The Best Encoders for Drivetrain

[SJaladi]

Originally Posted by Munchskull

Question for the people using grey hill encoders. Why don't you use a more structurely sound mounting method or an encoder that let's a shaft in to it?

In the experience of Team 1923, because we lack the machining resources to mount an encoder perfectly concentric to the shaft that it needs to connect to, we prefer to use a mounting/coupling system that allows for some misalignment. In the past we've used shaft couplers that are flexible and allow for some misalignment, but once we discovered that surgical tubing gives us the same degree of precision that the flexible coupler did, we chose to use surgical tubing as it is much cheaper and easier to service.

As for the structurally sound part of your question, as far as my experience with encoders goes, we've never had an application which required a lot of rigidity. We generally just make a small Lexan tab that we bolt the encoder to and then we mount the tab so that the encoder is as close to concentric with the shaft that we want to couple the encoder to as possible.

Hope that answers your questions!