CC-Link

Control and Communication Link - open fieldbus network by Mitsubishi Electric, dominant in Asian markets.

Type: FieldbusSpeed: 156 kbps to 10 Mbps (fieldbus), 1 Gbps (IE)Released: 1996Organization: CC-Link Partner Association (CLPA)

1 Gbps (CC-Link IE)

Bandwidth

64 stations (fieldbus)

Max Nodes

1200m (fieldbus), 100m per segment (IE)

Max Distance

Yes

Real-Time

Protocol Overview

Control and Communication Link - open fieldbus network by Mitsubishi Electric, dominant in Asian markets.

When to Use CC-Link

Choose CC-Link for Mitsubishi equipment, Asian facilities, or when standardizing on Japanese automation platforms.

Technical Specifications

Physical Layer

Physical Layer: RS-485 (fieldbus), Ethernet (IE)
Cable Type: Twisted pair, Ethernet (IE versions)
Topology: Bus (fieldbus), Star/Ring (IE)
Power Over Cable: No

Data Layer

Data Link: Token passing / CSMA/CD
Encoding: NRZ / Manchester
Error Detection: CRC
Frame Size: Varies by version

Performance

Scan Time: <1ms (IE versions)
Deterministic: Yes
Real-Time: Yes

Certification

Certification Required: Yes
License Cost: CLPA membership and conformance testing
Version: CC-Link IE Field / CC-Link IE TSN

Advantages & Disadvantages

Advantages

✓Strong presence in Asia
✓Mitsubishi ecosystem integration
✓Multiple speed options
✓CC-Link IE TSN (Time-Sensitive Networking)
✓Cost-effective in Asian markets
✓Growing international presence
✓Motion control support

Disadvantages

✗Limited adoption outside Asia
✗Primarily Mitsubishi ecosystem
✗Less global support than PROFINET/EtherNet/IP
✗Requires CLPA membership for development
✗Documentation mainly in Japanese/Chinese initially

Common Use Cases & Applications

Mitsubishi PLC systems

Asian manufacturing facilities

Machine building (Asia)

Automotive assembly (Asia)

Semiconductor manufacturing

Motion control applications

Adoption & Ecosystem Context

Adoption LevelVery High (Asia), Growing (elsewhere)

Primary-source market share20-30% in Asia, <5% elsewhere

Geographic PresenceStrong in Asia, growing in Europe and Americas

Primary Industries

Automotive (Asia)ElectronicsSemiconductorMachinery

Supported Message Types

Cyclic transmission

Transient transmission

Remote I/O

Remote device

Supported PLC Brands

Mitsubishi

Omron

Yaskawa

SMC

Panasonic

Oriental Motor

Quick Links

Alternative Protocols

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