Views: 24211 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2026-10-20 Origin: Site
In the R&D of industrial automation equipment, one of the most frustrating moments for engineers often comes when the drawings are finished and the structural design is complete, only to find that there is no encoder that can "perfectly fit" into the motor tail or the interior of a joint.
Off-the-shelf standard products might be a millimeter too large in outer diameter and get stuck in the housing, or have an incompatible shaft diameter that cannot be installed, or have a communication protocol that doesn't match the main controller. Forcing changes to the equipment structure means increased costs and prolonged lead times.
This is why an encoder source factory with genuine underlying customization capabilities is particularly critical in the supply chain.
The Limitations of Standard Products Are Often at the "Underlying Level"
Many encoder suppliers can do "shallow customization"—such as changing cable lengths, adjusting cable exit directions, or applying different brand labels. However, once it involves changes to core parameters, such as modifying code disc resolution, adjusting internal optical path structures, or reducing overall thickness, they are powerless.
This is because most of them assemble products by purchasing ready-made grating code discs and core components from third parties. Using others' core components naturally makes it impossible to achieve true differentiation.
Customization Must Start from the "Optical Underlying Level"
The customization capability of Shanghai Hengxiang Optics stems from its optical DNA dating back to 1985. Starting as a lens grinding manufacturer, Hengxiang possesses a rare vertical integration capability in the industry: in-house R&D and manufacturing of grating code discs.
This means that when customers face extreme installation constraints, Hengxiang's technical team can redesign from the optical level:
Space-constrained customization: A customer needed an ultra-thin bearingless encoder for a robotic arm joint. Based on its in-house code disc technology, Hengxiang launched the ZM35 series, compressing the thickness to 11.8mm and reducing the weight to only 80g.
Bore and shaft diameter customization: To meet the need for large industrial machinery to penetrate thick shafts, Hengxiang can customize large-bore hollow shaft encoders of various specifications (such as through-shaft designs with a maximum shaft diameter of over 40mm), and provide various mechanical interfaces including tapered shafts, blind holes, and through-holes.
Customization for harsh environments: If equipment requires high-pressure washing or long-term exposure to marine environments, Hengxiang can provide customized housings and magnetic/optical solutions (such as the WSN49 series) with IP67 or IP68 protection ratings through special sealing processes.
Comprehensive Adaptation from Optics and Mechanics to Electrics
Beyond physical structures, customization is also reflected in electrical interfaces. Engineers often encounter the problem of limited controller interfaces during selection. Hengxiang encoders can flexibly configure various output protocols: from basic open-collector and push-pull outputs, to differential TTL/HTL and line drivers, and to digital interfaces commonly used in absolute encoders such as BiSS-C, SSI, RS485, and CANopen. Whether it is sine/cosine (1Vpp) analog signals or high-speed pulses, they can precisely handshake with the customer's main control system.
Conclusion: Customization Is About Unlocking the Ultimate Performance of Equipment
The birth of a precision device is often constrained by its weakest link. When the encoder perfectly fits the installation space and seamlessly connects to the control protocol, the overall performance of the equipment can be fully unleashed.
Shanghai Hengxiang Optical Electronics Co., Ltd. provides one-stop OEM/ODM services ranging from drawing review, custom grating code disc manufacturing, and structural design to prototyping and testing. We don't just sell standard parts; we provide underlying technical support for non-standard requirements.
If you are currently facing space bottlenecks or interface challenges in encoder selection during equipment R&D, please feel free to contact us at any time.
(Website: www.shhxgd.com)
