Packaging

Compact IO-Link solution

Thursday 01. May 2008 - Open control technology: IO-Link integration for EtherCAT Terminal system

The EtherCAT Terminal system from Beckhoff offers a comprehensive I/O construction kit for a wide range of applications. The EL6224 IO-Link terminal was added in order to make the system compatible with the new standard for the lower field level. The IO-Link integration hardware is very compact: Up to four IO-Link devices can be connected in a standard terminal housing with a width of 12 mm.
A point-to-point connection is used between the terminal and the device; therefore, existing wiring topologies are maintained. The terminal is parameterised via the master, for example through TwinCAT. Any number of EL6224 devices can be used in an EtherCAT station. Connections to EtherCAT or other fieldbuses are established via EtherCAT Couplers or Embedded PCs from the CX series. The high performance of EtherCAT offers an ideal basis for connecting a large number of IO-Link devices. Additional 24 V and 0 V connection points can be realised via the EL918x potential distribution terminal.

Transfer rates of 4.8 kbaud, 38.4 kbaud and 230 kbaud are possible with a cable length of up to 15 m. Power is supplied via the internal terminal bus (E-bus) and the power contacts.

The high-performance EtherCAT Terminal system is a modular I/O system consisting of electronic terminal blocks. EtherCAT Terminals are available for all common digital and analog signal types encountered in the world of automation. Fieldbus devices, e.g. for PROFIBUS, PROFINET, CANopen, DeviceNet, Interbus or Lightbus can be integrated via local fieldbus master/slave terminals.