When you think about a sensor that measures rotation, you might think of one that just counts how many times a shaft has turned. But what happens if the power goes out? A lot of simple sensors will completely forget what their position was. It is like you are counting your steps as you walk, but you get distracted and lose your count so you no longer know exactly where you are.
An absolute rotary encoder is different. You can think of it like a GPS that always knows its exact coordinates. It is a smart type of sensor that never forgets its position even if the power is turned off and then turned back on again. In this blog, you will find a simple guide to how these encoders work and why this ability to “remember” is so important for a lot of machines in these times.
Why is “Remembering” Position So Important?
The ability of an encoder to know its exact position at all times is very important for two main reasons: safety and speed.
In a lot of complex machines like a robotic arm or a piece of medical equipment, the machine must know the exact position of all its parts the moment it powers on. If it does not know its position then a part could move in the wrong direction and crash into something which could damage the machine or be a danger to the people around it. This makes reliable rotational encoders for accurate position sensing in automation a very important part of a safe machine design.
Knowing the position right away can also make a machine a lot faster. A system with a simpler encoder often has to run a slow “homing” process every time it starts up, where it moves all of its parts to a known zero position. A machine with an absolute encoder can skip this step and get to work right away which saves a lot of time in a busy factory.
How Does an Absolute Encoder Work?
An absolute encoder is able to remember its position because of the way it is built inside.
Disc with Unique Patterns
Inside the encoder, you will find a disc which has patterns printed on it for every single possible position in its rotation. It’s like a compass with every degree having its own name instead of being a number. So, there are no two positions on the disc which look the same.
Sensor Reads the Pattern
As the shaft of the encoder turns, a sensor “reads” this pattern on the disc at the exact spot. Because every spot has its own unique pattern, the sensor can know the exact angle of the shaft at all times. It does not need to count from a starting point as it can just look at the pattern and knows where it is.
Singal Gives the Position
The sensor that sends out the digital work which is a signal that represents its exact position. This is different from a simpler encoder that sends out only a stream of pulses. This is a main part of the absolute position rotary encoders for precise angular measurement in machinery.
(Also Read: The Top 5 Industrial Applications Of Ip67 Rotary Sensors)
Where are Absolute Encoders Used?
You will find these encoders in machines where the position of a part must always be known.
- Robotics and Control Systems: When you explore advanced absolute position rotary encoders for robotics and control systems, you will find they are used in multi-joint robotic arms. Each joint of the arm must know its exact angle to work correctly. An absolute encoder gives the robot’s main computer this information.
- CNC Machines and Telescopes: These encoders are also used in equipment that needs to point to a very specific spot. For example, a CNC machine uses them to know the exact position of its cutting tool. Large telescopes also use them to point to a specific star in the sky.
- Industrial Automation: They are a key part of complex factory machines where a power loss cannot be allowed to cause a problem. High-precision absolute position rotary encoders for industrial applications are used in these systems. They make sure the machine can start back up safely and quickly after a shutdown.
Moving Forward
For any machine where knowing the exact position of a part at all times is a must, an absolute encoder is the only right choice. Its ability to “never forget” where it is, even after a power loss, is what makes it a key part of modern and safe automation. It is the kind of dependable part that complex machines need. Visit our website to see our wide range of encoders who can help your machines to know their positions at all times.
Contact us at brt@briterencoder.com to talk about our rotary encoders with absolute position feedback for automation systems.
