Beckhoff space-saving HD Bus Terminals

Beckhoff Automation expanded its Bus Terminal I/O system with the new, ultra-compact HD Bus Terminals for manufacturers and machine builders. The space-saving 'High Density’ Bus Terminals have 16 digital I/O channels in the housing of a 12 mm electronic terminal block. This is a March 2010 Control Engineering North American print edition Product Exclusive.

March 1, 2010

Beckhoff Automation ‘High Density’ Beckhoff Bus Terminals have 16-channel terminals in compact 12 mm terminal block format.

To deliver increasingly compact I/O solutions for manufacturers and machine builders, Beckhoff Automation expanded its Bus Terminal I/O system with the new, ultra-compact HD Bus Terminals. These space-saving ‘High Density’ Bus Terminals feature 16 digital I/O channels in the housing of a 12 mm electronic terminal block. Using Beckhoff Bus Couplers or DIN-rail-mounted controllers, the HD Terminals are compatible with almost every major fieldbus. HD Terminals are available in Beckhoff Bus Terminal and EtherCAT Terminal versions.

Over the last few years, a consistent increase in the efficiency of electronics has reduced power dissipation allowing doubled packing I/O density. This saves space in control cabinets and price per I/O channel drops. Miniaturization in the field of control technology allows designers to build smaller and more compact machines and systems. The terminals have identical external dimensions to and are compatible with other Beckhoff Bus Terminals. They have 16-channel terminals for digital inputs or outputs, 8-channel terminals for digital inputs or outputs with 2-wire connection, or combination terminals with eight digital inputs and eight digital outputs. Despite higher channel density, wiring efforts are simplified because of tool-less assembly. The single wire conductors are connected without tools using the direct plug-in technique. Cables plug into the contact point and are released as usual, using the contact release and screwdriver. The usual color coding for the signal types also is used, integrated into the LED display.

www.beckhoff.com/HD-Busterminal

Beckhoff Automation

Also read from Control Engineering :

– I/O Modules: February 2010 product research ;

– Beckhoff-IO terminal EtherCAT interface for RTD temperature sensors ; and

– System Integration Channel .