Category: Beckhoff

EtherCAT as a fast I/O system

The Embedded PCs were developed with a view to optimized interaction with EtherCAT.

Therefore, each CX5200 controller has an internal EtherCAT master port. This can be fed

to the right to the I/O level in order to enable the use of EtherCAT I/O Terminals.

If necessary, however, it can also switch automatically to the K-bus terminal system.

Both Ethernet ports of the CX5200 can be used both for standard IT connections and as

additional EtherCAT master interfaces. In conjunction with EtherCAT and TwinCAT, it is

possible to implement very fast control processes in the microsecond range (eXtreme Fast

Control Technology).

Due to the separate Gigabit-Ethernet interfaces it is also possible to use EtherCAT with cable

redundancy by using one of the Ethernet interfaces as a redundancy port. In addition, the

devices can be operated with a EtherCAT slave interface in the multi-option interface so that

several intelligent controllers can be synchronized via an EtherCAT network.

Compact, fanless multi-core controller with Intel Atom® E3900

The DIN-rail mountable, fanless Embedded PCs from the CX5200 series are

equipped with Intel® processors from the Atom®-X series. As with all newer

Embedded PCs, the entire range of K-bus or EtherCAT Terminals can be directly

connected on the right-hand side.

The boot and storage medium is an interchangeable, industrially compatible CFast card,

whose slot is accessible behind a cover. The CFast card serves as a substitute for a hard disk;

i.e. the operating system as well as TwinCAT and user projects are stored on it.

Fast hardware exchange is thus possible if service is required; a software update can be

performed simply by replacing the card on site. The built-in capacitive 1-second UPS

ensures secure backup of persistent application data on the CFast card. The data and

time are buffered by an exchangeable battery (button cell).

The main features of the CX5200 device series are:

• CPUs from the Intel Atom®-X series (“Apollo Lake”) with two or four cores

• fanless cooling

• comfortable 4 or 8 GB RAM

• electrically isolated 24 V DC power supply unit, UPS OCT-capable

• built-in capacitive 1-second UPS for persistent data storage

• left-sided extension interface for a system module

The CX5200 series supplements the existing CX5100 devices with absolutely identical

housing dimensions. What is new, however, is the expandability on the left-hand side

by a module of the type CX2500-xxxx, with an additional space requirement of about

22 mm in width. This allows further PC interfaces (e.g. two additional 1 GB Ethernet

ports) or fieldbus interfaces (e.g. for PROFIBUS, CAN, etc.) to be added to the system.

The basic equipment of the CX5200 Embedded PCs includes two independent

Gbit-Ethernet interfaces, four USB 3.0 ports, one DVI-D interface and a multi-option

interface that can be flexibly equipped ex factory, for example with a serial port, a fieldbus

connection or a second video connection with DVI-D, HDMI or DisplayPort.

The CX5140 has an Intel Atom® quad-core processor with a clock

rate of 1.91 GHz. This makes genuine multi-core technology possible

in the Embedded PC segment. The hardware interfaces in this series

are oriented and implemented identically to those of the existing

CX5000 series. Two independent, Gigabit-capable Ethernet interfaces

as well as four USB 2.0 and a DVI-I interface are available.

A multitude of further connection options and gateway functions is

created by an optional interface, which can be pre equipped ex factory,

as well as the I/O level, which can optionally consist of either E-bus or

K-bus terminals.

The CX5140 is characterized by low power consumption and fanless design.

Depending on the installed TwinCAT runtime environment, the CX5140

can be used for implementing PLC or PLC/motion control projects with

or without visualization. The execution of motion control applications

with interpolating axis movements is also possible.

Like the CX5000. the CX5100 series has a compact design; a modular

device with extension modules like in the CX2000 series is not available.

The main features of the CX9240 device series include:

• high-performance 1.2 GHz Arm® Cortex®-A53 CPUs with four cores

• 2 GB LPDDR4 RAM

• two independent 1 Gbit Ethernet interfaces

• DisplayPort instead of DVI

• Beckhoff RT Linux®

• built-in capacitive 1-second UPS

• electrically isolated 24 V DC power supply

Further standard features of the CX9240 include four USB 3.0 interfaces, a DisplayPort,

and a multi-option interface that can be flexibly assigned ex factory – for example,

 with a serial port or a fieldbus connection.

The boot and storage medium is an interchangeable, industry-standard microSD card,

which can be accessed via a slot on the front of the housing. This is used to store not

only the operating system, but also TwinCAT and user projects. Beckhoff RT Linux® is

used as operating system.

The TwinCAT automation software transforms the CX9240 system into a high-performance

PLC and motion control system that can be operated with or without visualization.

Optionally, the unit can be ordered with a fieldbus or serial interface.

