HEIDENHAIN linear encoders use material measuring standards consisting of graduations on substrates of glass or steel.

These measuring standards are insensitive to vibration and shock and have a defined thermal behavior. Changes in atmospheric pressure or relative humidity have no influence on the accuracy of the measuring standard. The masters for these graduations are fabricated on ruling machines developed and built by HEIDENHAIN. High thermal stability during the manufacturing process ensures that the graduations have high long-range accuracy. The master graduations are applied to various substrate materials (such as glass, glass ceramic, or steel) using the DIADUR or AURODUR copying processes developed by HEIDENHAIN. Glass scales can be used for measuring lengths up to 3 meters. Measuring lengths up to 30 meters and more are possible with steel scale tape. The DIADUR process produces graduations with opaque lines of chromium. The AURODUR process produces gratings consisting of gold lines and light-dispersing gaps. The lines reflect light waves in a defined direction. Both processes are characterized by a very high edge definition of the grating. This high edge definition is a precondition for exploiting the capabilities of photoelectric scanning to produce a high quality signal. HEIDENHAIN linear encoders can be adapted in their thermal behavior to closely resemble that of the machine. This is possible through the selection of the scale substrate material (with a known coefficient of expansion), the mounting method and - with sealed linear encoders through the mechanical design of the encoder. HEIDENHAIN linear encoders operate on the principle of photoelectrically scanning very fine gratings. Photoelectric scanning of a measuring standard means the sensing of changes in light intensity by means of photovoltaic cells. The finer the grating period of a measuring standard, the stronger the influence of light diffraction on the scanning. The scanning process therefore uses one of two methods, depending on the fineness of the grating: The imaging principle for grating periods of 100 m to 20 m The interferential principle for grating periods of typically 8 m or 4 m

The Imaging Principle with Four-Field Scanning

When a scale with a grating moves relative to another grating with an identical pattern - the index grating - the lines and gaps alternately align. The light-dark modulation produced in this manner is detected with photovoltaic cells. Signal generation with four-field scanning A group of four windows are located on the scanning reticle. The gratings of the windows serve as scanning fields, phase-shifted from each other by one-quarter of the grating periods, and are penetrated by a parallel beam of light produced by a unit consisting of an LED and condenser lens. The photovoltaic cells for the incremental track produce four sinusoidal current signals, phase-shifted from each other by 90, designated I0, I90, I180, and I270. The four sinusoidal signals do not at first lie symmetrically about the zero line. For this reason the photovoltaic cells are connected in a push-pull circuit, producing two 90 phase-shifted output signals I1 and I2 in symmetry with respect to the zero line This principle is used in the LS product family. Encoders of this family feature glass scales and are scanned in principle by the method shown in the illustration below.

Signal generation using the imaging principle with glass scale and four-

The Imaging Principle with Quasi-SingleField Scanning

Signal generation using the imaging principle with steel scale and quasi-single-field scanning (reflected -light method)

LIDA 100 exposed linear encoders use a steel scale tape with a grating period of 40 m. The transparent index grating consists of two interlaced phase gratings with differing diffraction characteristics. The use of the phase grating offers two advantages: This scanning method is relatively insensitive to a slight waviness of the scale tape. Also, the gap and gap tolerances between the scale and scanning reticle are much greater than with the conventional scanning method. Linear encoders of the LB product family use as the measuring standard a steel strip using a grating applied with the AURODUR process. These linear scales are scanned with the reflected light method. Signal generation with quasi-single-field scanning The index grating with one scanning field of two interlaced phase gratings generates four images on the measuring standard, with each image phase-shifted by one-quarter of the grating period. Since only one scanning field is used to generate all four scanning signals, fluctuations in the intensity of the light such as are caused, for example, by local contamination of the scale, have an equal effect on the four photocell signals. The sinusoidal output signals therefore retain a high quality even with a certain degree of contamination.

The Interferential Measuring Principle with Single-Field Scanning

Photoelectric scanning using the interferential measuring principle with one scanning field

The interferential measuring principle exploits the diffraction of light at the grating to produce the measuring signal. When the scale moves, the light waves in the higher orders of diffraction undergo phase shifts that are proportional to its displacement. To evaluate these phase shifts, the different orders of diffraction are superposed and brought into interference. Signal generation with the interferential scanning principle The scanning reticle consists of a transparent phase grating that generates and superposes the diffracted beam components. The scale itself is a reflection-type phase grating. Here - as with the imaging principle - the light source is a unit consisting of an LED and condenser lens. Interferential scanning produces at the index grating essentially three beam components with the 0, +1, and -1 orders of diffraction. The beam components are diffracted once again at the phase grating of the scale, at which point the zero order of diffraction is eliminated. The beam components of the +1, and -1 orders reflected from the scale now contain the distance information in their phase positions and are brought into interference at the index grating. From the resulting light modulation, the photovoltaic cells produce three 120-phase shifted signals which are then converted to the two 90 phase-shifted signals that are characteristic of HEIDENHAIN encoders. The linear encoders of the LIP, LIF, PP, and LF product families operate with the interferential measuring principle. As graduation carrier the encoders use glass or glass ceramics, or also - as with the LIP 100 and LF 100 series - steel.

