Incremental Rotary Encoders

Incremental rotary encoders record a certain number of pulses for each shaft revolution. Counting the pulses or measuring the period duration provides information about the speed and angle of the shaft.

2-channel incremental rotary encoders with 90° phase-shifted output signals allow you to detect the direction of rotation in order to control the bidirectional positioning of a shaft. 3-channel incremental rotary encoders deliver an additional zero signal for each revolution. This signal can be used for a reference run or for length measurement.

Pepperl+Fuchs offers a broad portfolio of incremental rotary encoders to meet the requirements of a wide range of applications—from standard industrial applications to offshore, safety, and hygiene applications. If required, we also develop individual solutions tailored to customer-specific needs.

The heavy-duty incremental rotary encoders from Pepperl+Fuchs are designed to work reliably in harsh conditions—for example, in outdoor process plants or in construction machinery in dusty, dirty environments. Due to their robust design, the heavy-duty rotary encoders easily withstand heat, cold, dirt, constant vibrations, strong shocks or electromagnetic interference. As a result, they deliver precise measurement results at all times. This makes them the ideal solution, e.g., for speed feedback in large asynchronous motors.

Whether in wind turbines near the coast or on the high seas—the offshore incremental rotary encoders from Pepperl+Fuchs were specifically developed for use in maritime applications and in particularly cold regions. With a temperature range of -40 °C to +60 °C, the offshore rotary encoders withstand strong temperature fluctuations. Their seawater-resistant housing protects them from corrosion. At the same time, the robust sensor design with special housing coating guarantees a long service life. In this way, the offshore rotary encoders ensure high availability of wind turbines, gantry cranes or spreaders, which are often difficult to access and therefore require a high level of maintenance.

Sensor technology that is used in hazardous areas needs to fulfill special requirements. The incremental rotary encoders for these areas are therefore available with EU-type examination certificates up to Zone 1, including flameproof enclosure (Ex d) and intrinsically safe (Ex i) types of protection. Their robust housing design increases service life and reduces maintenance work. Whether in the chemical industry, in wastewater treatment plants or in power plants: Wherever explosive atmospheres can form, incremental rotary encoders from Pepperl+Fuchs ensure safe process operations.

For machines that require safe functionality in accordance with the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC, Pepperl+Fuchs offers incremental rotary encoders with certification up to SIL 3/PL e. They are, for example, used in machine tools, overhead conveyors or packaging machines. Here, the sensors monitor motion sequences, ensure safe speeds in the event of malfunctions, and throttle speeds down to a standstill. In this way, the safety rotary encoders prevent hazards for the operating personnel as well as damage to the machines.

Particularly high hygiene requirements are placed on sensors used in the pharmaceutical, chemical or food industries. For this reason, Pepperl+Fuchs has developed an incremental rotary encoder with a hygienic design: The sensor's stainless steel housing is designed to meet hygiene requirements and ensure microbiological safety in accordance with EHEDG. In addition, the rotary encoder is insensitive to aggressive chemical cleaning agents and disinfectants. Due to its resistance to thermal shock, it can be easily cleaned with high-pressure equipment. These features shorten cleaning times and therefore increase machine availability.