Compact, industrial Ethernet IO block

Turck BL compact on-machine, flexible block I/O simplifies communications for industrial Ethernet with analog, digital, thermocouple, RTD, serial, RFID, or a mixture of signal types in a compact, machine-mountable device.

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Turck BL compact on-machine, flexible block I/O for industrial Ethernet is a revolutionary I/O solution for collecting a variety of signals in one, rugged network node, the company said. Rather than routing all signals through a control cabinet, this device makes it possible to obtain analog, digital, thermocouple, RTD, serial, RFID, or a mixture of signal types in a compact, machine-mountable device over Ethernet.

Two signals types can be combined in any combination in BL compact, including, but not limited to, RFID and analog and digital and serial. BL compact may be customized to suit a user’s specific needs, allowing devices to be added to an existing network and signals gathered on the machine without an enclosure. This drop-in solution can be used to connect up to 16 devices, which significantly reduces the time it takes to run wires for each device back to the control cabinet and the potential for wiring errors.

“With the ability to employ two protocols in a single device, BL compact enables our customers to experience a more streamlined, simplified Industrial Ethernet solution,” said Chris Vitale, senior product manager, Turck. “This simplicity, combined with the flexibility to mix and match I/O types, allows their own end user base to efficiently satisfy diverse applications that may require different Industrial Ethernet protocols,” Vitale said.

BL compact is part of Turck’s unified Multiprotocol product portfolio, which enables users to employ one device for two Ethernet protocols, including EtherNet/IP and Modbus TCP. This simplifies operations by allowing multiple protocols to exist within one device, Turck said, yet only permits one Ethernet master to control the outputs while the input and diagnostic data is available to the other protocols. BL compact provides several I/O configuration options, including 16 M8 connectors for digital I/O with no splitters and an eight port M12 station for flexible operation.

BL compact is available with four, eight, or 16 ports in an environmentally rugged package that is rated for IP68 and IP69K protection. M8 or M12 connectors for bus communication and auxiliary power facilitate easy installation into any application, existing or new.

Turck provides sensing, connectivity and network products to help manufacturers improve their automated processes. The company will be an exhibitor at ProMat, Jan. 21-24, 2013.

www.turck.us 

- Edited by Mark T. Hoske, content manager CFE Media, Control Engineering, Plant Engineering, and Consulting-Specifying Engineer, mhoske@cfemedia.com.