A drag chain cable built for continuous flexing moved this wrist joint from quarterly failures to scheduled maintenance.
Specifying the drag chain cable
The problem
A system integrator was replacing the tool cable on a six-axis robot every three to four months. The cable ran through the wrist, which combines a tight bend with continuous rotation, and failures were presenting as intermittent tool faults that were difficult to reproduce on demand.
What we found
Sectioning a failed cable showed conductor fracture at the point of tightest bend and jacket hardening consistent with a PVC compound that had been specified for a static installation. The cable had also been pulled through the wrist by its connector during the original build, which pre-damaged the termination.
What we supplied
A drag-chain rated tool cable with finely stranded conductors and a PUR jacket rated for continuous flexing, qualified to 10 million bending cycles in a defined test configuration. The assembly was supplied coiled to a radius that respects the flex specification, with a clear installation instruction: never pull the cable through by its connector.
The outcome
The service interval moved from months to a scheduled annual check, and the tool faults stopped. The integrator has since standardised on the same construction across their robot fleet.
Products used in this project
Send us the application detail and we will confirm which of our connectors or cable assemblies suits the duty, or propose a custom construction. You can also review our quality control process and the documentation supplied with each order.
What this means for your project
Replacing the cable more often treats the symptom. Changing the construction and the routing treats the cause, and it costs less over a year than the maintenance hours the original arrangement consumed.
Reference material for the standards referenced above is published by ISO and the RoHS compliance guide. Where a project requires conformance to a particular standard, tell us at the enquiry stage and we will confirm what documentation we can supply.