MK60DN256VMD10 - Kinetis K60 Cortex-M4 100MHz MCU | NXP
MPN: MK60DN256VMD10 ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
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| 1 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 10 | $0 | $0.00 |
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| 500 | $0 | $0.00 |
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MK60DN256VMD10 Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single integrated circuit that combines a processor core, memory (flash for code, SRAM for data), and peripherals on one die, forming the lowest level of the embedded-system hierarchy: MCU -> embedded processor -> system-on-chip -> semiconductor device. Unlike a microprocessor, an MCU requires no external memory chips, making it the default choice for compact, low-power control systems.
Key features of the K60 family include the ARM Cortex-M4 core with DSP instructions and a hardware floating-point capable architecture, IEEE 1588 Ethernet MAC for precision networked timing, and advanced analog integration per NXP product documentation. The 100 MHz core clock supports single-cycle MAC operations typical of digital signal processing workloads.
The K60 platform is built on NXP's Kinetis common-core architecture, meaning code, tools, and peripherals are shared across the Kinetis K family, simplifying migration between flash densities and package options. The 144-MAPBGA ball grid array provides high I/O density for peripheral-rich designs while remaining surface-mountable with standard reflow processes.
Typical applications include industrial Ethernet nodes requiring IEEE 1588 precision time protocol, motor control systems leveraging the Cortex-M4 DSP capability, and embedded networking equipment. The 3.3 V operating range integrates directly with standard industrial logic levels.
Designers should verify ball-map compatibility before layout reuse across K60 package variants, and confirm supply sequencing requirements per the manufacturer datasheet. According to NXP, the part is offered in tray packaging for production programming flows.
This page synthesizes distributor listings, cross-reference data, drop-in alternatives, and practical design guidance not found in any single manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for MK60DN256VMD10 — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Variants in this series
Same-series models that are drop-in compatible with MK60DN256VMD10 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Ethernet, Mounting Type, SRAM, Supply Voltage.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
MK60DN512VMD10
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$8.12 / Unit
View Datasheet →MK60FX512VMD10
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MK60DN256ZVMD10
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MK20DX256ZVMD10
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MK10DX256ZVMD10
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MK60DN256VMD10 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | ARM Cortex-M4 |
| Core Size | 32-bit |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 100 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 256 KB (256K x 8) |
| Supply Voltage | 1.8 V / 2.5 V / 3.3 V |
| Family | Kinetis K60 (K6x) |
| Ethernet | IEEE 1588 Ethernet MAC |
| Package | 144-MAPBGA (13 x 13 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Packaging | Tray |
| Program Memory Type | FLASH |
MK60DN256VMD10 144-mapbga (13 x 13 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for MK60DN256VMD10 (144-mapbga (13 x 13 mm) package). This digital IC includes GPIO, communication interfaces (UART, SPI, I2C), and power pins. Refer to the manufacturer datasheet for alternate pin functions and configuration options. Essential for embedded system design and PCB layout.
No detailed pinout data available for MK60DN256VMD10.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
MK60DN256VMD10 is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Ethernet Nodes, Motor Control Systems, Precision Timing and Test Instrumentation, Building Automation Controllers, Medical Data Acquisition Devices, Networked Security and Access Control.
Industrial Ethernet Nodes
The MK60DN256VMD10 fits industrial Ethernet endpoints because its K60 family integrates an IEEE 1588 Ethernet MAC with hardware timestamping, enabling precision time protocol synchronization across factory networks. Operating at 100 MHz on the ARM Cortex-M4 core, it handles protocol stacks and application logic concurrently, while 256 KB of flash accommodates TCP/IP stacks such as NXP's Kinetis networking software. In a typical node, the MCU connects to an external Ethernet PHY (for example the KSZ8081RNB) through the MII/RMII interface, with the 3.3 V I/O domain matching standard industrial logic levels. The trade-off versus a dedicated network processor is lower raw bandwidth, but for PTP-synchronized sensors, drives, and I/O modules the integrated approach reduces BOM cost and board area.
Recommended
Motor Control Systems
Motor control benefits directly from the MK60DN256VMD10's ARM Cortex-M4 core at 100 MHz, which provides DSP instructions and single-cycle MAC operations for field-oriented control (FOC) mathematics on PMSM and BLDC motors. The K60 family's advanced analog integration, highlighted in NXP product documentation, supplies ADC channels for current sensing and PWM peripherals for inverter stage drive, minimizing external components. In a typical servo drive, the MCU executes the current loop at PWM frequency, reads phase currents through its ADCs, and communicates with a host over CAN or Ethernet - the latter leveraging the IEEE 1588 MAC for multi-axis synchronization. The key consideration is ensuring ADC sampling latency and PWM update rates meet the bandwidth needs of the specific motor; verify peripheral counts in the NXP reference manual.
Recommended
Precision Timing and Test Instrumentation
Test and measurement equipment that must correlate events across distributed instruments exploits the MK60DN256VMD10's IEEE 1588 precision time protocol support, which timestamps Ethernet packets in hardware for sub-microsecond synchronization accuracy. The 100 MHz Cortex-M4 core executes correction algorithms and local timekeeping while the K60's general-purpose timers capture or generate precisely scheduled events. In a typical setup, each instrument node runs PTP over its Ethernet link, disciplining a local timer used to timestamp measurement data, replacing costly dedicated timing distribution hardware. The 256 KB flash accommodates protocol stack, correction servo, and application firmware with room for field updates. Designers should confirm timer resolution and clock architecture in the NXP K60 reference manual to meet their specific jitter budget.
