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RESOLUTE™ absolute encoder system with RTLA30 linear scale

Features

  • Serial interfaces: BiSS® C, FANUC, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Siemens DRIVE-CLiQ®, Yaskawa
  • Readhead size: 36 x 16.5 x 17.2 mm
  • Resolutions to 1 nm at 100 m/s
  • ±5 µm/m accuracy at 20 °C
  • Scale coefficient of thermal expansion at 20 °C: 10.1 ±0.2 µm/m/°C
  • Vacuum compatible and side cable outlet versions available

Benefits

  • Tape scale convenience and unrivalled ruggedness
  • Excellent metrology performance
  • Superior dirt immunity
  • Easy installation
  • High speed and fine resolution
  • Less than 10 nm RMS jitter for improved positional stability
  • ±40 nm Sub-Divisional Error for smooth velocity control
  • Optional Advanced Diagnostic Tool

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What is RESOLUTE?

RESOLUTE is a true-absolute fine pitched optical encoder system that has excellent dirt immunity, and an impressive specification that breaks new ground in position feedback. It is the world's first absolute encoder capable of 1 nm resolution up to 100 m/s.

Ultra low Sub-Divisional Error (SDE) and jitter result in a linear encoder system that outperforms any other encoder in its class.

What is RTLA30 scale?

RTLA30 is a low profile stainless steel tape scale featuring 30 µm pitch absolute scale code. It is accurate to ±5 µm/m and available in lengths up to 21 metres. Two mounting options are available, both of which allow independent thermal expansion and tape scale convenience.

RTLA30 can be used with the revolutionary FASTRACK™ scale carrier system. This system allows a track to be laid quickly and easily with no need for fixing holes. A sacrificial spacer is removed and the tape scale is then fed into the track.

RTLA30-S is laid onto the substrate with self-adhesive backing tape. The self-adhesive is formulated in such a way that it allows for independent scale expansion to that of the substrate.

To complete the installation, both types of scale are clamped at one point to provide a datum position.

Why choose this encoder system?

Easy fault finding and servicing

The Advanced Diagnostic Tool ADTa‑100 acquires comprehensive real-time data from RESOLUTE™ encoder readheads (marked with the ADT symbol). The information is displayed via the user-friendly ADT View software interface. Whilst in most cases the integral set-up LED on the encoder is sufficient for setting up the system, the ADT can be used to aid more challenging installations. The ADT can also report on encoder performance and assist system fault finding to avoid lengthy machine downtime.

Excellent motion control performance

RESOLUTE's industry-leading performance is the result of a sophisticated, reliable and innovative method of operation. Crucially, the system uses a single track non-repeating “bar code” scale format with a nominal pitch of 30 µm. With its sophisticated optical design the RESOLUTE readhead captures a near-instantaneous image of this scale which, when analysed, allows a unique position to be identified at speeds of up to 100 m/s. The system allows position to be determined with resolution as small as 1 nanometre (1 billionth of a metre) and with low noise (jitter below 10 nm RMS) and SDE (Sub-Divisional Error, the error within a scale period) of just ±40 nm. This provides encoder feedback of superior fidelity, to ensure smoother velocity control and rock-solid positional stability.

Wide set-up tolerances

RESOLUTE does not follow the conventional technique of using dual tracks side-by-side (one incremental, one absolute) which inherently suffers de-phasing problems when small amounts of angular misalignment are introduced. Instead, this absolute encoder features a single track, optical absolute scale, combining both the absolute position and embedded phase information into one single code. This technology provides RESOLUTE with far wider set-up tolerances (yaw tolerance ±0.5°) for quick and easy installation and superior long-term reliability, even if the motion axes settle or move over time. To further aid installation and diagnostics, there is an integral set-up LED on the readhead.

External interface option

Siemens DRIVE-CLiQ external interface

  • Required for Siemens DRIVE-CLiQ serial interfaceDRIVE-CLiQ interface for use with the RESOLUTE true-absolute optical encoder
  • Also available in dual head input for high accuracy rotary systems
  • Displays communication alarms
  • Duplicates readhead LED

No external interface is required for the other available serial interfaces.

