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, measuring step 0.1 µm)
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, measuring step 0.005 µm, EnDat 2.2)
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