POSITAL Upgrades PROFINET Interface for Absolute Rotary Encoders

 August 27, 2021

Posital Profinet 400POSITAL has upgraded the performance of the PROFINET communications interface for their IXARC series of absolute encoders. The speed of the interface has been increased, reducing cycle time by a factor of eight (new:125 μs). In addition, new capabilities have been added, including acceleration monitoring and over-temperature warnings. Output from the encoders can be scaled (amplified or reduced) to meet the requirement of the controller. Fractional scaling is now possible, meaning virtually any scaling factor can be applied. 

PROFINET, a development of the widely used PROFIBUS fieldbus system, is based on industrial Ethernet technology and is ideal for large-scale installations. PROFINET includes special communications protocols that eliminate latency delays for real-time operations. The new encoder interface also supports MRP (Media Redundancy Protocol) and MRPD (Media Redundancy for Planned Duplication). These improve the availability of Ethernet networks by enabling redundant communications paths so that data traffic can continue, even with a broken transmission link.

POSITAL’s IXARC magnetic encoders provide up to 0.005° resolution, (16 bit), accuracy of up to 0.02° (14 bit) and dynamic response that rivals the best optical encoders. Using magnetic measurement technology, these rugged devices are engineered to operate reliably in wet and dirty conditions with shock loadings of up to 300g. Multi-turn models have a range of up to 65,536 revolutions, provided by a unique self-powered revolution counting system that keeps track of absolute positions under all conditions. IXARC encoders are available with multiple options for housing size and materials, flange configuration, shaft type and diameter, connection/wiring type and level of environmental protection. The upgraded PROFINET interface is also available for the widely used optical encoders group OCD. POSITAL’s online product finder tool – available at www.posital.com – helps users to quickly and efficiently identify products that will meet their specific requirements. 

 

Related Articles

Editor’s Pick: Featured Article

Weidmüller’s u-control 2000: The Automation Controller

Weidmüller’s u-control 2000: The Automation Controller

Weidmüller’s scalable engineering software, u-control 2000, adapts individually to your requirements. And, the u-control is powerful, compact and fully compatible with Weidmüller’s I/O system u-remote. This article looks at what makes u-control the heart of your automation.

Programmable logic controllers (PLCs) are one of the main components of any automated system. A typical control system has inputs, outputs, controllers (i.e., PLCs), and some type of human interaction with the system, a human machine interface (HMI), for example.

Read More

Latest Articles

  • How Festo is Building the Next-Gen Workforce Through Technical Education & Skills Competitions

    How Festo is Building the Next-Gen Workforce Through Technical Education & Skills Competitions

    July 31, 2026 By Krystie Johnston Festo is a leader in industrial automation and technical education. For decades, they have sponsored SkillsUSA and WorldSkills mechatronics competitions to align education and industry, supporting the workforce of the future. Festo Didactic (the teaching arm of the Festo Group) has been an active participant and sponsor of SkillsUSA… Read More…

  • Driving the Clean Energy Transition with High-Voltage Power Transformers

    July 23, 2026 Utility-Scale Renewable Energy Project, Jan 2026 Project Overview A global renewable energy leader—operating across Europe, North America, and Latin America—continues to expand its portfolio of utility-scale solar and wind projects to accelerate the net-zero transition. With deep expertise in development, investment, and asset management, the organization focuses on delivering long-term, low-risk clean energy… Read More…