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Product category: Production Services
News Release from: Tecan | Subject: Encoder disks
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial Team on 04 July 2001

Encoder disks produced at highest
accuracy ever

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Encoder disks can now be manufactured to unprecedented levels of accuracy, at the same cost or less, as traditionally available parts, according to Tecan Components

Encoder disks for virtually any measurement, control or positioning system are now being manufactured to unprecedented levels of accuracy, at the same cost or less, than traditionally available parts - by micro-engineered metal part specialist, Tecan Components, Dorset Encoder specifiers require cost-effective accuracy, says the company, which is increasingly winning business from established competitors due its fast response capability and high-accuracy manufacturing techniques

In addition to higher resolution bars and slots, the accuracy of the drive shaft hole is significantly improved.

The company offers a bespoke service for the supply of burr- and stress-free disks and similar components - including simple or complex designs for low, medium or high-volume requirements.Different manufacturing techniques are employed by Tecan to produce the right encoder for a given requirement.

Photo-chemical machining (PCM), for example will produce excellent results for a wide range of applications, typically with accuracies of ñ10% the thickness of the metal used - from 1.5mm down to 0.01mm.

In cases requiring even greater accuracy, electroforming manufacturing techniques are utilised, a typical tolerance here being ñ8 microns, in some cases ultra high-tolerances of ñ2 microns can be achieved.

Single-thickness, or bi-level, disks can be produced readily.

Very cost-effective and speedy production are assured because tooling costs are low and turnround is fast.

The techniques, especially electroforming, are ideal alternatives to expensive sputtered-glass encoder manufacturing, says the company.

Subject to acceptance, a bespoke rapid prototype service guarantees despatch of first samples within five working days.

In addition to rapid delivery of the first low-volume parts, the service has other benefits.

For example, once a part is adopted, down-the-line production speeds and costs are reduced because the tooling is already in place.

Modifications can be cost-effectively incorporated within the company's powerful CAD system, ensuring any 'knock-on' tooling costs are also minimised.

The following CAD formats are accepted, AutoCad DFX and DWG, GraphiCodeCAM PWK and CWK, DPF, Gerber, HPGL, WMF Vector, CorelDRAW Vector, Postscript and IGES.

All parts are produced within the company's strict ISO9002 quality-control regime.

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