Mitsubishi Electric’s new MX Series PLCs are built for high-speed, high-precision control in industries like semiconductor and battery manufacturing. With support for up to 256 motion axes and ultra-fast scan times, the MX series boosts performance without adding complexity. It includes no-code motion control, AI-assisted programming tools, and built-in cybersecurity via a secure OPC UA server. The PLCs also support digital twin integration through MELSOFT Gemini and Mirror, helping users simulate and optimize systems before deployment.PLC Motion ControlIn a typical production line, you might have servo motors connected to rotary or linear axes. These axes move tooling and components around the cell to assemble or test components. The PLC, or brains of the production line, is where the servo commands come from. With any PLC, there is always a maximum number of servos that can be connected to the PLC, and there will be a maximum scan time of the PLC code. These statistics will help you determine the size or brand of PLC you choose for your next automation project. Mitsubishi has recently announced the MX line of PLCs, designed specifically for applications requiring high axis counts, fast response times, and precise motion control.MELSEC MX ControllerDesigned with fast-growing industries like battery and semiconductor manufacturing in mind, the MX controller is packed full of features and abilities for these industries. CC-Link IE TSN is a time-sensitive network industrial protocol that is used to communicate with servo drives and other devices. With this high-speed network technology, the MX control is capable of supporting up to 256 axes with high-speed control of up to 128 axes. The multi-core CPU allows for scan times of up to 1.2 ms and supports three simultaneous control cycles ranging from 2 ms down to 1.2 ms. A faster processor and faster network make for a very capable high-speed controller and network.AI Inside Your PLCThe MX boasts a “no-code” approach to automated motion. Mitsubishi offers this feature by supplying the user with function blocks of popular motion commands. The function blocks still pertain to the PLC open standard, so they should feel familiar to someone who works with that standard. The GX Works3 software has integrated AI support, which consists of a variety of tools such as watch windows, program visualization, and debugging tools that will assist end users in debugging and finding code faults faster.Cyber Security For The Modern PLCMost PLCs today come with the ability to act as an OPC UA server; it just needs to be enabled through a license, but the MX PLC features a secure OPC UA server as standard equipment. To show the world just how secure their equipment is, Mitsubishi is pursuing IEC62443-4-2 certification, which is an industrial automation control system cybersecurity standard that ensures a control system will withstand cyber threats of all kinds.Digital TwinIf simulation and a digital twin of your equipment are part of your machine deliverables, Mitsubishi has got you covered. The MX is compatible with digital twin software MELSOFT Gemini and MELSOFT Mirror. Combined with the MX controller, you will be able to simulate your entire system in a digital space, allowing for real-world scenario troubleshooting or simulating retrofits before they are completed in the design phase.If PLC Selection Wasn’t Hard EnoughOne of the biggest decisions you will have to make on your next project is which PLC to use. The market is flooded with different types and sizes of control systems, and trying to decide which one to use gets harder every time another one is released on the market. When your application requires high-speed precision, the MX from Mitsubishi might be the PLC for you.
