Mitsubishi Electric presents a new compact PLC and a communications module for superlative networking.

Ratingen/Cologne, 26 Nov. 02. Mitsubishi Electric is launching two new high-performance additions to its compact PLC line at the SPS/IPC/DRIVES show. The FX2NC rounds off the hugely-successful MELSEC FX family, which has already proved itself in millions of demanding industrial tasks. An ultra-compact variant of the existing FX2N controller, the new FX2NC is also one of the fastest compact PLC systems on the market. Its extremely small dimensions make it the ideal choice for applications in cramped quarters. The second FX system highlight being showcased at the fair is a new Ethernet communications module with an integrated web server, which opens up new dimensions in advanced networking for the entire FX controller family. 

	PLC Control	..
	Photo Mitsubishi Electrics

High-end performance in a tiny package: The MELSEC FX2NC
Mitsubishi Electric has added an ultra-compact new product to the MELESEC FX2N high-end controller family: The brand-new FX2NC is the ideal complement to the successful FX2N line. Despite its tiny size, the FX2NC includes all the powerful features of the FX2N, including the lightning-fast cycle period of just 0.08µs per logical instruction. This makes it one of the fastest PLC systems on the market in this class for up to
256 I/O points. The smallest base unit comes with eight digital inputs and eight relay or transistor outputs. It measures just 35 x 90 x 89mm (W x H x D), or around one quarter the size of a comparable FX2N unit. This makes it the controller of choice for applications where you need the power of an FX2N controller in environments with little available space. 

With its advanced features and capabilities the FX2NC actually exceeds the performance of bigger modular controller systems. It has six internal high-speed counters supporting input frequencies of up to 60kHz and a 24V DC power supply. The FX2NC base units are available in versions with 16, 32, 64 or 96 integrated I/Os. This basic configuration can be increased to a maximum of 256 I/Os per system with expansion modules, which come in versions with 16 or 32 I/Os each. A range of specialised expansion modules with functions for specific application needs provides added flexibility. There is plenty of choice – the FX2NC is fully compatible with all expansion and special function modules of the FX family, including positioning modules, analog modules and so on.

Like the FX2N, the FX2NC also has outstanding networking capabilities and support. The FX2N communications modules for Profibus-DP, AS-Interface, CC-Link, 
CANopen, DeviceNet and the proprietary MELSECNET networks enable optimal connection to all commonly-used networks. These are complemented by serial ports, an SMS mobile phone text messaging module and the new Ethernet module, covering all your communications needs. 

Like all the MELSEC controllers the FX2NC is programmed with the powerful and user-friendly GXIECDeveloper software package, which supports all IEC1131.3 languages. A choice of 40 different HMI systems are available as operator and monitoring terminals – ranging from two-line character displays with four function keys to a 12.” touchscreen model with a colour display. 

FX goes Ethernet: New communications module for superlative networking
Over five million FX installations in industrial applications speak for themselves. And now the MELSEC FX line has been made even more powerful with the addition of extended networking capabilities. The new Ethernet module COM-ET10-T, which Mitsubishi Electric is presenting for the first time at the SPS/IPC/DRIVES show, is available for the entire FX product family. With speeds of up to 10Mbit it is compatible with all current MELSEC FX CPUs – the FX1S, FX1N, FX2N the new FX2NC. 

Adding this module provides functions like data exchange with a connected visualisation system, user-friendly and powerful diagnostics and programming access throughout the entire network. This significantly speeds up your work, particularly for system configuration and program uploads and downloads to and from all the PLCs in the network. The module has two RJ45 connections and supports the standard protocols TCP/IP (with ARP), UDP and ICMP.

Another major highlight of the new Ethernet module is its integrated web server, which comes with a set of ready-to-use HTML pages already installed. These pages enable you to use a standard web browser to display the current CPU operating status parameters and predefined data words of all the PLCs connected to the network. But that’s not all – the web server is user-configurable, you can edit and add to the HTML system to suit your own needs and requirements. 

Mitsubishi Electric 
With an impressive history going back 80 years, Mitsubishi Electric is one of the world’s leading high-tech companies in sectors as varied as semiconductors, construction, communications technology and even satellite systems. The company’s great success in over 36 countries is reflected in its turnover, which totalled over US$37 billion in the 2001 business year. 

Mitsubishi Electric’s Industrial Automation division develops, manufactures and distributes a wide range of automation components and systems, including programmable logic controllers, industrial robots and drive solutions. All these products are characterised by outstanding quality, reliability and user-friendliness. The European headquarters is located in the German city of Ratingen near Düsseldorf, with a large central warehouse and an extensive modern logistics system that ensures fast, efficient delivery of the products, and a hotline for customer service. 

Source Mitsubishi Electrics

Article Reference : 002095