Degree of protection Sealed linear encoders are protected to the degree IP 53 according to IEC 529 and EN 60529, provided that they are mounted with the sealing lips facing away from possible sources of contamination. If necessary, provide a separate protective cover. If the encoder will be exposed to heavy concentrations of coolant and lubricant mist, the scale housing can be supplied with compressed air to provide IP 64 protection and effectively prevent the ingress of contamination. Most HEIDENHAIN sealed linear encoders feature compressed air inlets at the scale end blocks and on the mounting block of the scanning unit. The compressed air that is introduced directly into the encoder housing must have been cleaned in a microfilter and must comply with the following quality classes as per ISO 8573-1: Solid contaminants: Class 1 (max. particle size 0.1 mm and max. particle density 0.1 mg/m at 1 10 Pa) Total oil content: Class 1 (max. oil concentration 0.01 mg/m at 1 10 Pa) Max. pressure dew point: Class 4 (+3C at 2 10 Pa) The required rate of compressed air flow is 7 to 10 liters/minute per linear encoder; the permissible pressure lied in the range of 0.6 to 1 bar. The compressed air may be introduced into the encoder only through a connector with integral throttle (included with the LB, LC, LF, LS 1x6, and LS 4x6 encoders). Reference Marks Photoelectric scanning of a single periodic graduation track results in an incremental - or counting - measurement. Since an absolute reference is needed to determine a position, the scales are provided with a second track, parallel to the incremental track, containing one or several reference marks which are likewise scanned photoelectrically. In this way, the scale's absolute reference position, established using the reference mark, is permanently gated with exactly one measuring step. The reference mark must therefore be scanned in order to establish an absolute reference. In some cases this may necessitate traversing large lengths of the measuring range. To speed and simplify the referencing procedure, many HEIDENHAIN encoders have distance coded-reference marks. Next to the incremental track is a track with several reference marks individually spaced according to a mathematical algorithm. With encoders featuring distance-coded reference marks, the absolute position value can be reestablished after traversing two successive reference marks, or at most 20 mm for linear encoders of the LS, LF and LIF product families, or 80 mm for the LB.

Maximum Traverse LF, LS, LIF, LIP 501 LIDA 100 LB 20 mm 80 mm 80 mm

Sealed Linear Encoders Sealed linear encoders are designed primarily for use on machines and installations that operate in harsh environments, such as: Milling machines Drilling and boring machines Machining centers Lathes Grinding machines Electrical discharge machines Welding machines Bending presses Mechanical Design The scale and scanning unit of sealed linear encoders are protected against chips, swarf, dirt and splashwater by an aluminum housing and flexible sealing lips. The scanning carriage travels on a low-friction guide within the scale unit. It is connected to the external mounting block via a coupling that compensates unavoidable misalignment between the scale and the machine guideways.

Simplified representation of the LS 106 Sealed Linear Encoder.

Maximum permissible misalignment between scale and mounting block is 0.2 to 0.3 mm, depending on the model of encoder. The correct scanning gap is quickly and easily set with the shipping brace on the mounting block. Exposed Linear Encoders

Exposed linear encoders are designed for use on machines and installations that require especially high accuracy of the measured value. Typical applications include:

Measuring and production equipment in the semiconductor industry Component placing machines Ultra-precision machines such as diamond lathes for optical components, facing lathes for magnetic storage disks, and grinding machines for ferrite components. High-accuracy machine tools Measuring machines and comparators, measuring microscopes, and other precision measuring devices.

Mechanical Design Exposed linear encoders consist of a scale or scale tape and a scanning head that operate without mechanical contact. The scale of an exposed linear encoder is fastened directly to a mounting surface. The flatness of the mounting surface is therefore a prerequisite for high accuracy of the encoder. Thermal Behavior The thermal behavior of the linear encoder is an essential criterion for the working accuracy of the machine. As a general rule, the thermal behavior of the linear encoder should match that of the workpiece or measured object. During temperature changes, the linear encoder should expand or retract in a defined, reproducible manner. The graduation carriers of HEIDENHAIN linear encoders (see table) have differing coefficients of thermal expansion. This makes it possible to select the linear encoder with thermal behavior best suited to the application.

Sealed Linear Encoders Product family LF, LS, LB, LC Design

Exposed Linear Encoders LIP, LIF, LIDA, PP

Scale and scanning unit protected by aluminum housing Scanning unit guided on scale via ball bearings Coupling unit between scanning unit and mounting block to compensate small errors in machine guideway

Scale and scanning head exposed Scanning unit guided along scale without contact

Protection (IEC IP 53 when mounted properly 529) IP 64 with introduction of compressed air to the scale or mounting block Vibration (55 to 200 Hz)

IP 50

Up to max. 300 m/s (IEC 68-2- Up to max. 100 m/s 6) (IEC 68-2-6) Up to 250 m/s

Max Up to 50 m/s acceleration in meas. direction Max. traversing Up to 120 m/min speed Accuracy grades 10 m, 5 m, 3 m, 2 m,

Up to 480 m/min 15 m, 5 m, 3 m, 1 m, 0.5 m, 0.2 m, 0.1 m,