Netzer VLX-60 Two Plate Ring Absolute Encoder User Manual

: June 3, 2024
: Netzer

Netzer VLX-60 Two Plate Ring Absolute Encoder

Preface

Version 3.0; January 2022

Applicable documents
VLX-60 Electric Encoder data sheet

ESD protection

As usual for electronic circuits, during product handling do not touch electronic circuits, wires, connecters or sensors without suitable ESD protection. The integrator / operator shall use ESD equipment to avoid the risk of circuit damage.

ATTENTION
OBSERVE PRECAUTIONS FOR HANDLING ELECTROSTATIC SENSITIVE DEVICES

Product overview

Overview

The VLX-60 absolute position Electric Encoder™ is a revolutionary position sensor originally developed for industrial environment applications. Currently it performs in a broad range of applications, including high-end robotics, survey & mapping systems medical machines other industrial automation applications.
The Electric Encoder™ non-contact technology relies on an interaction between the measured displacement and a space/time modulated electric field.
The VLX-60 Electric Encoder™ is semi-modular, i.e., its rotor and stator are separate.

Encoder stator
Encoder rotor

Netzer-VLX-60-Two-Plate-Ring-Abso-01

Installation flow chart

Encoder mounting

Typical encoder installation includes:

Encoder Stator & Rotor mounting screws (3) Socket Head Cup Screw 8 x M2
Encoder Stator & Rotor mounting dowel pins (4), 4 x M2

Encoder stator / Rotor relative position
For proper performance the air gap should be 0.6 mm +/- 0.1mm
The optimal recommended amplitude values are middle of the range according to those shown in the Encoder Explorer software and vary according to the encoder type. Netzer-VLX-60-Two-Plate-Ring-Abso-05

Verify proper rotor mounting with the Encoder Explorer tools “Signal analyzer” or “Mechanical installation verification.”

Note: for more information please read paragraph 6

Unpacking

Standard order

The package of the standard VLX-60 contains the encoder Stator & Rotor.

Optional accessories:

CB-00088-250, 250mm connection harness
CB-00088-500, 500mm connection harness
CNV-00003, RS-422 to USB converter (with USB internal 5V power supply path).
NanoMIC-KIT-01, RS-422 to USB converter. Setup & Operational modes via SSi /BiSS interface.
Interconnection – connector HRS DF13-10S-1.25
DKIT-VLX-60-SG-CH, Mounted SSi encoder on rotary jig, RS-422 to USB converter and cables.
DKIT-VLX-60-IG-CH, Mounted BiSS encoder on rotary jig, RS-422 to USB converter and cables.

Electrical interconnection

This chapter reviews the steps required to electrically connect the encoder with digital interface (SSi or BiSS-C).

Connecting the encoder
The encoder has two operational modes:

Absolute position over SSi or BiSS-C:
This is the power-up default mode

SSi / BiSS interface wires color code

Clock +	Grey	Clock
Clock –	Blue
Data –	Yellow	Data
Data +	Green
GND	Black	Ground
+5V	Red	Power supply

Setup mode over NCP

(Netzer Communication Protocol)
This service mode provides access via USB to a PC running Netzer Encoder Explorer application (on MS Windows 7/10). Communication is via Netzer Communication Protocol (NCP) over RS-422 using the same set of wires.
Use the following pin assignment to connect the encoder to a 9-pin D-type connector to the RS-422/USB converter CNV-0003 or the NanoMIC.

Electric encoder interface, D Type 9 pin Female

Description	Color	Function	Pin No

SSi Clock / NCP RX

SSi Data / NCP TX

Electrical connection and grounding

The encoder does NOT come with specified cable and connector, however, do observe grounding consideration:

The cable shield does not connect to the power supply return line.
Ground the host shaft to avoid interference from the host system, which could result in encoder internal noise.

Note: 4.75 to 5.25 VDC power supply required Netzer-VLX-60-Two-Plate-
Ring-Abso-08

Connect Netzer encoder to the converter, connect the converter to the computer and run the Electric Encoder Explorer Software Tool

Software installation

The Electric Encoder Explorer (EEE) software:

Verifies Mechanical Mounting Correctness
Offsets Calibration
Sets up general and signal analysis

This chapter reviews the steps associated with installing the EEE software application.

Minimum requirements

Operating system: MS windows 7/ 10,(32 / 64 bit)
Memory: 4MB minimum
Communication ports: USB 2
Windows .NET Framework, V4 minimum

Installing the software

Run the Electric Encoder™ Explorer file found on NetZero website: Encoder Explorer Software Tools
After the installation you will see Electric Encoder Explorer software icon on the computer desktop.
Click on the Electric Encoder Explorer software icon to start.

