Fieldbuses such as Profibus and CC-Link as well as Ethernet derivatives such as Profinet and CC-Link IE are being further developed to enable ever higher data rates. The situation is similar for the classic Ethernet categories. While CAT5 was the measure of all things a few years ago and a quantum leap was achieved with CAT5e, CAT6A and CAT7 are increasingly in demand today. However, all developments to date have ended at the last "intelligent" component of the machine. Due to the size of the cable and the connector solutions, connections down to the smallest sensor could not be implemented until now. Cables with just one pair of wires offer a solution. With the CFBUS.PUR.042, Igus presented a Chainflex single-pair Ethernet cable at the SPS, especially for moving, long-lasting use in the e-chain.

One wire pair instead of four

The single-pair Ethernet cable only uses one pair of wires instead of the usual four. This reduces the data rate to transmission rates of 10 MBit/s to 1 GBit/s. However, a higher speed is not necessary in many applications. Instead, the reduction in the number of cores enables a 25 percent smaller outer diameter. The new cable is designed to fit the T1 connector interface, which was specially developed for SPE. As a result, the durable shield is reliably transferred, ensuring a high level of electromagnetic compatibility. The combination of cable and connector is extremely robust. Igus uses a highly abrasion-resistant, notch-resistant PUR jacket, and the plug has robust metal latches with a PCB socket.

Service life tested and guaranteed

Reducing the size of the cable and connector creates additional space even in the smallest e-chain series. This makes SPE technology an alternative to classic serial bus systems in the automotive industry, railroad technology or industrial robots. The user does not have to compromise on quality. The oil-resistant and flame-retardant CFBUS.PUR.042 has been extensively tested in our own test laboratory. The customer also receives a guarantee of 10 million double strokes and 36 months for the SPE cable, which can be calculated online.