In short:Capacitive, inductive and magnetic encoders from other makers can replace some HEIDENHAIN rotary, angle and exposed linear encoders where the accuracy budget, interface and environment allow; for sealed machine-tool linear scales and the highest-accuracy angle encoders, a genuine equivalent is harder to find and must be checked carefully.
What HEIDENHAIN makes
DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GmbH is a German precision metrology manufacturer. HEIDENHAIN and EnDat are trademarks of their owner. Its encoder range is broad: rotary encoders (absolute ECN and EQN, incremental ERN, including the ECN / EQN 1300 motor-feedback encoders), angle encoders (RCN 2001, 5001, 6000 and 8001), sealed linear encoders (LC, LS and LF), exposed linear encoders (LIP, LIF and the absolute LIC) and the ERM modular magnetic encoders. HEIDENHAIN also makes CNC controls, digital readouts, touch probes and length gauges, and publishes its own EnDat serial encoder interface.
Its encoders are widely used on machine tools and in semiconductor equipment, and as feedback devices inside servo motors.
Why engineers look for a HEIDENHAIN alternative
- Lead time on a particular encoder, interface or cable variant.
- Second source for a motor or machine in series production.
- Budget, for axes where the accuracy class of the original is more than the application needs.
- Form factor, for example a thin hollow-shaft ring that fits inside a robot joint without a coupling.
- Environment, where a contactless capacitive or inductive design copes better with dirt or wide mounting tolerances.
How to check an encoder alternative is equivalent
- Accuracy at the load. Include eccentricity, mounting and interpolation error, not only the datasheet grade.
- Resolution and speed. Bits per revolution or measuring step, and the maximum speed at that resolution.
- Interface. EnDat, BiSS-C, SSI, 1 Vpp or TTL, and what the drive or CNC reads.
- Construction. Integral bearing and stator coupling, or modular ring and head mounted on your shaft.
- Mechanics. Shaft or bore, coupling, axial and radial tolerance, and envelope.
- Environment. Temperature, contamination, vibration and IP rating.
- Functional safety. If the original carries a safety rating, the alternative must meet the same requirement.
Motor-feedback encoders need extra care. Replacing an ECN or EQN 1300 inside a servo motor means re-aligning the commutation offset, and the drive must read the new protocol and resolution. That is normally a motor-maker task, so for motor feedback it is often better to treat the motor and encoder as one item and compare complete motors.
Our encoder selection guide and absolute vs incremental encoders explain these checks.
Encoder alternatives in our supply network
Rotary and angle. Netzer’s capacitive absolute encoders use SSI or BiSS-C. The VLZ is the most accurate in the range, with a bearing-like design from 105 to 175 mm OD; the VLM is a multi-turn hollow-shaft encoder that holds position through power loss; and the VLP and VLX are thin rings for harsh and general use. The Novanta Midi Ultra IncOder is an inductive absolute encoder from 75 to 300 mm OD, with published accuracy down to about 19 arcsec depending on size.
Exposed linear. The Bogen ALS21 is an absolute magnetic linear head with 1 µm resolution and IP67 sealing, and the IKS23 is a rugged incremental head. KappaSense offers capacitive linear encoders: the FREEe with a passive read head, and the FLEXe with wide mounting tolerances and strokes up to 1.9 m.
The encoders hub lists every type we supply.
How these comparisons are made
The table under this text compares each HEIDENHAIN series we hold data for with the closest product from our supply network, on published figures only. “Equivalent” means a product that meets the stated specification for your application, confirmed by an engineer; capacitive, inductive and magnetic encoders differ in technology from optical ones. Specify Motion is not affiliated with, authorised by or endorsed by HEIDENHAIN, and no logos are used. Names identify products only.
Where no product in our network meets the accuracy you need, we will say so plainly.
