AHE-5401D sensor bearing unit: specifications & signal data
The AHE-5401D is a sensor bearing unit, rated 64 pulses per revolution with a 300 rpm limiting speed per ISO 15. Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | SKF |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 300 rpm |
| Mass | 570 g |
| Manufacturer designation | AHE-5401D |
| Standard | ISO 15 |
| Catalog version | SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 17 sensor bearing units |
| Last verified | 2026-10-19 |
| Number of pulses per revolution N | 64 |
| Period accuracy | 8 % |
| Phase shift between signals | 90 ° |
| Phase shift tolerance | 30 ° |
| Duty cycle | 50 % |
| Duty cycle tolerance | 10 % |
| Cable connector | AMP Superseal plug |
| Electrical angle per pulse (360°/N) | 5.625 ° |
| Two-channel edges per revolution (4×N) | 256 |
| Pulses per shaft degree (N/360) | 0.178 |
| Output frequency at limiting speed (N×rpm/60) | 320 Hz |
| Signal period at limiting speed | 3.125 ms |
| Output frequency at 1 000 r/min (N×1000/60) | 1066.667 Hz |
| Signal period at 1 000 r/min | 0.938 ms |
| Output channels (two-signal) | 2 |
| Phase shift tolerance window | 60 to 120 ° |
| Duty cycle tolerance window | 40 to 60 % |
Source: catalog reference (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 17 sensor bearing units) · extracted 2026-10-19
Parameters extracted from the official SKF Rolling Bearings catalogue (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 17 sensor bearing units); SKF® and SKF Explorer® are trademarks of AB SKF, used here for identification only — mpnbase is not an authorized SKF distributor. Boundary dimensions are ISO 15 interchangeable; current production values may differ, verify at skf.com.
Cross references & equivalents
No verified interchange data yet. Send an inquiry and our team will confirm equivalents manually.
How the AHE-5401D model number is decoded
Internally a sealed SKF Explorer deep groove ball bearing carries the wheel-shaft load while a friction-torque device generates the steering feel; the assembly leaves the factory ready to mount, terminated in a AMP Superseal connector. Rated 64 pulses per revolution at ±8% period accuracy, the two output signals are 90° apart within ±30°, with a 50 ± 10% duty cycle; limiting speed 300 r/min. At 570 g the unit is designed to run untouched for its whole life: no field adjustment of phase or duty cycle, and no relubrication point to service. With 64 pulses per revolution each output pulse spans 5.625° of hand-wheel turn — 0.178 pulses to the degree — so the controller reads steering angle and rate straight off the wheel shaft. the 64-pulse signal gives enough angular detail for speed and direction sensing without demanding a high-frequency receiver interface the AHE-54/57 prefix identifies a steer-by-wire input device; unlike a motor encoder unit there is no embedded bearing code in the designation, because the internal bearing and friction device are fixed for the size. typical applications include textile spindle speed control, wind turbine yaw and pitch feedback and machine-tool spindle position monitoring this unit is commonly specified for textile spindle speed control and wind turbine yaw and pitch feedback, where hand-wheel input with a 64-pulse signal fits the controller's input in machine-tool spindle position monitoring the integrated bearing carries the shaft load while the sensor ring supplies the signal; the 570 g mass keeps the rotating inertia low the AMP Superseal connector is keyed; forcing a mating plug damages the housing and can short the supply rail the internal bearing is not user-serviceable and the unit is relubrication-free; plan replacement as a complete assembly rather than a bearing swap the unit is supplied ready-to-mount; dismantling it to reach the bearing or the sensor destroys the factory calibration and the seal
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- crane and hoist position limiting
- textile spindle speed control
- packaging machine index cams
- elevator drive traction monitoring
Known failure patterns
- the unit expects hand-wheel speeds only; a motor-driven input will exceed its low limiting speed and destroy the friction device long before the electronics complain
- the AMP Superseal connector is keyed; forcing a mating plug damages the housing and can short the supply rail
- the internal bearing is not user-serviceable and the unit is relubrication-free; plan replacement as a complete assembly rather than a bearing swap
- the steering-feel device and the encoder share one sealed housing, so the assembly must never be opened to inspect the bearing — the housing is the calibration
- the unit is rated for a low limiting speed; it is a hand-wheel input device and must never be used as a high-speed shaft encoder
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- the AMP Superseal connector is keyed; forcing a mating plug damages the housing and can short the supply rail
- the internal bearing is not user-serviceable and the unit is relubrication-free; plan replacement as a complete assembly rather than a bearing swap
- the unit is supplied ready-to-mount; dismantling it to reach the bearing or the sensor destroys the factory calibration and the seal
Frequently asked questions
How is the AHE part number structured?
In the AHE scheme a steering encoder unit for steer-by-wire systems is encoded as AHE-5401D: the suffix block carries the pulses-per-revolution count, the S2 two-signal flag, the region and cage letters, and the connector code, so the full spec is readable from the part number.
How many pulses per revolution does the AHE-5401D deliver?
Resolution is 64 pulses per revolution, delivered as two phase-shifted channels; the period accuracy is ±8%, with the phase nominally 90° and held within ±30°.
Is the AHE-5401D adjustable?
No. The steering encoder unit is supplied ready-to-mount and needs neither adjustment nor relubrication; the friction-torque device is factory-set to give the driver the specified steering feel.
What cable and connector are fitted to the AHE-5401D?
Connection is by an AMP Superseal connector, carrying two 64-pulse channels. The cable and connector variant is an order-time choice and cannot be changed in the field.
Reviewed & verified by the MPN Base engineering desk against source catalog SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 17 sensor bearing units on 2026-10-19. Read our editorial & correction policy.