Distributed clocks and XFC for speed and precision

Some analog EtherCAT Terminals support the XFC technology (eXtreme

Fast Control), which enables rapid, deterministic reactions in the µs range.

This technology enables fast I/O response times, oversampling of the input

signal and precise time measurement for events at the input with a

resolution of 1 ns. Highly accurate synchronization of all distributed clocks

-capable devices in the network is attainable with a synchronization accuracy

of << 1 µs with the EtherCAT distributed clocks, which are implemented in

many EtherCAT analog terminals.

Calibration to control the measurement chain

Calibration certificates (factory calibration or calibration to ISO 17025/DAkkS)

are also available for some EtherCAT analog input terminals. If Beckhoff 

EtherCAT Terminals are part of a measurement chain and therefore subject

to special requirements for the reproducibility and traceability of measurement

results, a calibration certificate can be issued to the user for certain terminal

types for quality assurance purposes. The certificate is issued for individual

terminals, enabling a more precise definition of the entire measurement chain

as proof of the exact measurement deviation of the terminal and thus reducing

the measurement uncertainty. In the context of the uncertainty assessment of

a measurement, the possible influence of the Beckhoff terminal can be reduced

in this way.