes incorrectly being used to describe a servo amplifier (drive).

CTE

Coefficient of Thermal Expansion

CTE describes how much a material expands in a linear direction when temperature is increased. Normally the figure is expressed in µm/m/°C or ppm/°K.

Note that this is actually a complex subject. For example, materials have different CTE figures at different temperatures, so the quoted figure is normally specified over a limited temperature range around 20 °C.

CYCLIC ERROR

Cyclic Error is another term for Sub-Divisional Error.

DATUM

The term datum can refer to several different things:

• A reference mark
• The position where a scale with independent CTE (RTLC, for example) is locked to the substrate
• A defined zero position on the scale or on the machine
• A calibration standard

DIGITAL

Signals or information that can have only 2 discrete states: high or low.

In an encoder, ‘digital' normally refers to the outputs of a digital encoder. These signals are arranged in quadrature, as described on all Renishaw encoder datasheets.

Some people consider digital signals to be more noise-immune than analogue signals because any disturbance to the signal level is removed when the signal is received. Other people argue that analogue signals are lower-frequency, so more filtering can be applied.

Note that a drawback of digital encoders is that they will always have some compromise between speed and resolution.

DIRT IMMUNITY

The ability of an encoder to continue to read position over dirt and contamination.

Dirt immunity comes from 2 sources: the optical scheme and Auto Gain Control electronics.

Renishaw incremental encoders use filtering optics, which are tuned to see only 1 period, which is the scale period. Dirt and contamination will always have a different period to this, so it is rejected by the encoder. Crucially, the Lissajous signals are not offset by contamination.

Auto Gain Control boosts or reduces the signal electronically, to ensure the most consistent Lissajous possible.

DISTANCE-CODED

Distance-coded reference marks are placed along an encoder scale at unique distances apart; when the readhead moves over two adjacent reference marks, the controller can calculate the absolute position from the unique spacing between these references marks.

ELECTRICAL INTEGRATION

Electrical integration describes the connection of the encoder to the receiving electronics. This includes power supply, grounding/shielding and signals.

It is essential to check that the outputs from the encoder will be compatible with the inputs of the receiving electronics.

Incorrect grounding/shielding is the most common cause of encoder problems. Shorts or excessive noise between 0V and Earth often cause noise issues, miscounting or masked reference marks.

It is important to make sure that the power supply has sufficient current capacity to power the encoder. Don't forget voltage drop along the cables!

ELECTRICAL NOISE IMMUNITY

The ability of a product to continue working in noisy electrical environments.

Encoders can be subjected to a variety of electrical noise types:

• Electro-magnetic interference can be induced or coupled into the cable or readhead
• Noise is often present on the 5V power supply
• Noise can also be present on the machine earth

Careful electronics design of the encoder helps overcome the undesirable effects of these noise sources.

EMI ENVIRONMENT

EMI = Electro-Magnetic Interference

This is interference (noise) that is present in the region around the encoder.

EMI noise is often generated by the following:

• Fast switching currents in motor cables
• Bad connections that spark
• Poorly-shielded switches or contactors
• Bad earth connections or bad power supplies
• Welding, spark erosion or other noisy operations happening near the machine

ENCLOSED OPTICAL ENCODER

A Renishaw enclosed optical encoder houses the encoder's electronics and optics within a sealed unit that is attached to a readhead body. Both the sealed optical unit and the encoder's scale are further protected within a sealed enclosure. This design provides high resistance to the ingress of liquids and solid debris contaminants.

ENCODER

In general an encoder is a device or process that converts data from one format to another.

In position sensing, an encoder is a device that measures position and passes that information in a suitable format to a drive or controller.

EVOLUTE™ OPEN ABSOLUTE ENCODER

The EVOLUTE series is a true-absolute non-contact optical encoder with a 50 µm scale period, bringing superb installation tolerances and greater dirt immunity for applications that demand not only the highest operational integrity, but where fast installation is critical. Resolutions down to 50 nm along with low SDE and jitter from cutting edge optical design and high-speed signal processing give the EVOLUTE encoder the targeted performance to meet the needs of the most demanding OEM applications.

FASTRACK™

FASTRACK is a patented scale-mounting track system that is used with RTLC or RTLA scale.

