Encoder Calibration Procedure

The Encoder on a Cleereman Carriage is used to track and measure the rotations of the carriage drive, to track the position of the carriage along the track. On shotgun carriages, this is attached to a wheel on a third rail of the carriage track. When first installed, the encoder must be calibrated, by calculating its IPC (inches per count). If the encoder breaks, and a new one is installed, it is also recommended to calculate that encoders IPC as they can differ slightly.

Keywords : Carriage, Controls, Reference, Encoder, Troubleshooting,

Step by step Encoder Calibration Procedure

On the Optimizer HMI, navigate to the encoder setup page.
Position the carriage so that an edge of knee 1 lines up with a fixed (non moving) part. Place the end of a tape measure here (the carriage will move towards the unload end). The blinking laser is a good reference point. Call this Initial Carriage Position.
Record the Raw Encoder number from the Scanner Setup page. Call this the Initial Encoder Value.
With the tape measure on the knee (Step 2 above), move the carriage towards the unload end. Move at least 10 feet, then stop the carriage and record the measured position (how far did the carriage move from Step 2 to Step 4). Call this the Final Carriage Position.
Record the Raw Encoder number from the Scanner Setup page. Call this the Final Encoder Value.
Finally, calculate the IPC value using this formula:
(Final Carriage Position - Initial Carriage Position) / (Final Encoder Value - Initial Encoder Value)
Enter the calculated value (IPC), in the Scanner Setup page in the Inches Per Encoder Count. Entering the value should also update the IPC on the main PLC HMI (Troubleshooting / Enocder)

Adjust the reference position on the PLC HMI so that the center of Knee 1 is at the leading edge of the saw guide.
Verify the tracking by doing the initial carriage reference, and driving the carriage up and down the track. You can measure from the guide to the center of the knee to verify carriage position.

This Video is relevant if...

Installing a new encoder on a carriage system

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