Skip to main content

Industrial Robot Control Unit

Industrial robot control units depend on reliable, low‑latency signal transmission in high‑speed feedback loops, which are essential to real‑time precision in robotic operations. Advanced connectivity architectures support high‑integrity data exchange between sensors, actuators, drives and controllers. Molex provides industrial-grade connectors and cable assemblies engineered to optimize signal integrity and system reliability in demanding automation applications.

New Challenges in Industrial Robot Controller Design

Industrial robot control units must ensure dependable, low-latency connectivity in harsh operating environments to support multi-sensor feedback for precise motion control and continuous monitoring. 

Design engineers need advanced connectivity solutions that enable robust real‑time data exchange across robot subsystems, processing large sensor data loads safely and with precise timing.

Molex offers industrial‑grade single pair Ethernet (SPE) connectors, cable assemblies and Ethernet switches engineered to deliver real-time, high-integrity signal transmission between sensors, actuators and controllers. Furthermore, PROFIsafe-compliant components from Molex deliver reliable performance in safety-focused automation applications.

Industrial Automation Control Unit

Featured Products

Control Module Communication and Connectivity Solutions

Achieving high performance in robotic equipment, while ensuring cybersecurity standards are met — whether measured in terms of efficiency, precision or reliability — is a delicate balance of speed and security. Factories are turning to Molex to help ensure rapid data transmission and secure network communications for industrial robots.   

Control box device teardown.

Control Modules

  Managed / Unmanaged Ports Input Voltage Data Speeds Network Protocols IP Rating
Industrial Ethernet Switches Managed or unmanaged 5, 8 Up to 57V 10, 100, 1,000 Mbps EtherNet/IP, PROFINET IP20,
IP67
  Configuration Circuits Voltage Current (Max per Contact)
CRC Connectors I/O Connectors 4 to 50 250V AC (RMS)/DC 1.0 to 15.0A
Terminal Blocks and Barrier Strips PCB Terminal Block Connectors   Up to 600V 5.0 to 115.0A

Flexible Printed Circuits

With their ability to handle compact, high-performance designs, Flexible Printed Circuits (FPCs) are frequently used in industrial control modules. Their flexibility makes them ideal for tight spaces and dynamic operations, which are often required for applications such as automation systems, control panels and other industrial equipment.

Explore Flexible Printed Circuits

User Interface Solutions

Industrial control module operators use Human-Machine Interfaces (HMIs) to interact with systems, creating the need for User Interface Solutions like touchscreens, keypads and other interface designs. Their durability, shock and vibration resistance and customizable dashboards make them ideal for control module applications. 

Explore User Interface Solutions

Industrial Ethernet Connectivity

  Coding Poles IP Rating Field Attachables Shielded Cable Material Cable Length
Micro-Change M12 X‑Code,
D‑Code		 4, 8 IP67, IP68 x Shielded or unshielded PUR, PVC,
weld-slag oil-resistant (WSOR) TPE		 Up to 100m
Single-Pair Ethernet (SPE) T1   IP20, IP65, IP67 x Shielded PUR and TPE Up to 40m

Power Supply Connectors

With a growing number of devices making up smart factory systems, design engineers must optimize power consumption while reliably maintaining the functionality of multiple features. Molex industrial automation solutions provide low-loss and energy-efficient interconnects with modularity built into the design, ensuring fast and easy installation. These power components are rated IP66 / IP67 / IP68 / IP69K to seal against high-pressure water, dust and moisture.

Power Connectors from Control Unit to Industrial Robot

Power Supply
  Circuits Voltage IP Rating Current (Max per Contact) Field Attachables Shielded
GWConnect Heavy-Duty Connectors 2 to 216 250V 10.0/16.0A,
230/400V 16.0A,
500V 16.0A,
830V 35.0/80.0A,
460/690 +250V
4x 4.0A + 2x 10.0A		 IP66, IP69 Up to 100.0A x Shielded
BradPower Connectors 3 to 4 600V IP67, IP68, IP69k Up to 32.0A x Shielded or unshielded
Mini-Change Connectors 2 to 12, 14, 19 Up to 600V   Up to 10.0A x Shielded or unshielded

Power Connectors Inside the Control Unit

Internal Power Supply
  Voltage Current (Max per Contact) Wire Sizes
High-Current Universal Clamps (HCUC) Up to 1,000V 120.0 to 380.0A 6 AWG to 500 MCM
(16.00 to 240.00mm² nominal)

Teaching Pendant Interface Module Connectors

In an automated factory, teaching pendent components need to be durable and robust enough to survive long-term, allowing human operators to program, control and monitor robotic systems without fail. Rugged, compact connectors from Molex are designed to comply with IEC 61076-2-101 standards with heavy-duty die-cast construction, offering excellent protection against electromagnetic Interference (EMI), radio frequency interference (RFI) and environmental ingress.

Tech Pendant
  Circuits Current Data Speed Voltage (Max) Operating Temperature
USB Connectors Up to 24 3.0, 5.0 and 6.0A Up to 40Gbps 48V -40 to +85°C
  Poles IP Rating Field Attachables Shielded Cable Material Cable Length
Micro-Change M12 4, 8 IP67, IP68 x Shielded or unshielded PUR, PVC,
weld-slag oil-resistant (WSOR) TPE		 Up to 100m