Unlike most track systems, FASTRACK is made from hard stainless steel, so it is much more immune to accidental damage than soft aluminium extrusions. FASTRACK is also quick and easy to install.

Track systems have several benefits:

• They allow the scale to be easily replaced in the field
• They allow the scale to expand/contract according to its own CTE, independently of the track or substrate
• They allow long scales to be temporarily removed from big machines when they are sectioned for transit

FILTERING

Filtering is the rejection of signals, vibrations, or radiation of certain frequencies while allowing others frequencies to be sensed.

In position encoders, filtering is often used for the following purposes:

• Filtering optics reject frequencies other than the scale period
• Filtering of electrical signals helps remove noise and reduce jitter
• Filtering of the power supply helps remove noise components, allowing the system to work more consistently and reliably

FLYING LEAD

A cable that is supplied unterminated, with bare wires at the end. These allow customers to easily fit their own preferred connector.

FORTiS™ ENCLOSED OPTICAL ENCODER

FORTiS enclosed optical encoders are designed to be exceptionally robust for use in harsh industrial environments where high precision feedback and metrology are required. A sealed optoelectronic readhead converts motion relative to a finely graduated stainless steel scale into position data. They feature:

• Absolute measurement technology – precise, reliable and proven
• Non-contact design – lower hysteresis and no mechanical wear
• Superior sealing – greater resistance to contamination by fluids and solid debris
• Exceptional vibration resistance – higher performance and longer life
• Patented set-up LED – for fast and intuitive right-first-time installation
• Compatible with the Advanced Diagnostic Tool ADTa-100 for enhanced set-up and fault-finding

FPC

Flexible Printed Circuit

This is a flat, flexible cable that is used with small zero-insertion force connectors. FPC cables have very low bend forces but their ultimate flex life is often much lower than standard cables so FPC cables are generally not recommended for dynamic applications. FPC cables are also available with shielding.

FPD

Flat Panel Display

GROUNDING

The arrangements that connect the machine to ground. Also known as Earthing.

It is important to note that grounding is an essential part of the electrical integration of the encoder: poor grounding arrangements, such as shorts or noise between 0V and earth, are one of the most common causes of encoder problems.

HYSTERESIS

Hysteresis is the time lag of a response behind a change in the inputs that cause the response.

Examples of hysteresis in encoder applications include:

• When an encoder scale is track-mounted to a substrate, as the substrate is thermally cycled the differential thermal expansion of the scale and the friction in the mounting system will cause the ends of the scale to come to rest at a slightly varying positions.
• Electrical hysteresis inside a readhead means that an indicated position will occur at a slightly different place in the forwards and reverse direction.
• Enclosed encoders have a slight dwell when reversing direction. This is known as reversal error.

INCREMENTAL

An absolute position is one which is complete in itself and is defined independently of any other position or value. Absolute encoders come in three main types: true absolute, pseudo-absolute and battery-powered absolute.

An incremental encoder is one which outputs signals that indicate relative motion only – the absolute position of the axis can only be determined by the drive or controller which combines this relative position with a known reference position, such as a signal from a reference mark.

Incremental encoders cannot report absolute position upon power-up – a reference mark must be read before absolute position can be calculated. Incremental position signals can count in both directions, incrementing or decrementing the relative position information accordingly.

INDUSTRY STANDARD

Industry Standard refers to certain specifications that are common across the industry.

For example, voltage-driven analogue signals should be 1Vpp, which is the established industry standard. Digital signals should be RS422 compliant.

Note that industry standards refer to the specifications, but they do not define quality. It is possible to have two encoders that meet the industry standards for signal size, but one significantly outperforms the other.

INTERFACE

An electronic device that processes signals or carries out some other operation.

Serial communication protocols, such as BiSS® C or Siemens DRIVE-CLiQ®, are often described as an interface, i.e. a connection between two parts.

INTERPOLATOR

A device that converts analogue signals into digital signals.

For position encoders, interpolators are often used to convert analogue sine and cosine outputs from an incremental encoder into a digital representation of the same signals.

A wide variety of interpolators are commercially available, providing a range of interpolation quality and speeds.

IN-TRAC™

IN-TRAC is the name given to the optical reference mark feature on Renishaw scales, which is directly embedded into the incremental graduations (scale markings).

IN-TRAC reference marks are far more immune to yaw de-phasing than reference marks that are placed alongside the incremental graduations.

