Communicator CAN - EtherCAT gateway

Anybus CAN to EtherCAT data converter

Anybus Communicator CAN is a gateway and data converter enabling the exchange of data between a subnetwork, running CAN, and an EtherCAT network. This allows devices with a CAN port to be integrated into an EtherCAT network, without the need for hardware or software changes.
The gateway works as a EtherCAT slave for the primary network and as a standard CAN node for the second network

The Communicator performs an intelligent data conversion and presents CAN data to a PLC/Controller in the EtherCAT network as easy to process I/O data. With convenient configuration software basically every manufacturer-specific CAN data protocol can be exchanged to EtherCAT, or vice versa.

Anybus Communicator CAN - EtherCAT

Features and benefits

• Saves machine builders and device manufacturers of integrating an EtherCAT interface
• Requires no hardware or software changes to be made to CAN-devices
• Compatible with all PLC's and controllers with EtherCAT support
• Performs complete CAN protocol conversion, no PLC function blocks required
• Flexible CAN frame building method for both Response/Request or Produce/Consume protocols
• Intelligent I/O data mapping within the Communicator permits even devices with slow CAN communication can be integrated without any restrictions to EtherCAT

Conversion of I/O-data

The Anybus Communicator maps data byte from CAN messages into I/O data in the EtherCAT network, and vice versa. This mapping is highly flexible and can contain an arbitrary set of CAN Id’s and data. CAN communication is supported both by both producer /consumer or request/response protocol schemes, who are configured with a flexible CAN frame building method.

All data between EtherCAT and the CAN network is transferred through an internal memory buffer inside the Communicator. This method of data exchange also permits CAN devices with slow communication to be integrated into high-speed EtherCAT networks without any restrictions. The Communicator appears as a standard I/O module on the EtherCAT side.

Easy configuration - No programming required!

The mapping of data between CAN and EtherCAT is quickly set up in the Anybus Configuration Manager software, included with the Communicator CAN. No programming skills are needed to set up the Communicator.

CAN-configuration features

• Graphical CAN frame building support using several ready-made CAN functions.
• Can configure any CAN 2.0A or 2.0B based protocol (11 and 29 bit identifiers).
• Configures upto 128 transactions containing a total of 256 CAN frames
• Monitor/Modify function of process I/O data informing of CAN transaction status
• Diagnostic transaction Live List in the network I/O informing of CAN transaction status
• Handy Save/Load function allows for a completed configuration to be re-used for many other installations
• Password protection prevents unauthorized upload and download of configurations 

EtherCAT interface features

• Supports CANopen over EtherCAT
• DS301 v4.02 profile compliant
• Max 512 bytes Input and 512 bytes I/O data as (SDO & PDO objects)
• Segmented SDO access, PDI Watchdog
• 4 FMMU Channels
• 100 Mbit/s operation in full duplex
• TCP/IP settings configurable with web-page, Configuration Tool, DHCP or ARP
• Integrated switch allowing for a daisy-chain topology

Part number(s)

AB7311

Anybus Communicator CAN - EtherCAT, 1x CAN, 1x EtherCAT IN, 1x EtherCAT OUT

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