7 basic rules for making a good cable

1. Strain-relieving core

Clear space is created in the center of a cable depending on the number of conductors and cross sections. This center should be filled with a genuine center cord (not dummy cores consisting of waste materials) to protect the stranded structure above and prevent the conductors from from falling into the center.

2. Conductor structure

The copper stranding in Chainflex® is chosen in accordance with tested and proven designs. igus®' test results indicate that a medium to fine strand diameter is preferable. Most typical flexing cable designs will employ an extra-fine conductor strand, and have a tendency to kink when subjected to high-duty cycles. As a result of long-term testing, igus® uses a combination of single-wire diameter, pitch length and pitch direction to achieve the best flex life performance in even the most demanding applications.

3. Core insulation

Insulation materials must be adhesion-resistant so that they do not stick to one another within the cable. The insulation must also support the stranded individual wires of the conductor. Only the highest-quality, high-pressure-extruded PVC or TPE materials should be used.

4. Cable core

Individual conductors are bundled in groups. These bundles are cabled together in a single layer around the core. This design enables the pulling and compressing forces of the bending motion to balance and cancels torsional forces. Special attention is given to pitch length and pitch direction. Cables that are not bundled are not suitable for long-travel applications.

5. Inner jacket

A gusset-filling extruded inner jacket must be used instead of inexpensive fleece wrap or filler to ensure that the structure is efficiently guided in the longitudinal direction. The inner jacket will also maintain the integrity of the cable core and provide a continuous base for the shield.

6. Shield design

A high-quality braided shield protects cables from external interference and shields any interference before it is transmitted to the outside environment. An optimized braid angle prevents the shield strands from breaking over the linear axis and increases torsional stability. The shield ahs an optical coverage of approximately 90%, providing maximum shield effectiveness.

7. Outer jacket

The outer jacket material can must be UV resistant, abrasion resistant and resistant to oils and chemicals, as well as cost effective. However, it must not adhere to anything and be flexible while providing support. It should also be extruded under pressure (gusset-filled).

More information

Chainflex® lasts

Dictionary of cable defects

7 basic rules for a good cable

Sectional views through the igus® cable types

Chainflex® tested, tested, tested and tested.

tested, tested, tested! Servo cable structure

CAT 5 test

tested, tested, tested! “Millions of double strokes” in an energy chain

tested, tested, tested! CF98 with 4xd!

tested! Dispersion and attenuation

tested! Selection from test results