Quick questions about industrial M8, M12 connectors

[Kjelt]

I never worked with these, i encounter them now for the first time since i am working with industrial sensors for my cnc machine.
My questions are:
- what do I need to assemble such connectors myself? My worst nightmare would be that I need a super special crimping tool costing hundres if €s
- They look rather expensive, any cheap sources?
- What makes them so industrial grade ? What is so special, they look rather flimsy at first sight.

Thanks.

[Yansi]

Cheap source: Aliexpress
Tooling required: You may already have all you need.

Btw, most sensors come with a wire, that already was fitted with a connector and is guaranteed watertight. These Mx connectors usually have high IP rating (sensors too).

Also, at Aliexpress you can buy the cords with connectors already attached.

What I find sad is that the chinese guys don't seem to sell more than 4pin version of the M8  connectors. I needed a 6pin one just few days ago. 

[chris_leyson]

They're standard industrial connectors with lots of keying options, IP65, IP67 or IP68 rated. They're not cheap though. Available as PCB mount, even right angle in some cases and with solder buckets on the plug side. Also crimp versions are available but I've always avoided those. Just remembered, you can even get them ready wired with pigtails. A pair of spanners is all need to assemble them. The only disadvantage is the size of the mating plugs, they can be rather long and if you take cable bend radius into account they're not really suitable for confined spaces. EDIT: Thanks Yansi, forgot you can even buy them with cables fitted. Good intoduction article https://www.connectortips.com/selecting-and-implementing-m8-and-m12-connectors/

[Yansi]

Note for tight spaces, there are right angle ones made.

Y.

[jeremy]

I love these connectors, super useful when you need something which is keyed and water resistant.

I normally purchase them from a company called Shenzhen Hysik Electronics (they are on alibaba). I have no affiliation with them, other than being a happy customer. They made me some custom cables (TPU moulded) as well as having the solder bucket type connectors available. Much cheaper than digikey et al.

I have some cables/connectors from the usual suspects (TE, etc) and some from industrial manufacturers (Keyence) and I honestly can't tell the difference between those and the Hysik ones.

I have uploaded the last catalog they sent me, its for M8 connectors only though: https://www.dropbox.com/s/9k8l3hsnhizztjm/m8_series.pdf?dl=0

If you are looking for something super cheap but not necessarily standards compliant, there seems to be a series called "GX12" or "GX16" on aliexpress. They are also sold as "aviation connectors" but I have no idea why. It's the connector you usually find on chinese watercooled spindles.

[Kjelt]

Thanks all,
I did not know there were solder versions, thought for reliability only crimp versions, good to know.
I will check out the different stores, thanks.

[ajb]

TE even have a surprisingly inexpensive line of screw-terminal connectors (although they are necessarily much bulkier than the solder versions): example.

In the US, Automation Direct have a nice selection of inexpensive cable assemblies and panel mount connectors, although in a somewhat limited set of configurations--there are a LOT of different configurations, especially when you get into different keyings, and as a bonus, not all manufacturers use the same pin layouts on the low pin count connectors.

[Kjelt]

not all manufacturers use the same pin layouts on the low pin count connectors.

So you are saying that M8 and M12 are not exact connector standards like XLR, DIN etc ?

[helius]

There are standards, IEC 61076-2-101, -104, and -105, but there may also be proprietary extensions.

(XLR occupies IEC 61076-2-103; DIN is IEC 61076-2-106).

[Kjelt]

Good to know when ordering parts from different sellers or manufacturers.

[ajb]

not all manufacturers use the same pin layouts on the low pin count connectors.

So you are saying that M8 and M12 are not exact connector standards like XLR, DIN etc ?

I'm not sure exactly, but I bought 3-pin M12 connectors from TE and Norcomp in the same keying, and discovered that both used subsets of the 5-pin connector, but with different pins populated.  Physically, they mated just fine, but only two connections where made between them.  I haven't seen anything authoritative to indicate that one or the other was "wrong" per se.

[Kjelt]

That is weird, I did find the A, B, C, D and P coding which are not compatible it looks like but even with the same coding changing pins 

[Mukrakiish]

That is weird, I did find the A, B, C, D and P coding which are not compatible it looks like but even with the same coding changing pins 

I recently did some sourcing for my M12 connectors where I. The coding is specifically where the key is in relation to the pin relations. Generally just take a look at your existing female/male end connection and match up your key. If you're lucky, it's just A coding so it's really simple not to mix up the wire.

Like others have said, you can get these almost anywhere. I bought some from Allied for $3.50 a piece (TE Made), DigiKey works as well. We've also had crimp/screw style from AliExpress, no issues.

[Kjelt]

Thanks all for the information.
Ordered and already applied them in my CNC machine project, cool connectors 

It does bring a new question:
the ones I got had a plastick housing on top of the metal connector, is this standard/normal or are there other variants that have a metal body where you can screw the cable shield onto?
Not necessary for this application but might be for a future one.