Product Description:

Beckhoff’s CX5120-0121 belongs to the CX Embedded PC Systems series and functions as a DIN-rail-mounted control computer for machine and process automation. The manufacturer integrates an Intel Atom platform, mass-storage slots, and fieldbus ports into the housing. This allows the device to execute TwinCAT control logic, handle operator interfaces, and coordinate networked drives directly on the factory floor.

The computing heart is the Intel Atom E3815, a single-core processor clocked at 1.46 GHz, which provides the processor speed available for real-time PLC tasks. Its 2 GB DDR3-RAM provides working memory for the operating system, TwinCAT tasks, and user programs, while a 256 MB (shared) graphics section on the system-on-chip supports low-overhead HMI rendering without a separate GPU. Two Gigabit Ethernet ports, presented as 2 × RJ45, 10/100/1000 Mbit/s, allow simultaneous fieldbus coupling and network access. External peripherals such as scanners, data keys, or temporary input devices can draw 500 mA each through the 4 × USB 2.0 sockets. Non-volatile program and data storage is handled by front-accessible CFast and MicroSD slots, allowing quick access to storage media.

The controller draws a maximum of 11 W from a 24 V DC supply, so cabinet thermal load and power distribution remain minimal even when all interfaces are active. Its integrated power module includes a UPS capacitor that maintains logic voltage for 1 s, allowing the TwinCAT 2 PLC runtime to store process variables to flash during a sudden power drop. Deterministic execution is supported by dedicating the scheduler exclusively to control tasks, while the graphics block’s 400 MHz base clock helps avoid memory bandwidth contention. The metal housing measures 122 × 100 × 92 mm and carries an IP20 rating, permitting installation in protected electrical enclosures alongside other CX modules.