Coolmay TK Series HMI Touch Panel 3.5 4.3 inch mView Modbus

Coolmay TK Series HMI Touch Panel 3.5 4.3 inch mView Modbus

The Coolmay TK Series is Coolmay's line of standalone HMI operator panels, covering sizes from 3.5" to 7". It contains no PLC and works by communicating with an external PLC — this is the fundamental difference from Coolmay's EX3S and MX3G all-in-ones. Confirm first whether your machine already has a PLC: if it does, you only need to add an operator panel, so choose TK; if it does not and you want to save space and cost, choose an EX3S or MX3G all-in-one.

Coolmay describes the TK series as an independent, original design system, with optimisation in processing speed and memory efficiency. Display specifications vary by size: the 3.5" offers 320 × 240 resolution, 300 cd/m² brightness and 400:1 contrast with an LED backlight rated at 60,000 hours; the 4.3" offers 480 × 272 resolution, 400 cd/m² brightness, 400:1 contrast and 65,536 colours; the 7" is available at either 800 × 480 or 1024 × 600 resolution with 300 cd/m² brightness. The touch screen is four-wire resistive, operable with a finger or stylus and more stable than a capacitive screen when operators wear gloves or moisture is present — the main reason industrial sites choose resistive technology.

Communications are a practical strength of the TK series: RS232, RS485, USB and Type-C, with Modbus RTU protocol support — the most widely used protocol in industry, so a TK panel can connect to the vast majority of PLC brands, not only Coolmay's own products. Some models also offer an Ethernet port (TK80, TK8070HD). Programming uses Coolmay's official mView software, consistent with Coolmay's entire HMI range.

For environment and installation, the operating temperature range is 0 to 50 °C, mounting is panel type and each size has its own cut-out (72 × 72 mm for 3.5", 120 × 94 mm for 4.3", 192 × 138 mm for 7"), with the 7" model weighing approximately 0.54 kg.

Product Highlights

1. Standalone HMI operator panel, no PLC included — machines that already have a PLC only need to add a panel, so the cost is precise
2. Modbus RTU plus RS232 and RS485 — connects to the vast majority of PLC brands without vendor lock-in
3. USB and Type-C across the range — straightforward program download and commissioning with no adapter cables
4. Four sizes: 3.5" / 4.3" / 5" / 7" — match panel space and information density as needed
5. Four-wire resistive touch — supports gloves and stylus, more stable than capacitive when hands are wet or moisture is present
6. The 7" offers 800×480 and 1024×600 resolution; the 4.3" is 480×272 at 65,536 colours
7. LED backlight rated at 60,000 hours (3.5" model) — ample life for continuous-operation duty
8. Selected models include an Ethernet port (TK80, TK8070HD) for direct connection to the plant network
9. Programmed with Coolmay mView — consistent across Coolmay's HMI range, so the learning curve is short
10. TK8070HD is explicitly marked CE / RoHS, giving a clear compliance basis for the EU market

Technical Specifications

4.1 Model matrix

4.2 General technical data

Applications

FAQ

Q1. Is the TK series an all-in-one? Does it include a PLC? No — TK is not an all-in-one. TK is a standalone HMI operator panel that must be connected to an external PLC over RS232 / RS485 / Modbus RTU. Coolmay's all-in-one lines are the EX3S (standard series, higher I/O ceiling, interpolation and PID) and the MX3G (compact, with integrated Ethernet). The selection decision is simple: machine already has a PLC → choose a TK panel; no PLC yet and you want to save space and cost → choose an EX3S or MX3G all-in-one. Marketing TK as an all-in-one leads to buyers ordering on the expectation of a built-in PLC and then returning the goods.

Q2. Which PLC brands can it connect to? Because it supports Modbus RTU, the industry-standard protocol, a TK panel can in principle connect to the vast majority of PLC brands, not only Coolmay's own products — including common Modbus master and slave devices. Two points to note: (1) specific communication parameters (baud rate, station address, register address mapping) must be configured against the target PLC's manual; (2) if the target PLC uses a proprietary protocol rather than standard Modbus, first confirm whether mView provides the relevant driver or whether protocol conversion is needed on the PLC side.

Q3. Resistive or capacitive? Why do industrial sites mostly use resistive? The TK series uses a four-wire resistive touch screen. Industrial sites favour resistive for three reasons: (1) it supports gloved operation and styluses — a capacitive screen barely responds through a glove; (2) it is more stable with wet hands or moisture — a water film on a capacitive screen causes false touches or drift; (3) lower cost, with a clear price advantage at the same size. The trade-off is lower light transmission and a less refined feel than capacitive, and no support for multi-touch gestures. If your operators always work bare-handed and need gesture control, resistive will be a shortcoming; otherwise resistive is the more practical choice in an industrial environment.

Q4. How do I choose the size and cut-out? Measure the existing panel opening first, then choose the size. TK cut-outs: 72 × 72 mm for 3.5", 120 × 94 mm for 4.3", 192 × 138 mm for 7". On retrofit projects always measure the cut-out first — if the existing opening falls between two sizes, an adapter plate or panel re-machining may be needed, which is the most common hidden cost in retrofits. Choose by information density as well: for status display and a few buttons, 3.5" or 4.3" is enough; for curves, many parameters or recipe management, choose a 7" (800×480 or 1024×600).

Q5. Which models have an Ethernet port? Current information confirms Ethernet on the TK80 (3.5") and TK8070HD (7"). The remaining TK models are primarily RS232 / RS485, some with optional WiFi. If your machine needs to join the plant network directly (remote program download, status reporting, MES integration), choose one of these two Ethernet models or consider the MX3G all-in-one (also with integrated Ethernet). Before ordering, confirm the exact interface configuration of the target model with your supplier, as options differ considerably between models within the same series.

Q6. What software is used, and what is the certification status? Programming uses Coolmay's official mView platform — shared across Coolmay's entire HMI range, so the learning curve is short and projects can be migrated between Coolmay HMI sizes and series. On certification, the TK8070HD is explicitly marked CE / RoHS, which is the only certification confirmed for this series so far. Note: the fact that one model carries CE/RoHS does not mean the whole TK series is certified — certificate scope differs by model. Before publishing, obtain the CE declaration of conformity and RoHS report covering the specific models you sell.