MSI® Supplies Famous Brand Industry flexible Cable

SoCare-MSI® Supplies Famous Brand Industry flexible Cables

 "Industry flexible cable" is a broad category of electrical cables specifically engineered to withstand the harsh conditions of industrial environments while being constantly moved, bent, and twisted.

They are the "arteries" of automated machinery, providing power, control, and data in dynamic applications.

Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of what makes a cable flexible and suitable for industry.

1. Key Characteristics of Flexible Industrial Cables

      Unlike standard building wire, these cables are built for motion and stress.

· High Flexibility: Can be bent, twisted, and rolled repeatedly without damage. This is achieved through fine-stranded conductors (see below).

· Durability & Mechanical Strength: Resistant to abrasion, crushing, impact, and cutting. They often have robust outer jackets.

· Oil & Chemical Resistance: The cable jacket is formulated to resist degradation from oils, lubricants, coolants, and solvents.

· Temperature Resistance: Can operate in a wide range of temperatures, from very cold (e.g., -40°C) to very hot (e.g., +90°C or higher).

· Torsion Capability: Special "torsion cables" are designed for applications with continuous twisting motion, like on rotating arms or robots. Not all flexible cables are torsion-rated.

· EMC Shielding: Many have braided or spiral copper shielding to protect sensitive signals from electromagnetic interference, which is         crucial for data and control cables in electrically noisy factories.

     2. Construction: What's Inside?

     3. Common Types & Applications

Different jobs require different cables. Here are the most common categories:

A) Power & Control Cables

· Purpose: Deliver main power to motors and control signals to actuators and sensors.

· Examples:

· CY Control Cable: A European standard with a tinned copper braid shield, widely used in machinery.

· SAB BR (North America): An oil-resistant, flexible industrial cable.

· Multi-Conductor Cables: Combine power and control cores in one jacket for cleaner wiring.

· Applications: Cable carriers on CNC machines, automated assembly lines, packaging machinery.

B) Data & Bus Cables

· Purpose: Transmit high-speed data for industrial networks (Ethernet, Profinet, DeviceNet, etc.).

· Features: Precise twisting of pairs, high-quality shielding, and low signal loss.

· Examples:

· Industrial Ethernet Cable (e.g., CAT5e, CAT6/6A): PUR-jacketed and shielded for factory floors.

· PROFIBUS Cable: Specifically designed for the PROFIBUS protocol.

· Applications: Connecting PLCs, HMIs, vision systems, and robotic controllers.

C) Servo & Motor Cables

· Purpose: A specialized "all-in-one" cable for connecting servo and frequency converter-driven motors.

· Features: Combine power conductors, brake cores, and feedback signals (encoder lines) in a single, highly flexible, shielded cable.

· Applications: Robotics, servo motors on high-speed machinery.

D) Specialized Cables

· Robot Cables: The most demanding category. Designed for high torsion (twisting), continuous flexing, and often have a neutral axis design to prevent stress on internal components.

· Welding Cables: Extremely flexible for easy maneuverability by the welder. High-temperature resistant.

· Drag Chain Cables: Certified for use inside cable carriers (e.g., Igus Chain). Designed for high-speed, long-travel bending.

4. Jacket Material: The First Line of Defense

The jacket material is critical for defining the cable's application.

· PUR (Polyurethane):

  · Pros: Excellent abrasion resistance, oil/grease/coolant resistance, and hydrolysis resistance (good with water). Very durable.

  · Cons: Can be susceptible to certain solvents and is not the best for very high temperatures.

  · Best for: General high-flex applications, machine tools, cable carriers.

· PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride):

  · Pros: Cost-effective, good general flexibility, flame retardant.

  · Cons: Can become stiff in cold temperatures, not as durable as PUR, and plasticizers can leach out when exposed to oils, making the jacket brittle.

  · Best for: Less demanding, low-cost flexing applications.

· TPE/TPR (Thermoplastic Elastomer/Rubber):

  · Pros: Excellent all-weather resistance, very good flexibility across a wide temperature range, good chemical and oil resistance. Often halogen-free and low-smoke.

  · Cons: Can be more expensive than PVC.

  · Best for: Food & beverage, marine, mining, and outdoor applications.

5. How to Choose the Right Cable

Ask these questions when selecting a cable:

1. What is the Motion Type?

   · Fixed Installation: No movement needed. Standard cable may suffice.

   · Flexing / Bending: In a cable carrier? Choose a high-flex, PUR-jacketed cable.

   · Torsion / Twisting: Requires a specially designed torsion cable.

2. What are the Environmental Exposures?

   · Oils, Coolants, Chemicals? → PUR or TPE jacket.

   · Extreme Temperatures? → Check the min/max operating temp.

   · UV Exposure (Outdoors)? → UV-resistant TPE jacket.

3. What is the Electrical/Data Need?

   · Power? → Check voltage rating and conductor size.

   · Control Signals? → Shielded control cable.

   · Data? → Shielded industrial Ethernet or fieldbus cable.

4. Are there Certifications?

   · Look for marks like UL/CSA, CE, RoHS, or specific approvals from TÜV, UL Listed (e.g., AWM), or marine/shipboard certifications if needed.

Key Takeaway

An industry flexible cable is not just a "soft" cable. It is a precision-engineered component built to ensure reliability, safety, and long service life in the demanding world of automation and industrial motion. Always match the cable's specifications to the specific mechanical, environmental, and electrical demands of your application.

We could supply the cables of original Lapp,Helukabel ,Kabeltec from Germany, and we also could supply you original AlphaWire ,Belden from USA.In the meantime, we could provide cable customization services.

We could supply many other different types of wires with different raw materials,pls contact us to info@socaremsi.com if you need .