The Beckhoff Fieldbus Box system is the culmination of the fieldbus concept:
Robust
Robust construction allows fieldbus modules to be fitted directly to machines. Control cabinets and terminal boxes are now no longer required.
Sealed
The modules meet the protection class IP 65, IP 66 and IP 67, are fully casted and thus ideally prepared for use in wet, dirty and dusty working environments.
Small
The modules are extremely small and are thus suitable for use in applications where there is very little space available. The low weight of the Fieldbus Box modules makes them useful in applications where the I/O interface is in motion (e.g. on a robot arm).
Open
All the most important fieldbus systems are supported. This substantially frees electrical design from the particular bus system in use. Fast, flexible reactions to customers' requirements are possible. The Fieldbus Box modules are, of course, certified by the respective fieldbus user organisations, and can be combined with Beckhoff Bus Terminals and with devices from third-party manufacturers.
Modular
Extension modules allow the Coupler Box modules to be inexpensively extended.
Quickly wired
The wiring of the fieldbus and of signals is significantly simplified through the use of pre-assembled cables. Wiring errors are minimised and the system setup is finished quickly.
Flexible
In addition to the pre-assembled cables, field wireable connectors and cables are also available for maximum flexibility.
Economical
Combined I/O modules and fine signal granularity lead to low system costs – you only have to buy what you really need.
Complete
The wide variety of signal types allows the connection of almost any kind of sensor. The communication modules enable decentralised connection of, e.g., label printers, identification systems or special equipment. The Fieldbus Box range also includes encoder interfaces for displacement and angle measurement.
Fitting
Sensors and actuators are connected through 8 mm diameter snap type or through screw type connectors (M8 or M12). The snap type connectors lock in place positively, forming a vibrationproof connection, while the screw type connectors offer the advantage of high resistance to being pulled out.
Compatible
The Fieldbus Box devices behave very much like the Beckhoff Bus Terminals – this means that the ideal distributed peripheral device can be used, whatever the particular application.
Intelligent
Even the standard modules are intelligent fieldbus devices – with self-diagnosis and versatile functions. The Fieldbus Box is furthermore available as a small local controller – the PLC Box: programmable in all five languages in accordance with IEC 61131-3, with floating point arithmetic and with sufficient performance and memory for the majority of decentralised control and regulation tasks.