Product Description:

The IKO0985 fiber optic cable is manufactured by Bosch Rexroth Indramat as part of the IKO Fiber Optic Cables series. It carries control and diagnostic signals between drives, PLCs, and sensors in electrically noisy areas, using a polymer waveguide instead of copper conductors. The design supports installation inside dynamic cable chains on automated machines where frequent motion would damage less flexible links while maintaining stable optical transmission.

The light signal experiences no more than 250 dB/km of attenuation, so link budgets can be calculated for moderate-length factory runs. A large 1000 µm core made from PMMA simplifies connector alignment and accepts high-numerical-aperture emitters that suit industrial transmitters. The step-index profile confines rays within the core and pairs with a minimum bend radius of 80 mm; below this curvature, excessive losses would occur. Radial pressure up to 450 N/cm can be tolerated without fracturing the cladding, an advantage when the cable is routed through tight tracks. The overall diameter is kept to 6.0 mm ± 0.2 mm, allowing standard 6 mm energy-chain separators, and a polyurethane jacket resists oils and coolants while providing a 100 mm minimum cable-track radius for continuous motion paths.

Mechanical longevity is verified by a flex-test rating of 100,000 cycles in reciprocating chains. During operation, the cable sustains a continuous pull of 100 N, with a one-time installation limit of 150 N to prevent micro-cracks in the fiber. Service temperatures range from -20 °C to +80 °C, enabling use near machine housings, cooling ducts, or heated tooling without signal degradation. The cable is suited for moving machine sections that need reliable optical communication during repeated travel.