TMS320F28388D: Can TMS320F28388D be used as EtherCAT master

Part Number: TMS320F28388D

Tool/software:

Hi, 

I would like to know if there are any TI based controllers which can act as an EtherCAT master with TMS320F28388D as EtherCAT slave. If yes, kindly suggest any useful application notes/documentations.

Hi,

TMS320F28388D cannot be used as an EtherCAT master, only a slave device. There are TI Sitara MPUs that can used as EtherCAT masters.

Best,

Kevin

Hello Sapna, 

As Kevin mentioned, TI Sitara MPUs can be used as EtherCAT Master/MainDevice. You may see https://e2e.ti.com/support/processors-group/processors/f/processors-forum/1424136/faq-how-to-setup-an-ethercat-network-using-ti-processors for some additional information about our support for EtherCAT Master/MainDevices on Sitara MPUs (specifically AM6x family).

Are you looking for a TI part selection to run as an EtherCAT Master/MainDevice?

-Daolin

Does this include the AM263x to run as EtherCAT Master/MainDevice in the same way that an AM243x can?

Hi Antonio,

From my understanding, AM263x and AM243x support running as an EtherCAT slave/subdevice not as an EtherCAT Master/MainDevice. 

In theory, AM243x could also support running as an EtherCAT Master/MainDevice as long as the EtherCAT Master stack is running on an R5 core; however we have not tested this and have only tested AM64x as an EtherCAT Master running on an R5 core. 

The main difference between AM243x and AM64x is that AM64x has A53 cores as well as R5 cores.

For AM263x, I would suggest creating another E2E thread as I don't have the right expertise to comment on its support for EtherCAT Master/MainDevice.

-Daolin

Daolin: - I am thinking the 3rd party aconis technologies may license an EtherCAT EC Master running on the R5. The US Boston contact for acontis is Jon Waters <j.waters@acontis.com>. 

Hi Jim, 

Thanks for providing this contact information for Acontis. 

My current understanding is that we don't provide the EtherCAT EC master on our AM6x devices. The customer who plan to use an AM6x device as an EtherCAT EC master is responsible for determining which EtherCAT Master stack is suitable for their application and to obtain any necessary licensing based on which stack they choose to use. This should be indicated by our messaging in https://e2e.ti.com/support/processors-group/processors/f/processors-forum/1424136/faq-how-to-setup-an-ethercat-network-using-ti-processors 

-Daolin

Daolin - you are correct. There are a few EtherCAT 3rd party IP providers that will charge for an EtherCAT master implementation (and they also pay license royalties to the ETG and Beckhoff for that capability). All semiconductor companies do not support a free EtherCAT master implementation officially.

Thanks Jim for confirming my understanding.

-Daolin