WCA November 2011

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Technology news
Wire & Cable ASIA – November/December 2011 43
CABLe manufacturers are obligated to
fulfil customer specifications at the
production of cables.
These specifications refer to the
dimensions of the cable as well as their
material or signal transmission
characteristics.
In order to meet the demands there are
measuring technologies used in the
lines that continuously monitor cable
quality during production.
In insulating and jacketing lines, where
for example energy cables or
communication cables are produced,
the X-ray 6000 helps to permanently
comply with the required
specifications.
With online measurement the
measuring values of the wall thickness,
eccentricity, outer diameter and ovality
are available at the processor system
ecocontrol 6000.
The eccentricity measuring values are
displayed at eight points and allow the
operator an optimal centring of the
extrusion tools and controlling of the
wall thickness or the diameter to the
nominal value. The values are
numerically or graphically displayed as
cable cross section.
The measuring device is, depending on
the application, installed between two
cooling trough sections or after the
cooling trough.
It measures the insulation wall
thickness of the material layers as well
as the position of the conductor in the
insulation.
The conductor has to be absolutely
concentric in the insulation to assure
the mechanical and electrical function
of the cable and to minimise material
consumption.
The application field of the X-Ray 6000
ranges from one or two layer
insulations (common in the insulating
and jacketing area) to RF cables with
foamed Pe-insulations.
By using an X-ray 6000 as hot
measuring head after the extruder and
a diameter measuring head after the
cooling trough in combination with a
control, a constant diameter can be
achieved.
With the hot/cold control module HC
2000 the material shrinkage can be
calculated and automatically
considered for the control of the
diameter or wall thickness.
Besides the X-ray 6000, which
measures the dimensions of the cable,
testing and measuring devices are
necessary to assure cable quality
regarding material properties.
Customers can configure their lines
with Sikora measuring devices tailored
to their needs.
The insulation is tested online with a
spark tester (high voltage spark tester).
As a result possible irregularities in the
insulation are detected and
documented at an early stage.
An implemented quality management
system assures that only faultless
cables are delivered.
For cables for which the decision is
made to run without eccentricity
control, the conventional method of the
average wall thickness measurement,
by the diameter differential calculation,
is available.
During production cable manufacturers
can measure the cable length with the
help of Length 6000 and ensure that
precisely the required length of cable is
produced.
Continuous quality control during cable
production is a precondition for
economical production, as risks can be
identified and faults can be prevented
at an early stage.
Sikora AG – Germany
Fax: +49 421 48900 90
Email:
Website:
Measuring technology in
insulating and jacketing lines
CANDOR Sweden AB
Tel: +46 11 21 75 00 Email:
Fax: +46 11 12 63 12 Website:
clean wire
before annealing
candor
can do wire
equipment
Electrolytic plating ◆
Candojet hot water cleaning ◆
Electrolytic & Ultrasonic ◆
degreasing
Welding wire cleaning and ◆
copper coating
Pickling & phosphating ◆
❍ Possible configurations of Sikora measuring technology in insulating and jacketing lines
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