MicroE Introduces the Mercury 1500-

World's Smallest High Performance Digital Encoder
Factory Set Interpolation Levels
Plug and Play Performance

Integral Interpolation Simplifies Control System Electronics, Reduces Motion Platform Costs

Now Engineers can simplify control system designs or eliminate cumbersome interpolation modules with the new Mercury 1500 digital encoder. The M1500 digital encoder makes this possible by integrating signal processing and interpolation electronics on a single chip inside the sensor. This makes the M1500 a truly plug and play digital encoder.

Like other members of the Mercury family, the M1500 sensor just 8.4mm tall. Therefore, this high performance digital encoder enables the use of smaller stages and smaller drive motors, lowering overall system costs. Smaller, lighter motion stages also improve system performance with high throughput, lighter weight and smaller footprint.

The M1500 has factory set interpolation levels of x4, x8, x20, or x40 for fixed resolution ranging from 5um to 0.5um linear and 10,000 CPR to 655,000 CPR rotary. Accuracy is ± 3um to ± 5um linear or ± 2.1 arc-sec rotary. ± 1um accuracy is available. Maximum speed is 7.2m/s. A-quad-B output with a digital index window is standard. The entire encoder is EMI shielded for noise immunity.

Home Page Story continued here… The Mercury 1500 makes short work of encoder alignment and setup compared with all other encoders. Using the SmartPrecision Alignment tool, you can complete these operations in under 5 minutes. There are no pots to tweak and no external test gear is needed. "This is the easiest digital encoder to use", stated Michael Fitts, VP of marketing.

  

The secret to Mercury's incredibly easy alignment procedure is MicroE's patented PurePrecision™ optics. The optical design allows significantly relaxed tolerances, particularly in the theta Z axis. The M1500, like other Mercury encoders, gives you a ± 2° sweet spot or a 300% improvement over the best competitive encoder. And the SmartPrecision Alignment Tool virtually automates the alignment and setup procedures. Here's how it works.

The optional SmartPrecision Alignment Tool or, SS-AT, contains a powerful processor that replaces an oscilloscope and other traditional test gear used in encoder alignment and set up. Users simply connect the SS-AT to the sensor, push the sensor against the reference surface as described in the interface drawing, slide the scale, and LED indicators provide visual indication of proper alignment. Tighten the screws and you're finished.

Index capture is easy as well. Users push the Index/Calibrate button on the SS-AT, slide the scale under the sensor head in both directions. When the indicator stops blinking, typically after one pass in each direction, the operation is complete. No special training is required. The result will be dramatic savings in manufacturing costs.

Also available is the SmartPrecision software. With a PC running Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, or XP, you can view the encoder signal data plot and verify signal strength over the full length of travel. In addition, you can read position in engineering units and capture alarms while the system runs unattended.

Contact the sales department for prototypes, pricing and delivery. The M1500 standard configuration includes the sensor, controller interface cable with standard 15-pin connector and either a linear or rotary glass scale. Call toll free: 800 355 4047. Click here for the data sheet