News Overview

Yaskawa to Start Sales of Bus Couplers Supporting MECHATROLINK-4 in the “SLIO I/O Series” – It improves data collection performance at factories and production facilities –

ProductJan 31, 2024

Yaskawa Electric Corporation (Head Office: Kita-Kyushu, Fukuoka, Japan; Representative Director, President: Masahiro Ogawa) announced the “i³-Mechatronics” solution concept in 2017, which adds digital data management to automation solutions, to realize the “new industrial automation revolution” set forth in the “Vision 2025”, and it enhances product development to make this concept a reality. Yaskawa has newly developed a controller solution to realize i³-Mechatronics as “iCube Control,” and has been selling the “SLIO I/O series,” an I/O product to input and output data for connecting to various equipment such as factories and production facilities. It launched the MECHATROLINK-4 bus coupler*, which supports the MECHATROLINK-4(M-4) high-speed motion network that further improves data collection performance.
*A bus coupler is a range of dedicated modules for connecting to various networks.

1. Aim of Commercialization

Various manufacturing sites are accelerating efforts to advance smart factories by improving production efficiency and quality, utilizing IoT and AI, as well as ensuring traceability. The basis of these activities is understanding the operating status (data) of production facilities. Yaskawa starts sales of the “MECHATROLINK-4 bus coupler, “a new M-4 compatible I/O product in the “SLIO I/O Series,” which efficiently and stably collects data from factories and production facilities. This expands the range of system construction using the M-4 network and enables data collection tailored to customer needs.

MECHATROLINK-4 bus coupler

●Example of connection to the YRM1000 series	●Example of connection to the MPX1000 series

2. Main Features

1) Improved data collection performance
Compared to the conventional MECHATROLINK-III bus coupler, the size of data obtainable per transmission cycle is approximately 1.7 times larger, enabling faster and more efficient data collection.

2) Extensive lineup
A broad lineup with more than 90 modules, including digital I/O and analog I/O products, enables flexible system construction. Up to 64 modules can be attached to the bus coupler for network connection. Customers can use line extension modules to divide a single wire into up to five lines.

3) Connection function for saving space
Space saving can be realized by screwless terminal and stair shaped wiring.

4) Easy installation and maintenance
No screws or special tools are required for assembly. Also, it can be replaced only by the electronic module after installation and wiring, so it can be maintained quickly.

3. Product Specifications

Item	M-4 Bus Coupler
Format	053-1ML40
Communication protocol	MECHATROLINK-4
Power supply	DC24V
Power Status Display LED	3 points
Communication status display LED	8 points
MECHATROLINK address switch	1 (8 point type x1)

●SLIO I/O Lineup

Product Category	Number of Lineups	Product Category	Number of Lineups
Power Supply	3	Communication	2
Distribution	3	Counter	5
Digital input	14	SSI	1
Digital output	14	Positioning	3
Analog input	24	Expansion	4
Analog Output	12	Accessories	6

*For details of the lineup, please refer at the bottom.

4. Main Use

This product can be used in a wide range of general industrial equipment such as semiconductor and liquid crystal manufacturing equipment, electronic component mounting machines, metal processing machines, packaging machines and industrial robots.

5. Sales Plan

Sales start from January 2024 in Japan.

For sales outside Japan, please check with your local Yaskawa Sales Representative.

< Notes on trademarks of telecommunications networks >
MECHATROLINK is a trademark of the MECHATROLINK Association.

Back to List