Pulses per Meter Calculator
Calculate encoder pulses per meter for linear or conveyor applications based on encoder PPR and roller diameter.
encoder
pulses per meter
linear
conveyor
PLC
HSC
roller
diameter
Input values
⚙
Enter values and click Calculate to see results here.
Formula
Pulses/m = (PPR × Encoding) / (π × D)
Distance = Pulses / Pulses/m
Worked Example
Given: A 200 PPR encoder is mounted on a 100 mm diameter roller with x4 encoding.
Step 1: Pulses/m = (200 × 4) / (π × 0.1) = 800 / 0.3142 = 2546.5 pulses/m
Step 2: If the PLC counts 25465 pulses, the conveyor has moved 25465 / 2546.5 = 10.0 m
Set your PLC scaling factor to 2546.5 pulses/m for distance measurement.
Engineering Notes
- Roller diameter matters: Measure the roller diameter accurately. Even 1 mm error causes significant drift over long distances.
- Belt slip: If the encoder is on the roller shaft, belt slip will cause measurement errors. Use a measuring wheel encoder for critical applications.
- Encoding mode: x1 = no direction, x2 = half resolution, x4 = full resolution with direction. Use x4 for bidirectional conveyors.
- Long-term accuracy: Roller wear changes the effective diameter over time. Schedule periodic recalibration for precision applications.
References
- IEC 61131-3 — Counters