Rotary quadrature encoder- no detent like the old Honeywell encoders - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: Jester
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 09, 2025, 09:31:31 am
content: Back in the day we used a lot of these Honeywell 600128CBL type encoders:https://www.digikey.ca/en/products/detail/honeywell-sensing-and-productivity-solutions/600128CBL/53504They are now obsolete, and I'm looking for an affordable replacement for use as a MPG for a CNC machine.To be useful the encoder should NOT have a detent, and 60-128PPR would be ideal. I'm guessing optical or magnetic type as mechanical will likely be short lived. Somewhat space constrained so the Honeywell would fit, however the large Omron style would not.Can anyone suggest a viable substitute.

author: H.O
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 09, 2025, 10:19:58 am
content: Not to be that guy but are you sure you don't want detents on a MPG for CNC? All MPGs I've ever come across for CNC use, be it in a stationary operator panel or handheld pendant have had detented encoder with 100 clicks per rev and that'll be both DIY stuff and industrial from Heidenhein, Siemens and FANUC.If you really don't want detents then basically any incremental encoder will work. A cheap magnetic type with adjustable resolution is the AMT103 series but you'd need to come up with the mechanical parts (shaft & bearing) since they are meant to mount on a motor.If you want small then you can look at the Micro- and Mini-series fromScancon, they go down to 16mm in diameter but aren't cheap (compared to cheap panel mount encoders (ALPS etc) but will come with bearing and shaft (or hollow shaft).Digikey has theNIDEC RES20-100-200-Zwhich seems to be without detents and ready to attach a knob.EDIT: Make sure to read the datasheet for the Nidec unit, youmayneed to do some signal conditioning on thatparticularone - or get another model with "real" squarwave output, YMMV.

author: Poroit
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2025, 06:18:41 am
content: G'day Jester,There may be something suitable in the Midori range.https://www.midori.co.jp/english/products_cat/encoder/

author: mtwieg
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2025, 01:39:33 pm
content: When you say "detent" you mean the shaft actually clicks or sticks as you rotate it? I've never come across a rotary encoder with such behavior. Or by detent are you referring to a flat on the shaft?

author: H.O
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2025, 04:27:08 pm
content: Encoders meant to be used for operator input sometimes have detents sometimes they don't (think test instrument front panel). Encoders used for position sensing on a motor doesn't due to obvious reasons.On a CNC machine a MPG (manual pulse generator) can be used like the handwheels on manual machines and you can set the control system up to move an axis an incremental distance per "click" of the wheel. A large relatviely heavy knob/wheel on an encoder with no detents sounds potentially dangerous to me.Image fromEbay

author: PCB.Wiz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2025, 07:39:18 pm
content: Quote from: mtwieg on January 10, 2025, 01:39:33 pmDetents are common on smaller PPR encoders used for knobs on consumer equipment. (as opposed to machine shaft encoders)Some vendors have options to cover both operations, and detents are less common on the high PPR parts, as they simply make less sense.Quote from: Jester on January 09, 2025, 09:31:31 amMaybe something in the Bourns familyegDigikey have 7 in stock of ENS1D-B28-L00128L - not an exact physical clone, but close electrically.That variant is ball bearing, no detents 128ppr (full cycles, so 128ppr = 512 edges)The ball bearing variants claim longer life.

author: mtwieg
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2025, 01:13:41 pm
content: Quote from: PCB.Wiz on January 10, 2025, 07:39:18 pmAh that makes sense, thanks. In my head I always assumed those knobs on my function generator or power supply created the detent with a separate mechanical part, didn't know you could get encoders with detent built-in.