ARC Technology Solutions

The ARC Encoder Test System is a self-contained unit that powers, stimulates and tests a wide variety of optical and electrical encoders. It is currently being used by the U.S. Government in support of the National Airspace System, as well as at ARC’s Repair Depot.

The encoder is connected to the fixture with a removable adaptor plate and cable assembly. A high precision servomotor controls shaft rotation with the signal sampling done through a differential DAC. Different encoders can be tested on the system by changing the adaptor plate, cable and by adding the encoder’s specifications to the database. An intuitive GUI allows users to run tests without a large learning curve.

The ARC Encoder Test System tests critical waveform characteristics including pulse count, pulse shape, jitter measurements and power consumption. All test results are saved to fully customizable encoder specific data sheets. Testing statistics are stored for fault tracking. All information is displayed via a web browser and can be accessed from any networked computer.

The ARC Encoder Test System offers a troubleshooting mode that allows both short and long term analysis. The user can adjust the settings of the oscilloscope display and the RPM of the encoder shaft while troubleshooting. All measurements are displayed on an easy to read GUI. Faults are logged to a file for later analysis and allow for extended testing to find intermittent failures.