selection aid

Selection Guide for Encoders

Find the right encoder for your application.

 Incremental, Absolute, Linear...
Which encoder is right for your application?

Often the differences between two encoders seem to be small. This guide will help you find
these differences quickly and easily, enabling you to choose the right encoder product family.

What is the difference between ...?

Incremental and Absolute

• Counts pulses from 1 to n • Measures the absolute position from 1 to n

• Reference run (zero pulse) necessary to obtain absolute • Every measuring step is defined by a unique (absolute)
­position value code pattern
• The number of pulses defines the resolution • The number of steps defines the resolution

Absolute Singleturn and Absolute Multiturn

• Variant of an Absolute Encoder • Variant of an Absolute Encoder

• Measures the absolute position from 1 to n within one • Measures the absolute position from 1 to n within one
revolution revolution
• In addition measures the number of revolutions

And between ...?

Wire Draw Encoders and Linear Encoders

• Measures lengths between A and B • Measures lengths between A and B

• Consists of a Rotary Encoder and a wire draw mechanism • Consists of read head and scale
• The wire is mounted to the moving part • The read head is mounted to the moving part
• The encoder is fixed • The scale is fixed

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What should be measured?
Angle, speed, velocity or distance?

From speed monitoring to tracking products on a conveyor, SICK helps you select an encoder
based on the parameters that need to be measured.

Angle, Speed or Velocity = Rotary Encoders (selection guide pages 4-5)

Incremental Encoders Absolute Singleturn Encoders

DDS36/50 DFS60 DRS60/61 DRS25/26 DRS20/21 AFS60

DGS20/25 DGS21/22 DKS40 DKV60 DGS34/35 ARS60 ARS20/25

Absolute Multiturn Encoders

AFM60 ATM60 ATM90 SRM64/50 + fieldbus module SKM36 + fieldbus module

Distance = Linear Encoders (selection guide page 6)

Incremental Wire Draw Encoders Absolute Wire Draw Encoders Linear Encoders with Scale

PKS PRF BCG BKS/XKS BTF KH53/53A L230 TTK70

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 Incremental Encoders

Incremental
Encoders

DGS20/25
DGS21/22

DGS34/35
DRS60/61

DRS25/26

DRS20/21

DKS40/
DDS50

DDS36

DKV60
DFS60
Should an absolute position
always be measured?
> Yes
> No ■■■■■■■■■
How many absolute turns
should be measured?
> No absolute measurement ■■■■■■■■■
>1
> 2 or more
Which Interface connection
is required?
TTL (5 V) pulses/
> HTL (10 to 30 V) pulses ■■■■■■■■■
> Parallel data word
> SSI data word
Bus connectivity,
> data word
What is the maximum
­diameter available?
> 40 mm ■
> 60 mm ■■ ■
> 3.5 in ■
> 2 in ■■
> 2.5 in ■ ■
What type of mounting shaft
is required?
Face mount flange
> solid shaft ■■ ■■
> Servo flange solid shaft ■■■■■
> Square flange ■■■
> Blind hollow shaft ■■ ■ ■ ■
> Through hollow shaft ■■ ■ ■
> Measuring wheel ■
Is a shaft diameter
> 16 mm required?
> Yes ■
> No ■■■■■■■
What resolution is required
(pulses/steps)?
> Max. 2,500 ■ ■■■■
> Max. 8,192 ■■■■
> Max. 32,768 ■
> > 32,768 ■
Is a solution enabling program-
ming by the customer required
> Yes ■■■■
(resolution, zero-pulse …)? > No ■■■■■■■■■
>
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Absolute Encoders

Absolute Singleturn Absolute Multiturn

Encoders Encoders

fieldbus module

fieldbus module
A3M Profibus

SRM64/50 +
ARS20/25

SKM36 +
AFM60

ATM60

ATM90
ARS60
AFS60
Should an absolute position
always be measured?
> Yes ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
> No
How many absolute turns
should be measured?
> No absolute measurement
>1 ■ ■ ■
> 2 or more ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
TTL (5 V) pulses/
Which Interface connection
is required?
> HTL (10 to 30 V) pulses
> Parallel data word ■ ■
> SSI data word ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Bus connectivity,
> data word ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
What is the maximum
­diameter available?
> 40 mm ■
> 60 mm ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
> 90 mm ■
> 2 in ■
> 2.5 in ■ ■
What type of mounting shaft
is required?
Face mount flange
> solid shaft ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
> Servo flange solid shaft ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
> Square flange ■ ■
> Blind hollow shaft ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
> Through hollow shaft ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
> Measuring wheel
Is a shaft diameter
> 16 mm required? > Yes
> No ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
What resolution is required
(positions/turn)? > Max. 2,500
> Max. 8,192 ■ ■ ■
> Max. 32,768 ■ ■ ■ ■
> > 32,768 ■ ■ ■
Is a solution enabling program-
ming by the customer required > Yes ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
(resolution, zero-pulse …)?
> No ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
>
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 Linear Encoders

