HEIDENHAIN's Miniature Linear Encoder Designed for the Semiconductor Industry

 

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SCHAUMBURG, IL - (January 2005) HEIDENHAIN's miniature incremental exposed linear encoders that have been designed especially for the semiconductor industry are called the LIF400 Series. With their postage-stamp size scanning unit and very high accuracy, these encoders are of special interest to anyone developing positioning stages or requiring a very small machine measurement component.

With travel up to 1 meter, the LIF400 maintains a long wave accuracy grade of ±3 um. Manufacturers find that it meets the needs for both coarse and fine measurement applications (4 microns down to 10 nanometers of resolution) and is perfect for installations with limited space as well as those with large mounting tolerance requirements.

The LIF400 Series offers a revolutionary type of grating called SUPRADUR. This grating style offers an unusually high tolerance to contamination such as oil, dust, and fingerprints due to the precisely measured layers of glass and reflective material that prevents contaminants from interfering with the light-based, non-contact scanning principle.

Other features include optical limit switches that allow the user to place limits anywhere directly on the scale, thus also enabling the scale to be mounted closer to a motor than scales with magnetic switches. Additionally, the scale has a separate homing track with an integrated reference mark allowing the encoder to differentiate which side of the reference mark the scanning unit is located.

There are two models: the LIF481 with 1 VPP output, and the LIF471 with TTL.

For more information, contact HEIDENHAIN at (847) 490-1191, or write to us at HEIDENHAIN CORPORATION, 333 E. State Parkway, Schaumburg, IL 60173. HEIDENHAIN can also be accessed directly via our web site at www.heidenhain.com.

HEIDENHAIN CORPORATION is the North American subsidiary of DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GmbH, a leading international manufacturer of precision measurement and control equipment. Our product line includes linear scales, rotary and angular encoders, digital readouts, digital length gages, CNC controls and machine inspection equipment.