5 facts about IO-Link

For IO-Link all you need is an industry standard 3- or 4-conductor cable. The uniform standard interface can be quickly and easily integrated into the fieldbus world to simply link even complex devices. One special feature: the digital communication ensures noise immunity even without the use of expensive shielded cabling. Analog signals are digitized with no conversion losses.

IO-Link enables quick, error-free sensor replacement and prompt commissioning. You can significantly reduce downtimes since the parameters of a replaced IO-Link sensor are automatically written from the IO-Link master to the new sensor. Commissioning processes, format changes or recipe changes are handled centrally via the controller’s function modules. This saves time and reduces the potential for mistakes to a minimum. Another advantage to you: IO-Link devices cannot be mixed up, since they are automatically identifiable via IO-Link. Requirements-based maintenance Continuous diagnostic data for the entire process extends your service intervals, since automatic readjustment via IO-Link means you need to maintain equipment and machines much less often. And now predictive error detection is even possible because the complete process parameters are consistently displayed in the controller.

With IO-Link you can position sensors in the machine just as the process requires, since accessibility of the sensors is no longer a factor. Process monitoring, configuration and error analysis of the IO-Link devices now takes place in the controller. Machine sequences are now time-optimized. Signal delays and distortions are reliably eliminated because digital transmission of data also ensures high signal quality. A wide range of application requirements can be easily met with IO-Link because you can use both binary and analog standard devices at the same time along with IO-Link sensors/actuators.

Controller concepts using IO-Link provide you with simple and universal solutions for a high-performance, consistent network, so that with this universal interface you profit from lower costs and are more flexible than ever. Use the typical applications presented on the next pages to learn about the possibilities IO-Link opens up for you.