Product Description:

The CX2040-0100 is an embedded PC controller produced by Beckhoff as part of the CX Embedded PC Systems series. Intended for mid-range machine control, it combines CPU, chipset, and fieldbus connectors inside a 144 × 99 × 91 mm aluminum enclosure that mounts directly on a DIN rail. The device orchestrates motion, logic, and HMI tasks in industrial plants while leaving the application layer open because it ships without a preinstalled operating system or TwinCAT runtime. This architecture allows the system to be configured for the real-time environment that best matches the target network and process requirements.

The computing section is driven by an Intel Core i7-2715QE processor that runs at 2.1 GHz. Its architecture exposes 4 cores, enabling deterministic multitasking between PLC, motion kernel, and local visualization threads. A pool of 4 GB DDR3-RAM buffers program code and user variables, supporting fast context switches without paging. The controller has an IP20 enclosure, which provides finger-safe construction but no protection against liquids, so it must reside in a control cabinet. For graphics output, an integrated Intel HD Graphics 3000 with 128 MB of shared memory can feed DVI or DisplayPort adapters used for machine-side panels.

For panel design and power budgeting, the unit draws up to 32 W from a stabilized 24 V DC supply. Network connectivity is handled by 2 x RJ45 Ethernet ports that can be configured for real-time EtherCAT, redundant links, or separate engineering access. Peripheral expansion is available through 4 x USB 2.0 Type A interfaces for mass storage, license dongles, or service tools. Non-volatile system data are retained in 128 kB of NOVRAM, and the controller can operate headless when the optional operating-system image is deployed via USB or LAN.