I/O terminals for Ethernet

EL67xx EtherCAT master and slave terminals from Beckhoff Automation are said to offer manufacturers and machine builders a clear and open migration path to next-generation Ethernet implementation. I/O terminals provide a direct interface to EtherCAT I/O nodes for all Profibus (EL6731), DeviceNet (EL6752), and CANopen (EL6751) devices. Terminals channel each fieldbus signal type through the EtherCAT protocol with full availability of the respective network’s features and functions. EtherCAT connection eliminates the need for PCI cards in PCs.

EL6731 functions with all Profibus devices. Cycle times of 200ìs and freely configurable error management for each bus user are possible. Profibus-DP, -DP-V1, and –DP-V2 are supported. EL6752 supports all DeviceNet I/O modes, including polling, change of state, cyclic, and strobed. Error management for each bus user is also freely configurable. EL6751 CANopen terminal can send or receive CAN messages without CAN frames in application programs. All CANopen PDO communication types are supported, including event-driven, time-driven (using an event timer), synchronous, and polling.

Real-time EtherCAT protocol can process 1,000 distributed I/O in 30ìs or 100 axes in 100 ìs using twisted pair or fiber optic cable. It offers almost unlimited network size (65,000+ devices) and a variety of cabling options, is an approved IEC specification and an open-by-design technology. The terminals will not “turn your Profibus, DeviceNet, or CANopendevices into high-speed, next-generation EtherCAT devices,” said Skip Hansen, I/O systems product manager at Beckhoff Automation, but “will ensure complete system compatibility for these traditional fieldbus networks.” www.beckhoffautomation.com Beckhoff Automation

Do you have experience and expertise with the topics mentioned in this content? You should consider contributing to our CFE Media editorial team and getting the recognition you and your company deserve. Click here to start this process.