POSITAL is introducing powerful new programming capabilities and tools for their IXARC series of rotary encoders. Programmable incremental encoders have proven to be popular over the past several years since the measurement characteristics of the device (number of pulses per rotation, output level, etc.) can be modified through a software update without requiring any changes to physical components.

Now however, the engineers at POSITAL have taken the programmability concept to a whole new level with the new generation of IXARC programmable rotary encoders.

• Incremental and absolute encoder functions on a common hardware platform
• Wide range of mechanical configurations and connector types – literally thousands of models are offered
• Professional configuration management over the whole lifecycle
• Compact 36 mm versions – small enough to fit in the palm of your hand
• Very compact UBIFAST Cconfiguration box creating Wifi Hotspot
• No software installation − Configuration using any WiFi enabled device
• Parameters to program: PPR, resolution, number of turns, direction
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With the new capabilities, the encoders’ performance characteristics can be extensively modified through software changes, without requiring any changes to physical components. In a related development, POSITAL is introducing the UBIFAST configuration tool, a hardware module that can be easily connected to programmable encoders through accessory cables. The UBIFAST tool features a built-in WiFi hotspot and webserver. Once the tool has been powered up, any WiFi-enabled smartphone, tablet, or laptop computer can connect to the WiFi hotspot and the confi guration interface will automatically open up in a standard web browser window – no app, no software installation, and no Internet connection are required. POSITAL also presents an Internet-enabled configuration management system for IXARC programmable encoders. Whenever a device is reconfigured, the operator has the option of registering the changes with POSITAL through an automatic email interface.

Five different rotation measurement modes can be configured, using the common hardware platform:

• Incremental interface only
• SSI singleturn
• SSI multiturn
• SSI singleturn + Incremental
• Multiturn + Incremental

Absolute encoder parameters that can be selected:

• Singleturn resolution
• Multiturn range
• Code (Gray or Binary) and
• Code sequence (clockwise or counter-clockwise increasing).

The resolution of incremental encoder signals can be adjusted in the range of 1 to 16384 PPR (65536 Quadrature).