Scientific automation: measurement and automation technology in one dynamic system
July 2008Maintenance, Test & Measurement, Calibration
The Beckhoff EtherCAT terminal has been extended with new I/O terminals that combine maximum performance with maximum accuracy. The EL3602 offers a new generation of high-precision analogue equipment. Measurement readings are sampled with a 24 bit resolution and accuracy within ±0,01%, providing an optimal basis for high-performance and high-precision measurement technology. This seamless integration of measurement technology into the automation solution makes separate specialised components unnecessary.
Beckhoff refers to the integration of engineering functions that reach beyond traditional PLC and motion technologies into the automation software as: ‘scientific automation’. It builds on the ever-increasing performance of PC-based control technology and an ultra fast communication system such as EtherCAT. A prime example of scientific automation is measurement technology, which up to now has been performed by specialised devices for many high performance applications. The EL3602 EtherCAT terminal enables measurement signals to be sampled directly in a standard I/O system. The analogue 2-channel EL3602 input terminal handles signals in the range -10 to +10 V. The voltage is directly digitised, enabling the execution of high-precision measuring tasks, in laboratory and analytical applications, for example.
With XFC terminals (eXtreme Fast Control Technology) for over-sampling and time stamp technology, Beckhoff already offers solutions for maximum performance requirements. The new terminal generation for high-precision measurement technology now offers maximum accuracy.
The high-performance EtherCAT terminal system consists of modular I/O in electronic terminal blocks. The EtherCAT protocol is maintained right down into the individual terminal. An I/O station consists of an EtherCAT Coupler and almost any number of terminals (up to 65 535 devices). Terminals are available for all common digital and analogue signal types encountered in the world of automation. Fieldbus devices, eg, for PROFIBUS, PROFINET, CANopen, DeviceNet, Interbus or Lightbus, can be integrated via local fieldbus master/slave terminals. Any Ethernet device can be integrated locally via switch terminals.
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