INVAR®

Invar is a nickel-iron alloy that has a very low CTE, of about 1.2 ppm/°C.

Renishaw provide encoder scale made of an alloy called ZeroMet™, which is a form of Invar which has been specially selected for its particularly high stability.

IP RATING

Ingress Protection, also known as International Protection Rating. This defines the sealing of an electrical enclosure.

IP ratings have two digits: the first digit refers to dust ingress and the second digit refers to water ingress. For example, IP64 describes a rating of 6 for dust protection and a rating of 4 for water protection.

IP ratings are defined in international standard IEC 60529.

NEMA publish protection ratings that are similar to the IEC standard, but the numbering system is different and the NEMA standards also include corrosion resistance and gasket aging.

JITTER

The amount of positional noise output by an encoder when it is not moving.

This figure is normally quoted in RMS, but there are many ways to measure positional noise; the bandwidth of the measurement is particularly crucial.

Encoders with lower jitter can hold position better and generate less heat in linear motors. They will also exhibit smoother velocity control at low speeds.

LED

Light Emitting Diode

LED INDICATORS

Coloured LEDs that indicate signal level, reference mark phasing, CAL/AGC status and a variety of other encoder status or diagnostics signals.

LIMITS

Outputs from an encoder that indicate that the readhead has reached the end of travel.

Single limits have one signal that show that the readhead has reached an end of the axis. The drive or controller cannot distinguish which end of travel has been reached.

Dual limits output a different signal depending on which end of travel has been reached; on Renishaw encoders these are known as the ‘P' or ‘Q' end of travel.

LINEAR

Motion or a shape in a straight line.

LISSAJOUS

A method of displaying sine and cosine signals so the output describes a circular form.

When encoder outputs are displayed in this way it is possible to easily determine many characteristics of the encoder operation, such as signal level and signal quality.

MICRON

A unit of length.

1 micrometre = 0.001 millimetres = 1000 nanometres

The symbol for micrometre is µm

MHz

Mega Hertz, a unit of frequency.

1 MHz = 1 million cycles per second

NANOMETRE

A unit of length

1 nanometre = 0.001 micrometres = 1000 picometres

A nanometre is about the length of 10 carbon atoms.

NODAL POINT

The index grating in an encoder readhead acts in a similar way to an objective lens and the nodal point is the position about which the interference fringes detected in the head are formed – if the scale (or readhead) rotates about this point then the fringes at the photodetector do not move.

Many encoder scales are installed with kinks or slightly uneven surfaces and this can lead to measurement errors. Renishaw encoders such as ATOM have a nodal point on the surface of the scale and therefore the scale can be tilted and no such undulation error is introduced.

In many other readhead types the scale acts as the index grating and the nodal point is above the surface of the scale. In this case any scale undulations will make the fringes move across the photodetector leading to a false position reading.

NOISE

An undesired electrical disturbance in a circuit, degrading the useful information in a signal.

NOMENCLATURE

The structure of a part numbering system. Literally, the structure of a name.

NON-CONTACT

A type of encoder that has no contact between the readhead and scale. Also known as exposed by some companies.

OPEN OPTICAL ENCODERS

An optical encoder is an electromechanical device which produces an electrical signal output proportional to the linear displacement of a linear motion axis or the angular position of an input shaft.

OUTPUT

Signals that are emitted by the encoder readhead during operation.

PARTIAL ARC

Renishaw's range of RKL encoder scales supports partial arc applications. The flexible nature of the small cross-sectional area of these scales allows them to be wrapped around a drum, shaft or arc with a minimum radius of 26 mm.

This new capability is available with both incremental and absolute variants of RKL scales.

PCB

Printed Circuit Board

PITCH

The distance between adjacent markings on an encoder scale. 20 micron pitch scale typically has a 10 micron wide dark line and a 10 micron wide bright line.

Sometimes referred to as scale period.

PRECISION

See repeatability.

QUANTiC™ OPEN INCREMENTAL ENCODER

The QUANTiC encoder system integrates Renishaw's filtering optics design and interpolation technology to create a super-compact, robust, incremental open optical encoder. QUANTiC encoders are easy to use with exceptionally wide installation and operation tolerances, along with built-in calibration functions.

