EtherCAT as a fast I/O system

The Embedded PCs were developed with a view to optimized interaction with EtherCAT. Therefore, each CX5600 controller has an internal primary EtherCAT 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 CX5600 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 1.0 Gbit 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.

The CX5600 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 Gbit Ethernet ports) or fieldbus interfaces (e.g. for PROFIBUS, CANopen, etc.) to be added to the system.

The basic equipment of the CX5600 Embedded PCs includes two independent 1.0 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 or a fieldbus connection.

The boot and storage medium is an interchangeable, industrially compatible M.2 SSD (SATA), whose slot is accessible behind a cover. 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 M.2 SSD on site. The built-in capacitive 1-second UPS ensures secure backup of persistent application data on the M.2 SSD. The data and time are buffered by an exchangeable battery (button cell).

Compact, fanless multi-core controller with AMD Ryzen™ R1000

The DIN-rail mountable, fanless Embedded PCs of the CX5600 series are equipped with AMD Ryzen™ processors. 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 main features of this CX5600 device series are:

• CPUs of the AMD Ryzen™ series with two cores

• fanless cooling

• powerful M.2 SSD

• 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 CX5340 is an embedded PC based on an x6425RE Intel Atom® processor

with 1.9 GHz (quad-core) and 8 GB LPDDR4 RAM. The basic equipment includes

two independent Gigabit-capable Ethernet interfaces as well as four USB 3.1 and

one DisplayPort interface. A wide range of additional connection options or

gateway functions are available thanks to the optional interface and I/O level,

which can consist of E-bus or K-bus terminals and can be fitted ex factory.

A system module or fieldbus module from the CX2000 series can be plugged in

via the multi-pole connection on the left-hand side of the device. Although the

total number of plug-in modules is limited to one, two additional Gigabit-Ethernet

interfaces or four additional USB interfaces or another fieldbus interface can also

be implemented in this way, for example. The CX5340 is characterized by an

internally electrically isolated power supply unit, built-in 1-second UPS, and low

overall power consumption and fanless cooling.

Depending on the installed TwinCAT runtime environment, the device can be used

for the implementation of PLC or PLC/motion control projects (with or without

visualization). Motion control applications with interpolating axis motions can also

be executed. The extended operating temperature range from -25…+60°C allows

use in climatically demanding applications.

PLC, motion control, interpolation, and visualization

Multi-core CPUs in conjunction with TwinCAT 3 enable PLC projects to be distributed to several

cores, resulting in significant performance gains. All TwinCAT motion control functionalities can

also be used to their full extent: in addition to simple point-to-point movement, more complex

multi-axis functions such as electronic gearing, cam plate, and flying saw are also possible.

Interpolating 3D path movements and complex axis kinematics can also be executed, however,

transitioning to more powerful devices from the CX2000 series must be checked out for each

individual case here.

In addition to handling real-time control tasks, management in the TwinCAT 3 real-time kernel

leaves enough time for the user interface (HMI). Due to the excellent performance of the graphic

unit integrated in the CPU, even demanding visualizations can be displayed with modern user

interfaces.

The CX5300 series is also available as an embedded PC without an operating system and without

TwinCAT. The extended operating temperature range from -25°C to +60°C enables use under

challenging ambient conditions.

EtherCAT as a fast I/O system

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

Every CX5300 controller therefore has an internal EtherCAT master port. This can be routed

to the right, to the I/O level, 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 CX5300 can be used for both standard IT connections and as additional EtherCAT

master interfaces. In conjunction with EtherCAT and TwinCAT, very fast control processes

in the microsecond range (eXtreme Fast Control Technology) can be implemented.

Due to the separate Gigabit Ethernet interfaces, EtherCAT can also be implemented with

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

the devices can be operated with an EtherCAT slave interface in the multi-option interface

so that several intelligent controllers can be synchronized via an EtherCAT network.

Alternatively, the devices can be configured with an EtherCAT master interface in the multi

-option interface, which then provides two independent EtherCAT masters.

The basic equipment of the CX5300 Embedded PCs includes two independent Gbit

Ethernet interfaces, four USB 3.1 ports, one DisplayPort 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 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, along with TwinCAT and user projects, are stored on it.

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

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

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

time are backed up by an exchangeable battery (button cell).

In addition to handling real-time control tasks, management in the TwinCAT 3 real-time kernel

leaves enough time for the user interface (HMI). Due to the excellent performance of the graphic

unit integrated in the CPU, even demanding visualizations can be displayed with modern user

interfaces.

The CX5300 series is also available as an embedded PC without an operating system and without

TwinCAT. The extended operating temperature range from -25°C to +60°C enables use under

challenging ambient conditions.

The main features of the CX5300 device series are:

• Intel Atom® x6 series (Elkhart Lake) CPUs with two or four cores

• fanless cooling

• convenient 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-side extension interface for a system module

The CX5300 series supplements the existing CX5200 devices with totally identical

housing dimensions. A system or fieldbus module from the CX2500-xxxx family can

still be plugged in via the multi-pin connector on the left-hand side, and the system

can be expanded to include further interfaces. 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.

Compact, fanless multi-core controller with Intel Atom® x6000RE

The CX5300 Embedded PCs are DIN rail mountable and fanless, and are

equipped with the significantly more powerful Intel Atom® x6 series

processor, a modern processor with a next-generation CPU and graphics

performance. This assures a long life cycle for series production and support

through the integration of a modern Intel Atom® CPU. As with all newer

embedded PCs, the entire range of EtherCAT Terminals or K-bus terminals

can be directly connected on the right-hand side.

The CX5300 series is also available as an embedded PC without an operating

system and without TwinCAT. The extended operating temperature range from

-25°C to +60°C enables use under challenging ambient conditions.

The CX2500-Mxxx fieldbus master modules are left-sided attachments

for the Embedded PC series CX20xx, CX52x0. CX53x0 and CX56x0.

The use of systems with fieldbus master modules enables the segment

-like construction of control structures in extensive plants and machines

using further fieldbus components (Bus Couplers, Bus Terminal Controllers,

Drive Technology, etc.).

The CX2500-M510 fieldbus master module assumes the function of a

CANopen master. Each module occupies a PCI Express® lane, so that

a total of four modules can be connected in any desired combination

to the left side of a CX20xx group. Compared with the Beckhoff PCIe®

Fieldbus Cards, the technical data of the fieldbus master modules are

almost identical, but with single channels.

The parallel operation of several identical or different masters is possible,

e.g. two PROFIBUS masters or a PROFIBUS master and a CANopen master.

In the case of mixed operation of master and slave connections, CX systems

act as intelligent gateways between different fieldbuses: data are received,

processed and fed into other fieldbuses. Master or slave connections network

several CX systems with one another strictly deterministically via the fieldbus

level. CX fieldbus modules can be retrofitted/exchanged by adding them to

existing CX systems. The scanning and recognizing of the modules, the

parameterization, the configuration of the connected I/O components and

the online diagnostics of the process/fieldbus status take place in the TwinCAT

System Manager.