The 3 Advantages of Assembled Cables

Ready-to-connect readycables® save you time on cable assembly and are guaranteed to last 36 months

2 min read
Igus

Igus

Why waste time assembling your continuous-flex cables when you don’t have to?

The readycable® line of assembled motor, servo, signal and encoder cables comes equipped with standard industrial connectors that are ready to plug into your application the second they arrive. They’re expertly built similar to 24 manufacturers’ standards and are continuously tested under real-world conditions in the 41,200-square-foot igus® testing area. Our tests ensure each cable provides an extensive service life inside cable carriers, on robotic applications and more.

Igus

Cable assembly with quality assurance

At 12 state-of-the-art facilities throughout the world, including the U.S., highly-skilled technicians customize approximately 20,000 ready-to-connect chainflex® cables every week. Each cable is assembled similar to 24 manufacturers’ standards, including Siemens, Allen-Bradley and FANUC, and come equipped with industrial connectors from the biggest names in the industry, such as Intercontec, Harting and Yamaichi. Plus, igus® has created a 90-degree cable adapter called ibow® for connections in tight spaces.

Our technicians electrically test every cable, visually inspect every connection, and measure crimp heights and all critical dimensions precisely to ensure our assembled cables will function perfectly upon delivery and every day during the life of your machine. More than 1,200 cable types are available for customization.

Cable design features for an extended service life

Unlike traditional cables that tend to fail prematurely, chainflex® continuous-flex cables are engineered for optimal efficiency and can dramatically increase the service life and productivity of dynamic applications. chainflex® cables are designed with the following features:

  1. A high-quality, high-tensile strength center element for strain relief
  2. A medium-to-fine conductor strand diameter to prevent the strand from kinking while being subjected to a high number of cycles
  3. The highest quality high-pressure extruded PVC or TPE materials that support the individual strands of the conductor and prevent the cable’s insulation from adhering to one another
  4. Individual conductors bundled into groups, which are cabled together in a single layer surrounding the cable core, enable pulling and compressive forces in the bending motion to balance and cancel out torsional forces
  5. A pressure-extruded inner jacket that ensures the insulated conductors are guided efficiently
  6. A high-quality braided shield that provides electromagnetic interference (EMI) protection for the cable
  7. A cost-effective outer jacket material that is resistant to UV radiation, abrasion, oils and chemicals
  8. CFRIP technology that allows users to open the cable’s jacket like a zipper, saving you time and eliminating the need for additional tools

Extensively tested under real-world conditions

Ideally, continuous-flex cables should be tested in configurations and environments that replicate real-world applications.

The 41,200-square-foot igus® testing area is the largest of its kind in the industry. Our engineers run 2 billion different bend tests to ensure cables designed for specific types of movement have the strength and durability to maintain their structure over millions of linear, tick-tock, torsional or multi-axis cycles. Engineers also use a climate chamber to test the long-term effects of extreme temperatures, chemicals and more.

Results show that in most cases, chainflex® cables can withstand temperatures between minus 40 C and 100 C. They are also flame retardant, UV resistant and highly oil resistant. All chainflex® cables have a predictable service life and come with a 36-month guarantee.

For more information, watch the video What is Readycable?

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