With more than 20 processor options, the ultra-compact Industrial PC series from Beckhoff offers scalable performance for all kinds of machines
Even series machines typically require some level of controls customization. End users might want to establish cloud connectivity, add different tooling, enable machine vision inspection, speed up throughput or complete some other task, and it’s the machine builder OEM’s job to make this possible.
Basing the solution on a flexible, fully integrated automation platform helps – especially when you need to increase machine performance without re-engineering. But it’s also important to select a scalable controller line, such as the ultra-compact C60xx Industrial PC (IPC) series from Beckhoff. Many options to scale up capabilities or optimize price when creating an economy version provide the flexibility needed to meet diverse application requirements.
At Beckhoff, we take pride in the fact that our PC-based machine controller portfolio spans all the way from micro-controllers all the way to many-core industrial servers with up to 40 cores. However, most machine customizations are far less dramatic. All of our IPCs can use the same TwinCAT 3 automation software, EtherCAT network and I/O, and they have guaranteed long-term availability. So unlike with traditional hardware PLCs, it’s easy to migrate up or down in performance levels as needed.
Increased processor options with C60xx series IPCs
The ultra-compact C60xx IPC series, for example, includes more than 20 processor options for just six devices. This precise scalability allows you to exactly match the computing requirements for any industrial application, with the ability to upgrade easily as requirements increase. The basic mounting concept is the same across all devices with only gradual increases in housing dimensions.
Just like with form factor and mounting considerations, Beckhoff started out this series with the C6015, then added the C6030 and continued to fill in the gaps with more controllers and multiple processor options. The current portfolio now includes:
C6015 and C6017
Intel Atom® (1, 2 and 4 cores)
C6025 and C6027
Intel® Celeron® (2 cores)
Intel® Core™ i3 (2 cores)
Intel® Core™ i5 (4 cores)
Intel® Core™ i7 (4 cores)
C6030 and C6032
Intel® Celeron® (2 cores)
Intel® Pentium® (2 cores)
Intel® Core™ i3 (2 or 4 cores)
Intel® Core™ i5 (4 or 6 cores)
Intel® Core™ i7 (4 or 8 cores)
Multi-core capabilities in compact form factors
With this range of processors – not to mention the numerous interface, UPS and storage options – the C60xx series offers the power and flexibility to control complex machines and/or serve as IoT gateways. The multi-core options also take advantage of the core isolation capabilities in TwinCAT. This allows engineers to assign individual processes to specific cores and achieve better performance as a result. For example, on a C6017 with four cores, you could assign the PLC task to core 0, HMI to core 1, motion control to core 2 and IoT communication to core 3.
As a result of this functionality and scalability, many new and longstanding Beckhoff customers have already transitioned to these ultra-compact IPCs. The controllers provide the flexibility needed to meet your toughest design and customization challenges.
Interested in implementing scalable, future-proof machine control with the C60xx IPC series? Contact your local Beckhoff sales engineer today.
Eric Reiner is the IPC Product Manager for Beckhoff Automation LLC.
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