Incremental Wire Absolute Wire Linear Encoders

Draw Encoders Draw Encoders with Scale

KH53 A

TTK70
KH53

L230
BCG

BKS
PKS

XKS
PRF

BTF
Should an absolute position
always be measured?
> Yes ■■■■■■■■
> No ■■
Which interface connection
is required?
>
TTL (5 V) pulses/
HTL (10 to 30 V) pulses ■■
>
Analog
(4-20 mA & 0-10 V) ■
> HIPERFACE ®
■ ■ ■
> SSI data word ■■■■■■ ■
>
Bus connectivity,
data word ■■■■
Are there continuous mount-
ing points available across
> Yes ■■■ ■
the measuring length? > No ■■ ■■■■
What are the mounting
tolerances?
> Small ■ ■
> Medium ■
> Large ■■ ■■■■ ■
What measuring length is
required?
> Up to 5 m ■■ ■■■■■■■ ■
> Up to 40/50 m ■ ■■■■
> Up to 548 m ■■
> Up to 1,700 m ■
What resolution is required? > 0.1 to 0.05 mm ■■ ■■■■■■ ■
> 0.025 mm ■ ■ ■
> 0.001 mm ■
Maximum number of
­measuring cycles?
> Up to 800,000 ■ ■■
> Up to 1,000,000 ■ ■ ■
Infinite ■■■ ■

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Definition of Technical Terms
Accuracy
Deviation between the real and the measured position
Accuracy of repeatability/reproducibility
Deviation of the measured values when a defined point is
repeatedly being approached under the same operating
conditions
Baud rate
Speed of data transmission (bits/sec)
BCD (Binary Coded Decimal) code
Binary presentation of a decimal number
Binary code
Two digit numerical code consisting of 1s and 0s, which is
capable of representing any integer decimal number
Bit
Abbreviation for “binary digit.” Smallest information unit
of a binary system, whereby the values can be 1 or 0
(Yes/No decision).
DC
Direct current
Direction of rotation
Can be clockwise (cw) or counterclockwise (ccw), as
viewed from the shaft
Enable
Control input, by which the data outputs of absolute en-
coders with parallel interface can be activated
Flanges/Shafts
Different mechanical adapters for the mounting of drive
shafts to motors and gearboxes, as well as to gearwheels
and pulleys
Gray code
Single-step code. When changing from one value to the
next, only one single data code bit is modified. Works for
resolutions which can be expressed by 2n (e.g., 1024,
2048, 4096, etc.).
Gray excess code
Gray code with cut-out (excess). Ensures that the single
step characteristic of Gray code is maintained for resolu-
tions which cannot be expressed by 2n (e.g., 360, 720,
1440, etc.).
Jitter
Variation of pulses during the transmission of digital sig-
nals. The position of the signal flanks continually change.
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Line driver
Output circuit which enables the use of a higher current to
drive the signal over long distances
Multiturn
In addition to the singleturn data (positional information
within one turn), the number of shaft revolutions (turns) is
also transmitted
Protection classes
Defined according to DIN VDE 0470 (EN 60529, IEC 529),
are to be understood when the encoder is mounted. There
are differences between protection classes for different
housing styles and protection classes for shafts. The pro-
tection class for housing depends mainly on the female
connector being used or on the type of connector.
Repeatability
Maximum variation of the measured values produced dur-
ing a minimum of 5 successive movements to a defined
position, whereby the position is approached from the
same direction and at a fixed temperature (according to
DIN 32878)
Resolution
Number of lines/steps per revolution. In case of abso-
lute multiturn encoders, the resolution also includes the
number of shaft turns.
Shaft load
Mechanical load on the encoder shaft in axial or radial
direction
Singleturn
Positional information within one turn
Speed
Mechanical turns of a shaft in revolutions per minute
SSI
Synchronous serial interface. Standardized interface for
serial data transmission.
Zero pulse (reference signal)
An output signal given by an incremental encoder, which
signifies the end of one revolution (360 degrees of
rotation)
Zero pulse width
Length of the marker/pulse reference
selection guide for encoders | Sick 7
 Worldwide presence with Österreich Please find detailed addresses and
Subject to change without notice
7028292/2010-02-19/Rev. 12-10 ∙ Printed in the U.S. (2010-02)

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Our Competence in the Business Segments

Factory automation
With its intelligent sensors, safety
systems, and auto identification
solutions, SICK offers comprehensive
solutions for factory automation.
Logistics automation
Solutions from SICK automate material
flows and optimize sorting and
warehousing processes.
Process automation
Analyzers and process instrumentation
from SICK provide the best possible
acquisition of environmental and
process data.

• Non-contact detecting, counting,
classifying, and positioning of any
type of object
• Accident protection and personal
safety using sensors, as well as
safety software and services
• Automated identification with bar
code reading devices for the purpose
of sorting and target control in
industrial material flow
• Detecting volume, position, and
contours of objects and surroundings
with laser measurement systems
• Complete system solutions for
gas analysis, dust measurement,
flow rate measurement, water
analysis, liquid analysis, and level
measurement as well as other tasks

SICK, Inc. | Minneapolis, MN | United States | www.sickusa.com