The LT-880 laser tachometer is a handheld, battery-operated device that detects the passage of reflective materials/anti-reflective markings on rotating or linearly moving machinery to determine the target's rotational speed or linear velocity.
The sensing head is remote from the electronics package and is fiber-coupled. This allows for measurement of objects in harsh environments or in hard-to-reach places. The detected change in reflectivity from black to white generates a transition at its output. This TTL/CMOS-compatible signal can be used by a spectrum analyzer, computer, or electronic counter to provide information about the vibration, angular, or linear velocity of the machine under test. The unit's high speed, 40 kHz, combined with its small spot size, can provide high-resolution measurements unattainable with traditional incandescent lamp-based tachometers. A six-digit LCD display indicates the encoder's white/dark transition speed and records the results in units of revolutions per minute (RPM), revolutions per second (RPS), or pulses per second (PPA). The reading is updated twice every second. The user can enter the number of pulses per encoder revolution to use in subsequent calculations. They can range from 1 pulse per revolution to 255 pulses per revolution.