TONiC™ linear encoders

TONiC is Renishaw’s new super-compact non-contact optical encoder that offers speeds up to 10 m/s and resolutions down to 1 nm for both linear and rotary applications. Offering significant enhancements to Renishaw’s existing range of high speed non-contact optical encoders, TONiC also gives improved signal stability and long-term reliability, low cost of ownership and refreshing simplicity.

TONiC is now available with FASTRACK™ – a revolutionary track-mounted linear encoder scale system that combines ±5 µm/m accuracy, with the ruggedness of stainless steel, and the quick and easy installation of a carrier-type encoder system.

TONiC is also available as an angle encoder.

More reasons to choose TONiC™

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TONiC RGSZ incremental linear encoder		TONiC RELM incremental linear encoder		TONiC RSLM incremental linear encoder		TONiC FASTRACK incremental linear encoder		TONiC special solutions

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Available with four types of linear scale…

RGSZ is the latest evolution of RGS gold tape scale, now featuring customer-selectable optical IN-TRAC™ reference marks (datum positions). Uniquely, these structures are directly embedded into the incremental channel to enable electronic auto-phasing simply by pressing a button. Furthermore, the IN-TRAC reference marks are bi-directionally repeatable, have superior tolerance against yaw deflections and remain phased throughout the entire speed (10 m/s) and temperature (70 °C) range.

RELM Invar scale has a coefficient of expansion of ~0.6 µm/m/°C and is available in a range of lengths. The robustness of the Invar spar permits a much smaller cross section than typical glass scales, yet allows easier handling and installation, without risk of breakage.With ±1 µm accuracy and resolution to 1 nm, RELM satisfies the most demanding precision motion requirements.

RSLM stainless steel spar scale offers performance to rival fine pitch glass scales yet is available in lengths up to 5 m. RSLM offers a total accuracy (including slope and linearity) better than ±4 μm over a 5 m length – an industry first! RSLM can be coiled for simple storage and handling yet once uncoiled behaves as a spar scale. Combined with ultra-low cyclic error (±30 nm), RSLM is perfect for long travel applications where metrology can not be compromised.

FASTRACK is a revolutionary new linear scale system that consists of two miniature, yet rugged, guide rails that securely retain Renishaw's new low-profile stainless steel scales and allow them to freely expand at their own thermal expansion coefficient with almost zero hysteresis. The new scale has ±5 µm/m accuracy, is available in lengths up to 10 metres and is ideal for use on machines that need to be sectioned before transport to their installation site, or for applications that could expose the scale to damage.

Technical

An infra-red LED emits light onto the scale, which is a plane reflective metal grating of 20 µm period. It is important that this scale is uniform and strongly periodic, but it does not need to be a good diffraction grating. As with RG2 and RG4 readheads, the TONiC readhead optics average the contributions from many scale periods and effectively filters out non-periodic features such as dirt. The nominally square-wave scale pattern is also filtered to leave a pure sinusoidal fringe field at the detector. Here, a multiple finger structure is employed, fine enough to produce photocurrents in the form of four symmetrically phased signals. These are combined to remove DC components and produce sine and cosine signal outputs with high spectral purity and low offset, while maintaining bandwidth to beyond 500 kHz.

The balance and level control of these signals is further enhanced by active adjustment of incremental channel gain, offsets and also control of the LED light source within the TONiC™ readhead. As a result, the inherent cyclic error (sub-divisional error, SDE) is typically ±30 nm, i.e. 0.15% of scale period. Interpolation is by CORDIC algorithm, within the TONiC Ti interface.

The IN-TRAC reference mark is embedded in the incremental scale in the form of a dark line. This feature is rejected by the filtering incremental optics, but detected by a split photodetector within the readhead. With appropriate level sensing and gating circuitry this yields a reference mark output that is bi-directionally repeatable to unit of resolution at all speeds. Calibration of phase with respect to the analogue channel is performed automatically on installation by the logic within the readhead, which also provides comprehensive system monitoring and set-up assistance.