BECKHOFF CX9000 - Manual (Page 10)

Product overview
8 Embedded PC
System overview
Ethernet-Controller CX9000
With the Ethernet controller CX9000, Beckhoff presents a further extension of the family of CX-type embedded
controllers. The CX9000 is a compact, high-performance yet cost-effective PLC and motion controller for 30 mm DIN
rail mounting. Within the Beckhoff control world it is positioned between the Bus Terminal Controller series BX and
the Embedded PC CX1000. The main feature of this devices is an energy-saving 266 MHz Intel® IXP420 CPU with
XScale® technology that runs under the Microsoft Windows CE operating system. It thus offers adequate computing
capacity even for complex automation tasks. The CX9000 requires no external storage media – the device boots the
operating system from the internal fl ash. Due to the low power consumption, within the specified operating range no
fan is required. The CX9000 therefore requires no rotating components. As usual for the CX series, the device
features a modular mechanical design. In its basic configuration, the compact device only measures 58 x 100 x 91
mm.
EtherCAT as fast I/O-System / K-Bus as alternative I/O-System
The CX9000 is available in two versions: with K-bus for direct connection of Bus Terminals, and as an E-bus version
for direct connection of EtherCAT Terminals. In the basic confi guration, two RJ 45 sockets that are internally
connected to an integrated switch are available as interfaces. This simplifies wiring of several CX9000 within a line
topology. No separate switch hardware is required. The two externally accessible Ethernet ports are independent of
the EtherCAT interface, which is served by a second MAC (media access controller) provided by the CPU.
Basic module and Systeminterfaces
Further interfaces may be added ex works as required: A screen display can be realized using a CX9000-N001
device, i.e. a module combining DVI/ VGA + 2 x USB 2.0. The combination of DVI and USB enables all types of
Beckhoff Control Panel with DVI/USB interface to be used. Touch functionality is connected via USB. As a further
option, two RS232 modules or two RS422/RS485 modules can be configured as COM1 and COM2. All serial
interfaces feature opto-decoupling. Mass storage in form of a Compact Flash card can be used via the CX9000-A000
module, which offers physical storage capacity in the range of several gigabytes.
SPS, Motion Control and Visualization
Like for all Beckhoff controllers, TwinCAT is used for programming the CX9000 as an automation device. The device
itself contains the run-time environment for PLC and Motion Control. One of the two Ethernet interfaces is used as
programming interface.
Software
Microsoft Windows CE enables the creation of fully graphic user programs,which are able to satisfy high
expectationsthanks to the graphics chip integrated in the CX9000.
In summary, the CX9000 is a compact Ethernet controller, which in combination with EtherCAT I/O allows very fast
I/O control cycles. Windows CE and TwinCAT CE constitute the powerful software architecture for this controller.