Optional Advanced Diagnostic Tool ADTa-100

Advanced Diagnostic Tool ADTa-100

RESOLUTE encoder readheads (marked with the ADT symbol) are compatible with the Advanced Diagnostic Tool ADTa-100 and ADT View software. They provide comprehensive real-time encoder data feedback to aid more challenging installations and diagnostics. The intuitive software interface can be used for:

  • Remote calibration
  • Signal optimisation over the entire axis length
  • Digital readout of encoder position (relative to the scale)
  • Exporting and saving data
  • Setting zero

Serial interfaces

Serial interfacesDescriptionCompatible products
BiSS C

Renishaw supports BiSS C (unidirectional) open protocol for absolute encoders. BiSS C is a high-speed serial interface, perfect for dynamic axes that require high acceleration, silky-smooth velocity control, excellent repeatability and rock-solid positional stability.
RESOLUTE with BiSS C is available in both linear and rotary (angle) encoder versions, compatible with a wide range of industry-standard controllers, drives, DROs and PC counter cards.

BiSS C compatible product page

FANUC

RESOLUTE with FANUC (α and αi) serial interface is available for rotary and linear applications.
RESOLUTE brings many advantages to high-performance machine tools that use FANUC controllers. Higher speed, rugged and reliable pure serial communications, superior contouring performance and greater servo stiffness. Furthermore, the non-contact format eliminates backlash, shaft wind-up (torsion) and other hysteresis errors that plague traditional enclosed encoders.

N/A


Mitsubishi

RESOLUTE with Mitsubishi serial interface is available in rotary and linear forms. RESOLUTE is compatible with the J4 and J5 series of servo drives, and the MDS-D2/DH2/DM2/DJ drives for machine tool applications.

N/A

Panasonic


RESOLUTE with Panasonic serial interface is available in linear and rotary forms. Compatible with the A5 and A6 series of drivers, it provides high resolution repeatable feedback for better servo and speed control.

N/A

Siemens DRIVE-CLiQ

RESOLUTE with Siemens DRIVE-CLiQ serial interface is available (using external interface) for linear and rotary applications. Siemens DRIVE-CLiQ is the innovative, powerful communications interface to connect encoder and direct measurement systems with SINUMERIK and SINAMICS drive components.

N/A

Yaskawa

RESOLUTE with Yaskawa serial interface is available in rotary and linear forms, and is compatible with Sigma-5 and Sigma-7 SERVOPACKs.

N/A

Refer to data sheet for full details.

Technical specifications

Measuring standard

FASTRACK RTLA30: stainless steel tape scale with carrier system

RTLA30-S: stainless steel absolute coded tape scale with self-adhesive backing tape, for mounting directly to a substrate without the FASTRACK guide rails

Readhead size (LxWxH)

36 mm x 16.5 mm x 17.2 mm

Scale pitch

Nominal 30 μm

Coefficient of thermal expansion at 20 °C

10.1 ±0.2 μm/m/°C

Accuracy grade at 20 °C

±5 μm/m

Scale length

Some BiSS C protocol variants have limited maximum length (See data sheet for details)

FASTRACK: 100 mm to 25 m

RTLA30/RTLA30-S: up to 21 m

Maximum speed

(See data sheet for details)

Up to 100 m/s

Serial interfaces*

BiSS C, FANUC, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Siemens DRIVE-CLiQ, Yaskawa

Resolutions

BiSS C: 50 nm, 5 nm and 1 nm resolutions

FANUC, Mitsubishi, Siemens DRIVE-CLiQ, and Yaskawa: 50 nm and 1 nm resolutions

Panasonic: 100 nm, 50 nm and 1 nm resolutions

Sub-Divisional Error (SDE)

±40 nm

Electrical connection

Up to 10 m cable lengths with D-type connectors (9 pin or 15 pin), flying lead, FANUC compatible connector, LEMO, and M12

Power supply

5 V ±10%, max 250 mA @ 5 V (terminated)

Vibration (operating)

300 m/s2 max @ 55 Hz to 2 000 Hz

Shock (non-operating)

1 000 m/s2, 6 ms, ½ sine

Operating temperature

0 °C to +80 °C

Sealing

IP64

Refer to data sheet for full details.

*Other serial interfaces are continually being added.

For Siemens DRIVE-CLiQ specifications, refer to data sheet.