What is IO-Link?
IO-Link is a standardized communication system for integrating intelligent sensors and actuators into the control level and communicating with them (IEC 61131-9). Intelligent means that a device can supply process data, diagnostic data, and device information and that these can be read or written via the IO-Link protocol. Parameters can then be changed, in some cases during operation, via the superimposed PLC. IO-Link specifies three communication speeds: COM1, COM2, and COM3 at 4.8 kbaud, 38.4 kbaud, and 230.4 kbaud.
IO-Link technology
An IO-Link system consists of an IO-Link master and an IO-Link device, which are connected via an unshielded 3-wire sensor cable. The IO-Link master is the interface to the higher-level controller and handles communication with the IO-Link device. An IO-Link master can have one or more ports. However, only one IO-Link device can be connected to each port. IO-Link is therefore point-to-point communication and is the next evolutionary stage of the previous tried-and-tested connection technology for sensors and actuators.
Each IO-Link can also be used as a digital input or digital output. This means that free IO-Link ports on the masters can be used for standard signals.
Beckhoff IO-Link products
As an IO-Link manufacturer and community member, Beckhoff offers IO-Link masters and devices/hubs with an IP20 protection rating (EtherCAT Terminals, EtherCAT plug-in modules, and bus terminals) for use in control cabinets and with an IP67 protection rating (EtherCAT Box modules, IO-Link box modules) for modular machine concepts with devices located in the field.
The project planning and parameterization for the IO-Link devices is carried out from TwinCAT via ADS or simply via the integrated IO-Link commissioning tool. The tool enables automatic scanning of the IO-Link devices, convenient sensor parameter processing, and an integrated online search for sensor description files, along with other functions.
IO-Link application example
This diagram shows an example control system with IO-Link integration. The EtherCAT Box modules act as IO-Link masters and, on the lower level, as IO-Link devices.
- Reset all filter values
- Results: 48
EJ6224 | EtherCAT plug-in module, 4-channel communication interface, IO-Link, master
- Channels:
- 4
- Communication:
- EtherCAT, IO-Link, Master/Controller
- Connection method (signal):
- PCB connectors
EJ6224-0090 | EtherCAT plug-in module, 4-channel communication interface, IO-Link, master, TwinSAFE SC
- Channels:
- 4
- Communication:
- EtherCAT, IO-Link, Master/Controller
- Connection method (signal):
- PCB connectors
EL6224 | EtherCAT Terminal, 4-channel communication interface, IO-Link, master
- Channels:
- 4
- Communication:
- EtherCAT, IO-Link, Master/Controller
- Connection method (signal):
- direct plug-in technique/push-in
EL6224-0090 | EtherCAT Terminal, 4-channel communication interface, IO-Link, master, TwinSAFE SC
- Channels:
- 4
- Communication:
- EtherCAT, IO-Link, Master/Controller
- Connection method (signal):
- direct plug-in technique/push-in
EP6222-0002 | EtherCAT Box, 2-channel communication interface + 2-channel digital input, IO-Link, master, Class A, M12New
- Channels:
- 2, Combi
- Communication:
- EtherCAT, IO-Link, Master/Controller
- Connection method (signal):
- M12
EP6224-0002 | EtherCAT Box, 4-channel communication interface + 4-channel digital input, IO-Link, master, Class A, M12Preferred type
- Channels:
- 4, Combi
- Communication:
- EtherCAT, IO-Link, Master/Controller
- Connection method (signal):
- M12
EP6224-0042 | EtherCAT Box, 4-channel communication interface + 8-channel digital input, IO-Link, master, Class A, M12
- Channels:
- 4, Combi
- Communication:
- EtherCAT, IO-Link, Master/Controller
- Connection method (signal):
- M12
EP6224-0092 | EtherCAT Box, 4-channel communication interface + 4-channel digital input, IO-Link, master, Class A, M12, TwinSAFE SC
- Channels:
- 4, Combi
- Communication:
- EtherCAT, IO-Link, Master/Controller
- Connection method (signal):
- M12
EP6224-2022 | EtherCAT Box, 4-channel communication interface, IO-Link, master, Class A, M12
- Channels:
- 4
- Communication:
