ER4xxx Beckhoff Analog Output, Zinc Die-Cast Housing EtherCat Box Module

The Beckhoff EtherCat Box Modules are high performance, compact and waterproof designed. Robust construction allows fieldbus modules to be fitted directly to machines. Control cabinets and terminal boxes are now no longer required. The modules in industrial housing meet the protection class IP 65, IP 66 and IP 67, are fully casted and thus ideally prepared for use in wet, dirty and dusty working environments. For use in extreme, harsh or corrosive industrial environments, modules in stainless steel housing in IP 69K protection are manufactured. The modules are extremely small and are thus suitable for use in applications where there is very little space available. The low weight of the EtherCAT Box modules makes them useful in applications where the I/O interface is in motion (e.g. on a robot arm).

The EtherCAT Box modules have a direct EtherCAT port. Virtually all sensors and actuators can be connected to the control system directly via the 100BASE-TX. The wiring of EtherCAT and of signals is significantly simplified through the use of pre-assembled cables. Wiring errors are minimized and the system setup is finished quickly. In addition to the pre-assembled cables, field wireable connectors and cables are also manufactured for maximum flexibility.

Combined I/O modules and fine signal granularity lead to cost-effective systems - you only have to buy what you really need. Due to the doubling of the number of channels per EtherCAT Box, the 16-channel series also saves time and costs with both the EtherCAT cabling and the power cabling. The wide variety of signal types allows the connection of almost any kind of sensor or actuator. The communication modules enable decentralized connection of, e.g., label printers, identification systems or special equipment. Sensors and actuators are connected through screw type connectors (M8 or M12). The screw type connectors offer the advantage of high resistance to being pulled out.
The EtherCAT Box devices behave very much like the Beckhoff EtherCAT Terminals - this means that the ideal distributed peripheral device can be used, whatever the particular application. The majority of the EtherCAT Box modules are approved for the extended temperature range of -25 to +60°C (storage temperature -40 ...+85°C). The EtherCAT Box modules have an integrated direct EtherCAT interface and can be connected directly to an EtherCAT network. Conventional fieldbuses such as PROFIBUS or CANopen are connected via Coupler Box modules.