HEIDENHAIN series and the closest match from our supply network
Each row compares the highest published figures for the series. A match here is a starting point: an engineer confirms the fit for your load, duty, mounting and interface before recommending anything.
| HEIDENHAIN series | Type | Closest match |
|---|---|---|
| ECN / EQN 1000 | Optical absolute encoder | Netzer Precision VLP meets or exceeds the figures compared Meets or exceeds the figure compared |
| ECN / EQN 1300 (motor feedback) | Optical absolute encoder | Netzer Precision VLZ meets or exceeds the figures compared Meets or exceeds the figure compared |
| ECN / EQN 400 | Optical absolute encoder | Netzer Precision VLZ meets or exceeds the figures compared Meets or exceeds the figure compared |
| ERM 2000 modular magnetic | Magnetic encoder | Ask an engineer |
| ERN incremental rotary encoders (ERN 100 / 400 / 1000 / 1300) | Optical incremental encoder | Ask an engineer |
| LC 100 / LC 200 / LC 400 sealed absolute linear | Enclosed linear encoder | Ask an engineer |
| LF 185 sealed incremental linear | Enclosed linear encoder | Ask an engineer |
| LIC 2100 / 3100 / 4100 exposed absolute linear | Optical absolute encoder | Bogen ALS21 meets or exceeds the figures compared Meets or exceeds the figure compared |
| LIF 400 exposed linear | Optical incremental encoder | Ask an engineer |
| LIP 200 / LIP 6000 exposed linear | Optical incremental encoder | Bogen ALS21 meets or exceeds the figures compared Meets or exceeds the figure compared |
| LS 100 / LS 400 sealed incremental linear | Enclosed linear encoder | Ask an engineer |
| RCN 2001 / RCN 5001 angle encoders | Optical absolute encoder | Netzer Precision VLM meets or exceeds the figures compared Meets or exceeds the figure compared |
| RCN 6000 angle encoder | Optical absolute encoder | Netzer Precision VLM meets or exceeds the figures compared Meets or exceeds the figure compared |
| RCN 8001 angle encoder | Optical absolute encoder | Netzer Precision VLM meets or exceeds the figures compared Meets or exceeds the figure compared |
Specify Motion is not affiliated with DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GmbH. Brand and series names are used only to identify products. Comparisons use published figures; always confirm against the current datasheet.
Frequently asked questions
Can an alternative encoder use the EnDat interface?
EnDat is HEIDENHAIN's bidirectional serial interface for position encoders. Some drives read EnDat, BiSS-C and SSI, so the practical question is what your drive supports. Many alternative encoders use BiSS-C or SSI, which means checking whether the drive or controller has that input before choosing a part, or picking a drive that reads both.
Is there an equivalent to a HEIDENHAIN RCN angle encoder?
RCN angle encoders are high-accuracy absolute encoders with an integral bearing for rotary tables and telescopes. Large-bore capacitive and inductive absolute encoders can meet lower accuracy targets with good resistance to contamination, but you should compare system accuracy, interpolation error, bearing runout, bore and speed against your error budget. For the most demanding axes, there may be no like-for-like alternative.
Can I replace a sealed LC or LS linear encoder?
Sealed linear encoders are built for machine tools, with the scale protected inside an aluminium extrusion. Our supply network does not currently list a sealed linear encoder in the same format. Magnetic and capacitive linear encoders can be considered where accuracy needs are lower or the environment is less severe, but they are not drop-in replacements on a machine tool.
What should I send to get a HEIDENHAIN equivalent proposed?
Send the ID number and model, the interface and resolution, the accuracy needed at the load, shaft or bore, mounting and coupling, speed, temperature, contamination, IP rating, cable length, and the drive or CNC it connects to. For linear encoders, add measuring length, mounting surface and any functional safety requirement.
Sources
- HEIDENHAIN: rotary encoders and product overview
- HEIDENHAIN: exposed linear encoders
- HEIDENHAIN: EnDat 2.2 encoder characteristics
Figures are summarised from the sources above and from manufacturers' published data on the date shown. Always confirm against the current datasheet for your exact part.