CONEC has developed an M12 Push-Pull connector system with high integration density. The company is presenting it for the first time at electronica and SPS. The system is designed to give device designers more freedom when space is tight.
When there is no room for a wrench
The standard M12 connector has proven itself in industrial automation for decades. However, its screw locking has one built-in requirement: the user must be able to turn the threaded ring.
On an open machine, this is rarely a problem. In contrast, things change when several ports sit close together, cables are already connected, or the connector is deep inside a housing. Engineers increasingly face this situation. For example, they may need to fit 16 connections into a space where eight were already difficult.
Push-pull locking solves this problem. The user plugs in the connector, it latches, and the job is done. Because nobody needs to turn a ring, installation becomes easier in confined spaces. As a result, assembly time and costs can go down.
Standardised to IEC 61076-2-010
The CONEC system is based on the international standard IEC 61076-2-010. This standard defines the mechanical requirements and interfaces for M12 connectors with push-pull locking. Consequently, it provides a basis for compatible solutions from different manufacturers.
Portfolio: coding and versions
In practice, there is no single M12 application. Sensors need different interfaces than Industrial Ethernet. Similarly, a robot places other mechanical demands on a connector than a stationary machine does. CONEC has therefore built a broad push-pull range:
- A-coded for signal and sensor applications
- D-coded for Industrial Ethernet
- X-coded for high-speed Ethernet
- PCB flange connectors for rear panel mounting on devices
- Overmoulded cable connectors
Key benefits
| Feature | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Installation space | More functions in a smaller footprint |
| Tool-free | Fast mating and unmating |
| Blind mating | Clear tactile and audible feedback |
| Packing density | More interfaces in less space |
| Compatibility | Flanges backward compatible with M12 screw locking |
| Data, signal, power | One technology for different applications |
| Service | Efficient assembly and simple maintenance |
Why it matters for engineers
For device designers, connecting a plug faster is only part of the story. What really matters is how reliably the interface fits the whole system, from design and installation to maintenance. In particular, backward-compatible flanges are useful: a device can keep accepting standard screw-lock M12 cables while also supporting push-pull. Meanwhile, the IEC standard reduces the risk of depending on a single supplier.
CONEC is showing the new system at SPS in Nuremberg, Hall 9, Stand 361. Visitors can also request free tickets on the CONEC website. For more of the company’s connectors, see the CONEC M8x1 sensor connector with LEDs, all CONEC news and our SPS coverage.