Renishaw’s TONiC Dual Output encoder provides simultaneous digital and analogue signals

The interface is connected so that the analogue signals are wired to the motion controller, whilst the digital signals, with resolutions to 5 nm, are routed to the timing circuit of a synchronised operation, such as a camera flash on an inspection machine. The total encoder system comprises a TONiC readhead, a DOP interface , and a variety of high performance linear and rotary scales. TONiC incremental linear encoders are compatible with a range of scale options, including gold tape scale with integral optical reference marks, Invar spars with "zero" thermal expansion and ±1 µm accuracy on lengths up to 1130 mm, robust stainless steel spars and FASTRACK RTLC linear encoder scale system with ±5 µm/m accuracy. RESM rotary encoder rings are available in a range of standard diameters from 52 mm to 550 mm and, when used with dual readheads, REXM rings have a total installed accuracy better than ±1 arc second on ring diameters greater than 100 mm. Furthermore the product satisfies the environmental standards, with both WEEE and RoHS compliance.