Switch terminal integrates Ethernet devices into EtherCAT system

Ethernet-over-EtherCAT

Particularly in flexible production facilities, automation providers are often faced with the requirement of having to integrate additional Ethernet-based peripherals such as scanners, label printers or data acquisition terminals into manufacturing cells. With the 1-port Ethernet switch terminal Beckhoff presents a solution that enables connection of any peripherals to an EtherCAT Terminal network.

The EtherCAT Terminals form an IP 20 I/O system with around 160 different signal terminals. The special feature: the EtherCAT protocol is maintained right down into the individual terminal. The EL6601 Ethernet switch terminal ensures fully transparent and collision-free Ethernet communication of the connected devices through the EtherCAT system. The switch terminal can be installed at any point within the EtherCAT strand.

The EtherCAT technology is not only fully Ethernet-compatible, but also characterised by openness "by design": A wide range of Ethernet devices such as printers or terminals for production data acquisition can be connected within the EtherCAT strand via the Ethernet switch terminal. The Ethernet frames are tunneled via the EtherCAT protocol, which is the standard approach for internet technologies. The EtherCAT network is fully transparent for the Ethernet device, and the real-time characteristics are not impaired. EtherCAT devices can additionally feature other Ethernet protocols and thus act like a standard Ethernet device. The master acts like a layer 2 switch that redirects the frames to the respective devices according to the address information. All internet technologies can therefore also be used in the EtherCAT environment: integrated web server, e-mail, FTP transfer etc.

EtherCAT is the real-time Ethernet system for industrial automation, offering flexible topology and simple handling, among other benefits. The high-performance system enables control concepts that could not be realised with classic systems. No special plug-in cards are required in addition to the standard Ethernet port, making EtherCAT not least particularly suitable for small or medium control applications. The EtherCAT system can be networked via standard CAT 5 cables. Vertical integration is also possible.