Heidenhain
Encyclopedia
Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH is a privately owned enterprise located in Traunreut
, Germany
that manufactures mechatronic measuring devices for length and angle.
These linear and angle encoders
are built for use in automated machines and systems, particularly in machine tools.
by Wilhelm Heidenhain in 1889 that manufactured templates, company plaques, product labels, and scales.
In 1928 Heidenhain invented the Metallur process. This lead-sulfide copying process made it possible for the first time to make exact copies of an original grating on a metal surface for industrial use. By 1943, Heidenhain was producing linear scales with accuracy of ± 15 µm and circular scale disks with accuracy of ± 3 angular seconds.
After World War II
, in 1948, Dr. Johannes Heidenhain company founded the present company in Traunreut
.
Its invention of the Diadur process enabled it to apply very fine structures of chromium on suitable substrates, such as glass.
The Diadur process was the basis in 1952 for adding optical position measuring devices for machine tools to the product program. These were followed in 1961 by photoelectrically scanned linear and angle encoders.
In 1968 Heidenhain manufactured its first digital readouts.
The first Heidenhain numerical control
was launched in 1976.
In 1987, a linear encoder
series operating on the principle of light interference was introduced. It permitted measuring steps as fine as one nanometer.
According to Heidenhain, in 2006 the company had regional sales locations in 43 countries and employed about 7,000 people, 2,600 of whom worked in the main facility in Traunreut, Germany.
By the end of 2006 the company had manufactured about 10.5 million linear or angle encoders, 420,000 position displays and nearly 200,000 CNC controls.
Traunreut
Traunreut is a town in southeastern Bavaria, Germany in the Traunstein district. It is located at . Traunreut lies in the heart of the Chiemgau region between Munich and Salzburg, approximately 10 km east of the Chiemsee, 25 km north of the Alps, and 35 km west of Salzburg. Its...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
that manufactures mechatronic measuring devices for length and angle.
These linear and angle encoders
Linear encoder
A linear encoder is a sensor, transducer or readhead paired with a scale that encodes position. The sensor reads the scale in order to convert the encoded position into an analog or digital signal, which can then be decoded into position by a digital readout or motion controller.The encoder can be...
are built for use in automated machines and systems, particularly in machine tools.
History
The company began as a metal etching factory founded in BerlinBerlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
by Wilhelm Heidenhain in 1889 that manufactured templates, company plaques, product labels, and scales.
In 1928 Heidenhain invented the Metallur process. This lead-sulfide copying process made it possible for the first time to make exact copies of an original grating on a metal surface for industrial use. By 1943, Heidenhain was producing linear scales with accuracy of ± 15 µm and circular scale disks with accuracy of ± 3 angular seconds.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, in 1948, Dr. Johannes Heidenhain company founded the present company in Traunreut
Traunreut
Traunreut is a town in southeastern Bavaria, Germany in the Traunstein district. It is located at . Traunreut lies in the heart of the Chiemgau region between Munich and Salzburg, approximately 10 km east of the Chiemsee, 25 km north of the Alps, and 35 km west of Salzburg. Its...
.
Its invention of the Diadur process enabled it to apply very fine structures of chromium on suitable substrates, such as glass.
The Diadur process was the basis in 1952 for adding optical position measuring devices for machine tools to the product program. These were followed in 1961 by photoelectrically scanned linear and angle encoders.
In 1968 Heidenhain manufactured its first digital readouts.
The first Heidenhain numerical control
Numerical control
Numerical control refers to the automation of machine tools that are operated by abstractly programmed commands encoded on a storage medium, as opposed to controlled manually via handwheels or levers, or mechanically automated via cams alone...
was launched in 1976.
In 1987, a linear encoder
Linear encoder
A linear encoder is a sensor, transducer or readhead paired with a scale that encodes position. The sensor reads the scale in order to convert the encoded position into an analog or digital signal, which can then be decoded into position by a digital readout or motion controller.The encoder can be...
series operating on the principle of light interference was introduced. It permitted measuring steps as fine as one nanometer.
According to Heidenhain, in 2006 the company had regional sales locations in 43 countries and employed about 7,000 people, 2,600 of whom worked in the main facility in Traunreut, Germany.
By the end of 2006 the company had manufactured about 10.5 million linear or angle encoders, 420,000 position displays and nearly 200,000 CNC controls.