Product Description:

The CX1000-N002 is a serial communication extension produced by Beckhoff for their CX Embedded PC Systems series. Designed for industrial automation PCs, the module supplies a pair of universal asynchronous ports and therefore allows the controller to exchange status data, recipes, or diagnostic messages with external devices that still rely on point-to-point serial signaling. By occupying an expansion slot on the right-hand side of the CX CPU, the unit preserves the compact form factor of the overall system while extending connectivity at the control level.

The hardware adheres to the RS232 specification, ensuring compatibility with standard asynchronous protocols used by bar-code readers, printers, and drive controllers. It presents 2 serial ports that the operating system identifies through the default labels COM2 and COM3. Both channels terminate on a single front panel that carries two 2 x 9-pin D-Sub sockets, so commonly available male-to-female cables can be used without custom pinouts. Inside each port the electrical interface supports the usual receive and transmit data lines; COM2 additionally offers DTR for modem control while both share a common signal ground. Transmission speed can be parameterized in the TwinCAT software stack from 300 bit/s up to the maximum of 115 kBaud, enabling the controller to match the timing requirements of attached devices without external converters.

For installation inside a cabinet the module draws its logic power Via System Bus; no separate wiring to a 24 V supply is necessary, which reduces cabling errors. The aluminum housing measures 19 x 100 x 91 mm, so it occupies scarcely more width than a DIN-rail terminal block and allows dense stacking of other CX slices. With a mass of only 80 g the load on the bus connector remains low even under vibration, and the module can be swapped quickly during service without additional mechanical supports.