Chainflex CF11 and CF211 series energy chain cables can now operate reliably in much smaller bending radii than used to be considered safe.
Following in-house tests, chain developer Igus UK is now certifying a 32% reduction in permissible bending radius for its CF11 TPE measuring system cable, from 10x diameter to 6.8xd.
Meanwhile, its CF211PVC variant is now being certified as safe at 255 reduced radius – from 10xd to 7.5x diameter.
The tests, which paid special attention to the cable shield, core pitch lengths and the individual strand size of the core wires, confirmed that the cables survived more than 30 million double strokes, or 36,691km travel, in the energy chain with a test radius of 5xd.
Chainflex CF11 data cable has an abrasion-proof and bend-resistant, halogen-free, oil and bio-oil-resistant TPE outer jacket and an inner jacket also made of a TPE compound.
Igus says the cable has extremely stable braiding – two cores each stranded in pairs with short pitch lengths, core pairs also stranded with short pitch lengths – to ensure EMC protection and high data transmission qualities.
Similar properties have been confirmed for the CF211 series – a low-cost PVC version that is oil-resistant and flame-retardant, with a bend-resistant tin-plated braided copper shield.
