XYCOM XVME-688 VMEbus Single-Board Computer for Industrial Control Upgrades

The XYCOM XVME-688 is a 6U VMEbus single-board computer designed for robust, long-life control applications. From my experience, it’s often used as the processing heart of legacy motion systems, test stands, machine tools, and semiconductor equipment where uptime and drop-in compatibility matter more than chasing the newest silicon. You might notice that the XVME-688 typically combines reliable VME master/slave operation with practical I/O—serial ports, legacy video, storage interfaces, and Ethernet on many builds—so it fits neatly into existing racks without rewiring the entire cabinet.

Our Order Process and Guarantees

• – Warranty: 365 days from delivery

• – Delivery: 1 week if in stock; no more than 1 month latest

• – Payment: 50% advance; full balance before delivery

– Express options: FedEx, UPS, DHL

Key Features

• 6U VMEbus SBC – Standard 6U Eurocard footprint installs directly into existing VME or VME64 racks.
• Industrial-grade design – Built for 24/7 service; stable thermal behavior in ventilated enclosures.
• VME master/slave with interrupts – Supports A16/A24/A32 addressing and D8/D16/D32 transfers in most configurations.
• Practical I/O on-board – Typically includes serial (RS‑232/422), parallel, legacy video (VGA/SVGA), and storage (IDE or SCSI).
• Ethernet availability – Many XVME-688 builds ship with 10Base‑T for plant networking and remote diagnostics.
• Watchdog and RTC – Hardware watchdog and battery-backed real-time clock for deterministic control tasks.
• OS ecosystem for the era – Common deployments ran VxWorks, pSOS, DOS/Windows legacy, or UNIX variants depending on the CPU option.
• Serviceable and field-proven – In many cases, it’s a straightforward replacement to extend equipment life without requalification.

Technical Specifications

Related or Supporting Products

• XYCOM XVME-654 – 68030-based VME SBC; suitable where a 68K CPU and pure legacy RTOS support are required.
• XYCOM XVME-658 – 68040-based VME SBC; higher performance than 68030 systems with similar VME footprint.
• XYCOM XVME-690 – Pentium-class VME SBC; useful if you need a CPU step-up while staying in the same rack.
• Motorola MVME-162/167 – Commonly used 68K VME alternatives; broad VxWorks and pSOS ecosystem.
• Motorola MVME-177 – PowerPC-based upgrade path; typically faster CPU with extended OS support.
• Standard 6U VME chassis/backplanes – Elma/Schroff VME or VME64 racks with adequate airflow and PSU headroom.
• P2 rear transition modules – For routing serial, Ethernet, or SCSI to the rear; selection depends on the exact XVME-688 I/O mapping.

Installation & Maintenance

• Cabinet and cooling – Use a 6U VME/VME64 chassis with continuous airflow across the card area; keep adjacent slot covers installed to maintain ducting. From my experience, 5 V rail stability and airflow prevent most intermittent faults.
• Power integrity – Maintain +5 V within ±5% at the card edge under load; verify PSU capacity for 5 V and ±12 V rails.
• Wiring and rear I/O – Confirm the P2 pin-out versus the intended transition module; serial/Ethernet mapping can vary by board revision.
• ESD and handling – Use antistatic procedures; insert with power off; check VME address, arbiter, and IRQ jumpers before power-up.
• Routine care – Quarterly dust removal with dry air; reseat connectors annually; back up OS/boot media; replace the CMOS/RTC battery every 3–5 years.
• Firmware and OS – Keep a known-good BIOS/firmware image and boot device; updates are rare on legacy units but documenting the exact version saves time in the field.

Quality & Certifications

• Certifications – Typically CE and UL for industrial environments; manufactured under ISO 9001 quality systems.
• RoHS – Early XVME-688 units predate RoHS; legacy-spare exemptions may apply depending on jurisdiction.
• Warranty – 365-day warranty. Each unit is function-tested before shipment.