Posted to News on 20th Jun 2015, 12:24
Complete EtherCAT system with controller, motion and I/O
Adlink Technology is releasing the Adlink EtherCAT system comprising the Talos-3012 IEC 61131-3-compliant automation controller and EPS Series deterministic I/O and motion control system. The combined system provides time-deterministic control of automated processes, featuring high performance, easy development, rugged construction, intelligent management, ultra-small form factors and minimal total cost of ownership. Integrated hardware and software elements, fast and easy API configuration, and Adlink's Softmotion control kernel all deliver high performance for EtherCAT applications. In addition, numerous ready-to-use features speed development for next-generation Smart Factory environments.
The new Talos-3012 palm-size EtherCAT master controller is based on the Intel Atom E3845 1.9GHz quad-core processor, with IEC-61131 compliant syntaxes. This master controller enables easy emigration of legacy PLC programs to a PC-based environment with Softmotion function blocks; a single master controller can connect up to 64 axes and 10,000 I/O points through a daisy-chained slave system. Superior computing power enables the Talos-3012 to perform simultaneous multitask processing for HMI, motion control, PLC and gateway operations in industrial automation applications.
Adlink's EPS Series slave system features a modular design for flexible channel density in a 110 x 130 x 105mm package. Incorporating the latest RISC processor and FPGA, Adlink EPS slave systems provide a wide variety of I/O modules, including digital and analogue I/O, thermal measurement, motion control and EtherCAT communications, all easily daisy-chained for system expansion with no compatibility issues.
Furthermore, Adlink's EtherCAT systems minimise configuration and maintenance burdens on system developers and users; the EtherCAT system has been verified for interoperability with a variety of EtherCAT servo drives and third-party EtherCAT products, providing the flexibility to select only the requisite EtherCAT elements. With Adlink's self-developed LinkMasterPro EtherCAT configuration utility, the master system is able to automatically detect slave systems and I/O modules of any type and create corresponding XML files to complete the configuration without any additional settings required.
Adlink EtherCAT master controllers can easily connect to existing or expanded third-party slave systems for automatic recognition and configuration with no compatibility problems. Moreover, Adlink's Softmotion utility provides a complete IEC 61131-3 editing environment supporting application-oriented function and APIs for ease of use and shortened development time.
Intelligent management and robust design
Adlink's EPS slave systems support status monitoring including overheating detection, low power detection, slave health reporting, error handling, and usage cycle of relay switching, as well as motion control status. All information can be retrieved for review via software or displayed by dedicated indicators, enabling the status of individual modules to be monitored. LinkMasterPro not only assists in EtherCAT configuration but also evaluates the functionality of every EPS system, and an Auto-Slave Detection function makes system configuration easier.
The EPS slave system significantly eases system maintenance needs, with each hot-swappable slave module replaceable with no need to power down, resulting in a reduction in MTTR (Mean-Time-to-Repair). In addition, quick-removable connectors minimise rewiring efforts. Adlink's EtherCAT products all feature compact construction with fanless design, operable at -20degC to 60degC, with integral IP31-rated metal housing for withstanding the rigours of harsh operating conditions.
Simon You, Product Director for Adlink's Automation Product Centre, says: "Adlink industrial automation and motion control solutions have been widely adopted, to date driving over 500,000 axes industry-wide. As we introduce our completely new EtherCAT solution portfolio, we are confident that our extensive field experience, established one-stop service, comprehensive APIs, and highly integrated portfolio of off-the-shelf I/O modules and industrial computing platforms clearly set us apart from other providers. Adlink's new EtherCAT Solution helps customers to overcome even the most critical challenges of industrial automation."
Follow the link for further information about the Adlink EtherCAT system.
