Product Description:

The CX5120-0112/000066602 is an embedded PC manufactured by Beckhoff as part of the CX Embedded PC Systems series. Designed for cabinet installation, the module runs real-time control logic, HMI functions, and fieldbus communication in a single compact housing. Its purpose in an automation line is to replace separate PLC, motion controller, and industrial PC hardware with one DIN-rail unit that connects directly to EtherCAT or Bus Terminal I/O. By integrating CPU, memory, and storage on board, it provides deterministic cycle execution without relying on external servers.

Control is executed by the Intel Atom E3815 processor, a single-core SoC clocked at 1.46 GHz. This CPU works with 2 GB DDR3-RAM, giving adequate volatile space for TwinCAT tasks and the operating system. The runtime image for motion and point-to-point positioning is the TwinCAT 2 NC PTP Runtime, which delivers hard real-time task scheduling directly on the controller. Network integration is handled through 2 x RJ45, 10/100/1000 Mbit/s interfaces that support separate machine and plant networks. Because the Atom has one core, task priorities must be arranged so that high-speed cyclic tasks are not delayed by background services.

Power is supplied at 24 V DC, and the controller draws only 11 W under full computational load, so heat dissipation can be managed with simple natural convection inside an IP20 cabinet. The motherboard withstands a dielectric strength of 500 V between supply and ground to tolerate common industrial noise transients. In a footprint of 122 × 100 × 92 mm, the housing still offers four USB 2.0 host ports rated at 500 mA each, a DVI-I connector for panel displays, and both CFast and microSD card slots for removable system and data storage. The IP20 enclosure limits protection to finger-safe contact, which makes the device suitable for clean switchgear enclosures.