BespokeCable manufactures custom D-Sub cable assemblies for industrial control equipment, test instruments, computer interfaces, communication devices, and legacy system replacement. The available product families include commonly requested DB9, 15-pin D-Sub, DB25, DB37, and DB50 assemblies, as well as high-density 44-, 62-, and 78-position configurations. We also build D-Sub cables with bare-wire, ribbon, panel-mount, modular, USB, and Centronics terminations.
A matching shell does not guarantee a matching cable. Before you buy a D-Sub assembly, confirm the connector gender, contact count and density, wiring map, second-end termination, cable length, shielding, backshell, screw hardware, and exit direction. For serial links, also identify whether the equipment requires straight-through, null-modem, or proprietary wiring. A cable intended for RS232 should not be assumed to work with a parallel printer, analog I/O card, or equipment-specific control port simply because the connector fits.
Our Shenzhen factory supports drawing-based and sample-based custom production. Available processes include wire cutting and stripping, crimping, soldering, IDC termination, foil and braid shielding, overmolding, backshell assembly, labeling, and project-specific packaging. Incoming, in-process, and final checks follow the approved construction and test plan. For repeat orders, the released drawing, pinout, and labeling requirements provide the reference for production.
Send us your specification, device manual, existing cable, or clear connector photos. We can review the information required for quotation and identify any unresolved interface details before production.
Click here to learn what a D-SUB cable is.
Standard-Density D-Sub Cable Families
Choose a DB9 cable for equipment that uses a 9-position D-Sub interface, including many serial, console, and proprietary control connections. Evaluate male, female, straight, angled, molded, metal-hood, ribbon, and panel-mount constructions. Confirm the DTE/DCE relationship and whether the required wiring is straight-through, null-modem, or device-specific.
This family covers the two-row, 15-position D-Sub commonly called DB15 and more formally identified as DA-15. It is different from the three-row HD15 connector used for VGA. Select this family for equipment with a matching two-row interface, then confirm gender, pinout, cable construction, and whether every contact must be populated.
DB25 assemblies can carry serial, parallel, control, analog, or equipment-specific signals, depending on the pinout and cable construction. Available project formats may include molded cables, metal hoods, ribbon terminations, panel mounts, and bare-wire breakouts. Specify the actual interface; a DB25 serial cable and a DB25 parallel cable are not automatically interchangeable.
The 37-position standard-density format is commonly used when more control, measurement, or I/O circuits must pass through a single connector. It can be supplied as an extension, equipment cable, or breakout assembly. Confirm signal grouping, conductor requirements, shielding, hood construction, and whether the cable mates directly with a card, panel, or terminal interface.
The 50-position standard-density D-Sub—formally associated with the DD shell—is suitable for high circuit counts in control, test, and legacy equipment. Available configurations can include connector-to-connector and connector-to-bare-wire assemblies. Because the contact count does not define the signal type, provide the complete pin map and any pair, shield, or power-conductor requirements.
High-Density D-Sub Cable Families
The 44-position high-density D-Sub uses more closely spaced contacts than a standard-density connector in the same general shell family. It is used for compact multi-channel I/O, motion control, test, or equipment-specific interfaces. Confirm mating connector dimensions, row arrangement, and backshell clearance rather than ordering by the informal “DB44” name alone.
Choose the 62-position high-density family when the equipment requires this specific three-row interface and many signal paths in limited panel space. The wiring may be fully populated or project-specific. Submit the connector drawing, gender, pin map, and grouping requirements so conductor size, shielding, and termination method can be reviewed together.
The 78-position high-density D-Sub is intended for equipment designed around this exact four-row interface. It can consolidate many control or measurement circuits, but it also requires careful pin identification and strain management. Provide the equipment-side drawing and an approved wiring schedule; do not substitute it for a 50-position standard-density connector with a similar shell outline.
Mixed-Termination and Interface-Specific Assemblies
This assembly connects a 9-position D-Sub interface to a modular connector used by specific control, console, power-management, or service ports. “RJ11” is often used loosely for several modular formats, so confirm the plug position/contact configuration and latch orientation. The cable must follow the equipment pinout; connector shape alone does not establish compatibility.
Select the DB9-to-RJ12 family when the equipment uses a six-position modular interface and requires a defined serial or proprietary wiring map. Confirm whether all six contacts are fitted, the DB9 gender, cable length, and device model. Source this product against an approved pinout rather than treating it as a universal telephone-style cable.
