Scales
SmarAct offers a wide variety of reflective scales for the METIRIO optical encoder family for position determination in linear, partially rotary and curved measuring systems, as well as rotary scales for angular measurement. In addition, special 2D scales allow the simultaneous measurement of several degrees of freedom (multi-degree of freedom).
A wide variety of materials, such as different types of glass, including glass with low thermal expansion, steel and aluminium, makes it possible to find the right material for every application.
All scales have an incremental track with a 20 µm period and a reference track for absolute position determination. The reference track can contain a single reference mark or distance coding.
Customer-specific requirements for materials and structure can also be implemented. Simply contact us.
Linear Scales
Linear scales up to 300 mm are usually made from black glass. This achieves high contrast during scanning and avoids interfering reflections caused by the substrate material.
Longer scales are usually made from transparent soda-lime glass.
For applications with low thermal expansion, Robax glass and Borofloat glass are recommended.
| Material | Max length | Accuracy | CTE /K |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black glass | 300 mm | 10 µm / m | 7.2 · 10-6 |
| Soda-lime glass | 2 m | 5 µm / m | 9.4 · 10-6 |
| Robax glass | 2 m | 1 µm / m | 0.5 · 10-6 |
| Borofloat glass | 2 m | 5 µm / m | 0.5 · 10-6 |
| Steel | 1 m | 3 µm / m | 12 · 10-6 |
| Aluminium | 1 m | 1 µm / m | 23 · 10-6 |
Rotary Scales
Rotary scales are usually made from black glass, but can also be manufactured from other materials. The most common sizes are listed below. Additional sizes are available on request.
| Optical diameter | Counts per revolution |
|---|---|
| 13.0 mm | 2048 |
| 22.9 mm | 3600 |
| 38.2 mm | 6000 |
| 63.7 mm | 10000 |
| 95.5 mm | 15000 |
| 143.2 mm | 22500 |
| 191.0 mm | 30000 |
Curved and Partially Rotary Scales
For use in goniometer systems and cylindrical systems, SmarAct offers flexible scales made from steel and aluminium. These can be bent down to a diameter of 30 mm.
| Material | Max. bending radius |
|---|---|
| Steel | 100 mm |
| Aluminium | 30 mm |
Multiple Degrees of Freedom
Special scales with a checkerboard pattern are required for measuring several degrees of freedom with METIRIO 2D and METIRIO 2D+1.
Any square and rectangular scales can be manufactured. The maximum size is 1 m x 1 m.
You can find more information here or contact us directly.
Customer-Specific Scales
By following a few simple design rules, you can even use METIRIO® with your own scale designs or with existing scales. METIRIO® is therefore ideal as a replacement for established systems.
If you do not have access to scale manufacturing, please contact us. We offer individual scale design.
Contact us!