Electronic position indicators

Wide range of position indicators for spindles and axes

Mechanical-digital position displays are already frequently used on axes or spindles for displaying position values. From a formal perspective, electronic digital position indicators are a logical further development of their mechanical counterparts. Both variants of the position indicators (mechanical and electronic) belong to the Positioning Indicators product portfolio. Thanks to comparable external dimensions and the trusted attachment principle on the shaft, it only takes a few minutes to convert the mechanical spindle display to a spindle positioning system that can be programmed electronically. 

Electronic-digital position indicators of the DE series

The electronic digital displays of the DE series are a sensible alternative to mechanical counters in particular in cases where no suitable gear ratios are available for the mechanical versions. Because they can be programmed at will, the user can also choose to display positive and negative display values or to work in angle mode. The programming software ProTool DE is mainly of interest in special-purpose machine manufacturing, because it enables parameterization of the electronic displays directly prior to assembly on adjustment spindles. 

Electronic-digital position indicators of the AP series with bus interface

The electronic position indicators from the AP series also have a bus interface. In bus-controlled operation, target values and actual values can be exchanged between the individual absolute position indicators and an upstream control unit. This enables logging setting values for quality purposes or for track and trace. 

Fieldbus and Ethernet communication for positioning displays of the AP range

Besides the Rs485, CAN bus and IO interfaces, additional interfaces can be realized by means of a protocol converter such as Profibus, Profinet, EtherNet/IP, EtherCAT, CCLink, or DeviceNet Functional modules, which facilitate the configuration of the electronic displays in the programming environment of your control are available for selected interfaces and controllers. 

Electronic position indicators are focused on the user

This monitored spindle adjustment provides significantly better process reliability and shortens setup times for format adjustment. At the same time, this increases machine efficiency and the viability of the production equipment. The target value is displayed directly on the axle and the correct actual value entered manually is reported back, making incorrectly set stops and tool positions a thing of the past. The overall unit is not approved until all spindle positions have been reported as correct. As a result, there is no longer any scrap or damaged tools due to incorrectly set adjustable axles. 

Linear measurements with position indicators from SIKO

By the combination of spindle position display AP10 or AP05, linear measurement system AP10S or AP04S and setpoint display AP10T or AP24, you can cover all adjustment points of a machine within the framework of monitored format adjustment. The hollow shaft construction makes it possible to attach the spindle displays AP10 and AP05 directly to an adjustment axis. The position displays AP10S and AP04S serve as positioning systems for slide adjustments in conjunction with the linear sensor MS500H. The remote displays AP10T and AP24 can be used to specify target values for format pieces or tool change directly on the machine module concerned. 

Reliable and easily readable electronic position indicators

In an industrial environment, our customers especially appreciate the precise and reliable recording of measurement values provided by our electronic position indicators. The movement of the axis is then no longer recorded using a gear, but in a touchless manner using either a magnet or a capacitor. The magnetic measurement method is particularly robust and resilient to dirt or vibration and is suitable for use in particularly harsh environmental conditions. The generous LCD display technology also enables clear reading of the respective position values. For this reason, SIKO position indicators have been established in packaging technology and woodworking for decades. A typical application: the stop adjustment on cross-cut saws depends on very precise display values. Additional flexibility is provided by the incremental measurement function implemented and by entering offset values.

The AP range is used even in more complex machine environments for easy-to-manage, semi-automated adjustment processes. The “team-based” communication is standardized, and incorrect adjustments are immediately visible in bus-operated mode. 

Benefits

• Freely programmable display values (spindle pitch, sense of rotation and decimal place)
• Linear or angular mode
• Reset function
• Display of positive and negative values
• High display accuracy>
• Easy battery change
• Attachment compatible to mechanical position indicators