HEIDENHAIN
incremental rotary encoders have as measuring standard a
graduated disk with a periodic grating of lines and gaps. A
second track carries a reference mark. The reference mark
defines an absolute reference position on the circular
graduation and is permanently assigned to exactly one measuring
step. On incremental rotary encoders the position value is
determined by counting the measuring steps.
HEIDENHAIN incremental rotary encoders allow resolutions of up
to 500,000 measuring steps per revolution in position
measurement. In systems with electrical drives and digital speed
control, up to 8 million measuring steps per revolution are
possible.
