Perfect Rotation For Maximum Functional Safety - Safety Rotary Encoders increase Plant Safety

Manufacturers of industrial machinery, equipment and plant systems need to focus their attention on the subject of machine safety, as the industrial landscape continues to build faster operating high performance machinery. The application of industrial robots and automatic feed systems can create danger and risks to operating personnel. In response to this risk situation, Pepperl+Fuchs has developed a range of certified rotary encoders that incorporate innovative concepts to enable economical system integration.

New ideas simplify their use with existing communication paths between sensor components and plant control systems, permitting the application of these rotary encoders in plants with high safety categories up to SIL3 (in accordance with IEC 61508).

The Pepperl+Fuchs rotary encoder specialists have developed a new safety concept for rotary encoders. The important underlying factor is self-diagnosis: The device is able to detect and safely communicate internal malfunctions. This enables machines and control systems to revert to a safe condition (e.g. safe stop, safe reduced speed) before sequential faults lead to a risk to operating personnel.

Users favor simple integration, and the new safety concept offers both technical novelty in its architecture as well as a simple interface, which is provided without additional wiring, interface cards or safety modules. The use of existing standard components, functions and existing communication paths are the key to this simple integration.