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Your benefits

Which applications do you want to implement with our drives?
From the wide range of encoders available, you will always find the right type with the right interface for every application.

Do you need speed or torque or position cont
Our incremental or absolute encoders meet your requirements.

Would you like to reduce the outlay associated with connections?
Single-cable technologies such as MOVILINK® DDI are the solution you need.

Would you like to make your start-up easier?
The electronic nameplates integrated in the sine and absolute encoders allow for simple startup.

Do you value fast and automatic data exchange?
Encoders with MOVILINK® DDI interfaces automatically take care of the data exchange in seconds and reduce the startup procedure to system-specific adjustments and optimizations.

Encoders: Easily implement drive control tasks

The optimum interaction of the individual system components is particularly important in applications with control tasks. Motors in particular must respond to commands from the drive electronics with precision. We can supply you with the necessary encoder systems.

These encoders ensure the system can identify a position or a change in position and feed this back to the drive electronics. With absolute encoders, you save valuable time during plant initialization.

Our large selection of encoders enables you to control your drive and therefore your plant according to your requirements:

  • Built-in encoders (perfectly integrated into the motor without adding to its length) or add-on encoders (with numerous electrical interfaces available)
  • Incremental encoders for feeding back a change in position with the standard electrical interfaces TTL (transistor-transistor-logic), HTL (high-voltage-transistor-logic) and SinCos (SineCosine)
  • Single and multi-turn absolute encoders for feeding back an absolute angular position with the standard electrical interfaces Hiperface® or SinCos combined with SSI (synchronous-serial interface) or RS485
  • Encoders with an additional or fully digital interface (e.g. SinCos incremental encoders or absolute encoders) are delivered with an electronic nameplate completed by SEW-EURODRIVE for simple, safe, convenient and rapid startup.

Ability classes

Ability classes are used to identify the functionality of the encoder system, irrespective of the drive system involved. These classes are the Basic Class, Medium Class, and High Class. This makes it possible to find the perfect solution to fit your drive task.

Find the correct encoder for your motor here.

Encoder system ability classes
  Basic Class Medium Class High Class
Basic abilities Speed monitoring
simple positioning 		Basic Class abilities
 Medium Class abilities
Speed control – Medium dynamics,
medium speed and torque noise 		Highest dynamics,
minimum speed and torque noise
Position control – High resolution
good precision 		Highest resolution, maximum precision
Control mode – CFC, VFC CFC
Explosion protection No Yes Yes
Functional safety Yes Yes Yes
Contact form Worldwide locations Locations in Germany

For asynchronous motors

The built-in encoders for DR.. series asynchronous motors are unique. They are available in Basic Class and Medium Class and are perfectly integrated into the motor. This means that encoder mounting does not add additional length to the motor.

For example, if you use a MOVITRAC® advanced standard inverter, you can successfully implement applications that would have previously required rapid/creep speed switching with initiator evaluation.

For synchronous motors

Built-in encoders are very beneficial when used in our synchronous motors from the CMP.. and CM3C.. series, too. When combined with our single-cable-capable MOVILINK® DDI interface and the MOVI-C® modular automation system, it is possible to both integrate the encoder perfectly into the motors and digitalize the drive. For example, it only takes seconds for the drive on the inverter to start up automatically. Alongside the encoder, the condition monitoring functions of the drive are also digitalized.
  • Do you require positioning feedback but have limited space or restrictions on the length of the drive? Our built-in encoders are the perfect solution. They are integrated into the drive without adding to its length or creating additional awkward contours.
  • If the drive needs two different encoder information systems to meet special functional safety requirements in the machine or plant, you can combine our built-in encoders with add-on encoders in a single drive and use 2 encoders simultaneously.
  • You can synchronize drive units mechanically via the second shaft end of the driving motors, meaning the built-in encoders can now be used to achieve position feedback without having to redesign the placement of the drives within the machine or system.
  • Built-in encoders do not require any complicated service and are very robust, as wear-free, magnetic measuring processes are used.

Add-on encoders are encoder systems that SEW-EURODRIVE purchases from renowned manufacturers. They meet high requirements in terms of performance, precision and standardization in full.

They are available for all series of asynchronous motors, synchronous motors and linear motors.

Add-on encoders are always used when various electrical interfaces in our modular system are to be available on an overarching basis and when special features such as explosion protection and functional safety must be ensured.

Just like our built-in encoders, add-on encoders can be flexibly combined with our frequency inverters and controllers. As a result, the SEW-EURODRIVE modular system provides a quick solution for your requirements.
  • We can meet your need for various signal interfaces for connecting electronics via our standardized mechanical attachment of encoders from renowned manufacturers.
  • We offer the interfaces required (SinCos, TTL, HTL, SSI, Hiperface®, Hiperface DSL®, EnDat2.2) as incremental, single-turn or multi-turn absolute encoders for asynchronous motors in the sizes 71 to 315 and synchronous motors in the sizes 40 to 112.
  • If you would like to be able to have a specific encoder from a manufacturer of your choice delivered or attach it to our drives? We offer almost every mechanical interface and fastening type for a whole range of encoders. Naturally, the attachment of third-party encoders is also possible as a special solution.