Lika Electronic Srl (Italty) - Lika Electronic launches a new series of gateways to allow integration of SSI encoders into conventional fieldbuses or industrial Ethernet networks. Perfect for retrofitting and encoder installations where space is constricted.

Nowadays several network protocols are available to industrial automation; different and specific platforms often can be found side by side and need to interact; sometimes new and outdated systems even need to co-exist. In all such cases converters are the main solution, especially when cost is a primary concern.

The new range of IF55 gateways from Lika Electronic is specially designed to interface SSI serial encoders, both rotary and linear and integrate them into conventional fieldbuses or industrial Ethernet networks.

For instance, instead of being discarded during a plant retrofit project, an existing SSI serial interface encoder can be converted and used further in a more modern and integrated communication system. Or it is finally possible to install a small encoder (Ø 36 mm!) in tight spaces not giving up the bus or Ethernet technology IF55 converters are available for EtherCAT, CANopen and Profibus-DP networks. You can connect singleturn and multiturn rotary encoders or linear encoders fitted with SSI serial interface. There is no need to change the hardware or software of the encoder as the configuration is set via the controller of each specific bus by entering few simple parameters. The encoder is configured as a slave device and is able to communicate in the bus line or industrial network in a complete and efficient manner: slave encoder with EtherCAT interface complying with ETG.1000 specifcations and supporting CoE (CANopen over EtherCAT) and FoE (for firmware upgrade) protocols and the EtherCAT State Machine; slave encoder with CANopen interface complying with the “Device Profile for encoders” Class 2; slave encoder with Profibus-DP interface configurable as a Class 1, Class 2 or Class 2(+VEL) device. IF55 modules use connectors and connection cables that meet the specifications of each protocol.

Suitable for:

• Singleturn and multiturn rotary encoders (for example MS36, MM36, AM36, AM58)
• Linear encoders (for example SMA5, SMA2)
• Bearingless encoders (for example SMRA)
• EtherCAT interface complying with ETG.1000 specifcations
• CoE protocol (CANopen over EtherCAT)
• FoE protocol (File Access over EtherCAT)
• EtherCAT State Machine
• 62 µs cycle time
• 100 Mbit/s full duplex transmission rate