Festo's distributed terminal is widely used in the field, and its modular design provides significant flexibility in project design. You may have seen or used these modules, but perhaps you haven't systematically organized and classified them. In today's article, we will take a global perspective to understand Festo's modular electrical terminal CPX.
The CPX electrical terminal is an automation product introduced by Festo. It can be used to connect pneumatic control terminals (pneumatic valve terminal) or remote IO stations, enabling seamless integration of electrical circuit control and pneumatic control. The sub-modules of CPX can be freely combined based on needs, making it very convenient to use.
The sub-modules of the CPX electrical terminal include the following: Bus Node Module, Control Block Module, Input/Output Modules, Web Monitor Module, Operator Unit, and Terminal Board, among others.
The Bus Node Module is used to connect various buses and is divided into different types based on the bus type. For example, CPX-FB6 can connect to INTERBUS, CPX-FB11 is used for DeviceNet BUS, CPX-FB13 for Profibus, CPX-FB14 for CANopen BUS, CPX-FB23 for CC-Link BUS, and CPX-FB33 for Profinet, etc. The choice of the bus node module depends on the type of fieldbus in use.
The Control Block Module can operate as a standalone controller. For instance, CPX-FEC can connect to the main station PLC via bus nodes or Ethernet, thereby achieving remote control.
Input/Output Modules are used to receive signals from sensors or output signals to actuating mechanisms. They are divided into three parts: Interlinking block, Electronics module, and Connection Block, as shown in the figure below:
The Interlinking Block is used to provide power to CPX components, and it has separated power supplies, allowing the individual disconnection of specific areas of sensors or actuators.
The Electronics Module is employed to connect digital inputs and outputs or analog inputs and outputs. It serves as a bridge between CPX and sensors as well as actuators.
The Connection Block defines the wiring method, specifying the size of the connection aperture, whether it is three-pin or five-pin, and the pin definitions, among other factors.
The Web Monitor Module integrates data from terminal modules into its own storage area. Users can access the CPX electrical terminal like a server, allowing for online status display, diagnostics, and automatic email notifications in case of malfunctions.
The Operator Unit is a human-machine interface, as shown in the figure below:
The Operator Unit is typically used for diagnosing modules. It has an M12 connecting cable that can be attached to the module's diagnostic port, facilitating quick retrieval of alarm information from the module.
The Terminal Board serves a fixing function, featuring mounting holes for securing it to a control cabinet.
This concludes the overall introduction to CPX. More detailed content will be covered in subsequent articles.