Beckhoff Embedded PC

TwinCAT offers convenient network search functions for selection and commissioning via Ethernet: All CX1010 stations available at the Ethernet are scanned in. Even their periphery is detected, including all terminals and fieldbus modules. It is also possible to load the programs and settings that are active in the target device into the programming station, and to modify and subsequently re-activate them. This ensures that the current software version is used at all times.

The CX1010 units are programmed via a laptop or a desktop PC that is connected with the CX1010 via Ethernet (network or crossover cable). The programs are developed on the laptop with a standard TwinCAT software licence and then loaded into the target device.

Remote programming via Ethernet

In combination with the TwinCAT automation software, the Embedded PC CX1010 becomes a powerful IEC 61131-3 PLC with up to four user tasks. Additionally, Motion Control tasks can also be executed. Depending on the required cycle time, several servo axes can be controlled. Even special functions such as flying saw, electronic gearbox and cam plate can be realised. The CX1010 thus becomes a controller that covers PLC, Motion Control and visualisation tasks with a single hardware. Under Windows CE, thanks to the real-time capability of the operating system, user tasks written in high-level languages can be processed in real-time in parallel with TwinCAT.

PLC, Motion Control and visualisation

The range of optional modules is complemented by fieldbus connections for PROFIBUS, CANopen, DeviceNet, SERCOS interface and Lightbus, both as master or slave versions.

All power supply variants have an illuminated, low-glare LC display with FSTN technology and two rows with 16 characters each for displaying status messages. The application programs can also use the display for displaying application-specific texts. 8 kB of non-volatile memory for remanent data are also included.

Four different types of power supply units are available:

Power supply unit with integrated I/O interface

The CPU module is available in several variants, e.g.:

The modules of the CX series system are connected with each other via the standardised PC/104 bus (16 bit). The individual system components are modules with a width of 19 mm (single) or 38 mm (double) that can be arranged in series. The basic unit consists of a CPU (CX1010) module and a power supply module (CX1100-000x).

The components

The basic CX1010 module is the basic device of the CX family. With a 500 MHz Pentium? MMX-compatible processor it offers average CPU performance. Depending on the application, the CX1010 can also be operated in headless mode, i.e. without display and keyboard. While the resulting control system has no visualisation, it does have communications capability via the built-in Ethernet interface. If local visualisation is required, this can be implemented via a DVI (digital video interface), to which all Beckhoff Control Panels and all commercially available monitors with DVI or VGA input can be connected. The touch screen signal is read via one of the two available USB interfaces.