A Complete Guide to Incremental Encoders and Fenac Encoder Solutions

What is an Incremental Encoder?

An incremental encoder is a type of rotary encoder used to translate the angular movement or position of a shaft into an electrical signal, either analog or digital. This signal is then used to detect motion or position. Among rotary encoders, incremental encoders are the most commonly used. They are widely applied in position control and motor speed feedback tasks across many areas, including industrial automation, light-duty and servo drives, and heavy-duty motion systems.

How Does an Incremental Encoder Work?

The operating principle of an incremental encoder is based on converting the angular position of a rotating shaft into a train of pulses or digital signals using an optical disk. During each full revolution of the shaft, the encoder generates a specific number of pulses. Each pulse represents a small step, or increment, that corresponds to the predefined resolution of the encoder. In this way, the system can monitor both movement and speed by counting pulses over time.

Incremental Encoder Key Specifications

Typical specifications for a compact incremental encoder of this class are:

• Supply voltage: 5 V to 24 V

• Resolution: 500 pulses per revolution (500 P/R)

• Output signal: Square wave

• Maximum speed: 6000 RPM

• Shaft diameter: 4 mm

• Body diameter: 25 mm

These parameters define the electrical compatibility, measurement resolution, mechanical fit, and speed capability of the encoder in real applications.