RESOLUTE™ absolute encoder system with RTLA30 linear scale
Features
- Serial interfaces: BiSS® C, FANUC, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Siemens DRIVE-CLiQ®, Yaskawa
- Readhead size: 36 x 16.5 x 17.2 mm
- Resolutions to 1 nm at 100 m/s
- ±5 µm/m accuracy at 20 °C
- Scale coefficient of thermal expansion at 20 °C: 10.1 ±0.2 µm/m/°C
- Vacuum compatible and side cable outlet versions available
Benefits
- Tape scale convenience and unrivalled ruggedness
- Excellent metrology performance
- Superior dirt immunity
- Easy installation
- High speed and fine resolution
- Less than 10 nm RMS jitter for improved positional stability
- ±40 nm Sub-Divisional Error for smooth velocity control
- Optional Advanced Diagnostic Tool
What is RESOLUTE?
RESOLUTE is a true-absolute fine pitched optical encoder system that has excellent dirt immunity, and an impressive specification that breaks new ground in position feedback. It is the world's first absolute encoder capable of 1 nm resolution up to 100 m/s.
Ultra low Sub-Divisional Error (SDE) and jitter result in a linear encoder system that outperforms any other encoder in its class.
What is RTLA30 scale?
RTLA30 is a low profile stainless steel tape scale featuring 30 µm pitch absolute scale code. It is accurate to ±5 µm/m and available in lengths up to 21 metres. Two mounting options are available, both of which allow independent thermal expansion and tape scale convenience.
RTLA30 can be used with the revolutionary FASTRACK™ scale carrier system. This system allows a track to be laid quickly and easily with no need for fixing holes. A sacrificial spacer is removed and the tape scale is then fed into the track.
RTLA30-S is laid onto the substrate with self-adhesive backing tape. The self-adhesive is formulated in such a way that it allows for independent scale expansion to that of the substrate.
To complete the installation, both types of scale are clamped at one point to provide a datum position.
Why choose this encoder system?
Easy fault finding and servicing
The Advanced Diagnostic Tool ADTa‑100 acquires comprehensive real-time data from RESOLUTE™ encoder readheads (marked with the ADT symbol). The information is displayed via the user-friendly ADT View software interface. Whilst in most cases the integral set-up LED on the encoder is sufficient for setting up the system, the ADT can be used to aid more challenging installations. The ADT can also report on encoder performance and assist system fault finding to avoid lengthy machine downtime.
Excellent motion control performance
RESOLUTE's industry-leading performance is the result of a sophisticated, reliable and innovative method of operation. Crucially, the system uses a single track non-repeating “bar code” scale format with a nominal pitch of 30 µm. With its sophisticated optical design the RESOLUTE readhead captures a near-instantaneous image of this scale which, when analysed, allows a unique position to be identified at speeds of up to 100 m/s. The system allows position to be determined with resolution as small as 1 nanometre (1 billionth of a metre) and with low noise (jitter below 10 nm RMS) and SDE (Sub-Divisional Error, the error within a scale period) of just ±40 nm. This provides encoder feedback of superior fidelity, to ensure smoother velocity control and rock-solid positional stability.
Wide set-up tolerances
RESOLUTE does not follow the conventional technique of using dual tracks side-by-side (one incremental, one absolute) which inherently suffers de-phasing problems when small amounts of angular misalignment are introduced. Instead, this absolute encoder features a single track, optical absolute scale, combining both the absolute position and embedded phase information into one single code. This technology provides RESOLUTE with far wider set-up tolerances (yaw tolerance ±0.5°) for quick and easy installation and superior long-term reliability, even if the motion axes settle or move over time. To further aid installation and diagnostics, there is an integral set-up LED on the readhead.
External interface option
Siemens DRIVE-CLiQ external interface
- Required for Siemens DRIVE-CLiQ serial interface
- Also available in dual head input for high accuracy rotary systems
- Displays communication alarms
- Duplicates readhead LED
No external interface is required for the other available serial interfaces.
