Beckhoff Automation has introduced new EL51xx EtherCAT Terminals with built-in incremental signal analysis functionality. Incremental encoders have become indispensable in many applications due to their compactness and low price points. Beckhoff meets this important need with the comprehensive EL51xx series for analysis of 5 V incremental encoders via RS422 and TTL signals. These four new high-performance […]
I/O
EtherCAT sets record with 3,000 vendor IDs
The EtherCAT Technology Group (ETG) issued its 3,000th EtherCAT vendor ID in July 2020. Beckhoff introduced the EtherCAT real-time Ethernet system to the market in 2003 and disclosed its details within the ETG the same year. This recent milestone underscores how the ultra-fast communication system has taken the automation world by storm since its release, […]
What is MQTT and when is it used in motion applications?
Message queuing telemetry transport — commonly referred to as MQTT — is a machine-to-machine (M2M) messaging protocol that is extremely well-suited for devices that have low or unreliable network bandwidth. Although it was originally developed in the late 1990s for the oil and gas industry to address equipment in remote locations, MQTT has been an […]
Power over Ethernet (PoE) and M12 connectors in motion designs
Though the internet of things is most visible to laymen in consumer devices, the IIoT is massive. The majority of applications are in business, factory, and healthcare settings … and more than a third of the nearly $6 trillion IoT market is in manufacturing. Connectivity is the basis of all this IIoT — providing the […]
Part 3: Trends in Ethernet, PoE, IO-Link, HIPERFACE, and single-cable solutions
As we explored in Part 1 and Part 2 of this six-part series, machine designs are evolving with wireless connectivity, cloud-based operations, and open programming. In this installment, we explore how Ethernet has continued its expansion in industrial connectivity. We also detail increasingly useful cable types for IO-Link and HIPERFACE … as well as cross-network […]
AS-Interface: What is it and when is it used?
Sensors and actuators have traditionally been connected to PLCs or other controllers via discrete wires and cable harnesses. But the introduction of actuator-sensor interface, also known as AS-Interface, or AS-I, in the 1990’s offered users and integrators a reliable, cost-effective replacement for the bulky, time-consuming method of parallel wiring. A new version of actuator-sensor interface, […]
New I/O modules from Rockwell aid smart machines in harsh environments
Manufacturers can now realize the design and productivity benefits of On-Machine I/O modules on smart machines used in harsh applications. The new Allen-Bradley ArmorBlock I/O modules can operate in a wide range of temperatures and offer up to IP69K protection in applications like automotive, material handling, packaging and welding. The new ArmorBlock I/O options can […]
Next generation of I/O fieldbus couplers from WAGO
WAGO’s 750-363 EtherNet/IP Fieldbus Coupler is the latest Ethernet/IP Adapter coupler to join their I/O System. Its fast boot-up time lets systems get online quicker and firmware updates can be accessed using the Couplers’ onboard web-based management system. This new coupler can be paired with WAGO’s 500+ I/O modules to meet the needs of any […]
What is IO-Link and how is it used in motion control applications?
Industry 4.0 and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) offer significant benefits to automation and processing plants, through improved machine-to-machine communication, faster and more comprehensive data collection and sharing, and improved predictive maintenance. One of the key enablers of these smart factories is a communication protocol known as IO-Link — an open standard, point-to-point communication […]
AutomationDirect Productivity1000 PLC has expanded capabilities
The Productivity1000 Stackable Micro PLC provides communications, user-friendly programming, integrated data storage, and a full lineup of discrete, analog and specialty I/O modules in a super-compact size. A new CPU, more power supplies, analog I/O modules and specialty high-speed I/O and PWM modules are now available for the P1000 PLC from AutomationDirect. The P1-550 CPU, […]