Mounting verification

Starting the Encoder Explorer

Make sure to complete the following tasks successfully:

Mechanical Mounting
Electrical Connection
Connecting Encoder for Calibration
Encoder Explore Software Installation

Run the Electric Encoder Explorer tool (EEE)
Ensure proper communication with the encoder: (Setup mode by default).

The status bar indicates successful communication.
Encoder data displays in the encoder data area. (CAT No., Serial No.)
The position dial display responds to shaft rotation.
Perform mounting verification & rotation direction selection before calibration to ensure optimal performance.
It is also recommended to observe the installation at the [Tools – Signal Analyzer] window.

Mechanical installation verification

The Mechanical Installation Verification provides a procedure that will ensure proper mechanical mounting by collecting raw data of the fine and coarse channels during rotation.

Select [Mechanical Mounting Verification] on the main screen.
Select [Start] to initiate the data collection.
Rotate the shaft in order to collect the fine and coarse channels data.
At the end of a successful verification, the SW will show “Correct Mechanical Installation.”
If the SW indicates “Incorrect Mechanical Installation,” correct the mechanical position of the rotor, as presented in paragraph 3.3 – “Rotor Relative Position.”

Calibration

The VLX-60 provides several options for calibration:

‘Push-Button’ calibration

After installation, this simple calibration is available without connecting to a PC or to the Encoder Explorer software. Simply connect a 5V power supply to the encoder and the calibration process can be started.

Procedure:

Upon power connection the LED should continuously blink green which means the encoder is ready for calibration
Press the Push-Button for 5 seconds
Rotate continuously for about 10-20 seconds while the LED blinks alternately red & green.
When the LED is showing constant green the calibration is successful.
If the LED blinks red that means the calibration, process failed.

Refer to this troubleshoot table:

No. of blinks	Calibration step with error	Recommendation
1, 2 or 3	Noisy electrical environment	1. Improve grounding

2.   Repeat calibration process
7 or 8 or 9| Incorrect Mechanical installation resulting in out of limits amplitude| 1. Check Amplitudes via Encoder Explorer.
2.   Correct the mechanical installation
3.   Repeat calibration process
10| No alignment between Coarse and Fine amplitudes| Rotation speed too high for calibration process. Repeat calibration process at lower speed

Note: Refer to Netzer if problem persists

Auto-calibration

Auto-calibration option enabled.
Refer to document: Auto-calibration-feature-user-manual-V01

Full manual calibration

After successfully completing the Mounting Verification procedure:

Select [Calibration] on the main screen.
Start the data acquisition while rotating the shaft.
The progress bar (c) indicates the collection progress.
Rotate the axis consistently during data collection-covering the working sector of the application end to end-by default the procedure collects 500 points over 75 seconds. Rotation speed is not a parameter during data collection. Data collection indication shows for the fine/coarse channels, a clear “thin” circle appears in the center (d) (e) with some offset.
Offset compensated fine / Corse channel

CAA calibration

The following calibration aligns the coarse/fine channel by collecting data from each point of both channels.
Select [Continue to CAA Calibration] In the CAA angle calibration window, select the relevant option button from the measurement range options (a):

Full mechanical rotation – shaft movement is over 10deg – recommended.
Limited section – define operation of the shaft in a limited angle defined by degrees in case of <10deg
Free sampling modes – define the number of calibration points in the total number of points in the text box.
The system displays the recommended number of points by default. Collect a minimum of nine points over the working sector.
Click the [Start Calibration] button (b)
The status (c) indicates the next required operation; the shaft movement status; the current position, and the next target position to which the encoder should be rotated.
Rotate the shaft/encoder to the next position and click the [Continue] button (c)
- the shaft should be in STAND STILL during the data collection.
  Follow the indication/interactions during the cyclic process for positioning the shaft –> stand still –> reading calculation.
Repeat the above step for all defined points. Finish (d).
Click the [Save and Continue] button (e).

The last step saves the offsets CAA parameters, completing the calibration process.

Setting the encoder zero point

The zero position can be defined anywhere in the working sector. Rotate the shaft to the desired zero mechanical position.
Go into “Calibration” button at the top menu bar, press “Set UZP”.
Select “Set Current Position” as zero by using the relevant option, and click [Finish].

Jitter test

Perform a jitter test to evaluate the quality of the installation; the jitter test presents the reading statistics of absolute position readings (counts) over time. Common jitter should be up +/- 3 counts; higher jitter may indicate system noise.

In case the reading data (blue dots) are not evenly distributed on a thin circle, you may experience “noise” in your installation (check shaft/stator grounding).

Operational Mode

SSi / BiSS
Operational mode indication of the SSi / BiSS Encoder interface available by using the NanoMIC.
For more information read about NanoMIC on Netzer website
The operational mode presents the “real” SSi / BiSS interface with 1MHz clock rate.

Protocol SSi

Protocol BiSS