DB9-to-8P8C assemblies are used for console, serial, and industrial communication interfaces with many different pin assignments. Fixed cables and passive adapter formats serve different installation needs. Specify the protocol, equipment model, DB9 gender, 8P8C orientation, and required pin map. A network patch-cable connector does not mean the interface is Ethernet.
This family routes selected DB25 circuits to an 8P8C modular interface for equipment-specific serial, console, or control applications. Cable and inline-adapter versions should be treated as pin-mapping products, not automatic protocol converters. Confirm the active circuits, grounding, shielding, and whether an external patch cable forms part of the installed link.
Use this assembly when confirmed serial equipment must connect between 9-position and 25-position D-Sub interfaces. The correct wiring depends on the DTE/DCE roles, handshake requirements, and equipment manuals. Specify connector gender at both ends and whether the project needs a straight-through or equipment-specific map; the two connector sizes do not determine the wiring automatically.
Choose the null-modem version only when two serial devices require crossed transmit/receive circuits or a defined handshake crossover. Several null-modem schemes exist, so “null modem” is not a complete manufacturing instruction. Provide the required signal mapping, connector genders, and device models so the approved drawing reflects the actual link.
This product connects a DB25 host interface to a 36-position Centronics-style peripheral interface for compatible parallel equipment. It is mechanically and electrically different from a DB25 serial assembly. Confirm the host and peripheral ports, locking hardware, conductor population, and required wiring standard before ordering a replacement or OEM batch.
Active USB Adapter Cables
A USB-to-DB9 cable contains active conversion electronics and should be specified separately from a passive D-Sub assembly. Confirm the USB connector, operating system, required serial electrical interface, DB9 gender, driver or chipset requirements, and equipment pinout. A USB-to-serial adapter may still require a separate null-modem or proprietary cable for the target device.
“USB to DB25” can refer to an active USB-to-serial product or an active USB-to-parallel printer product; the two are not interchangeable. State the target device and required interface before purchase. Confirm the chipset, driver support, operating system, DB25 gender, and pinout for the selected version.
Pinout Control for Standard and Proprietary Interfaces
D-Sub describes the connector format, not the protocol or wiring inside the cable. Two assemblies with identical DB9 or DB25 shells may use straight-through, crossover, partially populated, or completely proprietary pin maps. We build to an approved wiring table, drawing or sample and can add pinout labels where required. This reduces ambiguity when you replace an undocumented cable or source one assembly for several equipment revisions. Device compatibility remains subject to the confirmed equipment interface and released pin map.
Shielding and Mechanical Construction Matched to the Installation
Shielding, backshell, and cable exit should be selected for the actual cabinet and signal environment. Options may include foil, braid, a drain conductor, molded strain relief, metal hoods, panel-mount hardware, and straight or angled exits. Shield bonding and grounding should follow the equipment design rather than a universal pin assignment. Tell us where the cable will be installed, the nearby noise sources, available bend space, and the preferred exit direction so we can review the proposed construction before tooling or production.
From Samples and Small Batches to Repeat OEM Orders
Projects can begin with a complete drawing, a pinout table, an approved reference sample, or a combination of equipment information and connector photos. Once construction is confirmed, we can prepare samples or a pilot quantity before full production. New overmold shapes or custom housings may require tooling, while many changes to length, wiring, labeling, or standard components may not. Final feasibility, tooling, and lead time depend on the selected materials, quantity, and approval process.
Inspection, Documentation and Revision Control
Inspection is based on the approved product specification. Typical production controls can include incoming material checks, in-process workmanship inspection, continuity and pin-to-pin verification, appearance checks, and final packaging review. Additional electrical, mechanical, or environmental tests can be evaluated when they are defined in the purchase specification. If your project requires a certificate of conformance, test report, barcode, serial number, inspection record, or retained sample, state this during quotation so the requirement can be included in the production plan.
Yes, a physical sample can be used as an engineering reference, subject to inspection and successful identification of its construction. Mark the sample as working or failed, and provide the equipment model and intended function. Some internal connections or component details may not be identifiable without disassembly, so document and approve any unresolved items before production.
Send clear photos of both connector faces, the cable, labels, and equipment ports, together with the equipment manufacturer and model. Photos can help identify the connector family, gender, and mechanical arrangement, but they usually cannot prove the internal pinout. We may request manual pages, electrical measurements, or a reference sample before issuing a production-ready drawing.
