Emergency: same day
For a line-down motor, where the fault and parts allow. WhatsApp us before you send it so the bench is kept free.
SICK Stegmann · SNS50/60
SICK Stegmann SNS50 and SNS60 encoder repair, test and alignment
SNS50/60 is a Hiperface serial encoder with 4,096 incremental lines per turn; no absolute position output counts. We test it, repair or replace it and align it to the rotor. Found on: Fagor motors and Allen-Bradley 8720 spindle motors. Star Automations is an independent multi-brand repair company and is not an OEM service centre.
- 25+years of servo repair, since 2000
- 3,000+customers across India
- 100+servo brands covered by our universal servo motor test equipment
- 5sites: Puducherry, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi
- Same dayemergency repair option*
*Where the fault and parts allow. Every repaired unit returns with a printed test report.
Repair turnaround you can plan around
Send a photo of the nameplate first. We confirm whether the motor is repairable, and the quote, the same working day.
Urgent: 3 working days
Repair, encoder alignment and test, counted from the day the motor reaches the bench and the quote is approved.
Standard: 7 working days
Full repair, encoder alignment, run test under load and a printed test report.
- Free repairability check from a nameplate photo
- Printed test report with every motor
- Written warranty, terms stated on every quotation
- Pickup can be arranged; parts that must be imported are quoted with their own timeline
01Facts
SNS50/60 at a glance
| Device | SNS50/60 |
|---|---|
| Brand family | SICK Stegmann |
| Type and format | Hiperface serial |
| Counts | 4,096 incremental lines per turn; no absolute position output |
| Found on | Fagor motors and Allen-Bradley 8720 spindle motors |
| Connector | Per motor model |
| Pole setting for alignment | 2 to 16 selectable |
The SNS50 and SNS60 give 4,096 incremental lines per turn without an absolute position count, so the drive depends on the incremental signal being clean.
02Faults
How SNS50/60 encoders usually fail
- No Hiperface data from a board or cable fault
- Wrong or lost position count
- Memory data unreadable, so the drive cannot identify the motor
- Alignment that no longer matches the rotor
02+Alarms
SNS50/60 alarms and error codes: what they mean and what to check
These are the alarms most often seen with the SNS50/60 feedback device, with what each usually means and what to check first. Many encoder alarms are caused by the cable, connector or battery, not the encoder, so the checks below can save a repair.
| Alarm | Usually means | Check first |
|---|---|---|
| Status 01 | Analog signals outside the allowed range | Supply and cable first; then contamination or failing electronics |
| Status 02 or 03 | Internal angle offset wrong, or the data field table is damaged | Encoder memory fault; needs encoder repair or reprogramming |
| Status 05 or 06 | Internal bus or internal checksum fault | Encoder electronics; send for test |
| Status 07 | The encoder was reset by its own watchdog | Check supply dips and noise; if it repeats, the electronics |
| Status 08 | Counter overflow | Set the reference position again |
| Status 09 or 0A | Parity or checksum error on the serial line | Cable, shield and serial settings, then the encoder |
| Feedback communication fault on the drive (for example Kinetix S45) | The drive gets no usable answer from the encoder | Connector pins, shield clamps and cable, then the encoder |
| Motor data mismatch after replacement | The data stored in the encoder does not match the motor data the drive expects | The encoder memory must carry the right motor data; this is a programming step, not a wiring fault |
The status numbers come from the Hiperface protocol; how the drive shows them depends on the drive brand. Alarm numbers and wording change with drive series and firmware, so check the manual for your drive. Drive brand names are used only to identify alarm lists. Star Automations is an independent multi-brand repair company and is not an OEM service centre.
Typical causes and checks
- Alarm at every power-up: reseat the connector at both ends, check the encoder supply at the motor end, and look for a broken wire.
- Alarm only when the axis moves or the cable flexes: suspect a break inside the cable chain, or a shield that has come loose.
- Alarm after coolant, washdown or rain: look for moisture or corrosion in the connector and behind the encoder cover.
- Alarm at random with other drives running: check earthing and shield clamps, and keep the feedback cable away from power cables.
- Alarm after a motor, encoder or drive change: check the type, the motor data in the drive, and the encoder alignment.
Encoder, cable or drive?
Swap in a known-good feedback cable first. If the alarm stays, move the motor to another axis if the drives are the same type. If the alarm follows the motor, the encoder or motor needs testing. If it stays on the axis with a good motor and cable, the drive needs testing. We test the encoder, the motor and the drive, so send the nameplate if you are not sure which it is.
Related guides: Allen-Bradley S45 feedback fault, Servo encoder alarms.
03Process
How the repair is done
Receive and identify
We read the nameplate and encoder label and confirm the exact type.
Test
Count per turn, data status, alarm flags and, where fitted, incremental lines are checked on the bench.
Repair or replace
Board, connector or sensor faults are repaired; a matched encoder is fitted where repair is not sensible.
Align
Commutation is set to the rotor and checked at every pole pair using the electrical angle.
Verify and report
The motor is run on the bench and the readings are recorded in the report.
See encoder alignment, memory programming and replacement.
04Related
Other SICK Stegmann encoders we repair
05FAQ
Questions
What do encoder alarms on a SNS50/60 usually mean?
Most fall into four groups: no communication, corrupted data, a fault reported by the encoder itself, and a position or commutation mismatch. The alarm table on this page lists the common codes and the first check for each.
How can I tell whether the SNS50/60 encoder, the cable or the drive is at fault?
Swap in a known-good feedback cable, then move the motor to another axis if possible. If the alarm follows the motor, the encoder needs testing; if it stays on the axis, the drive does. A cable or battery fault can be fixed without sending anything.
Can you repair a SNS50/60 encoder?
Yes. We test the position count and status, repair or replace the encoder, align it to the rotor and run the motor. We repair SICK Stegmann units; Star Automations is an independent multi-brand repair company and is not an OEM service centre.
Does the SNS report absolute position?
No. It gives incremental counts only.
Which motors use it?
Fagor motors and Allen-Bradley 8720 spindle motors.
What should I send for a SNS50/60 enquiry?
A clear photo of the motor nameplate and, if the cover is off, the encoder label. You can send the motor or only the encoder.
06Enquiry
Send the nameplate or encoder label
A clear photo of the motor nameplate and, if the cover is off, the encoder label is enough to start. We reply with whether it can be repaired and a quote.
Message received
Our team replies by email or WhatsApp, usually the same working day. For a line-down motor, WhatsApp +91 97866 22233.
→How it works
From nameplate photo to a tested motor in 7 steps
One route for servo motors, encoders and drives. You see the price before any work starts, and the report before the unit leaves our bench.
- 1 · Nameplate photoSend it on WhatsApp or the form
- 2 · Repairable? QuoteUsually the same working day
- 3 · Courier or pickupThe unit reaches our bench
- 4 · Bench diagnosisInsulation, windings, brake, encoder
- 5 · RepairFailed parts, bearings, seals, brake
- 6 · Align and run-testEncoder aligned; no-load and load run
- 7 · Report and dispatchPrinted test report with the unit
- Line down?Servo Swap ships a tested unit first. How Servo Swap works
EmergencySame day*
Urgent3 working days
Standard7 working days
*Where the fault and parts allow. Turnaround counts from when the unit reaches our bench and the quote is approved.