I also like the idea that the safety modules can be located in the same banks as the regular I/O. If this is true it seems like a great benefit for 3 a.m. I was told that everything in the EtherCAT chain-bus couplers and servo modules included-can be replaced without any reprogramming necessary. The whole system is built around the EtherCAT bus which I don't have experience with but it looks to have a lot of advantages.
A sub-$1000 controller with the power of a ControlLogix, or so they claim.
I ran across Beckhoff at the IMTS show in Chicago last month and later went to one of their 'Beckhoff in Motion' hands-on seminars. Can anyone share their experiences with Beckhoff's embedded PC controllers (CX series) and TwinCAT 3? Most of my internet searches have turned up 5-year-old threads that are likely outdated.