The connection for the Beckhoff I/O systems is directly integrated into the CPU module.

The device offers automatic bus system identification (E-bus or K-bus) and switches to

the corresponding mode. The extended operating temperature range between-25°C and

+60°C allows it to be used even in climatically demanding situations.

The CX9240 Embedded PC is a compact, DIN rail-mountable Ethernet control system

with a 1.2 GHz Arm® Cortex®-A53 CPU. It represents a further development of the

existing CX9020 and relies on a faster CPU with four cores and a modern 64 bit 

architecture. The multi-core CPU allows PLC projects to be distributed to several cores

for significantly enhanced performance.

The CX9240 features two independent 1 Gbit Ethernet interfaces, which enable

significantly higher transfer rates compared to its predecessor. The main memory

comprises 2 GB LPDDR4 RAM, which doubles the capacity of the compact controller

and, together with the more modern CPU and the same low power consumption,

opens up new application areas and possibilities for the CX9240.

The CX9020 is a compact, DIN rail-mountable Ethernet control system

with 1 GHz Arm® Cortex®-A8 CPU. The connection for the Beckhoff

I/O systems is directly integrated into the CPU module. The unit offers

automatic bus system identification (E-bus or K bus) and independently

switches in the corresponding mode. The CX9020 comprises the CPU

with two microSD card slots, the internal RAM and 128 kB NOVRAM as

non-volatile memory. The basic configuration also includes two switched

Ethernet RJ45 interfaces, four USB 2.0 interfaces and a DVI-D interface.

The RJ45 interfaces are connected to an internal switch and offer a simple

option for creating a line topology without the need for additional Ethernet

switches. The operating system is Windows Embedded Compact 7. TwinCAT

automation software transforms a CX9020 system into a powerful PLC and

motion control system that can be operated with or without visualization.

Optionally, the unit can be ordered with a fieldbus, serial or audio interface.

The extended operating temperature range between -25 and +60°C enables

application in climatically demanding situations.

The CX8290 Embedded PC is a controller with a second, switched Ethernet port.

Protocols such as real-time Ethernet, ADS UDP/TCP, and EAP (EtherCAT

Automation Protocol) are supported, and additional real-time protocols such as

PROFINET, EtherNet/IP™, and BACnet/IP can be retrofitted via TwinCAT Functions.

The CX8290 features an Arm® Cortex®-A53 dual-core processor with 1.2 GHz.

The basic configuration of the CX8200 includes a 1 Gbit Ethernet interface,

a USB 3.0 interface, a 1 GB LPDDR4 RAM, and a slot for a microSD card.

The microSD card is not included in the scope of delivery and must be ordered

separately, taking the desired memory capacity into account.

E-bus or K-bus terminals can be attached as required; the CX8290 automatically

recognizes the type of I/O system connected during the start-up phase.

The control system is programmed with TwinCAT 3 via the bus interface or

the additional Ethernet interface. TwinCAT 3 licenses must be ordered via

the TwinCAT 3 price list.

Beckhoff RT Linux® is used as operating system.

The CX8280 Embedded PC has two serial interfaces, one with RS232

and one with RS485 physics. These are both located on the D sub socket.

They are not bound to any particular protocol and can be used with the

corresponding TwinCAT 3 Functions for the different serial communication

protocols.

The CX8280 features an Arm® Cortex®-A53 dual-core processor with

1.2 GHz. The basic configuration of the CX8200 includes a 1 Gbit Ethernet

interface, a USB 3.0 interface, a 1 GB LPDDR4 RAM, and a slot for a microSD

card. The microSD card is not included in the scope of delivery and must be

ordered separately, taking the desired memory capacity into account.

E-bus or K-bus terminals can be attached as required; the CX8280 automatically

recognizes the type of I/O system connected during the start-up phase.

The control system is programmed with TwinCAT 3 via the bus interface or

the additional Ethernet interface. TwinCAT 3 licenses must be ordered via the

TwinCAT 3 price list.

Beckhoff RT Linux® is used as operating system.

The CX8210 Embedded PC is a control with an EtherCAT slave interface.

It features an Arm® Cortex®-A53 dual-core processor with 1.2 GHz.

The basic configuration of the CX8200 includes a 1 Gbit Ethernet interface,

a USB 3.0 interface, a 1 GB LPDDR4 RAM, and a slot for a microSD card.

The microSD card is not included in the scope of delivery and must be

ordered separately, taking the desired memory capacity into account.

E-bus or K-bus terminals can be attached as required; the CX8210

automatically recognizes the type of I/O system connected during the

start-up phase. The control system is programmed with TwinCAT 3 via

the Ethernet interface. TwinCAT 3 licenses must be ordered via the

TwinCAT 3 price list.

Beckhoff RT Linux® is used as operating system.