Optional Advanced Diagnostic Tool ADTa-100
RESOLUTE encoder readheads (marked with the ADT symbol) are compatible with the Advanced Diagnostic Tool ADTa-100 and ADT View software. They provide comprehensive real-time encoder data feedback to aid more challenging installations and diagnostics. The intuitive software interface can be used for:
- Remote calibration
- Signal optimisation over the entire axis length
- Digital readout of encoder position (relative to the scale)
- Exporting and saving data
- Setting zero
Serial interfaces
| Serial interfaces | Description | Compatible products |
| BiSS C | Renishaw supports BiSS C (unidirectional) open protocol for absolute encoders. BiSS C is a high-speed serial interface, perfect for dynamic axes that require high acceleration, silky-smooth velocity control, excellent repeatability and rock-solid positional stability. | |
FANUC | RESOLUTE with FANUC (α and αi) serial interface is available for rotary and linear applications. | N/A |
Mitsubishi | RESOLUTE with Mitsubishi serial interface is available in rotary and linear forms. RESOLUTE is compatible with the J4 and J5 series of servo drives, and the MDS-D2/DH2/DM2/DJ drives for machine tool applications. | N/A |
Panasonic | RESOLUTE with Panasonic serial interface is available in linear and rotary forms. Compatible with the A5 and A6 series of drivers, it provides high resolution repeatable feedback for better servo and speed control. | N/A |
Siemens DRIVE-CLiQ | RESOLUTE with Siemens DRIVE-CLiQ serial interface is available (using external interface) for linear and rotary applications. Siemens DRIVE-CLiQ is the innovative, powerful communications interface to connect encoder and direct measurement systems with SINUMERIK and SINAMICS drive components. | N/A |
Yaskawa | RESOLUTE with Yaskawa serial interface is available in rotary and linear forms, and is compatible with Sigma-5 and Sigma-7 SERVOPACKs. | N/A |
Refer to data sheet for full details.
Technical specifications
Measuring standard | FASTRACK RTLA30: stainless steel tape scale with carrier system RTLA30-S: stainless steel absolute coded tape scale with self-adhesive backing tape, for mounting directly to a substrate without the FASTRACK guide rails |
Readhead size (LxWxH) | 36 mm x 16.5 mm x 17.2 mm |
Scale pitch | Nominal 30 μm |
Coefficient of thermal expansion at 20 °C | 10.1 ±0.2 μm/m/°C |
Accuracy grade at 20 °C | ±5 μm/m |
Scale length | Some BiSS C protocol variants have limited maximum length (See data sheet for details) FASTRACK: 100 mm to 25 m RTLA30/RTLA30-S: up to 21 m |
Maximum speed | (See data sheet for details) Up to 100 m/s |
Serial interfaces* | BiSS C, FANUC, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Siemens DRIVE-CLiQ, Yaskawa |
Resolutions | BiSS C: 50 nm, 5 nm and 1 nm resolutions FANUC, Mitsubishi, Siemens DRIVE-CLiQ, and Yaskawa: 50 nm and 1 nm resolutions Panasonic: 100 nm, 50 nm and 1 nm resolutions |
Sub-Divisional Error (SDE) | ±40 nm |
Electrical connection | Up to 10 m cable lengths with D-type connectors (9 pin or 15 pin), flying lead, FANUC compatible connector, LEMO, and M12 |
Power supply | 5 V ±10%, max 250 mA @ 5 V (terminated) |
Vibration (operating) | 300 m/s2 max @ 55 Hz to 2 000 Hz |
Shock (non-operating) | 1 000 m/s2, 6 ms, ½ sine |
Operating temperature | 0 °C to +80 °C |
Sealing | IP64 |
Refer to data sheet for full details.
*Other serial interfaces are continually being added.
†For Siemens DRIVE-CLiQ specifications, refer to data sheet.