Product Description:

The CX5020-0120-1002 is an embedded PC produced by Beckhoff within the CX Embedded PC Systems series. Mounted on the same DIN rail as the company’s modular terminals, it replaces a traditional PLC by combining processor, power supply, and fieldbus interface in one housing. This computer controls deterministic tasks, handles motion sequences, and exchanges data with neighboring I/O slices over the integrated E-bus.

At the core of the system is a 1.6 GHz processor identified as the Intel Atom Z530; this single-core CPU provides sufficient throughput for medium-sized logic projects while maintaining low heat generation. Execution data are buffered in 512 MB RAM, allowing several runtime tasks to coexist without memory swapping. Program code and boot files reside on a removable 128 MB Compact Flash card, which tolerates vibration better than rotating media and permits fast replacement during service. Electrical feeding is a regulated 24 V DC input, and the controller’s internal dissipation is limited to 12.5 W, so cabinet ventilation demands remain modest. The electronics withstand a dielectric strength of 500 Veff between power and low-voltage circuits, and the integrated supply can source up to 2 A for attached terminals. Mechanically, the housing measures 106 mm wide, 92 mm deep, and 100 mm high, fitting common control enclosures.

For networking, two independent Ethernet channels are provided through 2 x RJ45 connectors, enabling separate machine and plant buses or simple daisy-chain topologies. Four host ports are provided through 4 x USB 2.0, giving access to service keyboards, data loggers, or wireless adapters without extra hubs. Local visualization is supported by a digital monitor link designated as DVI-D, so a thin-client panel can display process states directly from the controller. Field modules connect through the rear E-bus terminal, and no TwinCAT runtime is pre-installed, leaving the user free to load a suitable version or an alternative software stack based on project needs.