Mechatrolink

MECHATROLINK is an open field network that connects controllers and all types of components.
By enabling high-speed communications and concurrency, MECHATROLINK increases system speed and achieves advanced functionality.
Simple cable connections reduce system wiring, enable downsizing, and allow for easy expansion.
MECHATROLINK is an open standard, and many companies market compatible devices.
You can flexibly combine these devices to meet your needs.
Also, you can freely develop controllers and all types of devices for your applications.
We recommend MECHATROLINK to easily and quickly achieve a wide range of machine motion control at a low cost.

All MECHATROLINK communications specifications are published on the MECHATROLINK Members Association website.
You can become a member to download any of the technical materials to freely develop controllers and components.

A dedicated ASIC is used to provide the concurrent communications and perform the complex processing required for motion control. You can easily achieve synchronized control from a controller.
Even communications errors caused by noise or other factors do not interrupt synchronization because the ASIC automatically performs retry processing to resend data and increase communications reliability.
Also, new industrial connectors and cables that resist noise and vibration are used.

ASIC access drivers, sample applications, development software, and standard hardware circuit diagrams are available for developers free of charge on the MECHATROLINK Members Association website.
For product users, optimum wire-reduction systems are provided to integrate motion networks and I/O networks to help reduce the cost of the system.

Communications are achieved by mounting an ASIC in the master and in components.
The ASIC processes communications, which greatly simplifies implementing MECHATROLINK in products in comparison with implementing complete software functionality in a master.
Also, software tools required for development are available to help you reduce development time.

Many companies market a wide range of products that support MECHATROLINK.
You can combine any of the MECHATROLINK products from world-leading manufacturers to build systems.

The MECHATROLINK network was created in Japan.
Backed by the technical strength and reliability of Japan, the MECHATROLINK provides a worry-free network solution.

Two generations of MECHATROLINK are available. MECHATROLINK-II supports general-purpose networks, while MECHATROLINK-III provides the power for advanced, high-speed applications.
Together, they meet a wide range of needs in manufacturing equipment and production facilities.

Transmission cycles from 250 μs to 8 ms are supported in a bus network that connects to up to 30 nodes.
Many manufacturers currently provide masters and components to provide you with an extremely wide range of product selections.
Click here for details.

Ethernet is used for the physical layer and the fastest transmission cycle in the industry is supported in a wide transmission cycle range of 31.25 μs to 64 ms.
You can connect up to 62 nodes in a flexible topology with cascade, star, and other connections.
Click here for details.

The MECHATROLINK network technologies have been adopted as an international standard.
This global recognition of MECHATROLINK as a standard lets you implement MECHATROLINK networks without worrying about reliability.

• MECHATROLINK is certified for the SEMI E54.19 standard.
  This makes it even easier to implement MECHATROLINK for equipment related to semiconductors and liquid crystals.
  Certification for E54.19 (sensor and actuator networks) was received in March 2007.

• The MECHATROLINK Members Association and member companies worked to promote MECHATROLINK as an IEC standard and it was adopted in August 2014. This makes MECHATROLINK a global standard in open-field networks.
  Applicable standards: IEC 61784 Field Network Profiles
  IEC 61158 Field Network Protocols and Services

The MECHATROLINK Safety Working Group completed a list of specifications for the communications protocol of the MECHATROLINK field network that meets safety standards. Certification was received in July 2011 after an independent third party, TÜV Rheinland, confirmed that these specifications satisfied the requirements of IEC 61508 (safety level SIL3).
With MECHATROLINK Safety, communications between MECHATROLINK masters and slaves with the standard protocol and communications between MECHATROLINK Safety masters and Safety slaves can coexist on the same network.
A safety system can be constructed by simply adding a safety master, such as safety PLC, and safety slaves, such as safety I/O devices, to an existing system.
No special cables are required to connect MECHATROLINK Safety devices. Standard MECHATROLINK cables are used.

Yaskawa Electric Corporation manufactures the following MECHATROLINK compliant products.
Various MECHATROLINK-compliant products can be easily connected with a MECHATROLINK communication line.
The following table shows the MECHATORLINK-compliant devices.

Machine Controllers	MP3300	MP3200	MP2400	MP2310
	MP2300	MP2300S	MP2200	MP2100
Servo Drives	Σ-7	Σ-V	JUNMA
Inverters	A1000	G7
MECHATROLINK-II Compatible Modules	64-point I/O Module (IO2310 and IO2330)		Counter Module (PL2900)	Pulse Output Module (PL2910)
	Analog Input Module (AN2900)	Analog Output Module (AN2910)	MECHATROLINK-II Repeater
Machine Vision System	YV250

The MECHATROLINK Members Association (MMA) is a group of MECHATROLINK product developers and users who promote the use of MECHATROLINK, a motion field network. All members support the construction and promotion of a larger MECHATROLINK family.
Yaskawa Electric Corporation is a member of MMA.
For information on MMA, visit the website http://www.mechatrolink.org/