Development of a high-precision linear magnetization system for encoding long magnetic scales.

ITK Precisioning GmbH has successfully completed the BMBF-funded ELM² project to develop a high-precision linear magnetization system for writing magnetic scales.

The ELM² project developed a demonstrator machine that enables magnetic scales with lengths of up to five meters to be encoded in one piece with high accuracy and increased productivity. At the same time, the demonstrator machine serves as a basis for testing new sub-technologies, such as optimized machine structures, magnetization heads for new writing processes, and improved machine control. This significantly expands the application possibilities of these measuring devices in industries such as semiconductor manufacturing, industrial automation, and general mechanical engineering.

Current market trends are leading to ever-increasing demands on the measuring systems used. In many areas of application for magnetic measuring systems, scales with a length of several meters are required. This is the case, for example, in semiconductor manufacturing, where the trend towards larger wafer diameters must be implemented in significantly longer travel paths for inspection and testing machines. The same applies to optical 3D measuring machines in conventional parts manufacturing, where the surfaces and dimensions of increasingly larger workpieces must also be inspected. This trend goes hand in hand with demands for greater accuracy. In part, this is a result of requirements from the end application, but also of the desire of several users for more robust and economical magnetic length measuring systems as an alternative to optical length measurement systems. Last but not least, manufacturers of magnetic length measurement systems are constantly striving to achieve higher productivity for their systems.

The results of the ELM² project support ITK Precisioning GmbH to open up two important areas of application for the manufacturing industry:

• Firstly, positioning systems (SensePrecisioners) for scanning platforms with longer travel distances can be manufactured, thus achieving a significant competitive advantage.
• Secondly, magnetization systems (Pole-Precisioner) for industrial automation can be offered to manufacturers of position measurement systems. These manufacturers can use them to expand or supplement their own product range.

ITK Precisioning GmbH would like to thank the BMBF for its kind support in implementing the ELM² project with the funding code: 02P21K060.