Order now IC695CMM004 GE Fanuc PACSystems RX3i 4-Port Serial Communications Module
Order now IC695CMM004 to vastly expand the serial communication capabilities of your modern automation control network. The GE Fanuc IC695CMM004 is an advanced Serial Communications Coprocessor Module specifically engineered for the high-performance PACSystems RX3i platform. While modern facilities migrate toward Ethernet, the reality of the industrial floor dictates that hundreds of critical legacy devices—such as barcode scanners, industrial scales, variable frequency drives, and specialized RTUs—still rely heavily on robust RS-232 and RS-485 serial protocols. This module acts as an intelligent communication hub, providing four fully independent, isolated serial ports that offload intensive polling and data-handling tasks from the main RX3i CPU. By integrating this genuine OEM module, engineers can effortlessly simultaneously run Modbus RTU Master/Slave, SNP, and generic Serial I/O protocols across different ports, ensuring seamless interoperability between legacy machine-level sensors and the cutting-edge processing power of the PACSystems RX3i backplane.
Core Technical Specifications
- Part Number: IC695CMM004
- Manufacturer: GE Fanuc (Emerson)
- Product Series: PACSystems RX3i
- Module Type: Serial Communications Module
- Port Configuration: Four isolated serial ports (RJ-45 style connectors)
- Supported Interfaces: Software-selectable RS-232, RS-485 (2-wire), and RS-422 (4-wire) per port
- Supported Protocols: Modbus RTU (Master/Slave), SNP, SNP-X, Serial I/O
- Backplane Architecture: Utilizes the RX3i high-speed PCI Express bus
Expert Serial Cabling and Termination Advice
When deploying the IC695CMM004 in an electrically noisy manufacturing environment, proper cabling and termination are paramount to prevent data packet loss and communication timeouts. For RS-485 multidrop networks, always use industrial-grade, shielded twisted-pair cables. A critical installation rule is that the shield must be grounded at one end of the network only (typically at the PLC cabinet grounding bar) to prevent circulating ground loops that distort the differential voltage signals. Additionally, you must install appropriate 120-ohm terminating resistors across the positive and negative data lines at the extreme physical ends of the RS-485 bus. Failure to terminate the network properly will result in signal reflection, causing the module to register cyclic redundancy check (CRC) errors and drop the connection to your Modbus slave devices.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can the ports on the IC695CMM004 be configured for different baud rates simultaneously? Yes, every single port is completely independent. You can run Port 1 as a Modbus RTU master at 19200 baud over RS-485, while running Port 2 as an RS-232 barcode scanner input at 9600 baud without any conflict or performance degradation.
Does this module support hot-swapping? Yes. Because the IC695CMM004 interfaces with the advanced RX3i universal backplane, it supports full hot-insertion and hot-removal. You can replace the module without powering down the entire chassis, minimizing costly production downtime.
What is the maximum cable length for the RS-485 configuration? Under ideal conditions with proper termination and high-quality shielded cable, an RS-485 network connected to this module can extend up to 1,200 meters (approx. 4,000 feet) at lower baud rates. Distances decrease significantly as transmission speeds increase.
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