Product Description:

The EL7342 motor terminal is built by Beckhoff within the EL EtherCAT Terminals series. It actuates DC brush motors and reads their encoder feedback to coordinate motion axes in industrial automation. By placing the power stage, feedback evaluation, and EtherCAT communication inside a 12 mm housing, the unit reduces panel space and wiring while enabling synchronized motion updates across the network.

Each channel processes setpoints with 10-bit current and 16-bit speed resolution, so the controller can issue finely graded torque and velocity commands without external analog circuitry. The position encoder is accepted as a single-ended signal at rates up to 400,000 increments/s, which suits high-speed spindle or feeder axes. Continuous motor output reaches 3.5 A per channel and is generated through a pulse-width-modulated stage clocked at 32 kHz, which helps reduce audible noise and ripple. Internal logic and gateway elements are powered from a 24 V DC electronics supply, while the EtherCAT E-bus draws 140 mA and each encoder input typically draws 5 mA. Each channel also includes one end-position input and one incremental encoder interface for closed-loop motion control.

When additional drive headroom is required, installing the ZB8610 supply module raises the permissible continuous output to 6.5 A per channel, giving the terminal more capacity for larger inductive loads. The power contacts on the I/O backbone can carry 10 A, and the typical 70 mA drawn through them helps keep distribution losses low during idle periods. The terminal has 2 motor channels that share the same PWM cycle but operate independently, making coordinated or separate axis control possible. The enclosure has an IP20 rating, which suits protected control cabinets. Each channel also offers an end-limit switch input, and the module reports supply, E-bus, and encoder currents through diagnostics.