Renishaw is highlighting its latest range of encoder solutions at MDandM West show and conference, being held at the Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, California from 31 January to 2 February 2006
Medical Design and Manufacturing (MDandM) West promotes itself as offering all the resources required to successfully design, develop and manufacture medical devices and equipment for an increasingly competitive healthcare market.
Renishaw will exhibit.
The focus for position feedback systems will be a new robust high accuracy linear encoder, a range of high-performance ultra-high-vacuum (UHV) encoders, plus demonstrations of improvements in speed, resolution and reliability to Renishaw's standard optical encoder lines of industrialised RG2 and RG4 linear encoders.
Renishaw says the technology extensions further consolidate its position as a global leader in micron, nanometer and picometre position feedback systems for many applications from lab and medical instruments, and semiconductor manufacturing equipment, to machine tools, metrology systems, and massive aerospace assembly machines.
One recent application in the medical sector is for Machine Solutions, which incorporates Renishaw encoders in its stent delivery systems; devices that open up and relieve blockages in blood vessels.
At MDandM West, Renishaw will exhibit two different advanced technologies for precision positioning - optical and magnetic - each providing special solutions to difficult applications.
All feature exceptional compactness and installation ease, providing tremendous design flexibility and application range, it says.
Proven in thousands of installations across the spectrum of precision machines and instruments, Renishaw's optical encoders were created to bring high precision, speed and reliability to demanding environments and tough industrial applications.
Innovative metal scales avoid the fragility of glass encoders, while unique non-contact readheads and filtering optics avoid the bulkiness, hysteresis and wear of traditional industrial encoders.
A new Signum family of rotary and linear encoders applies that same formula of ruggedness and precision to deliver levels of performance previously possible only from fine-pitch systems too delicate for many industrial roles.
The new Signum encoder range offers high accuracy, resolution and repeatability with high speed, high operating temperatures, ultra-low cyclic error and innovative In-Trac optical reference mark, which remains phased over the entire speed and temperature specification.
The system offers intelligent signal processing, ensuring excellent reliability and ultra-low cyclic error (typically <+/-40nm), while comprehensive Signum software enables optimum set-up and real-time system diagnostics via a PC's USB port.
The Signum RESM angular encoder is a one-piece stainless steel ring with 20 micron scale marked directly on the periphery.
It features the IN-TRAC optical reference mark, which repeats, regardless of direction, at operational speeds of over 4500rev/min (52mm diameter) and up to 85C.
The Signum RELM high accuracy linear encoder comprises the SR readhead, Si interface and 20 micron RELM scale, which is offered in defined lengths.
Initially available in Invar, which provides a low thermal expansion of 1.4micron/m/C, the RELM scale is offered with a choice of In-Trac reference mark positions and dual optical limits.
Together with the robust, yet highly precise 20 micron spars, this enables the RELM to offer accuracy to +/-1micron and resolution to 20nm, satisfying the most demanding precision motion requirements.
Meeting demand for reliable, low-cost, high-speed rotary encoders, Renishaw's miniature magnetic rotary encoders provide class-leading performance along with 'tough-guy' ruggedness and durability.
MDandM West visitors will see that the magnetic encoders are available in component, modular and packaged shaft-style models.
The RM family magnetic encoders offer up to 4096-count positioning resolution, accuracy to 0.3deg, and operating speeds to over 30,000rev/min.
Non-contact magnetic design eliminates seals, bearings and moving parts for lifetime reliability.
Standard models provide excellent shock and vibration resistance, while optional sealed models allow application in harsh environments and even immersion.
Low cost, compact size and design simplicity enable use in a wide range of industries.
