Ultra compact IPC: extreme space-savings and flexibility

August 14, 2017 11:56 am

Universal C6015 Industrial PC further extends application possibilities of PC-based control hardware

The new, ultra compact C6015 Industrial PC is designed for universal use in automation, visualisation and communication tasks, as well as in EtherCAT-based applications. As an exceptionally inexpensive, compact and flexibly-mounted solution, it opens up new application areas for IPC technology, especially those with pronounced cost or space restraints. Fully suited to industrial applications, the multi-core IPC measures just 82 x 82 x 40 mm, demonstrating the extensive scalability of PC-based control technology from Beckhoff.

The ultra compact C6015 IPC is only one third the size of the C6905, previously the smallest control cabinet IPC in the comprehensive Beckhoff portfolio. Price savings of approximately 25 per cent also place the device well below the previously least expensive x86 PCs from Beckhoff. With these features, automation, visualisation and system-wide communication in small and mid-size applications can be implemented highly cost-effectively with a minimal footprint. As a result, the compact device opens up areas of use where PC-based control technology has not been used thus far, or where motherboards are commonly integrated as expensive custom solutions.

Uncompromising industrial compatibility
Despite its extremely compact and inexpensive implementation, the ultra compact C6015 IPC makes no compromises when it comes to industrial compatibility. This includes the high computing power of the integrated Intel® Atom™ CPU that features up to four processor cores. Moreover, the IPC is designed as a passively cooled device in a robust, aluminium/die-cast zinc housing, offering long-term availability. The device also offers a full range of standard features for industrial environments such as extended operating temperature range up to (+) 55 C and high resistance to vibration and shock.

The C6015 is also extremely flexible with regard to its many installation options. It can be mounted both vertically and horizontally on the rear wall of the control cabinet, or attached to a DIN rail. Even in the tightest installation spaces, this allows various mounting scenarios with flexible orientation of the IPC. Due to the small dimensions of the device, this represents an important feature: when connecting up to six separate cables, it is crucial with the small design that the connection level can be optimally aligned to the cable routing, which is usually dictated by the machine layout.

Apart from that, the full range of equipment and the interface configuration meet the requirements for a universally applied IPC: a 30 GB SSD and Windows Embedded Compact 7 operating system support make the C6015 a powerful device even in the basic configuration. Windows 7 and Windows 10 are also optionally possible. Further hardware features include 2 GB DDR3L-RAM (expandable ex-works up to 4 GB), a display port connection, an on-board Dual-Ethernet adapter with 2 x 100/1000Base-T connection and ports for both USB 3.0 and USB 2.0.