What is a rotary encoder? How does a rotary encoder work?

Rotary encoder is a common sensor that can realize real-time position monitoring and control by detecting the rotation of the rotating shaft. It has the characteristics of high precision, long life, high repeatability and small size, so it is widely used in robot control, automated production, medical equipment, contour detection, etc.

The working principle of the rotary encoder is to use a photoelectric sensor or a magnetoelectric sensor to collect the displacement information of the rotating disk and convert it into a digital signal output. According to the number and type of signals, rotary encoders with different resolutions and different output forms can be realized. Among them, the absolute rotary encoder can directly output the absolute value of each position, while the incremental rotary encoder can only output relative displacement and direction change.

The application field of rotary encoders is very wide, among which the most representative field is robot control. Robots need to accurately grasp their own position and posture in order to perform precise actions, so rotary encoders can provide robots with high-precision position feedback information. In addition, rotary encoders can also be used in automated production, such as CNC machine tools, printing equipment, automated packaging lines, etc. In these applications, rotary encoders can monitor parameters such as workpiece position, rotation speed and angle in real time, thereby realizing truly intelligent production.

In addition, rotary encoders are also widely used in medical equipment. For example, rotary encoders can monitor the angle and speed of human movement, thereby realizing functions such as rehabilitation therapy and motion monitoring. In terms of contour detection, rotary encoders can be used in combination with equipment such as grating rulers to achieve high-precision contour detection, and due to their small size and long life, they are widely used in automated detection and manufacturing.

In short, the rotary encoder is a high-precision, highly reliable sensor that is widely used in robot control, automated production, medical equipment, contour detection, etc. In the future, with the continuous development of science and technology and the continuous expansion of application fields, the application prospects of rotary encoders will be broader.