Reduce Downtime with Durable CAN Bus Cables

High-Performance CAN Bus Cables Designed for Continuous Motion

Minimize downtime and maximize reliability in your industrial automation systems with igus® CAN bus cables—engineered specifically for energy chain applications. These cables deliver secure data transmission in moving applications, making them ideal for demanding environments like robotics, production lines, and heavy-duty vehicles.

What is a CAN Bus Cable?

The Controller Area Network (CAN) bus is a robust fieldbus system originally developed by Bosch in partnership with Intel in 1986. Designed to reduce complex wiring in vehicles, CAN bus technology has evolved into a critical communication standard across industrial automation, automotive, and heavy equipment industries.

By 1994, Bosch introduced the CANopen protocol, enabling even broader application in automation and safety-critical environments. Today, CAN bus systems are widely used in industrial vehicles such as forklifts, aerial work platforms, and factory machinery.

Why Choose igus® CAN Bus Cables?

igus® chainflex® CAN bus cables are built for continuous flexing and long service life in energy chains—where traditional cables often fail. Whether for robotic arms, packaging machines, or CNC tools, our CAN bus cables provide superior EMC protection, flexibility, and resistance to wear.

Key Features:

• 13 CAN bus cable types across 7 different series
• Designed for millions of cycles in energy chain use
• Available with PVC, PUR, and TPE outer jackets
• Optimized for tight bend radii and high-speed data transmission
• Backed by a 4 year functional guarantee

CAN Bus Cable Transmission Length: What You Need to Know

Transmission length is a critical factor when selecting the right CAN bus cable—and it’s often overlooked. The maximum length depends heavily on the cable type and its intended use.

Fixed vs. Flexible CAN Bus Cables

• Fixed installation cables have lower signal loss (attenuation), allowing for longer transmission distances.
• Flexible CAN bus cables, designed for constant motion in energy chains, have higher attenuation, which can reduce the effective transmission length.

Typical Transmission Lengths and Data Rates

• Up to 500m at 125 Kbps with fixed installation copper cables
• Up to 40m at 1 Mbps for high-speed fixed installations
• Up to 50m for moving chainflex® CAN bus cables—depending on speed, environment, and application requirements

Even though chainflex® cables can mechanically handle travels of over 400m, signal quality and data rate naturally decrease with longer lengths. Environmental conditions such as temperature, interference, and mechanical stress also affect performance.