Custom Cable Assemblies for AGV and AMR: What Buyers Need to Provide for Quotation
To quote a custom AGV or AMR cable assembly, buyers should provide connector type, coding, pin count, gender, cable length, jacket material, shielding requirement, wire gauge, wiring diagram, application position and working environment.
⚡ Quick Answer
To quote a custom AGV or AMR cable assembly, buyers should provide connector type, coding, pin count, gender, cable length, jacket material, shielding requirement, wire gauge, wiring diagram, application position and working environment. Photos are helpful, but they are not enough to confirm pinout, shielding or current rating. Below is a complete guide on what to prepare and how to request a quote.
You Know What You Need - But How Do You Ask for It?
If you are sourcing cables for an AGV or AMR project, chances are you already have a drawing, a sample, a BOM, or at least a photo of the connector. You are not here to learn what M12 means.
What you need to know is: what information should I send to get an accurate quote, fast?
We regularly support AGV and AMR manufacturers with custom M12, M23, and 7/8" cable assemblies. The difference between a quote that comes back in 24 hours and one that takes a week of back-and-forth usually comes down to how complete the initial request is.
📍 Where Custom Cables Are Used in AGV and AMR Systems
Depending on the design, an AGV or AMR may use multiple cable assemblies across sensors, motors, I/O modules and power systems. Here are the typical positions:
| Position | Common Connector | What It Does |
|---|---|---|
| Proximity / photoelectric sensors | M12 A-coded 3-pin or 4-pin | Object detection, positioning |
| Safety scanner / LiDAR | M12 D-coded or X-coded 8-pin | Navigation, obstacle avoidance |
| Industrial camera | M12 X-coded 8-pin | Vision guidance, barcode reading |
| Drive wheel motor | M23 power connector 6-pin or 12-pin | Main traction |
| Steering motor | M23 power + encoder | Direction control |
| Encoder feedback | M12 or M23 shielded | Speed and position signal |
| I/O module / fieldbus box | 7/8" or M12 L-coded | Power distribution to field devices |
| Battery / DC bus | 7/8" power or custom harness | Main power routing |
| Gripper / end tooling | M8 or M12 compact | Actuator and sensor at end effector |
In our experience, drive wheel cables and encoder cables are the most frequently customized - because every AGV maker uses a slightly different motor brand, pinout, and cable routing path.
📋 What We Need from You to Quote
Here is the complete list. You do not need all of these for every cable, but the more you provide, the faster and more accurate the quote.
Connector Details (Both Ends)
- Type: M8, M12, M23, 7/8", RJ45, or open end
- Coding: A, B, D, X, L, K, etc. (critical for M12 - see below)
- Pin count: 3, 4, 5, 8 (M12) / 6, 9, 12, 19 (M23)
- Gender: Male (pins) or female (sockets)
- Orientation: Straight or right-angle
Cable Specifications
- Length: Connector to connector, or connector to stripped end
- Jacket: PVC (static) or PUR (moving / drag chain / oil exposure)
- Shielding: Required for encoders, Ethernet, and signal lines near motors
- Wire gauge: AWG or mm² - determines current capacity
Application Context
- Wiring diagram or pinout: Pin-to-wire assignment
- Installation: Moving or static? Indoor or outdoor?
- Environment: Temperature range, oil, water, chemicals, IP rating needed
📊 Quotation Requirements by Cable Type
Different cable types require different confirmation points. Use this table to check what applies to your request:
| Cable Type | Must Confirm |
|---|---|
| M12 cable assembly | Coding (A/B/D/X/L), pin count, gender, wiring diagram, shielding, jacket material |
| M23 motor cable | Pinout, current rating, encoder connection, brake wire, shielding, high-flex requirement |
| 7/8" power cable | Pin count, voltage rating, current rating, wire gauge, IP rating, connector orientation |
⚠️ Why Sending Only a Photo Does Not Work
We receive photo-only inquiries regularly. Here is why they are not enough:
Same look, different cable
An M12 A-coded 4-pin and an M12 B-coded 4-pin connector are visually almost identical. But the keyway is rotated - they will not mate with each other. In one replacement project, a buyer ordered a full batch based on a photo, only to find the connectors could not plug in on site.
Pinout is invisible
Two M12 5-pin sensor cables can have completely different wire-to-pin assignments. One might wire brown to pin 1, the other to pin 4. Without a pinout diagram, we are guessing.
Shielding and gauge are hidden
A 0.34mm² signal cable and a 1.5mm² power cable can have the same outer diameter. The photo will not tell us which one you need.
What helps most: A wiring diagram, a datasheet from the equipment manufacturer, or the original cable's part number. If you have none of these, clear close-up photos of both connector faces (showing the pins) plus the cable markings printed on the jacket will get us 80% of the way there.
