Lenze PC-based automation - Manual (Page 35)

DMS 1.3 EN - 02/2011
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35
Control technology| System manual
System description
Network topologies
4.2.2 EtherCAT
EtherCAT is a very powerful bus system which is based on Ethernet.
 EtherCAT is suitable for greater applications
 The highest possible number of nodes at an EtherCAT line mainly depends on the per-
formance of the Industrial PC due to the great bandwidth of this bus system.
– Depending on the Industrial PC used and the required computing time of the appli-
cations which run on the IPC (PLC and optional visualisation), a high number of nodes
at a low cycle time is possible.
Physical structure
Thanks to the integrated synchronisation mechanisms via "distributed clocks", EtherCAT
offers excellent real-time features. Thus, Motion and PLC applications can be operated via
the same bus and the number of the nodes to be controlled and the maximum bus length
is much higher compared to a CANopen system.
 EtherCAT can control all field devices at one common interface. Thus, no division into
Logic fieldbus and Motionbus is required.
 The Industrial PC provides the interface for connecting EtherCAT.

Note!
EtherCAT is not available for Industrial PCs of the device series EL 1xx, EL x8xx,
CS x8xx and CPC x8xx in combination with the Control technology release 2.5.