EtherCAT I/O Products, Communication/Gateways

EtherCAT I/O Products for communication tasks are usually EtherCAT gateways to other bus systems such as PROFIBUS, PROFINET, CANopen, DeviceNet®, EtherNet/IP™, Interbus, IO-Link, ASi or Lightbus. Some of them are available in master or slave versions.

Simple serial interfaces such as RS232, RS422 and RS485 are supported, which are protocol-neutral and can be supplemented by TwinCAT extensions such as Modbus RTU, RFID reader communication or the telecontrol protocol.

EtherCAT I/O Products for communication offers the following functions:

• TwinSAFE safety controller
• NOVRAM memory
• integrated display
• EtherCAT/EtherCAT bridge function
• IEEE 1588 time synchronization
• TwinCAT 3 licensing

Advantages:

• flexible integration of various fieldbus and communication systems
• flexible EtherCAT topologies with EtherCAT bridge terminals
• safety functionality integrated in the EtherCAT system
• optimal compatibility of protocol-neutral serial interfaces with various TwinCAT extensions
• precise time synchronization
• diverse special functions

Overview product series in protection class IP20:

• BKxxxx/EKxxxx/EKMxxxx: EtheCAT Couplers are the link between the EtherCAT protocol at fieldbus level and the EtherCAT Terminals
• EJxxxx: EtherCAT Plug-in modules
• ELxxxx/EMxxxx: Standard and Special EtherCAT Terminals
• ELMxxxx: EtherCAT Terminals in robust metal housing
• ELXxxxx: EtherCAT Terminals for connecting intrinsically safe signals

Product series in protection class IP67:

• EPxxxx: EtherCAT Box modules for decentralized, modular EtherCAT network and power architectures. Available in industrial, zinc die-cast or stainless steel housings (EPxxxx/ERxxxx/EQxxxx)
• EPPxxxx: EtherCAT Box modules with EtherCAT P: Communication and power in a single 4-wire Standard Ethernet cable. Available in industrial or zinc die-cast housings (EPxxxx/ERxxxx)
• EPXxxxx: EtherCAT Box modules with intrinsically safe inputs/outputs

Integration of standard signals in safety applications: The TwinSAFE SC (Single Channel) technology enables the use of standard signals for safety tasks in any networks of fieldbuses. To do this, EtherCAT Terminals from the areas of analog input, angle/displacement measurement or communication are extended by the TwinSAFE SC function. The typical signal characteristics and standard functionalities of the I/O components are retained. TwinSAFE SC I/Os are distinguished from standard I/Os by a yellow strip on the front of the housing and the product name extension -009x.