Incremental Encoder Speed Limitations！

There are two speed limitations when it comes to rotary encoders: mechanical and
electrical. The mechanical speed limit is a fixed RPM value for each product, which is the maximum speed that encoder can withstand without incurring possible damage.

The electrical speed limit for each family of encoders is imposed by the maximum
switching speed (frequency response) of the electronics inside the encoder.
The electrical speed limit is determined by the formula: Max Electrical Speed =
(Max Freq Response / pulses per revolution) x 60sec/min. The Maximum Frequency Response is a fixed number (in Hertz) for each encoder family. This is how fast the electronics can physically switch from OFF to ON. Since the Max Electrical Speed is dependent on PPR, each encoder’s resolution for a given encoder family has a different Maximum Electrical Speed. For example, a 3 PPR encoder spinning at 5000 RPM produces pulses at 250Hz, while a 1000 PPR encoder spinning at 5000 PRM produces pulses at a much higher rate of 83 kHz. The 1000 PPR encoder has a much lower maximum speed than the 3 PPR encoder.
A mechanical limit on speed is typical for many encoders, but if an application requires high speed or high resolution, both the mechanical and electrical speed limits of the encoder need to be considered. The lower of the two maximum speeds is the fastest an encoder is allowed to go. For example, a certain encoder mighthave a Maximum Mechanical Speed of 3000 RPM. The Maximum Frequency Response (electrical speed) could be 100 kHz. Thus, the fastest speed that this encoder could spin based on the speed of the electronics is (100kHz/100 PPR) x 60s/min = 60,000 RPM, which is much higher than the mechanical limit of 3,000 RPM. This encoder should not be rotated faster than 3,000 PRM (the mechanical limit).

While the above information is mostly geared toward incremental encoders, the
same calculations hold true for absolute encoders. One extra consideration for
absolute encoders is that general purpose DC inputs are not high-speed inputs, so
the OFF-to-ON and ON-to-OFF response times of general purpose DC input cards may
limit an absolute encoder’s speed more than the encoder’s switching frequency.

absolute encoder, incremental encoder, hybrid encoder, non-magnetic encoder, multi-turn encoder, multi-turn combination encoder, draw wire encoder, digital readout, linear scale

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