Optical Encoders | McMaster-Carr

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16 Products

Rotary Motion Position-Measuring Transmitters

Shown with Wheel and Mounting Bracket (Both Sold Separately)

Provide motion feedback to counters, controllers, and motor drives for automated motion control and measurement applications. Also known as encoders, transmitters convert rotary motion to an electrical signal so you can operate your system based on distance, direction, and speed of travel. Transmitters have Pull-Up Resistor output.

Use a flexible shaft coupling (not included) to connect the transmitter shaft to a drive shaft.

Mount a wheel (not included) to use transmitters to measure lengths.

Use cables (not included) to connect transmitters to counters and controllers.

Transmitters with a quadrature output channel must be used with a controller that has quadrature detection to get a 4X resolution increase.

									Mount. Plate		Mount. Holes
For Counter Function	Output Channels	Resolution Increase	For Max. Shaft Speed, rpm	Input Voltage	Output Current, mA	Shaft Coupling Required	Body Material	Shaft Material	Lg.	Wd.	Ctr.-to-Ctr.	Thread Size	Choose a Resolution		Each
Single Output Channel
Up	A	2X	6,000	5V DC-28V DC	250	Yes	Aluminum	Stainless Steel	2 1/4"	2 1/4"	1.41"	6-32	10, 60, 100, 120, 500, 600, 1,200	00000000	0000000
Quadrature Output Channel
Up and Down	A, B	2X, 4X	6,000	5V DC-28V DC	250	Yes	Aluminum	Stainless Steel	2 1/4"	2 1/4"	1.41"	6-32	10, 60, 100, 120, 500, 600, 1,200	00000000	000000

Aluminum Mounting Bracket (3 1/2" Lg. × 2 1/2" Wd. × 4 1/2" Ht.)	Each	0000000
12" Circumference Polyurethane Wheel (3.82" Dia. × 0.7" Wd.)	Each	000000
20ft. Cable	Each	000000
10ft. Cable	Each	000000

Sanitary Rotary Motion Position-Measuring Transmitters

Also known as encoders, these sanitary transmitters convey motion to an electrical signal that conveys distance, direction, and speed. They’re often used in control systems to automate servomotors, robotics, and assembly machines in sanitary environments such as food and pharmaceutical plants. Made of corrosion-resistant stainless steel, they won’t rust from frequent washdowns with harsh cleaners. These transmitters are sealed and have a highly polished surface, leaving no room for bacteria to grow and making them easier to clean. They’re rated IP67 for protection from dust, high-pressure jets of water, and submersion in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes.

To achieve a 4X resolution increase, use these transmitters with a controller that has quadrature detection.

Transmitters with three mounting holes are designed to fit on a three-hole servomotor face.

Connect transmitters to counters and controllers with cables (sold separately).

Use a flexible shaft coupling to connect the transmitter shaft to a drive shaft.

Shaft-Mount Transmitters

Shaft

						Overall		Shaft			Mounting Holes
For Counter Function	Output Channels	Resolution	Resolution Increase	For Max. Shaft Speed, rpm	Input Voltage	Lg.	Ht.	Dia.	Lg.	Mounting Plate Dia.	No. of	Ctr.-to-Ctr.	Thread Size	Specifications Met		Each
316 Stainless Steel Body and 303 Stainless Steel Shaft
Quadrature with Index Output Channel—20mA Output Current
Up and Down	A, B, Z	600	2X, 4X	8,000	4.75-28V DC	2.44"	3.13"	0.4"	0.4"	2.29"	3	1.43"	M4 × 5 mm	CE Marked	00000000	0000000
Up and Down	A, B, Z	3,600	2X, 4X	8,000	4.75-28V DC	2.44"	3.13"	0.4"	0.4"	2.29"	3	1.43"	M4 × 5 mm	CE Marked	00000000	00000000

D-Profile Shaft-Mount Transmitters

D-Profile Shaft

						Overall		Shaft		Mounting Plate		Mounting Holes
For Counter Function	Output Channels	Resolution	Resolution Increase	For Max. Shaft Speed, rpm	Input Voltage	Lg.	Ht.	Dia.	Lg.	Lg.	Wd.	No. of	Ctr.-to-Ctr.	Dia.	Specifications Met		Each
316 Stainless Steel Body and 303 Stainless Steel Shaft
Quadrature with Index Output Channel—20mA Output Current
Up and Down	A, B, Z	600	2X, 4X	8,000	4.75-28V DC	3.175"	3 1/4"	3/8"	1 1/16"	2 1/2"	2 1/2"	4	2.06"	7/32"	CE Marked	00000000	000000000
Up and Down	A, B, Z	3,600	2X, 4X	8,000	4.75-28V DC	3.175"	3 1/4"	3/8"	1 1/16"	2 1/2"	2 1/2"	4	2.06"	7/32"	CE Marked	00000000	00000000

