Beckhoff Automation (www.beckhoff.com) announced its latest Bus Terminal I/O system to deliver progressively compact I/O solutions for machine builders and manufacturers. These expanded Bus Terminals with the latest ultra-compact HD Bus Terminals featuring 16 digital I/O channels in 12 mm electronic terminal block housing. Using DIN rail-mounted controllers or Bus Couplers, the HD Bus Terminals are compatible with almost all of major fieldbus. The HD Bus Terminals are available in both EtherCAT Terminal and Beckhoff Bus Terminal versions.

For the past few years, a consistent increase in electronic efficiency has reduced power dissipation to the point that I/O points doubled its packing density today, which results in multiple cost advantages: control cabinets’ space requirements can be reduced and the price per digital I/O channel significantly drops.

The 16-channel Bus Terminals feature new possibilities for project planning: greatly reduce the field of control technology that allows designers to build their systems and machines to be more compact and even smaller.

The HD Terminals with 16 digital I/O channels have the same external dimensions to existing Bus Terminals from Beckhoff and are compatible with them. Also, the flexible HD Terminals have different versions, e.g. as eight-channel terminals for digital outputs and inputs with two-wire connection, as combination terminals with eight digital outputs and eight digital inputs or as 16-channel terminals for digital outputs or inputs.

Wiring efforts are simplified despite higher channel density because of tool-less assembly. Using the direct plug-in technique, single wire conductors are connected without tools. As usual, the cables are released using the contact release with the help of an appropriately sized screwdriver. Also, the common color coding of the signal types is employed in the HD Terminals and is integrated to the LED display.