Attaching Encoders to AndyMark Spinboxes

According to the AM website, the Spinbox can accept an encoder on it, however whenever we try and mount one, the CIM/MiniCIM gets in the way of the mounting. Does somebody know how to mount an encoder to the gearbox without interference from the motor?

[Peyton Yeung]

We noticed this last weekend and our fix were standoffs to move the cim away from the gear box then added a spacer to keep the key in place for the cim gear.

AM I think also sells cim spacers which might help

Peyton

[Richard Wallace]

Maybe I am missing something here.

Looking at the SpinBox design, I see 1.6 inch C-C distance from CIM shaft to output. CIM diameter is 2.5 inch so its radius is 1.25, leaving 0.35 inch space for the encoder to mount next to the CIM. Body diameter of the encoder is 0.852 inch per the US Digital EP4 data sheet, so its radius is 0.426 inch, which is larger than 0.35 inch -- so it appears the SpinBox could not have been designed to accept the EP4 encoder.

[Alan Anderson]

When used with a CIM (or mini-CIM) directly face-mounted to the Spinbox, an E4P encoder doesn't fit. A smaller motor with a CIMulator takes less room and the encoder fits. Raising the CIM with standoffs lets the encoder sit under the edge of the motor.

[Joe Ross]

Now Andymark has a spacer for the CIM motor. http://www.andymark.com/product-p/am-2473.htm

We used the US Digital HB5M. It was very easy to install and fired right up no problems. It has a nice mounting system and is available with the 8 mm thru hole. All we did was make a new cover for the spin box adding two holes for the 4-40 fasteners. We mounted the encoder on the motor shaft and recorded 5310 rpm on startup. The encoder is more expensive than AM but is very easy, durable and reusable.