SICK unveil new-generation absolute encoder range
ANS/ANM58 PROFINET absolute encoder designed for high productivity and easy integration
THE state-of-the-art ANS/ANM58 PROFINET from SICK Sensor Intelligence marks a new generation of absolute encoders specifically designed for higher machine and system productivity.
Available in both single-turn and multi-turn variants, the compact ANS/ANM58 comes with the PROFINET global, cross-industry ethernet fieldbus standard, for industrial automation, and delivers rapid, bi-directional communication with PLCs for shorter cycle times, high-precision movement control, and fast integration.
The ANS/ANM58 PROFINET provides increased productivity across a diverse range of factory and logistics automation applications, including, but not limited to, drives and control, packaging technology, mechanical engineering, electronics, machine building, and storage and conveyor systems.
In automated machines and systems, encoders provide the basis for efficient and controlled monitoring of the movement of drives and axes via rotary sensors measuring position, speed and displacement. From the launch of the first encoder in 1960, SICK have poured 65 years of expertise in encoder technology into the design of the ANS/ANM58, including an improved optical measurement system for high-precision movement control.
SICK say the new range meets growing customer demand for precise and clock-synchronous motion control, condition monitoring of machines and systems, short cycle times, space-saving design, and easy installation.
With the ANS/ANM58 series, users can configure their ideal encoder, choosing from single-turn or multi-turn measurement with resolutions of 18 bit (262,144 steps/turn) or 34 bit (262,144 steps/turn x 65,536 turns) to suit the application. The new ANS/ANM58 absolute encoders offer a flexible, space-saving design ideal for tight and demanding installation scenarios, with best-in-class compactness starting from as little as 39mm long.
A wide variety of mounting options are available, including flat or narrow housing designs, as well as axial or radial plug variants.
The ANS/ANM58 comes in solid-shaft, blind hollow-shaft or through hollow-shaft options for transmitting rotational movement information, and with a variety of flanges for flexible mounting. It can be installed directly on to mechanics or mounted with a wire draw mechanism or rotary measuring wheel for linear motion monitoring.
Finally, the ANS/ANM58 can be individually and intuitively tailored to meet the requirements of each application using the UX-friendly, SICK SOPAS configuration tool or during integration into control system architecture via Siemens TiA Portal.
Many applications are based on the precision movement of drives and axes and, therefore, require exact position, displacement, speed, or acceleration data to ensure reliability of processes. The latest PROFINET interface specification with Encoder Profile version 4.2 is implemented in the ANS/ANM58 absolute encoder generation, making it possible – via the IRT (Isochronous Real Time) function – to synchronously execute processes and reduce cycle times.
The precise position, speed and displacement measurements, which the encoder generates by means of the new high-resolution opto-ASIC from SICK, facilitate the planning and implementation of controlled movements of drives and axes. They also make it easier to precisely co-ordinate process steps, particularly in complex systems, such as the synchronization of processes in packaging technology, the repeatable recording of positions and measurement of movements for precise control in mechanical engineering, or the efficient automation of transport and handling processes in storage and conveyor systems.
Supporting the evolution towards smarter factories, industrial sites, and warehouses, the ANS/ANM58 absolute encoders provide process-related diagnostic data and enable condition-based system maintenance for the encoders and mechanical systems they are connected to, preventing unplanned downtime. The ANS/ANM58 encoder provides diagnostic data including temperature, speed, various counter functions, and timestamps, which can also be used to configure application-specific limit values and create warning limits for targeted maintenance and servicing measures.
Darren Pratt, SICK UK market product manager for motion-control sensors and identification, said: ‘The robust new SICK Sensor Intelligence ANS/ANM58 PROFINET is suited to almost any industrial application that moves, across multiple industries and environments. It brings together all our encoder technology know-how to create a new generation of absolute encoders designed to meet individual installation requirements, achieve clock-synchronous processes, and deliver higher productivity.
‘From their first encoder, SICK have been at the forefront and the ANS/ANM58 is the next step in motion sensor technology, providing state-of-the-art performance, real-time communication, diagnostic information, and versatility, alongside easy programming and integration.’
