This wafer-sorting design used compact integrated RS I/O to meet a 200 mm cabinet-depth constraint and high-speed control requirements. The approved case record reports six input and four output modules, EtherCAT engineering and cabinet-space recovery; cleanroom and timing claims must be requalified for each machine.
Compact all-in-one I/O modules solve space constraints in semiconductor test equipment
Challenge
The next-generation sorter had a 200 mm cabinet-depth limit, required high I/O density and had machine-specific timing and cleanroom qualification requirements.
Solution
Integrated RS input/output modules were installed beside the motion controller and commissioned in the EtherCAT engineering environment.
Implementation
Six RS-16DI-EC and four RS-16DO-EC modules were installed in the 200mm-deep cabinet alongside the motion controller. EtherCAT ESI files were loaded into the Beckhoff TwinCAT 3 environment. The compact footprint freed 40% of cabinet space for future expansion. All modules were validated against the customer's cleanroom qualification protocol.
Results
“Decowell's compact I/O modules were the only solution that fit our cabinet constraints while meeting our EtherCAT timing requirements. The cleanroom certification was a bonus.”