EtherCAT MainDevice Development

Develop custom high-performance EtherCAT MainDevice applications with EC-Master at the core, supported by a full suite of configuration, simulation, monitoring, and diagnostics tools.

Flow from ESI files to EC-Engineer to ENI file to EtherCAT MainDevice using EC-Master communicating with EtherCAT SubDevices
The MainDevice development workflow
  • 1
    Configure the EtherCAT network
    Import SubDevice ESI files, define topology and process data, and generate the ENI file that describes the network configuration.
  • 2
    Develop your custom application
    Integrate the EC-Master stack into your C, C++, Python, or Rust application and implement your application-specific control logic.
  • 3
    Run deterministic EtherCAT communication
    EC-Master uses the configuration at runtime to initialize SubDevices, manage state transitions, and exchange cyclic process data in real time.
A streamlined workflow designed for real-time performance and long-term maintainability.

Validate earlier with EC-Simulator

Develop and test EtherCAT MainDevice applications against fully simulated or mixed real-and-virtual networks. EC-Simulator enables Software-in-the-Loop (SiL) and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HiL) setups, allowing teams to validate application logic, network behavior, and fault scenarios long before physical SubDevices or complete systems are available, reducing integration risk and accelerating commissioning.

EC-Simulator system architecture for EtherCAT network simulation and virtual commissioning
Where EC-Simulator adds value
  • Hardware-free development
    Develop and optimize MainDevice applications or SubDevice behavior early in the project, without requiring physical target hardware.
  • Safe simulation of fault scenarios
    Test failure cases such as cable breaks, SubDevice faults, or frame loss safely in a controlled virtual environment.
  • Shorter time to market
    Use virtual commissioning and digital twins to shorten development cycles and move from design to operation faster.
  • Comprehensive network validation
    Validate MainDevice implementations against complex topologies and large simulated networks that would be difficult or costly to build physically.