EtherCAT is an open Ethernet-based deterministic fieldbus. Because of its speed and functional principle, it is perfectly suitable not only for control automation but also for measurement tasks. It has gained a huge manufacturer base, giving users a wide range of products to choose from.
EtherCAT Library
for LabVIEW 5
The EtherCAT Library for LabVIEW functions as an EtherCAT Master and makes these benefits available for the development of LabVIEW applications. It uses an industry-proven master stack with a wide range of features. To have deterministic timing, it integrates with PC-based real-time technology for use on normal Windows PCs. Nevertheless, it can also be used non-deterministically on plain Windows for applications that do not need real-time.
EtherCAT gives users a low-cost technology to integrate different devices with synchronized process data on one bus. It can be used to create measurement and control systems of any kind
Common use cases for the library are:
- Control and measurement systems
- EtherCAT slave device testing
Key features of the library include:
- Real-time process data exchange (PDO)
- Writing and reading of service data objects (CoE)
- Files over EtherCAT (FoE)
- Servodrive profile over EtherCAT (SoE)
- FailSafe over EtherCAT (FSoE)
- Access to slave memory
- Access to slave EEPROM
- Access to slave object dictionary
Additional Links
Application Framework
Add-on library to the EtherCAT Library
for LabVIEW for easier application
development and extensive slave libraries
Each PC needs a run-time license for execution of the EtherCAT Master. All Software updates within a major version are free of charge.
How does it work?
The EtherCAT Library for LabVIEW is a collection of VIs that allows LabVIEW applications to control an EtherCAT Master. The master runs either on standard Windows or in a real-time environment using INtime RTOS from TenAsys, executing on a dedicated CPU core in parallel with Windows.
The solution integrates the industrial-grade EtherCAT Master stack from Acontis Technologies, ensuring full compliance with the EtherCAT standard. All ETG-conformant EtherCAT slave devices are supported—allowing seamless integration with a wide range of I/O modules, sensors, actuators, drives, and more.
What are the benefits of using EtherCAT?
One major benefit of EtherCAT is its ability to connect many device types like digital and analog I/Os, motion controllers, smart cameras over a single high-performance fieldbus. Communication with PLCs and other fieldbuses (e.g. PROFINET, PROFIBUS, Ethernet/IP) can also be integrated using gateways to EtherCAT.
EtherCAT is based on standard Ethernet, which makes building distributed systems very simple. Analog-to-digital conversion can be performed close to the sensor, reducing signal degradation. Standard Ethernet cabling allows distances up to 100 meters between nodes, and with fiber optics, even kilometers. Modular I/O systems (e.g. Beckhoff terminals) enable very cost-effective distributed I/O stations.
A particularly useful feature in measurement applications is the ability to synchronize motion control devices with I/O acquisition. This enables sensor signals to be captured in perfect time alignment of motor position, speed, and other motion values.
Is real time necessary?
EtherCAT uses high-speed cyclic telegrams that pass through each slave to exchange process data. It supports bus cycle rates over 10 kHz. Whether real-time execution is necessary depends on your application.
If precise timing is critical—e.g. sampling sensor data at 1 kHz or generating analog waveforms—then real-time execution is required to ensure deterministic timing. Windows introduces jitter and non-deterministic behavior, making it unsuitable for such tasks.
However, for applications with lower timing demands — such as reading values every 100 ms for general measurement or slow control — execution under Windows is typically sufficient.
How does the real-time execution work?
The real-time system is based on INtime from TenAsys. It runs next to Windows on a dedicated CPU core. The EtherCAT master executes within INtime, while LabVIEW runs in Windows.
For this to work, the PC must have:
- One dedicated CPU core for INtime
- A compatible Ethernet adapter (Intel or Realtek chipsets; USB NICs are not supported)
- Real-time jitter depends on the PC hardware. Industrial PCs such as those from Beckhoff typically offer excellent timing. Even applications requiring 10 kHz cycle times are feasible on these systems.
Does it work with LabVIEW Real Time?
No. The EtherCAT Library is designed specifically for LabVIEW running on Windows.
Can I create a real-time application with LabVIEW and INtime?
LabVIEW itself runs under Windows and does not offer deterministic timing. However, the EtherCAT Master running in INtime guarantees deterministic process data exchange.
To enable real-time behavior, you can use:
Built-in data processing functions
These predefined functions execute in the INtime cycle and can implement basic logic like:
Digital logic
Limit monitoring (e.g. trigger an output if an analog value exceeds a threshold)
PID control
Custom C/C++ functions
You can implement your own functions as a DLL, which the master calls in each bus cycle. This enables fully custom real-time behavior. We also offer development services for these functions.
Using these methods, you can build deterministic control systems controlled via LabVIEW, without needing expensive dedicated real-time hardware.
Can I use it for measurement applications?
Yes. EtherCAT supports high-speed process data acquisition. The library enables bus cycle times up to 10 kHz, which means:
Input signals can be sampled at up to 10,000 samples/second
Output values can be updated at the same rate
Some slaves support oversampling, enabling even higher sampling rates—up to 100,000 samples/second—while still keeping data synchronized using Distributed Clocks (DC). DC also ensures extremely accurate time synchronization across all devices.
What is the license model?
The EtherCAT Library uses a runtime license model. One license is required per PC to run the EtherCAT master. There is no development license, and the same license applies whether the application is running in the LabVIEW development environment or as an executable.
Licenses are activated online or offline. A PC does not need to stay connected to the internet after activation. Licenses can be deactivated and moved to another machine.
Note: The INtime license is separate from the LabVIEW Library license. It is tied to a specific PC and cannot be moved once activated.
Do I need anything else?
Network Port
For real-time operation, you need a compatible Ethernet port (Intel or Realtek chipsets). No additional hardware is required.
For Windows-only execution, any network interface—even USB Ethernet adapters—will work.
Configuration (ENI File)
EtherCAT requires a configuration file (ENI file) describing the whole EtherCAT system setup. This file can be:
Auto-generated using the EtherCAT Library (for simple systems only)
- Created using EC Engineer (recommended solution)
Created with TwinCAT System Manager
