EC: EJ Series EtherCAT I/O System

Network Integration I/O - Ethernet, wireless: EtherCAT plug-in modules from the new Beckhoff EJ series offer a highly efficient I/O solution to implement platform concepts in medium- and large-scale machine production. This is a Control Engineering 2016 Engineers’ Choice finalist.

October 15, 2015

EtherCAT plug-in modules from the new Beckhoff EJ series offer a highly efficient I/O solution to implement platform concepts in large-scale machine production. The EJ series offers many common components, while maintaining the possibility to configure different variants. These plug-in modules feature the performance and functionality of the well-known EtherCAT I/O system, while their efficient design enables them to be directly attached to circuit boards.

The circuit board used with the EJ series is an application-specific signal distribution board that transmits signals and power to individual application-specific plug connectors in order to connect the controller to machine modules as required. Simple, prefabricated, plug-and-work cable harnesses replace often time-consuming manual wiring processes common in control cabinet construction. Unit costs are lowered, and the risk of incorrect wiring is reduced to a minimum with the coded components in the EJ system.

The new EtherCAT plug-in modules introduce a highly efficient wiring solution into the series production of machines. In combination with industrial-grade cable harnesses, the signal distribution board—a circuit board specially designed by the user or by Beckhoff Automation—distributes signals and the power supply between EtherCAT plug-in modules and the machine. Unit costs can be dramatically lowered through the automated production of circuit boards and cable harnesses—the higher the production volume, the greater the savings. The risk of incorrect wiring is reduced to a minimum, since the EJ series EtherCAT plug-in modules and the plug connectors on the cable harnesses offer convenient coding options.

The entire range of functions from Beckhoff’s EtherCAT I/O portfolio, including functional safety solutions, can be implemented in an extremely compact form factor with the EJ series. Board level pluggability enables a nearly limitless combination of options, which can be selected and added as needed.

Beckhoff Automation, www.beckhoffautomation.com