Mercury II 1900 encoder can reduce system size

An Inmoco product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Jul 20, 2009

Inmoco's Mercury II 1900 analogue encoder from MicroE Systems is said to enable smaller, lighter equipment designs that deliver higher speeds (up to 7.2m/s) and greater throughput.

The Mercury II 1900 provides resolutions of 5um to 1.2nm (depending on customer electronics) and accuracy to micrometre level.

It integrates a miniaturised sensor and can be used with cut-to-length tape scales for easy customisation and installation, or glass scales for high-accuracy applications.

Mercury II 1900 is claimed to be able to reduce the size and cost of any motion system; at the same time improving system performance.

The encoder sensor - offering analogue 1Vpp sin/cos and index pulse outputs - measures 8.7mm high.

The benefit of this reduced height is amplified when the Mercury II 1900 is used with a tape scale; the resulting system being 58 per cent shorter than competitive encoders, according to Inmoco.

The reduced dimensions of the overall system help to reduce the weight and cost of motion systems, by allowing the use of smaller motors and stages.

All electronics are integrated in the Mercury II 1900 sensor.

Users are offered high-fidelity analogue output right from the sensor, including higher system reliability, smaller footprint and a variety of connector options - including customer-specific connectors or no connector at all.

The integrated, low-power design results in power consumption of only 48mA at 5V.

The Mercury II 1900 is said to be easy to install and align.

Using the Mercury's Pureprecision optics, advanced Smartprecision II electronics and LED alignment indicators, all that is required is for the user to position the sensor against a reference surface, tighten the screws and the process is complete.

This is possible thanks to relaxed alignment tolerances, particularly in the Theta Z axis.

The Mercury II's Pureprecision laser tape scale is also said to be fast and easy to install.

The laser tape mounts using a permanent pressure-sensitive adhesive; any thermal expansion of the substrate being accounted for by anchoring the ends of the tape scale using epoxy and end caps.

It is supplied in a dispenser, in lengths up to 30m, enabling it to be cut any required length - minimising inventory costs.

Designed to operate reliably and consistently in the toughest EMI environments, the Mercury II 1900 features include all differential outputs, and double-shielded cabling for EMI/RFI immunity.

Scale contamination resistance ensures dependable encoder operation against fingerprints, oil, dust and other forms of contamination.

Supporting Mercury II is Smartprecision II software.

Supplied as an option with Mercury II encoders, Smartprecision II enables fast encoder set-up, alarms and analysis using a variety of data plots.

In addition, the ability to email screen captures of data plots enables users to get rapid diagnostic support from MicroE Systems, no matter where their equipment is located.