Enclosures, Cabling & Connectors


Fibre-optic for EtherCAT

September 2009 Enclosures, Cabling & Connectors

The EtherCAT I/O system from Beckhoff is being expanded with new fibre-optic-compatible hardware. Using the EK1501 EtherCAT coupler and the EK1521 junction terminal, more flexible topologies are now possible with glass fibre technology.

Besides its high performance and low system costs, EtherCAT also stands out due to its flexible topological characteristics. The EtherCAT Terminal system from Beckhoff supports all topology variants: line, ring, tree and star. This flexibility is continued in the wiring and the selection of different cables. The maximum distance between two stations is 100 m using a standard Ethernet cable (100BASE-TX). With the new fibre-optic modules, greatly extended networking up to 2 km is possible (100BASE-FX).

The EK1501 fibre-optic coupler connects EtherCAT to an arbitrary number of EtherCAT Terminals. Connection is made via SC duplex sockets. A further fibre-optic module can be optionally connected via a second port; an additional switch is not required.

The EK1501 EtherCAT Terminal with fibre-optic interface enables conversion to multimode glass fibre technology within a terminal line. The combination of line and branches or stubs is particularly useful for system wiring. Applications for the fibre-optic module will primarily be in widely distributed systems, such as wind farms or high tension systems. Even cable redundant systems with fibre-optic can be realised using the EtherCAT branch.

Interested readers can view the Beckhoff video at http://instrumentation.co.za/news.aspx?pklNewsid=31412&pklCategoryID=67



Credit(s)



Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

Building the control panels of the future
Omron Electronics Enclosures, Cabling & Connectors
The industrial automation world is built on robust and efficient control panels. These control panels are designed precisely and assembled, managing machines, processes and equipment across different industries. Omron assists panel builders in navigating complex challenges that could impact project efficiency and profitability.

Read more...
Online drive cable finder
Enclosures, Cabling & Connectors
Motion plastics specialist, igus has released the latest version of its readycable finder, an online tool that makes it easier to select suitable drive cables.

Read more...
Compact drive and control technology
Beckhoff Automation Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
When custom machine builder Lehnen Industrial Services introduced a filling machine for lip balm, the company was surprised by the amount of interest in this premium system. In order to meet this demand, they decided to standardise the machine. The necessary adaptability is provided by the scalable control technology from Beckhoff.

Read more...
Distributed servo drive system with extended voltage range and additional braking option
Beckhoff Automation Electrical Power & Protection
Beckhoff’s AMP8620 supply module and AMP8805 distribution module are now also available with an extended voltage range for the AMP8000 distributed servo drive system.

Read more...
Industrial PCs with new processor generations and increased performance
Beckhoff Automation Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
PC-based control technology from Beckhoff has always benefited from the convergence of automation and the IT world. Current examples include the use of the latest industry-standard processor generations, high-quality and demand-optimised flash memory, and the long-term availability version of Windows 11.

Read more...
New EtherCAT digital input and output terminals
Beckhoff Automation Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
The new EL14xx and EL24xx EtherCAT Terminals from Beckhoff complement the company’s existing broad portfolio in the area of digital input/output, and combine proven functions with an optimised circuit architecture.

Read more...
Monitoring system and motor status in real time with minimal
Beckhoff Automation Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
Beckhoff’s AM8000, AM8300, AM8500, AM8700 and AM8800 series servomotors are available with the innovative Beckhoff Smart System Diagnosis. With B/SSD, it is possible to monitor motors and systems in real time with minimal effort and to implement effective predictive maintenance.

Read more...
Safety controller for industrial PCs
Beckhoff Automation Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
With TwinSAFE, Beckhoff offers an extensive portfolio of software and hardware components for functional safety. This range is continuously being expanded and developed, as demonstrated by numerous new safety I/Os and the TwinCAT Safety PLC with EL6910 functionality.

Read more...
Planar motor system for quality assurance
Beckhoff Automation Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
Achieving the shortest possible inspection times, even when working with different components, is paramount when it comes to series production. This is precisely what special machine builder, stoba Sondermaschinen set out to achieve with its InspectorONE optical inspection system, which is based on deep learning and features the Beckhoff XPlanar planar motor system at the conveyor system core.

Read more...
EtherCAT Box modules for confined spaces
Beckhoff Automation PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
Users of EtherCAT and EtherCAT P Box modules from Beckhoff’s EP and EPP series benefit from 25 years of IP67 expertise in the I/O sector. The broad product range for decentralised distribution of the I/O level directly at the machine or system has been continuously expanded and further developed during this time.

Read more...