QUANTiC readheads offer digital output and a new analogue output variant with a wide variety of configurations and linear or rotary scale options. Speeds up to 24 m/s can be achieved to meet the most demanding motion control requirements.

Detailed diagnostic information can be accessed by using the Advanced Diagnostic Tool ADTi‑100 and ADT View software during installation or for in-field diagnostics and fault finding.

READHEAD

The readhead reads and interprets the scale's positional information using optical, magnetic, inductive or capacitive techniques and outputs positional data using electrical signals.

REE

An interpolator box from Renishaw that takes 1Vpp analogue encoder signals as an input and gives digital quadrature outputs.

REFERENCE MARK

A datum position along an axis.

The phrase reference mark can be used to describe:

• The physical reference mark actuator, such as the reference mark magnet or the IN-TRAC™ optical feature.
• The reference mark output signal from the readhead/interface.

REL

A family of low-expansion, high-accuracy scales from Renishaw.

These scales are made from ZeroMet, a low-expansion nickel-iron alloy that is a highly stable form of Invar.

Options include:

• RELM: scale with a reference mark in the centre
• RELE: scale with a reference mark at one end
• RELA: scale with absolute code

RELIABILITY

The ability of an encoder to keep functioning correctly over time and usage.

Measures of reliability include:

• MTTF: Mean Time To Failure
• MTTFd: Mean Time To dangerous Failure
• MTBF: Mean Time Before Failures

Reliability may also be used to refer to an encoder's ability to tolerate contamination and other non-ideal conditions during its lifetime.

REPEATABILITY

The ability of the encoder to report the same position each time it arrives at a certain point along the axis.

Also sometimes known as reproducibility, scatter or precision.

REPRODUCIBILITY

See repeatability.

RESOLUTE™ OPEN ABSOLUTE ENCODER

A single-track open optical true absolute encoder from Renishaw.

RESOLUTION

The smallest measurement step output by an encoder: this is the minimum distance that the encoder must move to change its output by one count.

Resolution is sometimes confused with accuracy and repeatability. It can be smaller than the noise level of the encoder.

RGH

The Renishaw nomenclature for encoder readheads in the RG2 and RG4 ranges.

Not recommended for new designs.

RGSZ

Renishaw Gold Scale. A gold-plated steel tape scale with customer selectable optical IN-TRAC™ reference marks available from Renishaw. RGSZ is available on a reel and can be cut to any axis length up to 50 m. It is mounted using adhesive backing tape and is thermally mastered to the mounting substrate, simplifying thermal compensation.

RIDEHEIGHT

Ride height or rideheight is the distance between the encoder scale and the underside of the readhead.

Rideheight tolerance is the variation in that distance that the readhead can handle.

RING

A type of rotary scale in the form of a ring, generally with the encoder scale marked on the outer surface of the ring. Renishaw ring scales include RESR, RESM, RESA, REXM and REXA. Magnetic ring scales are also available.

RIPPLE

Power supply voltage ripple is the level of noise on a 5V power supply.

Velocity ripple is a measure of the variation in speed of an axis, when it is driven to move at a constant speed.

RKL

Renishaw narrow low profile stainless steel tape scale, including the following model:

• RKLC-S: steel tape, incremental, IN-TRAC reference marks, self-adhesive

ROLL

Rotation about the longitudinal axis

ROTARY

Acting in a circular motion.

In the encoder market rotary encoders measure rotation movement.

Note that rotary encoder is the generic term for all encoders that measure angles. However, rotary encoder is also used to describe lower-specification rotational encoders and angle encoder is used to describe higher-specification rotational encoders.

RSL

A family of high-accuracy, stainless-steel spar scales from Renishaw. The range includes the following models:

• RSLM: Steel spar with a reference mark in the centre
• RSLE: Steel spar with a reference mark at one end
• RSLC: Steel spar with customer-selectable reference marks
• RSLR: Steel spar with no reference marks
• RSLA: Steel spar with absolute code

The word spar describes a thick cross-section scale.

RTL

A family of stainless steel tape scales from Renishaw. The range includes the following models:

• RTLC: Steel tape, incremental, IN-TRAC™ reference marks
• RTLC-S: Steel tape, incremental, IN-TRAC™ reference marks, self-adhesive
• RTLA: Steel tape, absolute code
• RTLA-S: Steel tape, absolute code, self-adhesive

SCATTER

See repeatability.

