Linear potentiometer development and production

Precision linear potentiometers are absolute position sensors used to measure and control the linear displacement of the machining axes. To achieve this purpose, the electrical voltage between the output and the input is compared, thus calculating the length of the displacement. This concerns functional evolution, given that the potentiometers were initially developed to purely measure the precise electrical voltage.

Operation

Industrial linear potentiometers are potentiometric transducers . In a linear potentiometer, there is a relationship between the output and input voltage: a movable cursor operating on the slider provides a voltage value that is proportional to its position and allows, with suitable calculations, to determine this position. Slider potentiometers act linearly, whilst rotary single and multi-turn potentiometers operate via torsion.

The quality of the linear potentiometer is closely linked to the quality of the resistive material the track is composed of — in fact, the stability of the signal depends on it. The tracks mounted in Elap linear potentiometers are of high quality, have excellent precision and repeatability values along with a duration of more than one million operations (practically unlimited). Furthermore, the track is housed in a robust extruded aluminium case that offers a high degree of protection against environmental agents. ELAP potentiometers can thus also be employed in complex industrial environments, such as with the presence of dust or oils, and even for outdoor applications.

Applications

Linear potentiometers are widely employed in industrial operating machines, as they permit the measurement and control of the linear displacement of the axes, even in the absence of power. This latter feature makes them particularly suitable for long-lasting processing, in which it is standard practice to turn off the machine during processing, and reset to zero at power on results difficult. Small sized and long potentiometers are available, both with round and square section, with strokes ranging from 25 to 950 mm, with 5k and 10K resistance value, s so as to perfectly adapt to the specific requirements in:

• Metalworking
• Marble and stone processing
• Lifting of goods
• Rubber and plastic processing

Custom models

In addition to a series of commonly-used standard models, ELAP develops and produces customised linear potentiometers for position detection in specific industrial processes of the customer. Thanks to the extremely vast possibility of configuration and calibration of our instruments and to our internal design studio, ELAP products can be tailored to any specific need you may have.

Contact us today for more information, clarifications or quotes regarding ELAP precision linear potentiometers!