EC: CX8095 Embedded PC wih an EtherNet/IP connection to EtherCAT
Machine & Embedded Control — PLCs, PACs, industrial PCs: The CX8095 Embedded PC from Beckhoff links EtherCAT I/O to EtherNet/IP devices. This is a Control Engineering 2017 Engineers’ Choice Awards Finalist.
Combining flexible PC-based control technology with an EtherNet/IP interface, the new CX8095 Embedded PC from Beckhoff Automation is a low cost slave controller with integrated connection to high-performance EtherCAT I/O technology. In fact, the CX8095 is compatible with the entire range of Beckhoff Bus Terminals and EtherCAT Terminals. Hundreds of available K-bus or E-bus I/O terminals from Beckhoff can be used as required. Ideal for daisy-chain cabling, the Embedded PC also acts as a 2-port switch for EtherNet/IP.
The CX8095 is suitable as a stand-alone controller for a wide range of industrial applications in smaller-sized machines or systems and can be used in a distributed fashion as a tie-in to EtherNet/IP systems as a single EtherNet/IP slave. When the optional virtual device (slave interface) is activated, the CX8095 Embedded PC behaves like two EtherNet/IP devices. Accordingly, the CX8095 can process twice the amount of EtherNet/IP process data.
A further benefit of the device comes from its ability to communicate with a second EtherNet/IP controller (scanner)—a simple way to increase system availability. The CX8095 (as a local controller) can verify the two incoming master signals by means of a plausibility check to monitor the function of the cabling, for example. Conversely, failure of one of the masters can be detected and the second master can respond accordingly.
The space-saving CX8095 Embedded PC measures only 64 x 100 x 73 mm. It runs Windows Embedded CE and features a 32 bit, 400 MHz ARM9 CPU, 64 MB RAM and a MicroSD card with up to 4 GB storage capacity. The wide range of Beckhoff IP 20-rated I/O, including Bus Terminals and EtherCAT Terminals, can be connected directly to the CX8095. During start-up, the CX8095 automatically detects which of these I/O systems is connected.
Beckhoff Automation, www.beckhoff.com
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