MD&M East Update: Automation Is On Tap

Automation expert Beckhoff (Booth #2411) has an interesting new product on display that is a one-cable solution, as the company calls it. Dubbed EtherCAT P, it combines communication and power in a single 4-wire standard Ethernet cable. Here, the direct supply of both the EtherCAT P slaves and the connected sensors and actuators with two voltages is possible. The two voltages US (for system and sensor supply) and UP (for peripheral voltage for actuators) are electrically isolated from each other. Each can supply a current of up to 3 A to the connected components.

Beckhoff says that all the benefits of EtherCAT—freedom in topology design, high speed, optimum bandwidth utilisation, telegram processing on-the-fly, highly precise synchronisation, extensive diagnostics functionality—are retained, while integrating the voltages. I love it when technology makes your life easier!

The other interesting angle is that EtherCAT P offers some significant savings potential, such as:

• elimination of separate supply cables

• low wiring effort and significant time savings

• sources of error are reduced

• minimization of installation space for drag-chains and control cabinets

• smaller and tidier cable trays, and

• smaller sensors and actuators through the elimination of separate supply cables.