Metrics for the Motors: Encoder Products Company at MODEX

The spotlight often shines brightest on the fanciest equipment. The mobile robots, conveyors, and palletizers enjoyed the spotlight, but Encoder Products Company provided a specialist’s perspective on a particular type of component, without which none of these other applications would stand a fighting chance: the encoder.

For over 50 years, the Idaho-based manufacturer has provided industrial machinery with a reliable way to read vital metrics about linear and rotary motion devices. At the MODEX booth, EPC displayed its role as one of the leading suppliers for supply chain motion equipment manufacturers. It’s difficult to overlook the constant narrative of IIoT and AI around the show floor, but for these analytical platforms to succeed, there must be some data to analyze. Today, it’s motors.

Conveyor Throughput and Sortation

Let’s think about a possible failure in a conveyance system: the jam. A single stuck product or loose strap can get caught in a conveyor, and a sorting gate can fail to open. If this happens, the entire line gets backed up, and a quick repair is critical. Without access to data about the gate’s position, the problem can go unnoticed until it has backed up enough to cause a significant delay.

Tracking a conveyor with contact and non-contact (laser) encoder technology.

Both rotary and linear encoders from EPC can address these sorts of situations, and enough form factors exist that nearly every installation can now consider how to measure the position of that gate. Encoders can be installed directly to motors, or to linear axis assemblies, or even to end load applications, and the data can be evaluated similarly across applications.

Navigating With AMRs and AGVs

It’s easy to see that AMRs and AGVs have been collectively picked as one of the highlights of MODEX this year. But these mobile vehicles cannot navigate with any sort of reliability without high-resolution encoders. Variable situations like textured or slippery floors, uneven motor wear, and precise turns and angles around the warehouse will be quite happy to point out any errors in the navigation system of a mobile robot. EPC displayed the encoder solutions that provide instant data on driving distances, turn angles, and precise positions.

Tracking motion in AMRs and other robots requires special encoder technology.

Safety is also a major focus, and not just related to mobile robotics. EPC offers SIL2/SIL3 and PL e safety-rated encoders for functional safety applications, which must guarantee deceleration or stopping actions according to defined parameters. Since AMRs operate in spaces alongside human workers, this safety rating is vital, not optional.

Precise AS/RS Positioning Data

We aren’t just concerned with mobility around the floor of warehouse spaces. In fact, as the years go by, the vertical aspect of storage becomes more important than ever. Vertical stacking systems, or automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS). These systems require the use of robots or other mechanical fixtures to navigate to the right storage compartment, pick a component, and return it to a drop-off point. As the storage becomes more compact and efficient, inaccuracies are not tolerated, and encoder data is increasingly more important.

EPC offers a wide range of incremental and absolute encoders for virtually any application.

EPC’s incremental and absolute encoders provide the precision required for vertical navigation, cranes, and shuttle positioning motors. Incremental encoders are simpler to communicate high-speed data, but they require a homing sequence or a battery storage for position retention when power is removed. Absolute encoders are more complex, but they always provide the current angular position, eliminating the need for the homing function.

Made in the USA

Encoder Products Company brought a stunning display of precise motor measurements to MODEX. Not only are the products reliable and engineering services are supported by an in-house team, but the components are also produced right at the Idaho facility. While the trade show focuses on the global supply chain, keeping local sources of devices can provide more reliability for future designs.