Beckhoff is taking the next step in mechatronics flexibility with No Cable Technology (NCT), an extension of its proven eXtended Transport System (XTS). NCT provides contactless power supply and synchronous real-time data communication directly to XTS movers. This lets individual movers serve as mobile handling and processing stations, essentially turning the intelligent transport system into […]
Beckhoff
EtherCAT I/O modules provide intrinsic safety in IP67 form factors
Beckhoff’s new EPX module series offers a compact option for Ex i signal acquisition from zones 0/20, 1/21 and Div. 1 as an addition to the wide range of EtherCAT Box modules. With robust IP67 protection, they enable direct and decentralized installation on machines and systems, even in harsh environments. This results in numerous advantages […]
Automated foodservice with EtherCAT to disrupt restaurant industry
Now an industrial-appliance-sized design called the Makeline from food services company Hyphen is leveraging software, rugged automation, and networked controls to help labor-strapped restaurants meet modern business demands. “We founded the business in July 2018 to leverage automation technology in modern restaurants,” says Daniel Fukuba, Co-Founder and CTO of Hyphen. “Shortly thereafter, we built the […]
New compact stepper motor I/O terminal from Beckhoff
The new EL7062 dual-channel EtherCAT Terminal from Beckhoff enables the direct connection of two stepper motors in the medium power range of up to 3 A and for a voltage range of 8 to 48 V. With flexible parameterization and minimized channel costs, the flexible motion interface is ideal as a low-cost drive for a […]
Beckhoff Automation takes the gold in 2021 LEAP Awards Motion Control category
The winners of the 2021 LEAP Awards (Leadership in Engineering Achievement Program) were announced today in a digital ceremony, with products across 12 categories, including Motion Control. Critical to LEAP’s success is the involvement of the engineering community. The Design World editorial team assembled a top-notch independent judging panel, comprised of a cross-section of OEM […]
TwinCAT/BSD offers alternative operating system for Beckhoff Industrial PCs
TwinCAT/BSD provides an alternative operating system for all of the latest Beckhoff Industrial PC (IPC) platforms. TwinCAT/BSD combines the TwinCAT runtime with FreeBSD, an industrial-proven and reliable open-source operating system. FreeBSD is Unix-compatible and is continually being further developed, improved and optimized as an open-source project by a large group of developers. The FreeBSD system […]
The benefits of integrating vision into machine control
Scalable PC-based automation, robust network solutions and open camera standards allow machine vision to ditch black boxes and increase throughput. Daymon Thompson U.S. Software Product Manager Beckhoff Automation LLC Machine vision has become indispensable for many tasks in quality inspection, track-and-trace and more. As costs decrease and capabilities increase, practically any machine in any industry […]
Podcast: Planar motors and linear transfer systems in action (addressing COVID and more)
In a recent podcast interview, we got the chance to talk with Jeff Johnson of Beckhoff Automation about linear-motor conveyors (also called intelligent transport systems) as well as the planar-motor system from Beckhoff called the XPlanar. Listen in: Design World · Planar motors and linear transfer systems in action! Beckhoff engineer Jeff Johnson explains […]
TwinCAT IoT now supports Siemens’ MindSphere
MindSphere, the Industrial IoT as a service solution from Siemens, is now one of the latest solutions that can integrate with TwinCAT. Beckhoff has offered diverse IoT communication capabilities with its TwinCAT IoT product family since 2015. Transmitting data to the cloud or between networked machines in this way creates enormous potential for increasing production […]
Integrated servo drives in EtherCAT I/O terminal format
The new ELM72xx EtherCAT Terminals from Beckhoff are fully functional servo drives in a robust metal housing that deliver an output current (Irms) of up to 16 A at 48 V dc for the power supply. They expand the company’s portfolio of compact drive technology in I/O terminal format and offer all of the current […]
