Electronics > Beginners

Fix Scratchy-feeling Rotary Encoder

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yoctoflop:
I recently replaced some glitchy rotary encoders in a piece of equipment with these https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Bourns/PEC16-4020F-N0024?qs=7YHpgRs8DgzaOU2kUEObfg%3D%3D.
They are functionally perfectly fine now, but as I turn them, they feel scratchy and gritty, definitely unlike the ones that were previously in it. They felt fine out of the package, so I'm thinking maybe my soldering process could have possibly damaged them. Could this simply be a matter of replacing the grease inside them, or could there be a more severe problem (e.g. a bent shaft)? Thanks.

tautech:
Welcome to the forum.

Most likely your issue results from the knob scraping on the front panel as they're not bottoming on the shaft or rebate. A felt washer behind the knob or a small packing in the knob recess will keep it from scraping on the panel.

yoctoflop:
I can visually see that the knobs are ~1mm above the panel when fully pressed onto the shaft, so it's definitely the encoders' fault.

tautech:

--- Quote from: yoctoflop on November 21, 2018, 06:51:54 am ---I can visually see that the knobs are ~1mm above the panel when fully pressed onto the shaft, so it's definitely the encoders' fault.

--- End quote ---
OK.
Is the solder mounting the only way they are secured ?
If the solder mounting and a chassis mount are not perfectly aligned there could be stress on the encoder.

xavier60:
From my experience, new mechanical rotary encoders normally do feel somewhat gritty. They get smoother with use. Also, I always lubricate them with some PAO synthetic oil anyway.
I recently purchased a 20 year old HP DSO. It must have had an easy life because some of its encoders felt gritty for a while.

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