Introduction; Products Covered By This User Guide; Firmware Statement; What Is Ethercat - Control Techniques Nidec SI-EtherCAT User Manual

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Introduction

2.1

Products covered by this User Guide

This User Guide covers the SI-EtherCAT option module.
The SI-EtherCAT is an option module that provides EtherCAT connectivity and can be installed to
the following drives:
• Unidrive M200 / M201
• Commander C200/C300
• Unidrive M300
• Unidrive M400
• Unidrive M60x/M70x/M88x/HS7x
• Digitax HD
2.2

Firmware Statement

This product is supplied with the latest firmware version. When retro-fitting to an existing system, all
firmware versions should be verified to confirm the same functionality as products of the same type
already present. This also applies to products returned from a Control Techniques's Service Centre
or Repair Centre. If there is any doubt please contact the supplier of the product.
The firmware version of the product can be identified by looking at Pr MM.002 where MM is the
relevant menu number for the module slot being used.
2.3

What is EtherCAT?

EtherCAT is an open high performance Ethernet-based fieldbus system that overcomes the system
limitations of other Ethernet solutions. The Ethernet packet is no longer received, then interpreted
and copied as process data at every connection; instead the Ethernet frame is processed on the fly.
The development goal of EtherCAT was to apply Ethernet to automation applications that require
short data update times (also called cycle times) with low communication jitter (for synchronization
purposes) and low hardware costs. Typical application fields for EtherCAT are machine controls
(e.g. semiconductor tools, metal forming, packaging, injection moulding, assembly systems,
printing machines, robotics and many others).
Ethercat® is a registered trademark and patented technology. licensed by Beckhoff Automation
GmbH, Germany
2.4

About SI-EtherCAT

SI-EtherCAT is an option module that enables the Control Techniques Unidrive M range of variable
speed drives to be connected to an EtherCAT network as a slave device. It can be used in a variety
of applications, from those requiring accurate synchronization and precise motion control, to those
where ease of use and open loop control are appropriate.
2.5

Features

• Standard RJ45 with support for shielded twisted pair, half-duplex / full-duplex and 10 Mbs /
100 Mbs connectivity
• Dual 100 Mbps EtherCAT interfaces for use in line topologies i.e. daisy chaining
• Supports the Unidrive M drives range
• Control loop synchronisation
• Control cycle times down to 250 µs
• Configured explicit ID (EtherCAT Device ID)
• Ethernet over EtherCAT (EoE)
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SI-EtherCAT User Guide