Absolute Rotary Encoders

I couldn't say for sure as I've no experience with that product. If the atmosphere in the encoder was inert (eg argon) then that would help. I'd definitely want extended warranty.

Data Devices Corporation (US) manufacture the Resolver to Digital converter cards & IC chips. There are some export restrictions that can apply, to prevent their use in missile guidance systems and the like.

Harrowe make resolvers but It's been a while and I'm not sure if they make dual speed units or not (electrically geared not mech gearing).

A little more on why not optical.

The least significant bit in the optical wheel will (assuming binary encoding and not BCD etc). will change state 2^18 times per rotation. this means cutting a slot for the LSB every 2nd place or ever 2^17.

Lets assume our optical encoder is 1 meter in diameter (a bit rediculous but anyway) the circumference will be 1xPI simplifies to PI.

lets change to millimeters 3141.5mm so our graticule spacing is

As always when putting maths on the web it's probably full of in correct assumption and mistakes, so take it with a grain of salt, and do your own calcs.

Cheers Adam

The optical spot size of a Blu-ray disk is 580nm, over four orders of magnitude smaller. Shouldn't be an issue to get 2^18 resolution.

David

A lot of these discs are glass with a sputtered aluminium mask, any moisture and you'll get corrosion or fungus. I've found a unit which may work but lower in resolution, it comes with a 2 year warranty.