GE Series 90-30 IC693 Modules IC693APU301 Axis Positioning Module

Technical Dossier

Product Details And Specifications

GE Series 90-30 (IC693) Series Technical Notes

The GE Series 90-30, identified by the IC693 prefix, is one of the most widely deployed programmable logic controller (PLC) platforms in global heavy industry. Installed across petrochemical refineries, nuclear power generation facilities, offshore platforms, pulp and paper mills, and continuous-process chemical plants, the Series 90-30 rack-based architecture has maintained a dominant installed base since its commercial introduction in the late 1980s. Its modular backplane design — supporting 5-slot, 10-slot, and 12-slot configurations — allows engineers to construct highly customized control nodes without over-specifying hardware. The IC693APU301 is a single-axis positioning module within this family, designed for closed-loop servo and stepper axis control directly from the PLC backplane, eliminating the need for a standalone motion controller in single-axis applications.

The Evolution of IC693 Architecture

The Series 90-30 platform launched as GE Fanuc's mid-range PLC offering, positioned between the compact Series 90-20 and the high-end Series 90-70 (IC697). The original IC693 CPU modules operated on a proprietary backplane bus at fixed scan rates, with I/O expansion handled via the IC693CHS series expansion racks connected through the IC693CBL series ribbon cables. Early CPU variants — IC693CPU311, IC693CPU313 — offered limited memory and no Ethernet-native capability. Subsequent generations introduced the IC693CPU364 and IC693CPU374, which added embedded Ethernet ports and expanded program memory to 240KB and 512KB respectively, enabling direct integration with GE's Proficy Machine Edition programming environment over TCP/IP. The IC693APU301 axis positioning module was introduced to address single-axis motion requirements without requiring migration to the Series 90-70 or a standalone VME-based motion controller. Its architecture uses a dedicated DSP to execute trapezoidal and S-curve velocity profiles independently of the CPU scan cycle, reporting position feedback via the backplane. As GE Automation transitioned to the PACSystems RX3i (IC695) platform in the mid-2000s, the IC693 series entered a managed lifecycle phase. GE (later Emerson Automation Solutions after the 2018 divestiture) continued to supply IC693 hardware under long-term availability commitments, but new feature development ceased. The platform is now firmly in its end-of-active-development phase, making third-party spare parts sourcing critical for facilities that cannot justify a full control system migration.

IC693 Full Catalog & Functionalities (SKU List)

CPU Modules

• IC693CPU311: 6KB program memory, 512 I/O points, no Ethernet, Series 90-30 base CPU.
• IC693CPU313: 12KB program memory, 1024 I/O points, RS-232 serial port, entry-level controller.
• IC693CPU321: 32KB program memory, 2048 I/O points, expanded register table, mid-range CPU.
• IC693CPU331: 80KB program memory, 4096 I/O points, floating-point math support.
• IC693CPU340: 240KB program memory, embedded Ethernet 10BaseT, 4096 I/O points.
• IC693CPU350: 240KB program memory, dual RS-232/RS-485 ports, no embedded Ethernet.
• IC693CPU360: 240KB program memory, embedded Ethernet 10/100BaseT, enhanced diagnostics.
• IC693CPU364: 240KB program memory, embedded Ethernet 10/100BaseT, SRTP and Modbus TCP support.
• IC693CPU374: 512KB program memory, embedded Ethernet, highest-capacity Series 90-30 CPU.

Discrete Input Modules

• IC693MDL230: 120VAC 8-point discrete input module, isolated commons.
• IC693MDL240: 120VAC 16-point discrete input module, standard density.
• IC693MDL241: 24VDC 16-point positive logic discrete input module.
• IC693MDL260: 24VDC 32-point discrete input module, high-density format.

Discrete Output Modules

• IC693MDL310: 120VAC 8-point relay output module, 2A per point.
• IC693MDL330: 120/240VAC 8-point triac output module, solid-state.
• IC693MDL340: 24VDC 8-point transistor output module, sourcing type.
• IC693MDL390: 24VDC 32-point transistor output module, high-density sourcing.

Analog Modules

• IC693ALG220: 4-channel analog input, 4–20mA / 0–10V, 12-bit resolution.
• IC693ALG390: 8-channel analog input, 4–20mA / 0–10V, 12-bit resolution.
• IC693ALG442: 4-channel analog output, 4–20mA / 0–10V, 12-bit resolution.

Motion & Positioning Modules

• IC693APU301: Single-axis positioning module, encoder feedback, trapezoidal/S-curve profiles, ±10V analog command output.
• IC693APU302: Dual-axis positioning module, independent axis control, encoder feedback per axis.

Communications & Network Modules

• IC693CMM301: Genius Bus Controller, connects Series 90-30 to GE Genius I/O network.
• IC693CMM302: Profibus-DP master module, up to 125 slave devices.
• IC693CMM311: Ethernet TCP/IP communications module, 10BaseT, SRTP protocol.

Power Supply Modules

• IC693PWR321: 120/240VAC input power supply, 30W output, standard rack supply.
• IC693PWR322: 24VDC input power supply, 30W output, for DC-powered panels.
• IC693PWR330: 120/240VAC input power supply, 40W output, high-capacity rack supply.