In order to bring high-performance measurement technology into a simplified, cost-effective architecture, Beckhoff Automation has announced the EL3201-0020 temperature measurement terminal. This new EtherCAT® I/O terminal is a new addition to the growing range of Scientific Automation products and high-precision analog equipment from Beckhoff.
Due to the high basic accuracy of the EL3201-0020, the measuring error is reduced to ±0.1 K of the temperature measuring range. The factory calibration is recorded in an individual certificate, as required for high-precision measuring equipment. Such dedicated measurement technology is the basis for the integration of high-precision measurement technology without requiring special components. This leads to more cost-effective and streamlined industrial systems.

The EL3201-0020 EtherCAT Terminal enables direct connection of a resistance sensor (PT100) using 4-wire technology. The characteristic curves of the sensors are implemented over their complete measuring range and are made available to the higher-level control system in a suitably linearized form.

The EtherCAT Terminal system offers users simple, inexpensive solutions for the integration of high-precision measurement technology without the need for complex ”black box” systems. The ability to reliably reproduce results is becoming increasingly important in a wide range of automation applications in order to optimize parameters and ensure verifiability, such as for online quality monitoring in running processes, for example. Beckhoff meets these requirements with a calibration certificate that authenticates the measuring accuracy of the terminal and the exact measuring error. Online download of the certificate based on the serial number and terminal handling similar to common analog terminals make the application of high-precision measurement technology very convenient.