When choosing an encoder for a motion control system, you’ll be faced with numerous technical terms. The amount of data can be overwhelming. Which terms should you focus on first, and which can be deferred? These three concepts deserve your attention: resolution, accuracy and precision.
At first glance, it may seem that all three mean roughly the same thing. You may wonder if they’re interchangeable; indeed, many people speak of them as if they are. After all, if an encoder has high resolution, doesn’t that mean it’s accurate? And if it’s accurate, then it has to be precise, right? The answer to these questions is a firm no.