Actually What I described is not exactly Ethercat but more similar to Ethernet/IP with CIP Motion. Ethercat is not standard Ethernet and that is why the slave requres the mictochip interface device. But if open source master and slave implementations are available maybe that would be a good possibility. Since an Ethercat slave does not use standard ethernet I believe that the master tunnels other protocols through the eterncat networks, although I think in theory both protocols might be able to exist since Ethercat is its own ethertype so that packets can be separated form ethernet protocols. Anyway, for a dedicated network of just I/O Ethercat works very well. On the othehand the problem with using CIP Motion is that you need to belong to ODVA and pay a fee to get the specification so although they claim it is open it really doesn't seem so and I am not sure if it could be used in an open system because then the specifications would also be public. It would be nice if there were a simple and free open protocol and if it were based on standard ethernet then it could be long lasting and would be extensible to faster ethernet speeds and IP-6 if needed.
John Figie On Tue, Feb 22, 2022 at 5:35 PM Ralph Stirling < [email protected]> wrote: > I think you have just described Ethercat. There are open source Ethercat > master and slave implementations (soem and soes). The slave requires a > Microchip interface device (LAN9252). I would like ethercat interface to > steppers of various sizes, and may work on that this summer. > > _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list [email protected] https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
