CC-Link (Control & Communication Link) is an open-standard, high-speed industrial network protocol designed for factory and process automation. Originally developed by Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, it is now managed by the CLPA (CC-Link Partner Association). The CC-Link family handles various levels of automation, ranging from simple bit-level I/O control to complex, data-intensive machine control. The standard version involves a fieldbus network based on the RS-485 physical layer, known for its robustness and ability to support multi-drop connections over long distances.
CC-Link provides deterministic communication, ensuring data exchange occurs at predictable, regular intervals--a critical requirement for synchronized machine operations. This stability allows a master controller, typically a PLC, to efficiently manage and exchange data with numerous slave devices, including sensors, actuators, robots, and programmable power supplies.
The network family has expanded to include CC-Link IE (Industrial Ethernet), which offers significantly higher bandwidth (e.g., 1 Gbps) over standard Ethernet infrastructure while maintaining the deterministic performance required for industrial control.
Integrating programmable power supplies into a CC-Link network enables centralized control and monitoring. A compatible power supply acts as a slave device, allowing the master PLC to configure voltage/current settings and monitor status in real-time as part of an integrated manufacturing or testing system.
Matsusada Precision CC-Link Compatible Products