Canted coil springs shield sensitive electronics from the harmful effects of EMI/RFI. Featuring independent coils that serve as multiple contact points for optimal conductivity and/or grounding, these springs ensure consistent, reliable connection with mating surfaces, even under shock and vibration. These springs feature precisely engineered coil angles. Canted coil springs are ideal for use in […]
Basics
What are flat cables?
Flat cables allow for compact designs of electrical conductors and tubing, encasing power, signal, video, data and even pneumatic tubing in one flat profile. By eliminating the multiple layers of fillers, shielding and jacketing used in round cables, they offer reduced space and weight and extremely long lives. Because of their smooth, compact design, flat […]
What are cord grips?
Cord grips are used to pass a cord or cable into an enclosure, through a bulkhead or into a control device like a switch. They are used in industrial and commercial settings to control arc of bend or prevent a cable from being pulled out of a system. They also prevent cable damage and failure. […]
Fiber optic cabling solutions for sensing applications
Understanding the key factors that go into selecting fiber optic cabling for sensing will ensure the most reliable and easy-to-maintain system that reduces your maintenance operations. By Jean Baptiste Gay, Project Manager, Fischer Connectors Fiber optic cabling is mostly known for being the ideal solution to carry large amounts of data over long distances. However, […]
How do you design a proper cable assembly?
Proper cable assembly design must take into consideration the conductor, insulation, shielding, and jacketing used. Contributed by Ryan Satrom, Signal Integrity Engineer, Omnetics Connector Corp. The cable is a critical part of most connector assemblies. It protects the wires from the external environment, as well as provides electrical paths for signals to reach their destination. Proper cable assembly design […]
Tips for selecting cable jacket material
Jacketing is a cable’s first line of defense. In the latest edition of Northwire’s eCURRENT newsletter, the authors explain that users should consider several parameters before selecting a jacket material for a cable. A cable’s outer jacket is its primary means of protection against environmental and application demands. It is a crucial part of the […]
Should I use cable trays or cable carriers in my motion application?
Cabling in a motion control system can run the gamut from a single wire running to a single-axis direct drive, to a complicated system of expensive cables and wiring on multi-axis robots. As a result, it is necessary to consider cable management in your system design. A simple design may only require twist-tie type bundlers […]
What is a cable assembly?
A cable assembly is a group of cables joined into one single unit, usually overmolded and combined with some type of connector on at least one end. They may also feature a sleeve as part of their construction. They are used to connect a machine to a power, data or networking signal. They reduce environmental […]
What is cable corkscrewing?
Cable corkscrewing is exactly what it sounds like—damage to a cable that causes it to look just like a corkscrew, with small tight twists rather than a circular, smooth design. It occurs most often in motion applications, where constant flexing and repetitive motions can cause stress and deform the cable, often destroying the core. As […]
Should you lubricate steel cable carriers?
Often used in highly corrosive environments, steel cable carriers provide a high strength-to-weight ratio and maximum unsupported spans. They usually feature a special coating to resist corrosion from chemicals and other abrasive materials. Generally, lubrication isn’t required. Should it be required, certain applications have more abrasive environments where a dry lubrication is required, but in […]