Mixed-model orders can be reviewed. List the quantity, revision, and packaging requirement for each assembly. Line-item components, setup, testing, and labeling are evaluated separately, so combining products on one order does not mean they share the same minimum quantity, price, or lead time. Ask for kit packing if several cables must ship together for one machine.
We can evaluate customer-nominated components for authenticity, availability, termination compatibility, and purchasing conditions. Provide the full manufacturer part number and state whether substitutions are prohibited or may be proposed for approval. If the nominated item is obsolete or unavailable, we can review alternatives, but no replacement should enter production until the agreed approval process is completed.
Labeling and identification can be included when specified in the quotation. Send the label content, location, material, barcode format, serial-number logic, and readability requirements. For multiple cable variants, define how each version should be distinguished. A label proof or sample may be required before bulk production, especially when identifiers must match customer ERP or equipment records.
Evaluate kit packing for projects that use several cable types per machine, rack, or service set. Provide the kit contents, quantities, bag or box format, labels, and any assembly sequence. The approved packing list should identify every included part and revision so warehouse and installation teams can verify the kit without unnecessarily opening individual protective packages.
The approval route should be agreed upon during quotation. Depending on the project, it may include drawing approval, pinout sign-off, dimensional review, sample inspection, and functional evaluation in the customer’s equipment. Feedback should reference the drawing revision and identify required changes. Bulk production should follow the approved construction, subject to any documented and accepted revisions.
Repeat orders should reference the released part number, drawing revision, and any approved deviations. When a connector, wire, label, or process changes, record the revised requirement before production. Customers should also identify equipment revisions that alter the interface. This approach helps prevent supplying a cable approved for one machine version unchanged for an incompatible revision.
Yes, you can review a partial population when the device uses only selected contacts. The approved drawing must identify fitted, unused, and intentionally omitted positions. Do not remove conductors solely to reduce cost without confirming the equipment requirements; unused contacts may serve grounding, detection, future options, or mechanical functions in the original design.
Available documents depend on the product, components, and purchase specification. Requested items may include an approved drawing, pinout table, certificate of conformance, inspection record, test report, material compliance declaration, or packing list. State the required document names, format, and acceptance criteria during quotation so feasibility and any associated work can be included.
We can review replacement projects using drawings, device manuals, photos, and reference samples. Feasibility depends on identifying the connectors, wiring, cable construction, and any active electronics. A mechanically similar cable is not necessarily compatible, so validate the replacement against the target equipment before repeat purchasing.
Yes, BespokeCable supports B2B production for approved custom assemblies. Pricing, minimum quantity, and schedule depend on the connector, cable, tooling, test, documentation, and packaging requirements. Please send an estimated annual volume and the first-order quantity; this helps us evaluate sampling, component purchasing, and repeat-production requirements without assuming an unsupported stock or discount program.
Related Products
How to Specify a Custom D-Sub Cable Assembly
Start with the Equipment Interface, Not the Informal Cable Name
Names such as DB9, DB15, and DB50 are widely used in purchasing, but informal names can hide important differences. Standard-density D-Sub contact counts commonly include 9, 15, 25, 37, and 50 positions. High-density families commonly include 15, 26, 44, 62, and 78 positions in comparable shell sizes. A 15-position standard-density connector has two rows, while the familiar HD15 video connector has three rows. They are not physically interchangeable.
For a replacement cable, first compare the connector face, number of rows, number of contacts, gender, and mounting hardware. A clear front-facing photo with a scale can help, but the mating connector drawing or equipment manual is the preferred reference. If the port is recessed, also record the available hood width, height, and cable-exit clearance.
Confirm the Pinout and Electrical Interface
A D-Sub connector does not define RS232, RS422, RS485, CAN, VGA, parallel printing, analog I/O, or a proprietary control interface. The connected equipment and the wiring between contacts determine those functions. Using a cable that fits mechanically but has the wrong mapping can prevent communication and may create electrical risk where power and signals share the same connector.
For quotation, provide one of the following:
– A pin-to-pin wiring table;
– A released cable or harness drawing;
– The relevant pages from both device manuals;
– A clearly identified reference sample;
– Connector photos and equipment models for preliminary review.
The approved production drawing should identify unused contacts as well as connected contacts. It should also define any twisted pairs, shields, drain conductors, jumpers, resistors, or connections to the connector shell.
