• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Motion Control Tips

Automation • Motion Control • Power Transmission

  • News
    • Industry News
    • Editor Blogs
    • Video
  • Controls
    • HMIs
    • PC-Based Controllers
    • PLCs + PACs
    • Stand-Alone Controllers
    • Software
  • Drives
    • Servo Drives
    • Stepper Drives
  • Encoders
    • Absolute Encoders
    • Incremental Encoders
    • Rotary Encoders
  • Mechanical
    • Bearings
    • Brakes + Clutches
    • Belt + chain
    • Couplings
    • Gears + Gearing
    • Lubrication
    • Shock + Vibration Mitigation
    • Springs + Rings + Seals
  • Linear
    • Actuators
    • Linear Motors
    • Linear Encoders
  • Motors
    • AC Motors
    • DC Motors
    • Brushless Motors
    • Gearmotors
    • Piezo Motors
    • Servo Motors
    • Stepper Motors
  • Systems
    • Conveyors + linear transport systems
    • Gantries + Stages
    • Rotary Tables
    • Grippers + End Effectors
    • Robotics
  • Networks
    • Connections + Sliprings
    • Fieldbuses
    • I/O
    • Sensors + Vision
  • FAQs
    • Motion Casebook
    • Motion Selection Guides
  • Suppliers
You are here: Home / Encoders / What are pulses per revolution for encoders?

What are pulses per revolution for encoders?

April 11, 2018 By Miles Budimir Leave a Comment

Pulses per revolution (or PPR) is a parameter associated with encoders. Basically, it is a measure of the number of pulses per full revolution or turn of the encoder, with a full revolution being 360 degrees. In essence, it is a measure of an encoder’s resolution.

But what counts as a pulse may have different definitions depending on the manufacturer. For instance, some encoder manufacturers denote a pulse as only the high portion of the square wave pulse an encoder produces. Think of a single cycle of a square wave composed of a high (logic “1”) and low (logic “0”) portions of the signal. So the pulse is the high portion, and represents one whole cycle of high and low.

encoder
The drawing illustrates the several ways encoder resolution can be defined; as pulses, cycles, periods, or counts per revolution. (Image via CUI Inc.)

Complicating things further is the fact that some manufacturers use different terminology that may denote the same or a different definition. For example, one alternative measure is cycles per revolution (CPR). This refers to one complete cycle of high and low and is equivalent to the PPR measure. However, another measure, counts per revolution (CPR), refers to the actual number of states in a quadrature encoder, which for one complete square-wave cycle is 4, and is not equivalent to cycles per revolution nor PPR.

The bottom line is to do one’s due diligence; check to make sure what PPR or CPR refers to in specifications for an individual encoder.

 

You may also like:

  • encoders
    Compact, low-power absolute encoders offer 12-bit or 14-bit resolutions
  • encoders, robots
    Motion Trends: Robotics, IoT impact encoder design

  • Encoder resolution and accuracy: What’s the difference?
  • encoder speed
    How are encoders used for speed measurement?

Filed Under: Encoders, FAQs + basics

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Primary Sidebar

POWER TRANSMISSION REFERENCE GUIDE

DESIGN GUIDE LIBRARY

“motion
Subscribe Today

RSS Featured White Papers

  • Specifying electric rodless actuators: Ten tips for maximizing actuator life and system performance
  • The truth about actuator life: Screw drive survival
  • Top Ten Tips: How to specify electric rod-style actuators for optimal performance, reliability and efficiency

Footer

Motion Control Tips

DESIGN WORLD NETWORK

Design World Online
The Robot Report
Coupling Tips
Linear Motion Tips
Bearing Tips
Fastener Engineering.

MOTION CONTROL TIPS

Subscribe to our newsletter
Advertise with us
Contact us
About us
Follow us on TwitterAdd us on FacebookAdd us on LinkedInAdd us on YouTubeAdd us on Instagram

Copyright © 2022 · WTWH Media LLC and its licensors. All rights reserved.
The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media.

Privacy Policy | RSS