I finally found this reference: http://www.rtcmagazine.com/home/article.php?id=100822&pg=2
"The slave controller chips are in the same range as standard Ethernet chips (roughly $5 in quantity 10,000). The synchronization mechanism for EtherCAT is already built in. Other solutions that rely on IEEE 1588 require an extra chip. All together this makes EtherCAT a very affordable technology." btw, I will be travelling in a couple of weeks to germany, might get in contact with Beckhoff for some details. Regards, Alex ----- Original Message ----- From: "Peter C. Wallace" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Enhanced Machine Controller (EMC)" <emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net> Sent: Monday, October 29, 2007 9:16 PM Subject: Re: [Emc-users] Ethernet I/O > On Mon, 29 Oct 2007, Alex Joni wrote: > >> Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2007 21:00:22 +0200 >> From: Alex Joni <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> Reply-To: "Enhanced Machine Controller (EMC)" >> <emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net> >> To: "Enhanced Machine Controller (EMC)" <emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net> >> Subject: Re: [Emc-users] Ethernet I/O >> >>> Umm, no... As master, no problem but slaves will be expensive: >>> >>> Ethercat slaves require either custom proprietry hardware or proprietary >>> IP >> >> Hmm, unfortunately I can't argue there.. been trying to find some prices >> for >> a slave chip. >> I found some products, but no prices anywhere: >> - beckhoff ET1100, ET1200 >> - ESC10, ESC20 >> and some FPGA IP Core for Altera & Xilinx >> >> Maybe you have an idea how expensive they are? > > > No, I looked into this several months ago but was discouraged by the > hardware requirements. For the sychronization standards, I have more faith > that IEEE 1588 will get embedded in more Ethernet chips and processors > with > Ethernet, for example: > Ethernet Transceiver with IEEE 1588 PTP Hardware Support from National > Semi > (Product News, 17 Oct 2007 ) > > National Semiconductor has introduced its Ethernet transceiver with > integrated > hardware support for the IEEE 1588 Precision Time Protocol (PTP). For > applications in motion control, instrumentation, data acquisition and > telecommunications, the DP83640 precision PHYTER transceiver synchronizes > the > distributed network nodes to a master clock with 8-nanosecond accuracy. > > > The model DP83640 precision PHYTER transceiver synchronizes distributed > network nodes to master clock with 8 nsec accuracy and offers 100 Mb > synchronous Ethernet mode that eliminates any inaccuracy caused by clock > drift > between nodes. It integrates hardware time stamping of receive and > transmit > packets, high-accuracy IEEE 1588 clock, and 12 GPIO pins that handle > simultaneous real-time events/multiple triggers. Device interfaces with > any > microcontroller, FPGA, or ASIC with Ethernet MAC. The samples of the > DP83640 > transceiver are available now in a 48-pin LQFP. The DP83640 will be priced > at > $5.24 each in 1,000-unit quantities. > > > > > > >> >> Regards, >> Alex >> >> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------- >> This SF.net email is sponsored by: Splunk Inc. >> Still grepping through log files to find problems? Stop. >> Now Search log events and configuration files using AJAX and a browser. >> Download your FREE copy of Splunk now >> http://get.splunk.com/ >> _______________________________________________ >> Emc-users mailing list >> Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net >> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users >> > > Peter Wallace > Mesa Electronics > > (\__/) > (='.'=) This is Bunny. Copy and paste bunny into your > (")_(") signature to help him gain world domination. > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- > This SF.net email is sponsored by: Splunk Inc. > Still grepping through log files to find problems? Stop. > Now Search log events and configuration files using AJAX and a browser. > Download your FREE copy of Splunk now >> http://get.splunk.com/ > _______________________________________________ > Emc-users mailing list > Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.15.12/1096 - Release Date: > 10/27/2007 11:02 AM > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- This SF.net email is sponsored by: Splunk Inc. Still grepping through log files to find problems? Stop. Now Search log events and configuration files using AJAX and a browser. Download your FREE copy of Splunk now >> http://get.splunk.com/ _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
