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Beckhoff Automation introduced the CX8091 as a newmember of the CX8000 line, which currently includes the smallest EmbeddedPCs available from the company. With support of the OPCUAprotocol, a 400 MHz ARM9 CPU and a wide range of connectable K-bus or E-bus I/Oterminals, this Embedded PC represents a universal small controller for a wide range of applications. In addition, the CX8091 is fully interoperable with power measuring terminals from Beckhoff to serve as a compact data collector that supplies all information via OPCUA, enabling comprehensive energymanagement.
The CX8091 EmbeddedPC is a flexible and compact controller with a switched Ethernet port and supports OPCUA, the established protocol for vertical integration within modern plant environments. Bus Terminals(K-bus) and EtherCAT terminals(E-bus), as modular I/Osystems, can be connected directly to, and automatically identified by the Embedded PC. In this way, a multitude of signals can be acquired locally – for example, via the numerous I/Oterminals for energy data acquisition and many other types of measurement.
Electrical variables can be determined in a particularly convenient and system-integrated manner via the KL/EL3403 power measuring terminals from Beckhoff; while more in-depth analysis functions are offered by the EL3413 and EL3433 power measuring terminals as well as the EL3773 mains monitoring terminal. In addition, compressed air supplies can be directly monitored, for example to detect energy-wasting leaks, using the KM37xx differential pressuremeasuringterminal and the machine-mountable EP3744 differential pressuremeasurementbox with IP67protection.
OPC UA for higher-level communication
The OPCUA (IEC62541) communication standard is very well suited for linking communication within the production landscape up to the company managementlevel and to energy management systems. As a globally-recognized communication technology from the OPCFoundation, the protocol enables secure, reliable, and vendor-neutral transport of raw data and pre-processed information from the manufacturing level into production planning or ERPsystems.
Beckhoff has successfully implemented this level of functionality with the TwinCATOPCUA server certified by the OPC’sEuropean laboratory. It offers Data Access and Historical Access functions as well as PLCfunction blocks for diagnostics and restarting. Intermediate data storage in the server is also implemented, so that an interruption to communication does not lead to data losses. In addition, Beckhoff has integrated OPCClient functionality into the controller for the first time in the form of PLCfunction blocks for UADataAccess – the controller can push acquired energy data of its own accord into the ITworld. Also included is a configurator for the setup of optional security functionality and a demo UAClient for diagnostic purposes.
The CX8091 EmbeddedPC can alternatively be used with the BACnetprotocol (Building Automation Control Network). This Ethernet-based communication standard for buildingautomation is particularly well-established in the management and control levels of buildings. Not restricted to a single controller type, the Beckhoff TwinCATBACnet/IP solution is executable on every Beckhoff IndustrialPC and EmbeddedPC.
Technical data
• Operating system: Windows CE 6
• 32-bit controller with 400 MHz ARM9 CPU
• Flash memory: 256 MB MicroSD (optionally 1 GB, 2 GB or 4GB)
• Internal RAM: 64 MB RAM
• Interfaces: 1 x Ethernet 10/100 MBit/s, 1 x USB device (behindthefrontflap)
• 1-second UPS (for 1 MB persistent data)