- EtherCAT, IO-Link, Master/Controller
- Connection method (signal):
- M12
EP6224-3002 | EtherCAT Box, 4-channel communication interface, IO-Link, master, Class B, M12
- Channels:
- 4
- Communication:
- EtherCAT, IO-Link, Master/Controller
- Connection method (signal):
- M12
EP6224-3022 | EtherCAT Box, 4-channel communication interface, IO-Link, master, Class B, M12
- Channels:
- 4
- Communication:
- EtherCAT, IO-Link, Master/Controller
- Connection method (signal):
- M12
EP6228-0022 | EtherCAT Box, 8-channel communication interface, IO-Link, master, Class A, M12Preferred type
- Channels:
- 8
- Communication:
- EtherCAT, IO-Link, Master/Controller
- Connection method (signal):
- M12
EP6228-0042 | EtherCAT Box, 8-channel communication interface + 8-channel digital input, IO-Link, master, Class A, M12
- Channels:
- 8, Combi
- Communication:
- EtherCAT, IO-Link, Master/Controller
- Connection method (signal):
- M12
EP6228-3032 | EtherCAT Box, 8-channel communication interface, IO-Link, master, Class B, M12
- Channels:
- 8
- Communication:
- EtherCAT, IO-Link, Master/Controller
- Connection method (signal):
- M12
EP6228-3132 | EtherCAT Box, 8-channel communication interface + 4-channel digital input, IO-Link, master, Class A, Class B, M12
- Channels:
- 8, Combi
- Communication:
- EtherCAT, IO-Link, Master/Controller
- Connection method (signal):
- M12
EP6228-3142 | EtherCAT Box, 8-channel communication interface + 4-channel digital input, IO-Link, master, Class A, Class B, M12
- Channels:
- 8, Combi
- Communication:
- EtherCAT, IO-Link, Master/Controller
- Connection method (signal):
- M12
M8 EPI1008-0001 | IO-Link box, 8-channel digital input, 24 V DC, 3 ms, M8
- Product category:
- Fieldbus Box
- Channels:
- 8
- Communication:
- IO-Link, Slave/Device
- Value range (digital/encoder):
- 24 V
- Filter (digital):
- 3.0 ms typ.
- Connection method (signal):
- M8
M12 EPI1008-0002 | IO-Link box, 8-channel digital input, 24 V DC, 3 ms, M12
- Product category:
- Fieldbus Box
- Channels:
- 8
- Communication:
- IO-Link, Slave/Device
- Value range (digital/encoder):
- 24 V
- Filter (digital):
- 3.0 ms typ.
- Connection method (signal):
- M12
M8 EPI1809-0021 | IO-Link box, 16-channel digital input, 24 V DC, 3 ms, M8
- Product category:
- Fieldbus Box
- Channels:
- 16
- Communication:
- IO-Link, Slave/Device
- Value range (digital/encoder):
- 24 V
- Filter (digital):
- 3.0 ms typ.
- Connection method (signal):
- M8
M12 EPI1809-0022 | IO-Link box, 16-channel digital input, 24 V DC, 3 ms, M12
- Product category:
- Fieldbus Box
- Channels:
- 16
- Communication:
- IO-Link, Slave/Device
- Value range (digital/encoder):
- 24 V
- Filter (digital):
- 3.0 ms typ.
- Connection method (signal):
- M12
M8 EPI2008-0001 | IO-Link box, 8-channel digital output, 24 V DC, 0.5 A, M8
- Product category:
- Fieldbus Box
- Category/version:
- digital output
- Channels:
- 8
- Value range (digital/encoder):
- 24 V
- Output current:
- 0.5 A
- Connection method (signal):
- M8
M12 EPI2008-0002 | IO-Link box, 8-channel digital output, 24 V DC, 0.5 A, M12
- Product category:
- Fieldbus Box
- Category/version:
- digital output
- Channels:
- 8
- Value range (digital/encoder):
- 24 V
- Output current:
- 0.5 A
- Connection method (signal):
- M12
M8 EPI2338-0001 | IO-Link box, 8-channel digital combi, 24 V DC, 3 ms, 0.5 A, M8Preferred type
- Product category:
- Fieldbus Box
- Category/version:
- digital input, digital output, combination I/O
- Channels:
- 8, Combi
- Value range (digital/encoder):
- 24 V
- Output current:
- 0.5 A
- Connection method (signal):
- M8
M12 EPI2338-0002 | IO-Link box, 8-channel digital combi, 24 V DC, 3 ms, 0.5 A, M12
- Product category:
- Fieldbus Box
- Category/version:
- digital input, digital output, combination I/O
- Channels:
- 8, Combi
- Value range (digital/encoder):
- 24 V
- Output current:
- 0.5 A
- Connection method (signal):
- M12
M8 EPI2339-0021 | IO-Link box, 16-channel digital combi, 24 V DC, 3 ms, 0.5 A, M8Preferred type
- Product category:
- Fieldbus Box
- Category/version:
- digital input, digital output, combination I/O
- Channels:
- 16, Combi
- Value range (digital/encoder):
- 24 V
- Output current:
- 0.5 A
- Connection method (signal):
- M8