🔧 Common Custom Configurations We Build
These are the cable assembly types we produce most often for AGV and AMR customers:
Sensor and signal cables (M12 series)
- M12 A-coded to open end - for terminal block or PCB connection
- M12 to M12 extension - sensor daisy chain or relocation
- M12 D-coded to RJ45 - Ethernet camera, LiDAR, controller
- M12 X-coded to RJ45 - 10Gbit Ethernet, high-speed vision
Motor and drive cables (M23 series)
- M23 power cable - drive wheel, steering, lift motor
- M23 signal + encoder cable - shielded, high-flex for continuous motion
- M23 to M23 extension - motor to servo drive
Power distribution cables (7/8" Mini-Change series)
Male Open-End
3-Pin / Panel Mount
Female Open-End
3-Pin / Field Wiring
Straight Extension
M-to-F / Standard
Right-Angle Extension
90° / Space-Saving
- 7/8" to 7/8" - I/O box power feed, field bus power (extension cables)
- 7/8" to open end - Panel mount or custom termination (male/female available)
- 7/8" splitter - One source to multiple I/O modules (T-connectors & Y-splitters)
Industrial Ethernet cables
- M12 D-coded to RJ45 - PROFINET, EtherNet/IP
- M12 X-coded to RJ45 - 10Gbit Ethernet for high-speed vision
- Cat5e / Cat6a shielded - EMI protection near motors and drives
Fieldbus & communication cables (DeviceNet / CAN Bus / PROFINET)
- DeviceNet - M12 A-coded or micro-change, 4-pin or 5-pin
- CAN Bus - M12 A-coded or open end, shielded twisted pair
- PROFINET - M12 B-coded or D-coded, Cat5e/Cat6a
Special requirements
- High-flex PUR jacket for drag chain or robotic arm
- Oil-resistant jacket for food/beverage or CNC environments
- IP68 molded connectors for washdown areas
- Custom overmolded Y-splitters or T-connectors
📖 Real Examples from Our Customers
Case 1: Drive wheel cable mismatch
A customer sent photos of an M23 12-pin connector and asked for "the same cable." When we requested the pinout, it turned out their motor brand used a non-standard pin assignment. If we had built to the standard M23 12-pin pinout, the motor would not have run. Pinout confirmation saved them a failed batch.
Case 2: Encoder interference after cable replacement
An AMR manufacturer replaced their encoder cables with unshielded versions to save cost. Within weeks, they had intermittent position errors and emergency stops. We supplied shielded M12 cables with proper drain wire grounding - problem solved.
Case 3: Cable breaking every 3 months
A logistics AGV used PVC-jacketed cables on the steering column - a position with continuous ±90° rotation. The cables failed repeatedly. Switching to high-flex PUR cables with a tighter bending radius rating eliminated the issue.
🔄 What Happens After You Send Your Requirements
Typically within 1 business day. If anything is unclear or missing, we will ask specific questions rather than guess.
Including unit price, MOQ, lead time, and any technical notes.
For new designs, we produce samples for your fit and function testing before batch production.
After sample approval.
Typical Lead Times
- Standard M12/M23/7/8" configurations: 1–2 weeks
- Custom pinout or special jacket: 2–3 weeks
- First-time sample: add 5–7 days
Actual lead time and MOQ depend on connector type, cable material and order quantity. Contact us for specific project timelines.
📝 RFQ Template - Copy and Send
Copy this format, fill in your details, and send it to us. This is the fastest way to get an accurate quote:
Connector B: [type / coding / pin count / gender / straight or right-angle]
Cable length: [meters]
Jacket: [PVC / PUR / other]
Shielding: [yes / no / type]
Wire gauge: [AWG or mm²]
Pinout: [attach diagram or describe pin-to-wire]
Application: [what equipment, what position, moving or static]
Environment: [indoor / outdoor / temperature / IP requirement]
Quantity: [pieces per order / annual usage]
Do not have all of these? That is fine. Send what you have - connector photos, cable markings, equipment model number, or an old sample. We can work from there.
✅ Quick Checklist
Before contacting us, confirm you have:
- Connector type and coding (both ends)
- Pin count (both ends)
- Male or female (both ends)
- Straight or right-angle (both ends)
- Cable length
- PVC or PUR (static or moving application?)
- Shielded or unshielded
- Wire gauge or current requirement
- Wiring diagram, pinout, or original part number
- Application description (what equipment, what position, what environment)
Ready to Get a Quote?
Send us your connector details, cable length, and wiring diagram. If you have a sample, original part number, or equipment datasheet, include those too.
We support OEM, ODM and project-based custom cable assembly requirements for M12, M23, and 7/8" connectors. Whether you need samples for prototyping or volume production, we can help.
Send Your Cable Requirements →❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What information is needed to quote an AGV cable assembly?
You should provide connector type, coding, pin count, gender, cable length, jacket material, shielding requirement, wire gauge, and wiring diagram. Application position and working environment also help us confirm the right specification.
Why is a connector photo not enough for M12 cable quotation?
Because M12 connectors with different coding types (A, B, D, X) look nearly identical from outside. Photos cannot confirm pinout, internal shielding, or wire gauge. A wiring diagram or original part number is needed for accurate quoting.
What cable assemblies are commonly used in AGV and AMR systems?
M12 cables are used for sensors, Ethernet communication and I/O signals. M23 cables are used for servo motors and encoder feedback. 7/8" cables are used for field power distribution and I/O module power supply.
When should AGV cables use PUR instead of PVC?
Use PUR when the cable is installed in a moving position - drag chains, robotic joints, steering columns, or any location with continuous bending. PUR offers better flex life, oil resistance, and abrasion resistance than PVC.
What is the difference between M12, M23 and 7/8" cable assemblies in AMR systems?
M12 is the standard for sensors and industrial Ethernet (smaller, lighter, signal-level current). M23 is designed for motor power and encoder feedback (higher current, more pins). 7/8" is used for field power distribution where higher current capacity is needed without the complexity of M23.
📩 Contact Premier Cable
Custom M12, M23, and 7/8" cable assemblies for AGV & AMR manufacturers. Factory-direct pricing with 100% testing.
- ✅ OEM & ODM support
- ✅ Factory-direct wholesale pricing
- ✅ 100% Tested for continuity and insulation
- ✅ Free engineering samples and rapid prototyping
