Vectral of France has just launched Rollzam, a high-tech linear encoder with a winding reel, which can measure distances of up to 15m. Rollzam is a perforated tape, made of high-resistance stainless steel. The Rollzam is wound into a case with an automatic return spring with the detector head and connections being fixed and protected. The high-speed, optoelectronic detector head counts the number of perforations at a speed of up to 10m/s, with a resolution of 0.1mm. The winding reel displays the distance digitally using a Meterdrive sensor, which does not contain any mechanical parts, so positioning can be repeated accurately. Vectral’s linear encoders can be used to index overhead cranes, move telescopes and position lifts, as well as to control the altitude of uranium rods in nuclear power plants.