SDE

SDE = Sub-Divisional Error. The measurement error within one signal period.

This error mechanism is due to imperfections in the shape or centring of the encoder output signal Lissajous.

SDE can cause velocity ripple problems on linear motor or DDR motor axes. High SDE can cause an axis to make an audible noise, and heat can be generated. In machine tool applications, high SDE can cause poor surface finish and on scanning machines it can cause blurred images.

TONiC and ATOM feature SDE-reducing processing electronics.

SEALING RATING

See IP Rating.

SET-UP LED

A Light-Emitting Diode fitted to readheads (or encoder interfaces) that indicates current signal quality and the status of the encoder, such as reference mark phasing. This instant display of diagnostic information removes the need for additional set-up equipment or oscilloscopes.

Most Renishaw encoders indicate signal quality through a multi-coloured set-up LED that illuminates red/orange/green to indicate poor/fair/good signal quality. Some encoder models can also illuminate blue to show an optimised or very high signal.

SINGLE TRACK

Single Track refers to an absolute encoder scale with a single strip of scale graduations that provides both coarse absolute position and fine incremental phase information.

Traditional absolute encoders use two parallel tracks of graduations: incremental and absolute. As the absolute readhead must read both these two scales simultaneously, any small amount of yaw misalignment can cause these two readings to become de-phased, introducing a measurement error.

RESOLUTE is the world's first open optical absolute encoder that reads a single track scale, making it immune to yaw-dephasing.

SINUSOIDAL

A waveform is described as sinusoidal when it has a magnitude that varies according to a sine function.

SHIELDING

Shielding refers to the encoders defence against electromagnetic interference.

An important application of shielding is in cables - Renishaw cables are generally double-shielded, featuring two layers of shield made from tinned copper braid, spirally wrapped around the cable core opposite directions. The outer screen acts like a Faraday Cage and is connected to Earth at both ends. The inner screen acts like an antenna and is connected to 0V at the receiving electronics only.

With double-shielded cables, it is important to ensure that there is no short between 0V and Earth.

SPAR

A scale type with a thick cross-section.

Renishaw RSLM and RELM are spar scales, for instance.

Ti

The standard digital interface for the TONiC encoder range.

THERMAL EXPANSION

See CTE.

TONiC™ OPEN INCREMENTAL ENCODER

A range of compact optical incremental encoders from Renishaw, providing high-performance motion control capability. The readhead incorporates dynamic signal conditioning and the optical reference mark detector is directly integrated into the incremental signal sensor. TONiC provides excellent signal-to-noise characteristics and robust immunity to contamination.

UHV

Ultra-high vacuum. UHV is generally defined as being pressures less than 10^-9 Torr.

Renishaw provide certain readheads that are optimized for use in UHV environments. These heads are built from clean materials and designed to minimise outgassing (the release of chemicals while the vacuum chamber is being pumped-down).

VELOCITY RIPPLE

In motion control systems, any deviation between the commanded velocity and the actual velocity at a given time is known as velocity ripple. Factors contributing to velocity ripple include encoder resolution and Sub-Divisional Error.

VIONiC™ OPEN INCREMENTAL ENCODER

The VIONiC series is Renishaw's ultra-high accuracy, all-in-one digital incremental encoder with a wide range of linear and rotary scale options. VIONiC combines Renishaw's market proven filtering optics and advanced interpolation inside the readhead, delivering Sub‑Divisional Error (SDE) of typically < ±15 nm and resolutions down to 2.5 nm.

Designed with intuitive auto calibration mode, VIONiC readheads are easy to install. An optional Advanced Diagnostic Tool ADTi-100 is available for real‑time encoder data feedback during installation or for in-field diagnostics.

VPP

Volts peak-to-peak. A method for measuring the size of a waveform, by measuring from the maximum positive amplitude to the minimum negative amplitude of the waveform. The analogue output of many incremental encoders is defined as being 1 Vpp.

Another standard is to measure mean-to-peak, which is used to describe SDE, for example. For symmetrical waveforms (such as sine and cosine) mean-to-peak is half the peak-to-peak value.

YAW

Rotation about the vertical axis

ZEROMET™

A form of Invar (low CTE nickel-iron alloy) which has been specially selected for its particularly high stability. Renishaw provide low CTE scale made of ZeroMet.