Heavy-Duty and ATEX encoders: robust for the toughest conditions
Rough and hazardous environments require rugged encoders with reliable and solid design, robust mechanics, highly reliable components, immunity to interference, appropriate surface treatments and coatings and hermetically sealed enclosures. Instruments and devices used in potentially explosive environments in Europe must comply with the ATEX Directive 94/5 EC.
Lika Electronic's comprehensive range of heavy-duty and ATEX encoders is designed to meet extreme conditions such as in oil and gas plants, off-shore and marine installations, on/off-shore wind turbines, shipbuilding industry, heavy vehicles and construction machinery, mining, iron and steel plants, chemical plants, food industry, refineries and laboratories, dyeing machines and fertiliser plants.
Encoders for heavy-duty applications
Every extreme application must meet special requirements. For every application, Lika has the right encoder. Heavy-duty encoders feature robust housings made of aluminium or stainless steel with oversized frame walls and ball bearings (see encoders C101 and AM58K). The bearings are used for the toughest applications affected by severe mechanical stresses, shock, vibration and high axial and radial shaft loads.
For such highly critical applications, bearingless modular encoders (see encoder SMLAX) offer the greatest protection thanks to non-contact operation with magnetic sensing and encapsulated circuits. Special surface treatments and seals can be added for safe protection against corrosion from salt water, detergents and chemical contaminants. The bearings and shaft can be electrically insulated to be insensitive to eddy currents. The range of heavy-duty encoders includes both optoelectronic and magnetic measurement technologies.
High-performance electronics are fully overmoulded and resin-coated and can withstand large temperature fluctuations down to -40°C +100°C (-40°F +212°F).
Signal transmission at high count frequency is transmitted safely and reliably even over long distances of more than 300 m (984.3 ft), thanks to high-performance Power Push- Pull and Power Line Driver output circuits. These reduce quality degradation or signal loss on long cable runs for maximum reliability without the need for repeaters and amplifiers (see C100 encoder). In addition, Lika provides optical fibre modules for robust, safe and reliable transmission of incremental and SSI absolute encoder signals over very long distances up to 3,000 m (3,281 yd).
To improve reliability and enhance data safety, the range includes redundant encoders with separate sensors and/or independent galvanically separated dual output circuits, power supply and wiring; and dual encoders, i.e. two independent encoders in one package with separate and reversible terminal block connections. (see encoder I116).
ATEX encoders - Explosion and fire resistant
ATEX encoders are designed for a wide range of critical applications in hazardous environments. The ATEX-certified incremental and absolute encoders of the XC77 and XAC77 series of absolute encoders comply with "high protection" category 2 encoders: they offer an airtight, explosion-proof and flameproof enclosure and a high level of protection against both gas and dust explosive atmospheres and are intended for use in Zones 1, 2, 21 and 22 and in temperature class T6 (T85°C). SMLAX + MRx incremental and absolute modular encoder is IECEx and ATEX certified for use in potentially explosive environments with flammable gases and marked as suitable for Zone 2, Gas Group IIC, and Temperature Class T4 (-10°C +85°C, +14°F +185°F). ATEX category is 3 G.
The ATEX-certified encoders of the XAC80, IX58 and CX58 series are incremental and absolute encoders designed to provide "normal protection" in potentially explosive atmospheres (category 3) and may be used in Zones 2 and 22 and Temperature Class T5 (T100°C).
Features ATEX encoders
- 77-mm outer diameter
- 14-mm hollow shaft
- Optical technology
- Incremental version with NPN, Push-Pull, Line Driver and Universal output circuits
- Resolution up to 10000 imp/tr
- Single-turn and multi-turn absolute versions
- 18-bit single-turn resolution, 30-bit multi-turn resolution
- Various output interfaces: bit parallel, voltage 0-5V, 0-10V, ±5V and ±10V and current 4-20mA, 0-24mA and 4-24mA analogue with additional incremental track, SSI, BiSS, CANopen DS406 and Profibus-DP
- Radial or axial cable connection
Explosion-proof absolute encoder - XC77 - XAC77
Lika's ATEX encoders feature an airtight and flameproof enclosure with a protection rating of IP65. The XC77 is an incremental encoder and the XAC77 is an absolute encoder. Both variants can be used in gas and dust hazardous environments. The encoders use an optical measuring method.
Heavy-Duty encoders
The Heavy-Duty encoders are robust and operate safely in hazardous and harsh environments while being extensively customisable so that they can be used in a wide variety of applications. The XC77 encoder has a maximum resolution of 10,000 PPR. XAC77 13 Bit / 13x14 Bit. Outputs: NPN, Push-Pull, Line Driver, SSI, Analogue and programmable.
Incremental encoders - ATEX Zone 2 and 22
Lika's CX58 incremental encoder is ATEX certified for zones 2 and 22. The incremental encoder uses an optical measurement method and has a resolution of 10,000 PPR.
The housing has a Ø 58 mm. The incremental encoder is available with both a hollow and a solid shaft. The encoder has the following outputs: PNP, NPN, Push-Pull, Line Driver, Universal Circuit, Sine/Cosine.
SMLAX bearingless ATEX rotary encoder
Lika Electronic's SMLAX rotary encoder features both absolute and incremental sensing and processing electronics in one package. Thus, the SMLAX rotary encoder can read the absolute and incremental tracks encoded on the ring's magnetic tape.
Absolute and incremental measurement system
For example, the absolute position information can be used to detect the position of the stator/rotor at motor start-up, while the incremental information enables speed control. The absolute measurement system achieves 14-bit resolution (16,384 cpr) over the entire circumference and provides the absolute position and error bit via the SSI and BiSS interfaces. Read more about SMLAX encoder.
