EoW May 2009

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EuroWire – May 2009 30
english technology news
Bus system problems often occur
during twisting applications in energy
chains, particularly with shielded data
cables if the shields get damaged
or open up. This is not the case with
glass fibre optic cables, which do not
have a mechanically vulnerable shield
braid, and are insensitive to EMC whilst
transferring high-speed bus signals up
to a length of 400m.
igus GmbH has developed a twistable
fibre optic cable for all 3D movements
in energy chains, to keep bus systems
working reliably. The twistable TPE fibre
optic cable, Chainflex CF Robot-LWL
makes high data rates possible and
can be routed directly alongside
high-capacity electrical power cables.
The special design uses twist-optimised
compensating elements, and the
mechanically strong fibre optic cable is
robust even with rotary angles of +180°
on a robot arm.
Chainflex CF Robot-LWL cable has been
tested for more than 1 million double
cycles, with no change to data transfer
rates even at a torsion angle of 360°.
The cable is suitable for industrial
applications for image transmission for
GigE, FireWire IEEE1394a/b and USB.
igus GmbH – Germany
Fax: +49 2203 96 49222
Email:
Website:
Automatic measuring gives better results
Central to quality in cable production
is the measurement of wall thickness,
especially at the narrowest point that
forms the basis of the calculation of that
other important feature, concentricity.
It is important that this measurement
is determined accurately and that it is
appropriate for the cable type.
In determining the wall thickness, it is
necessary to take measurements at 60°
intervals around the cable, as shown
in the diagram. It can also be seen that
the narrowest parts of the wall are not
necessarily uniform. This makes manual
measurement difficult for the operator
with the responsibility of the measuring
microscope or profile projector, and
can lead to an arbitrary or subjective
technique and uncertain results.
Calculation inaccuracies in wall-thickness
and concentricity can be overcome by the
use of an automatic measuring device,
such as the VisioCablePro system from iiM.
It measures the smallest wall and other
wall-thickness minima without operator
input in the process, or in lighting or optic
focusing. The operator is only concerned
with preparing the sample.
Accurate wall-thickness measurement is
essential for final product performance
and to avoid waste; if the minimum
wall-thickness is too small, the cable has
to be scrapped.
iiM AG – Germany
Fax: +49 3693 88585 11
Email:
Website:
Twistable optical fibre cable
measuring wall thickness (stranded wire)