Latest Connectors From Binder are Designed for Robotics and Factory Automation Tasks

Who is Binder?

Binder is a company that designs and manufactures circular connectors. They are headquartered out of Neckarsulm, Germany, and they’ve been in the circular connector business since 1968. 
 

Binder’s square-flange M12 signal connectors. Image used courtesy of Binder 

 

Binder makes connectors for many industries and specializes in mostly circular connectors for signal or power. They also offer a line of distribution blocks. Binder recently released their latest line of connectors, designed to help engineers with factory automation and robotics tasks. 

 

Configurable Signal Connector

An A-coded signal connector is typically a round connector with three to 12 pins that have some kind of pin or block within the connectors. This feature is designed to ensure the connectors are aligned before the threads can pull the two connectors together, thus connecting both the male and female components.

Anyone who has interacted with any automation equipment knows what it’s like to work with round A-coded signal connectors. Sometimes these connectors are under tables, hidden behind guarding, or just hard to reach. 

Trying to insert these connectors that are in hard-to-reach locations can be a pain point for many engineers. It’s common for engineers to try multiple orientations of the connector before giving up and starting at the beginning, only to find that the first orientation worked. Binder has developed a solution to combat this problem, a configurable connector. 

 

Connectors and cables from Binder. Image used courtesy of Binder 

 

This connector consists of an M12 panel mount square-flange housing, along with a multi-position lockable A-coding. This style of connector allows the technician to align the A-coding in a reasonable position so that cables do not need to be twisted to align with the A-coding or so that a marking of some kind can be used to indicate the location of the A-coding. 

 

Features of the Series 763

This connector consists of two parts: the metal housing and the contact carrier. The contact carrier has a lockable A-coding that can be rotated in 45° increments. Binder’s 763 series connector can be ordered with 4, 5, and 8 pin variants, with single wires or solder contacts. 

Both variants use the same drilling dimensions as an M16 form factor, allowing for easier swapping in the field. The rated max wire gauge for pin variants is 24 AWG with a current rating of 4A for the 4 and 5 pin, and 2A for the 8 pin. 

 

Male cable connector with solder eye ring. Image used courtesy of Binder 

 

The rated voltages are 250V for the 4 pin, 60V for the 5 pin, and 30V for the 8 pin. All models are in accordance with IP69 protection and have a designed operation temperature from -40 °C to 85 °C. 

 

Use Cases

Cylinder connectors are used throughout the automation industry, in automotive, medical, and even nuclear. Today, even more connectors are using standard cylinder connectors, as they provide secure, IP-rated connections for signals or power connections. 

Component manufacturers need to ensure their panel-mounted connectors are aligned in a usable way so technicians and engineers don’t have to twist or manipulate the cable that interfaces with their equipment.

Technicians and designers need to pay attention to the orientation of components when installed in reference to where the A-coded feature is so that they do not need to twist cables excessively. Using a configurable connector that can adapt to any direction could allow users to save money and time installing and troubleshooting equipment. 

Binder is hopeful that this new line of connectors will help engineers solve some of their most common problems in the field.