Beckhoff: New CX5300 Embedded PC Series with Elkhart Lake CPU
April 23, 2024
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 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.
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).
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.
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.