Recommended
Building Automation Controllers
Building automation controllers combine multiple communication interfaces with moderate compute, a profile well matched to the MK60DN256VMD10: its Ethernet MAC with IEEE 1588 handles BACnet/IP or lightweight networked control, while 100 MHz Cortex-M4 performance manages control loops and protocol translation. The 3.3 V supply integrates with standard peripheral ICs for relay driving, sensor acquisition, and display interfaces. The 256 KB flash is sufficient for combined protocol stack and application code in most controller designs, and the same-footprint MK60DN512VMD10 provides a migration path if firmware grows. In a typical HVAC controller, the MCU interfaces analog sensors through its ADCs, drives actuators via GPIO/PWM, and reports over Ethernet. Battery-backed domain support in the K60 family retains RTC operation during power loss; verify VBAT connection details in the datasheet.
Recommended
Medical Data Acquisition Devices
Portable and benchtop medical data acquisition units use the MK60DN256VMD10 to digitize sensor signals, apply DSP filtering on the Cortex-M4 core, and stream results over Ethernet to monitoring workstations. The K60's advanced analog integration, per NXP documentation, reduces external signal-chain components, while hardware DSP instructions accelerate FFT and digital filter computations common in physiological signal processing. The 3.3 V operation simplifies isolation barrier design between patient-connected front ends and the networked processing domain. In a typical device, an analog front end feeds the MCU's ADC, the core applies filtering, and the IEEE 1588-capable Ethernet MAC timestamps samples for synchronized multi-channel recording. Regulatory designs must address the MCU's role within the overall IEC risk-management framework; NXP quality documentation on the product page supports compliance workflows.
Recommended
Networked Security and Access Control
Networked security controllers benefit from the MK60DN256VMD10's combination of Ethernet connectivity with IEEE 1588 timestamping and 100 MHz Cortex-M4 processing for credential verification, door logic, and event logging. The 256 KB flash hosts the network stack plus access-control application firmware, and encrypted or tamper-evident logging can leverage the MCU's timer precision to order events across a distributed system. In a typical installation, the MCU interfaces card readers via UART/GPIO, drives lock outputs, and communicates with a central server over Ethernet through an external PHY. The 144-ball MAPBGA's high I/O count supports multiple readers and alarm loops on one controller. Designers should plan for secure boot and key storage requirements early, as the K60 generation's security features should be verified against the specific threat model in the NXP reference manual.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for MK60DN256VMD10 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | MK60DN512VMD10 | MK60FX512VMD10 | MK20DX256ZVMD10 | MK10DX256ZVMD10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 144-MAPBGA (13x13) | 144-MAPBGA (13x13) - same | 144-MAPBGA (13x13) - same | 144-MAPBGA (13x13) - same | 144-MAPBGA (13x13) - same |
| Brand | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors |
| Core | ARM Cortex-M4, 100 MHz | ARM Cortex-M4, 100 MHz | ARM Cortex-M4, 100 MHz | ARM Cortex-M4, 100 MHz | ARM Cortex-M4, 100 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 256 KB | 512 KB | 512 KB | 256 KB | 256 KB |
| IEEE 1588 Ethernet | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Supply Voltage | 1.8 / 2.5 / 3.3 V | 1.8 / 2.5 / 3.3 V | 1.8 / 2.5 / 3.3 V | 1.8 / 2.5 / 3.3 V | 1.8 / 2.5 / 3.3 V |
| Family / Lifecycle Position | K60 - Active | K60 - Active | K60 - Active | K20 - Active | K10 - Active |
| Package Variant Note | DN (V) ball map | DN (V) ball map - same | FX (V) ball map - verify | Z ball map - verify ball map before reuse | Z ball map - verify ball map before reuse |
Key Differentiators
- IEEE 1588 Ethernet MAC integrated (vs MK20DX256ZVMD10)
- 256 KB flash at lowest K60 MAPBGA cost point (vs MK60DN512VMD10)
- Full K60 feature set vs reduced-peripheral K10 (vs MK10DX256ZVMD10)
Design Notes
The 144-MAPBGA (13 x 13 mm) package uses a fine-pitch ball grid array requiring controlled-impedance, microvia-capable PCB fabrication. Plan escape routing with via-in-pad or dog-bone fanout, and verify your fabricator's minimum BGA pitch capability before release. For layout reuse across the K60 MAPBGA family (for example migrating MK60DN256VMD10 to MK60DN512VMD10), confirm that the ball map of both orderable parts matches in the NXP datasheet - Freescale/NXP used multiple ball-map assignments (V and Z designators) within the same 144-ball outline.
The MK60DN256VMD10 supports 1.8 V, 2.5 V, and 3.3 V supply options per distributor listings. In most designs a single 3.3 V rail feeds the I/O and internal regulator domains; decouple each supply ball with 100 nF ceramics placed close to the package, plus bulk capacitance at the board level. The BGA exposes multiple VDD/VSS pairs - connect all of them, since omitted return paths cause erratic analog peripheral performance. Confirm the exact power-domain architecture (VDD, VDDA, VBAT, regulator pins) in the NXP K60 reference manual rather than inferring from the K60 family overview.
When migrating within the Kinetis K family, note that the K60's Ethernet MAC requires an external PHY - the MK60DN256VMD10 cannot connect directly to an RJ45 jack. Also, parts with 'Z' and 'V' ball-map designators in the same 144-ball outline are NOT interchangeable despite identical package names; DigiKey/Utmel cross-comparisons between K20 and K60 MAPBGA parts do not guarantee ball-map identity. Finally, use the NXP official datasheet and reference manual from nxp.com/part/MK60DN256VMD10 - third-party datasheet mirrors may host outdated K60 sub-family revisions.
Compliance Information
The NXP product page lists an Environmental Quality section, but specific RoHS/REACH/halogen-free status was not captured in the verified web data snippet. Consult the NXP product page's Environmental Quality tab for current compliance certificates.
