When the going gets tough, the tough get... Stainless.  

For harsh duty rotary encoder applications, nothing beats the durability of a stainless steel. What do we mean by harsh duty? Manufacturing environments with de-greasers, solvents, disinfectants, cleansers, corrosive liquids or fumes fit the bill. Industry examples are food processing, chemical processing, pulp and paper manufacturing. 

To provide reliable feedback in such demanding operating environments, BEPc offers several Accu-Coder rotary incremental encoder models with housings made of 316 stainless steel.  With several package types and mounting options to choose from, BEPc's stainless steel encoders cover a wide range of applications.

In addition to the stainless steel housings, we also offer the Model 25T with a Corrosion Resistant option.  The housing of the Model 25T is manufactured of a chemically inert polymer resin, which is by nature resistant to many of the harsh materials listed at the beginning of this article.  With the Corrosion resistant option we take the extra step of replacing all the exposed metal hardware with stainless steel: the shaft collar, screws and other hardware.  The result is a through-bore encoder with can-do capability.

When applying rotary encoders in harsh conditions, be sure to consider the environmental seal. Generally, the highest IP rating (Ingress Protection) available is preferred, as this choice provides greatest protection to the internal components.  For a detailed explanation of IP ratings, see our Technical Bulletin No. 122, What Is An IP Rating And What Does It Mean?

Also, don't neglect the connector.  The M12 and cable gland connectors offer the best protection against ingress of liquids and are available on BEPc products listed above.

For further discussion of other factors to consider when specifying encoders in inhospitable conditions, see our White Paper 2006, Encoders In Inhospitable Environments.