Sick AFS60 single-turn and AFM60 EtherNet/IP multi-turn encoders

The AFS60 EtherNet/IP single-turn encoder and the AFM60 EtherNet/IP multi-turn encoder provide comprehensive diagnostic capabilities and the integrated transmission function for rotary axes. Their device level ring functionality (DLR) allows active and continuous monitoring of network ring topology and its participants.

The diagnostic functions integrated in the EtherNet/IP encoders include monitoring of the temperature within the encoder to warn of potentially critical operating states. In addition, they are equipped with two operating-hour counters - one starts when power is supplied while the second counts the time of actual shaft rotations. Five dual LEDs on the encoder show the current operating state of the two ports, encoder functions and data transfer. Programmable position limit values can also be monitored. Finally, the detection of speed protects the encoder from overloading.

The EtherNet/IP DLR functionality sends beacon frames via its dual-port switch at brief intervals. In this way, the sensor carries out continuous and active availability tests on the network participants as well as on the connections between them. In the case of a fault, a change in direction of the beacon frame transmission in less than 3 ms restores communication between the devices and the controller.

The AFM60 EtherNet/IP multi-turn encoder also includes a rotary axis function that allows the steps per rotation to be represented as a fraction. This function saves the machine constructor complicated drive calculations and control programming.