Mechanical & Motion Systems

Delta Motion Offers EtherCAT Communication Module to RMC200 Motion Controller

July 1, 2024

Delta Motion’s R200-ECAT MainDevice EtherCAT module for the RC200 motion controller family enhances control precision and integration with EtherCAT-enabled devices.

Sharon Spielman

Related To: Delta Motion

The latest addition to Delta Motion’s flagship RMC200 motion controller family includes an EtherCAT communication module. The Ethernet-based fieldbus system is designed to simplify wiring, reduce costs and streamline the design of complex machines. The company says it serves to further Delta’s support for both hydraulic and electromechanical control.

The R200-ECAT MainDevice module is designed to allow the motion controller to interface with EtherCAT-enabled devices for efficient control of electric motor drives and hydraulic valves over EtherCAT.

Key features of the module include:

Seamless connectivity for efficient control
Scalable control and compatible Lite and Standard models
Easy integration via a firmware update
Enhanced functionality for more control possibilities
High performance by leveraging EtherCAT’s high speed and minimal jitter attributes.

The R200-ECAT MainDevice module is fully compatible with the RMC200 Lite and Standard modules, allowing for the control of up to 18 and 50 axes, respectively. Installation of the module is hassle-free as it plugs into any RMC200 base, occupying the slot adjacent to the CPU module. Existing customers can perform a firmware update to unlock the module’s advanced capabilities.

EtherCAT’s wide acceptance in motor drives broadens the connectivity of RMC motion controllers, allowing for integration with a range of actuators and sensors from third-party vendors.

In a company release, CEO Steve Nylund said, “EtherCAT provides significant benefits for our customers, opening up options of reduced wiring, increased data flow and easier integration with drives,” noting its adoption is especially beneficial for hybrid machines that include both hydraulic motion control and motor drives.

About the Author

Sharon Spielman | Technical Editor, Machine Design

As Machine Design’s technical editor, Sharon Spielman produces content for the brand’s focus audience—design and multidisciplinary engineers. Her beat includes 3D printing/CAD; mechanical and motion systems, with an emphasis on pneumatics and linear motion; automation; robotics; and CNC machining.

Spielman has more than three decades of experience as a writer and editor for a range of B2B brands, including those that cover machine design; electrical design and manufacturing; interconnection technology; food and beverage manufacturing; process heating and cooling; finishing; and package converting.

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