GE Fanuc PACSystems RX3i Modules – IC695CPU320

Technical Dossier

Product Details And Specifications

GE Fanuc PACSystems RX3i Series Technical Notes

The GE Fanuc PACSystems RX3i platform is one of the most widely deployed programmable automation controller (PAC) architectures in global heavy industry. Installed across petrochemical refineries, nuclear power generation facilities, offshore platforms, and continuous-process chemical plants, the RX3i backplane-based architecture provides deterministic real-time control with a universal backplane that accepts both legacy Series 90-30 I/O modules and native RX3i high-speed modules. The IC695CPU320 is a mid-range CPU within this platform, operating at 1.0 GHz with 10 MB user memory, and is representative of the RX3i's position as a long-lifecycle industrial controller designed for 20+ year plant operational cycles.

The Evolution of PACSystems RX3i Architecture

The PACSystems RX3i platform was introduced by GE Fanuc Automation (later GE Intelligent Platforms, now Emerson Automation Solutions) in the early 2000s as a successor to the Series 90-70 and Series 90-30 controller families. The RX3i universal backplane (IC695CHS012, IC695CHS016) was engineered to accept legacy 90-30 I/O modules via a dedicated compatibility slot, enabling brownfield migration without full I/O replacement — a critical design decision for industries with multi-decade asset lifecycles.

Early RX3i CPUs (IC695CPU310, IC695CPU320) used a 300 MHz processor with 10 MB user memory. The architecture evolved through the IC695CPU315 and IC695CPU320 revisions, culminating in the high-performance IC695CPE302 and IC695CPE330 models featuring dual Ethernet ports, faster scan times, and expanded memory up to 64 MB. The introduction of the IC695PNC001 PROFINET Controller and IC695EIS001 EtherNet/IP Scanner modules extended the platform's fieldbus compatibility into modern IIoT-adjacent architectures. As of 2024, the RX3i platform is in a mature/extended lifecycle phase; GE/Emerson continues to supply hardware but new feature development has migrated to the CPE400/CPL410 series with Linux-based runtime environments.

PACSystems RX3i Full Catalog & Functionalities (SKU List)

CPU / Controller Modules

• IC695CPU310: RX3i CPU, 300 MHz, 10 MB user memory, single Ethernet port
• IC695CPU315: RX3i CPU, 600 MHz, 10 MB user memory, enhanced instruction set
• IC695CPU320: RX3i CPU, 1.0 GHz, 10 MB user memory, standard backplane CPU
• IC695CPE302: RX3i CPU, dual Ethernet, 64 MB memory, IEC 61131-3 runtime
• IC695CPE305: RX3i CPU, 1.2 GHz, 64 MB, dual Ethernet, USB programming port
• IC695CPE330: RX3i high-performance CPU, 1.4 GHz, 64 MB, dual Ethernet, SD card slot

Analog & Digital I/O Modules

• IC695ALG600: 8-channel analog input, 4–20 mA / 0–10 V, 16-bit resolution
• IC695ALG616: 16-channel analog input, configurable voltage/current ranges
• IC695ALG704: 8-channel analog output, 4–20 mA / ±10 V, 16-bit DAC
• IC695MDL654: 16-point 24 VDC discrete input module, sink/source compatible
• IC695MDL664: 16-point 24 VDC discrete output module, 0.5 A per point
• IC695MDL740: 32-point 24 VDC discrete input, high-density backplane module
• IC695MDL752: 32-point 24 VDC discrete output, high-density, 0.25 A per point

Communications & Network Adapter Modules

• IC695PNC001: PROFINET Controller, IRT/RT support, 128 I/O devices max
• IC695EIS001: EtherNet/IP Scanner, Class 1 implicit messaging, 32 connections
• IC695CMM002: Serial communications module, RS-232/RS-485, Modbus RTU/ASCII
• IC695ETM001: Ethernet interface module, 10/100 Mbps, SRTP/Modbus TCP

Power Supply Modules

• IC695PSA040: 40W AC power supply, 120/240 VAC input, RX3i backplane
• IC695PSD040: 40W DC power supply, 24 VDC input, RX3i backplane
• IC695PSA140: 40W AC power supply with diagnostics, redundancy-ready

Backplane / Chassis

• IC695CHS012: 12-slot universal backplane, accepts RX3i and 90-30 I/O modules
• IC695CHS016: 16-slot universal backplane, maximum I/O density configuration

Quality Control for the PACSystems RX3i Range

RX3i modules present specific test challenges due to their universal backplane bus architecture, which combines a high-speed PCI-based local bus with a legacy 90-30 I/O bus on the same backplane. DriveKNMS applies a dedicated test protocol for IC695 series modules: each CPU module undergoes power-on self-test (POST) verification, user memory read/write cycle testing, Ethernet port link negotiation and SRTP communication validation, and scan cycle timing measurement against GE specification sheets. Analog I/O modules are bench-calibrated against NIST-traceable references. Communications modules are tested for protocol handshake integrity under simulated network load. All modules are inspected for backplane connector pin integrity and capacitor condition prior to dispatch.