Broader Alignment Tolerances,
Increased Standoff Clearance, Smallest Sensor and More
Why Mercury Encoders Make It Easier To Design High Performance Into Your Equipment
Eliminate the Frustration of Touchy
Encoder Alignment
Mercury Solves this Problem for Good
Fussy alignment is no longer a concern. With Mercury’s
patented PurePrecision
™
optics, advanced SmartPrecision
™
electronics and LED alignment indicators, you can push the
sensor against your reference surface, tighten the screws and
you’re finished. Try that with brand X or Y.
This performance is possible thanks to relaxed alignment
tolerances, particularly in the theta Z axis. Mercury offers a
± 2° sweet spot– that’s a 300% improvement over the best
competitive encoder. And that will result in dramatic savings
in manufacturing costs.
No other commercially available encoder is easier to align,
easier to use, or easier to integrate into your designs.
Theta Z Alignment Tolerance
± 2°
± 0.5°
± 0.006°
Mercury
Brand Y
Brand X
Alignment Tolerance Comparison**
Z Standoff
Y
theta X
theta Y
theta Z
Mercury*
± 0.15mm
± 0.20mm for linear
_
± 0.10mm for rotary > 19mm dia.
± 1.0°
± 2.0°
± 2.0°
Brand X
± 0.1mm
± 0.1mm
unspecified
± 0.1°
± 0.006°
Brand Y
± 0.1mm
unspecified
± 1.0°
± 1.0°
± 0.5°
Mercury vs. Best Competitor
Mercury is 50% better
Mercury is 100% better
Mercury is 100% better
Mercury is 300% better
*Measured at a constant temperature for one axis at a time with all other axes at their ideal positions.
**Based on published specifications
Mercury Can Reduce System Size and Cost
Mercury’s sensor height is 44% shorter than competitive encoders,
making it easy to fit into your design. This reduction can also cut total
system weight and cost by allowing the use of smaller motors and
stages. Safe system operation is also enhanced thanks to Mercury’s
generous standoff clearance– 200% greater than other encoders.
And it’s standoff tolerance is 50% greater than the best alternative.
This significantly relaxes mechanical system tolerances,
while reducing system costs.
Standoff Clearance
Mercury
2.4mm*
± 0.15mm
Brand Y
Mechanical Dimension Comparison**
Sensor Z height
Standoff clearance
Standoff tolerance
System height
Mercury Brand X Brand Y Mercury vs.
Best Competitor
8.4mm 23mm 15mm
44% better
2.4mm 0.5mm 0.8mm 200% better
± 0.15mm ± 0.1mm ± 0.1mm 50% better
11.7mm 28.5mm 15.8mm 26% better
Brand X
0.8mm
± 0.1mm
**Based on published specifications
0.5mm
± 0.1mm
* Dimensions shown illustrate encoder system standoff clearance; see Mercury
Encoder Interface Drawings for correct design reference surfaces.
Note: Mecury 1200 is even smaller at 5.6mm sensor height
Page 2 of 5
MICROESYS [ GSI Group, Inc. ]
