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Originally Posted by Jeff Waegelin
I don't have a huge budget for sensors for my summer project. Is there something less expensive you (or someone else) could recommend? Or will I be disappointed with the performance from lesser components?
Also, what did you use to attach the encoders with your 1:1 gearing?
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Jeff,
The encoders look exactly like pots and have all the standard hardware and mounting bushing attached. The shaft is 1/4" dia. and about 1/2" long so a shaft coupler works well. If you are looking for something cheap and dirty, Digikey does sell some optical couplers that you could incorporate into a wheel encoder of your own. All you need to do is design a interupting wheel that can be attached to whatever shaft you are trying to count and position the opto coupler so that the wheel breaks the light path. This is the same design that a computer mouse uses. Open one up and you will get an idea how it all goes together, keeping in mind that the mouse is a higher resolution than you will need. Reflective opto couplers also work well. We have used the Banner sensors looking at alternating white and black patches on our wheels for many years.