If you design automation, machinery or other industrial systems, you specify powered components along every step of the way. Electronic systems like robotics, sensors, actuators and motors need power and signal transmission, but it’s not typical to think too hard about just what product that current will flow through. A cable is a cable, right? Wrong. On a recent visit to Germany, we spoke with experts from igus about their latest industrial products.
According to Daniel Strohmeyer, regional production manager of the chainflex cables division at igus inc., this isn’t necessarily the case.
“Customers just use the simplest cables, and they tend to break very fast,” said Strohmeyer. “That’s the reason why we design cables especially for movement, in particular for robots and linear guiding applications.”
Strohmeyer showed us examples of two cable products designed by igus: one cable designed for linear motion and one for robotics applications. The linear motion cable was quite stiff and strong. On the other hand, the robotics cable was designed to withstand torsional forces, and so it’s much more flexible. The robotics cable contains soft, flexible polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) filler within the jacket to cushion the conductor pairs during torsion.
Just how much should you be twisting your cables? igus chainflex cables are rated for 180° of twisting in either direction, effectively totaling 360°. This rating is guaranteed for three years.
Cables seem like the last problem a design engineer needs to worry about, but Strohmeyer recommends the direct opposite.
“We always love to be involved in the construction process at the beginning. That’s the point where we can give the best direction for which kind of cable and which kind of e-chain you should take.”
It’s always tempting to buy the cheaper cable. However, it’s an old axiom that you can either buy a cheaper product more often, or a higher quality product less often. As it turns out, the axiom is true of everything from boots to industrial motion cables.
“We sell the cheapest cable that works for the customer’s application,” said Strohmeyer. “Of course, if the customer has a particularly tough application, we may recommend a more expensive cable. As a rule, we only sell the cheapest cable that meets the needs of the application.”
So, remember to consider even the lowly cable when designing your production equipment.
Stay tuned for more stories from our trip to igus in Germany.