Rotation indicator setup

[tasteful]

Hello, I'm new here. I am interested in making a surveying device, and need a way to indicate rotation angle to better than .01 degrees. The output would be 0-360 degrees, displayed by a digital readout in the format 000.000. The device is rotated by hand, and if it were rotated over 360 degrees, it would go back to zero. So, my question is, does anyone know what is involved (parts or special procedures) in making such a thing?

 

[Skogsgurra]

Sounds like some kind of encoder. You need better than 1:36000 resolution.

Have a look at

http://www.directindustry.com/scripts/go_to_web.php

It may be too good for your needs (24 bits resolution) but there are simpler ones. Just google "rotary encoder" and you will have thousands.

Gunnar Englund

http://www.gke.org

 

[CJCPE]

You would need a rotary absolute encoder with at least 16 bit resolution. Google search "absolute encoder" "16 bit."

 

[tasteful]

Thanks guys. Does anyone know how I can expect to handle the output? I see that there are lots of encoders out there, and I'm wondering how I will link the readout and the encoder. Will I need an absolute encoder module? I also may decide that I would rather run the encoder output into a computer, preferably through usb. I imagine I'll need some kind of circuitry to answer this. Please pardon my ignorance, I'm a programmer, not an electrical engineer.

 

[IRstuff]

Is this is a school project?

TTFN

 

[tasteful]

Nope. It's a r&d project. I own a small shop, and I'm trying to build my own plotting/surveying device. The systems that are on the market are too expensive for me to justify buying yet ($10,000+). I'm just trying to get a good idea of what I need before I jump into this.

 

[IRstuff]

I would go to EBay and buy a used one if I were you:

http://search.ebay.com/theodolite_W0QQfromZR40

TTFN