RKB0049 by Bosch Rexroth Indramat

The RKB0049 control cable is manufactured by Bosch Rexroth Indramat as part of the RKB Control Cables series. It serves as the flexible link between motion controllers, servo drives, and decentralized sensors in automated machinery. By combining signal conductors and shielded power cores in one jacket, the assembly carries high-speed fieldbus traffic while withstanding continuous movement inside energy chains, making it suitable for pick-and-place axes, gantries, and other equipment that demands repetitive dynamic motion.

This model is specified for 3,000,000 bending cycles, so it tolerates prolonged reciprocating travel without conductor fatigue when routed through cable carriers. It supports the S-BUS protocol, ensuring deterministic communication between drive modules. Both ends terminate in an M12 axial socket, eliminating the need for field crimping and providing sealed plug-in connections. During installation, the jacket may be pulled with a 60 N cable tensile load, which matches the rating for the internal conductors and helps prevent elongation of signal pairs. For both fixed mounting points and moving chain segments, the minimum bend radius is 5 × the cable diameter, a dimension that helps avoid kinking and preserve impedance while the machine operates at high cycle rates. The cable is suitable for continuous-flex tracks used in modern automation.

The cable has an IP67 ingress rating, so the molded connectors block dust and temporary immersion. Thermal endurance is separated into idle and dynamic limits: the jacket withstands 85 °C when the machine is powered but motionless, and a reduced ceiling of 50 °C applies while the cable is flexing inside a track. At the low end, the assembly remains pliable down to -30 °C during standstill, and it continues to move safely from 0 °C upward without cracking.