Product Description:

The CX1010-N031 belongs to Beckhoff's CX Embedded PC Systems series and functions as a serial communication extension for a CX controller slice. Installed beside the CPU assembly, it equips the automation PC with two additional field-level serial channels so devices such as drives, barcode scanners, or weight transmitters can exchange data directly with the PLC over RS422 or RS485 lines. This arrangement lets the controller handle deterministic machine tasks while also forwarding process information to supervisory networks.

The module has a compact housing width of 19 mm, which permits dense side-by-side mounting on DIN rails. A depth of 51 mm helps keep the unit within shallow cabinets, while its front face carries 2 x 9-pin D-Sub plugs for serial cabling. Internally, those connectors route to a dual-channel UART identified as 1 x COM1+2, RS422/RS485, supporting full-duplex RS422 or half-duplex RS485 signaling under programmable termination. Data moves across the backplane through the PC104 system bus so the CPU can poll or service each character without external converters. Transmission speed reaches up to 115 kbaud, which is suitable for parameter transfers, sensor bursts, and text-based diagnostics in typical machine cells.

The housing height is 100 mm, so it matches the profile of neighboring CX I/O slices in the cabinet. Its plastic shell is rated IP20, which provides finger protection but still requires enclosure installation where dust or liquids are present. Power is not wired separately because the slice draws logic energy from the system bus, which simplifies wiring and startup. Where high-speed or legacy serial ports already use positions N030 or N040, this version cannot be installed at the same time, preventing address conflicts and bus contention during cyclic runtime exchanges.