When it comes to saving money on inventory while assuring that customers get exactly what they need for motor feedback, off-axis magnetic encoders can help both the motor OEM and their customers win. This type of magnetic encoder is capable of handling up to 80 – 90% of servomotor and closed loop stepper motor applications while providing the durability and reliability that they are well known for.

How do they work? 
There are several good reasons to choose off-axis magnetic encoders for standardization.

First, whether the application is in a challenging environment or not, off-axis magnetic encoders can handle both environments, without expensive packaging options that limit encoder choices in most applications.  Magnetic encoder technology is resistant to contamination, including dirt and moisture. This allows for an economical choice across a broad range of applications that may not even be known by the motor manufacturer.

Second, some magnetic encoders can offer on-site programmability at the motor manufacturer. There is no need to purchase numerous encoder configurations to satisfy a multitude of customer needs. This technology features multiple resolution programming in combination with just a few magnetic target disk configurations to achieve nearly all common resolutions. Modular components can be purchased, avoiding the headache of stocking expensive, prepackaged fully assembled encoders.

Third, many motor OEM’s choose to customize their encoder solutions by building the encoder chip and target directly into the motor itself. This type of chip and target solution is great for reducing the overall motor size, saving material cost and allowing compact motor envelopes to fit in applications restrained by size.

Finally, many of these OEM’s don’t like to tie money up in costly inventory, particularly for expensive, environmentally protective encoder packaging. While this does save money, it can create prohibitively long lead times in getting finished motor product to the customer. Standard off-axis modular encoders and components that work in tough environments can reduce lead times and provide the reliability customers expect from more expensive, fully packaged encoders.

For more information on how to cover more applications, reduce your production costs, inventory expense and lead time with Timken off-axis magnetic encoders, reach me at 603.355.4502 or send me an email at [email protected].