Nikon today announce the release of the MAR-M700MFA, the world’s first multi-turn external battery-free absolute encoder to use an all-solid-state battery. An absolute encoder is a type of sensor device used commonly in industrial robots on automobile manufacturing lines, machine tools, and many other applications. Its purpose is to detect absolute values for robot-arm rotational displacement and similar measurements.
Nikon has eliminated the need for external battery usage by embedding within their encoder an all-solid-state battery developed by Maxell. This has enabled Nikon to increase the maximum guaranteed operating temperature to 105°C, which offers greater freedom in motor and equipment design than ever before. Furthermore, this latest model is maintenance-free.
Nikon MAR-M700MFA comes with new features including a predictive maintenance feature and an angular precision self-correction function, which enable an expanded range of possible usage environments for industrial robots along with improved operational consistency and greater precision in motion control.
It is designed with compatibility in mind with Nikon’s existing absolute encoders, so it can be installed without changing the design of the mounting part. Nikon will start accepting orders for MAR-M700MFA from June 2024. Nikon plans to showcase their new models at iREX2023 (International Robot Exhibition 2023; November 29 to December 2, 2023, at Tokyo Big Sight).