Cables

Cable

Lg.		Each
32 3/4 "	00000000	0000000

Rotary Motion Position-Measuring Transmitter Kits

Shown with Wheel (Sold Separately)

In addition to a transmitter, these kits include a 6 1/2-ft. cable and a mounting bracket. Also known as encoders, transmitters convert motion to an electrical signal to indicate distance, direction, and speed in process control and metering applications. These kits are commonly used to monitor the position or velocity of rotating equipment. You can also mount a wheel (not included) to measure distance in linear applications. Transmitters must be used with a controller that has quadrature detection to get a 4X resolution increase. Output channel Z is also known as an index channel.

Use a flexible shaft coupling (not included) to connect the transmitter shaft to a drive shaft.

Quadrature with Index Output Channel
For Counter Function	Output Channels	Resolution Increase	For Max. Shaft Speed, rpm	Input Voltage	Output Current, mA	Resistor Included	Body Material	Shaft Material	Fasteners Included	Fasteners Required	For Mounting Screw Size	Choose a Resolution		Each
Up and Down	A, B, Z	2X, 4X	6,000	5V DC-28V DC	20	No	Plastic	Stainless Steel	No	Yes	1/4"	500, 600, 1,000, 1,800, 2,500	00000000	0000000

6" Circumference Polyurethane Wheel (1.91" Dia. × 1/4" Wd.)

00000000

Each

000000

Miniature Rotary Motion Position-Measuring Transmitters

Often used with servomotors, these transmitters have a mounting hole pattern that fits a three-hole 28 mm BC servomotor face. Also known as encoders, these miniature transmitters convert rotary motion to an electrical signal that indicates distance, direction, and speed of travel. They're commonly used in control systems to automate servomotors, robotics, and assembly machines.

Transmitters have NPN Open Collector output that requires a pull-up resistor (not included) for operation. Output channel Z is also known as an index channel. You must use transmitters with a controller that has quadrature detection to get a 4X resolution increase. All meet IP64 for protection from dust and water spray.

Use a flexible shaft coupling (not included) to connect the transmitter shaft to a drive shaft.

										Mount. Holes
Output Channels	Resolution Increase	For Max. Shaft Speed, rpm	Input Voltage	Max. Input Current, mA	Output Current, mA	Shaft Coupling Required	Body Material	Housing Material	Shaft Material	Thread Size	Thread Pitch, mm	Fasteners Included	Choose a Resolution		Each
Quadrature with Index Output Channel
A, B, Z	2X, 4X	8,000	5V DC-28V DC	65	20	Yes	Aluminum	Plastic	Stainless Steel	M3	0.5	No	500, 1,000, 2,000, 2,500	000000	0000000

Miniature Rotary Motion Position-Measuring Transmitters with Mounting Plate

Slide one of these transmitters onto a motor shaft in your application—they have a flexible mounting plate that compensates for shaft misalignment and vibration. Also known as encoders, these miniature transmitters convert rotary motion to an electrical signal that indicates distance, direction, and speed of travel. They're often used to automate servomotors, robotics, and assembly machines.

										Mount. Holes
For Shaft Diameter	Output Channels	Resolution Increase	For Max. Shaft Speed, rpm	Input Voltage	Max. Input Current, mA	Output Current, mA	Body Material	Housing Material	Mount. Plate Wd.	Ctr.-to-Ctr.	Thread Size	Fasteners Included	Choose a Resolution		Each
Quadrature with Index Output Channel
1/4"	A, B, Z	2X, 4X	8,000	5V DC-28V DC	65	20	Aluminum	Plastic	2.16"	1.81"	6-32	No	500, 1,000, 2,000, 2,500	000000	0000000
3/8"	A, B, Z	2X, 4X	8,000	5V DC-28V DC	65	20	Aluminum	Plastic	2.16"	1.81"	6-32	No	500, 1,000, 2,000, 2,500	000000	000000