Straight-Through, Null-Modem and Custom Wiring
Straight-through normally means that corresponding contact numbers connect from one end to the other, but even that description is incomplete when the two ends have different contact counts. Null-modem wiring crosses selected serial signals so that particular devices can communicate without a modem. Multiple null-modem arrangements exist, ranging from basic transmit/receive crossover to fuller handshake schemes.
Do not choose between these versions solely from connector gender. Check whether each device is DTE, DCE, or uses a proprietary implementation, then confirm which signals are required. For equipment-specific cables, the device pinout takes priority over a generic serial convention.
Select the Cable Construction Around the Signals
Conductor count is determined by the approved pin map, not automatically by the number of connector positions. Some products require every contact; others use only a defined subset. Select conductor gauge, insulation, pair construction, and overall diameter based on current, voltage, flexibility, routing space, signal grouping, and connector termination limits.
If differential or noise-sensitive circuits are present, identify the required pairs in the drawing. Where power and signals share one D-Sub, define the conductor sizes and separation for each circuit group. Do not assume that one cable design is suitable for every pinout that uses the same shell.
Define Shielding and Grounding as Part of the System
Foil shielding can provide broad coverage with limited added diameter, while braid can improve mechanical strength and provide a lower-impedance shield path across a useful frequency range. Some projects use both. However, adding more shield material does not guarantee better performance. Shield termination, backshell bonding, cable length, nearby interference sources, and the equipment’s grounding design all affect the result.
State whether the shield should connect to the metal shell, to a dedicated contact, at one end or at both ends. If the requirement is not defined, resolve it during engineering review rather than leaving it to a default assumption.
Choose the Backshell, Exit Direction and Mounting Hardware
Molded backshells provide an integrated shape and strain-relief transition suitable for repeat production. Select metal hoods when serviceability, mechanical protection, or a defined shield connection is required. Panel-mount versions can create a fixed interface on an enclosure, while ribbon and bare-wire versions simplify internal or field termination.
For angled connectors, specify the viewing convention used to define up, down, left, or right. A drawing is preferable because the direction can appear reversed when viewed from the mating face instead of the cable side. Also confirm whether the equipment uses #4-40, M3, or other mounting hardware.
Separate Passive Cables from Active Converters
Passive D-Sub cables and adapters only route conductors; they do not convert one communication protocol into another. Products such as USB-to-DB9 and USB-to-DB25 typically contain active electronics and add selection requirements, including chipset, driver support, operating system, and electrical interface.
Likewise, an 8P8C modular connector is only a connector format. A DB9-to-RJ45 cable is not automatically Ethernet, and a passive adapter cannot turn RS232 into RS485 without appropriate electronics. Describe the complete equipment link so the quotation can distinguish pin mapping from protocol conversion.
Define the Operating and Compliance Requirements
Tell us whether the cable will be installed inside a cabinet, routed through moving equipment, exposed to oils or cleaning agents, used at elevated temperatures, or subject to repeated flexing. These conditions affect conductor stranding, jacket material, shield construction, strain relief, and component selection.
If the project requires RoHS, REACH, an identified UL-recognized wire style, a certificate of conformance or another declaration, include it in the request for quotation. Evaluate compliance against the selected components and finished-product scope; a factory quality system or an approved cable component does not automatically certify every finished assembly.
Agree on Inspection and Approval Before Bulk Production
The drawing and sample-approval process should establish the connector part or approved equivalent, pinout, dimensions, labels, workmanship, inspection points, and required documents. Continuity and pin-to-pin verification are common controls for custom cable assemblies. Additional resistance, insulation, dielectric, impedance, mechanical, or environmental tests should be specified with a method and acceptance limit when relevant.
For a repeat purchase, include the released part number and revision. If a material change or substitute component is proposed, the approval route should be agreed before production. This preserves the difference between an intentional revision and an uncontrolled substitution.
D-Sub Cable RFQ Checklist
For the fastest technical review, send:
1. Connector type, contact count, density, and gender at each end;
2. Straight or angled cable exit and required mounting hardware;
3. Pin-to-pin wiring map, device manuals, or an approved sample;
4. Cable length and tolerance;
5. Conductor, twisted-pair, shield, and grounding requirements;
6. Backshell, jacket, color and labeling requirements;
7. Operating environment and applicable compliance requirements;
8. Required inspection, test reports and shipping documents;
9. Sample quantity, production quantity, and expected schedule;
10. Packaging, barcode, serial-number or kit requirements.
If you cannot provide every item, start with photos of both interfaces, the equipment model, quantity, and intended application. We will identify the remaining information needed to prepare a buildable quotation.
