PLC Pie Guy
Member
Hey all.
I'm looking for possible encoders to use on my Tree Harvesting machine. its a stroke harvester that slides in and out to basically climb a tree once its been cut. Currently I count pulses from a proximity switch that is mounted in an 8MM housing on the machine body.
I'm controlling it with a Micro850 and I would love to get to an encoder for measuring log length instead of the proximity switch.
The environment is the worst. It gets banged around all day and is commonly wet. I'm not sure if there is even an encoder out there that can take this kind of abuse of not.
It is common though for the switch to get destroyed from debris entering the boom area and even water getting in there and freezing in the sensor well, then the sensor gets busted as soon as the machine moves.
Any thoughts on a tough encoder to measure a telescopic type of movement between two heavy steel tubes. I'm looking at approx 40 inches of travel. ??
I'm even thinking about some type of distance measuring, analog sensor that could handle the abuse.
Anybody working on forestry equipment out there??
I'm looking for possible encoders to use on my Tree Harvesting machine. its a stroke harvester that slides in and out to basically climb a tree once its been cut. Currently I count pulses from a proximity switch that is mounted in an 8MM housing on the machine body.
I'm controlling it with a Micro850 and I would love to get to an encoder for measuring log length instead of the proximity switch.
The environment is the worst. It gets banged around all day and is commonly wet. I'm not sure if there is even an encoder out there that can take this kind of abuse of not.
It is common though for the switch to get destroyed from debris entering the boom area and even water getting in there and freezing in the sensor well, then the sensor gets busted as soon as the machine moves.
Any thoughts on a tough encoder to measure a telescopic type of movement between two heavy steel tubes. I'm looking at approx 40 inches of travel. ??
I'm even thinking about some type of distance measuring, analog sensor that could handle the abuse.
Anybody working on forestry equipment out there??