BiSS Interface as an Alternative to EnDat: Fenac Encoder Options

While EnDat has become a de facto standard in many CNC and servo applications, not every drive or controller supports EnDat only. A large number of modern drives also support the BiSS interface, which makes BiSS encoders a very strong technical alternative for users who start by searching for “EnDat encoders”.

BiSS (Bidirectional Serial Synchronous) is an open, licence-free serial communication interface. In practice, it offers:

• High-resolution absolute position feedback,

• Reliable data transmission over longer cable runs,

• Fully digital operation without the need for analogue incremental signals,

• Broad support from many different encoder manufacturers.

From an application point of view, EnDat and BiSS address a similar need: precise, digital, absolute position feedback for modern motion systems. The choice between them is usually driven by which interface the drive or PLC supports natively and which additional functions are required. For example, if your drive supports BiSS natively but not EnDat, selecting a BiSS encoder simplifies commissioning and avoids extra converter hardware.

Fenac BiSS encoder portfolio

At Fenac, alongside EnDat-based solutions, we also offer encoders with BiSS interface. This allows us to support customers who initially look for EnDat feedback but, due to drive compatibility or cost considerations, prefer to use BiSS as an alternative.

Our BiSS-interface encoder range is designed to cover typical industrial needs, including:

• Single-turn and multi-turn absolute BiSS encoders,

• Various housing sizes (from compact designs up to 58 mm class) with both solid-shaft and hollow-shaft options,

• Robust, industrial-grade designs with protection levels suitable for harsh environments,

• Application-specific choices of resolution and mechanical interface.

If your existing systems use EnDat encoders but you would like to evaluate BiSS for new projects, or if your drive platform is built around BiSS support, Fenac can help you select the most suitable BiSS encoder alternatives for your application.