Milestones in HEIDENHAIN’s History and Product Development
The origins of our company lie in a metal etching factory established in late-nineteenth century Berlin. Founded by Wilhelm Heidenhain in 1889, this firm manufactured templates, signs, scales and graduations. After World War II, Wilhelm Heidenhain’s son established today’s company, DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GmbH, in the Bavarian municipality of Traunreut. Graduations and price scales for the retail trade were among our first products. Drawing on experiments he had conducted in Berlin, Johannes Heidenhain began producing first-of-their-kind optical position measuring systems for machine tools. Dr. Heidenhain and his team subsequently developed photoelectrical linear and angular encoders. These and other innovations produced by HEIDENHAIN initiated the automation of numerous machines and manufacturing plants.
During the past two generations, DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GmbH has emerged as an important manufacturer of numerical controls and drive technology for machine tools.
For nearly 125 years, HEIDENHAIN has pioneered highly technical solutions to complex manufacturing requirements. To ensure his company would always remain true to his principles, in 1970 Dr. Johannes Heidenhain entrusted the shares of his company to a foundation. Dr. Heidenhain’s objective was to ensure both the continuity of his company and his firm’s unwavering commitment to technical progress. Dr. Heidenhain’s foresight has allowed us to continue to invest extensively in applied research and development.
Milestones in History
1889 | W. HEIDENHAIN founds a metal-etching company in Berlin |
1923 | Dr. Johannes Heidenhain joins his father's company |
1928 | Invention of the lead-sulfide copying process METALLUR |
1948 | The company DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN is founded in Traunreut |
1950 | Invention of the DIADUR process |
1970 | The non-profit DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN-STIFTUNG GmbH is founded |
1980 | Death of Dr. Johannes Heidenhain |
2008 | HEIDENHAIN is represented in 50 countries throughout the world |
Milestones of Encoders: Graduations
1936 | Photomechanically copied glass scale (accuracy ± 0.015 mm) |
1943 | Copied circular scale (accuracy ± 3 seconds) |
1952 | Weight scales as main source of revenue |
1967 | Self-supporting gratings, microstructures |
1985 | Distance-coded reference marks for incremental graduations |
1986 | Phase-grating scales |
1995 | Area grids for two-coordinate encoders |
2002 | Planar phase-grating structures for interferential linear encoders |
Milestones of Encoders: Linear Encoders
1952 | Optical linear encoders for machine tools |
1961 | LID 1 incremental linear encoder, grating period 8 µm, measuring step 2 µm |
1963 | LIC absolute linear encoder with 18 tracks, pure binary code |
1965 | Laser interferometers, used to calibrate machine tools |
1968 | Sealed incremental linear encoder LIDA 55.6 with steel scale (40 µm) |
1987 | LS 101 sealed incremental linear encoder, measuring step 0.1 µm |
1989 | LIP 301 exposed interferential linear encoder, measuring step 1 nm |
1994 | LC 181 sealed absolute linear encoder (7 tracks, measuring length 3 m, measuring step 0.1 µm) |
1996 | LC 481 sealed absolute linear encoder (pseudo-random code, measuring length 2 m, |
1999 | LC 481 sealed absolute linear encoder (2 tracks, pseudo-random code) |
2005 | LC 183 sealed absolute linear encoder (pseudo-random code, measuring length 4 m, |
2008 | LIP 200 interferential linear encoder (signal period 0.512 µm, traversing speeds up to 3 m/s) |
Milestones of Encoders: Angle Encoders
1952 | Optical angle encoders |
1961 | Photoelectric angle encoders |
1975 | ROD 800 incremental angle encoder, accuracy ± 1 second |
1986 | RON 905 incremental angle encoder, accuracy ± 0.2 seconds |
1997 | RCN 723 absolute angle encoder with integral stator coupling in hollow shaft version (23 bits singleturn, accuracy ± 2 seconds) |
2000 | ERP 880 interferential angle encoder (180,000 signal periods/revolution, accuracy ± 0.2 second) |
2004 | RCN 727 absolute angle encoder with hollow shaft diameter up to 100 mm |
Milestones of Encoders: Rotary Encoders
1961 | ROD 1 incremental photoelectric rotary encoder with 10 000 lines |
1964 | ROC absolute rotary encoder (17 bits, pure binary code) |
1981 | ROD 426 incremental rotary encoder, the industry standard |
1987 | ROC 221 S absolute multiturn encoder (12 bits singleturn, 9 bits multiturn) |
1992 | Operating temperatures up to 120 °C: ERN 1300 incremental rotary encoder |
1993 | ECN 1300 and EQN 1300 absolute singleturn and multiturn encoders |
1997 | ERM 100 magnetic modular rotary encoder |
2000 | Chip-On-Board technology: EQN 1100 miniaturized absolute multiturn rotary encoder |
2000 | Hollow shaft diameter up to 50 mm: ECN 100 absolute singleturn rotary encoder |
2004 | Inductive scanning: ECI 1100 and EQI 1100 miniaturized absolute singleturn and multiturn encoders |
2007 | Absolute rotary encoders with “functional safety” and EnDat 2.2 interface |
Milestones of NC Controls and Electronics
1968 | Digital readouts for manual machine tools |
1968 | VRZ 59.4 bidirectional counter for one axis |
1974 | HEIDENHAIN 5041 numerical position display unit |
1976 | TNC 110 and TNC 120 numeric positioning controls for three axes |
1981 | TNC 145 numeric contouring control for three axes |
1984 | TNC 155 numeric contouring control with graphic simulation of workpiece machining |
1995 | EnDat synchronous serial interface for absolute position encoders |
1996 | TNC 426 contouring control with digital drive control for five axes |
1996 | TNC 410 MA: Complete package from HEIDENHAIN with inverters and motors |
2004 | iTNC 530 contouring control with alternative operating mode smarT.NC |
2007 | TNC 620 with HSCI, the serial controller interface |