Since mechanical damage to cables caused by bending and torsion is unavoidable, the design and manufacturing of highly flexible cables have significantly improved and strengthened compared to traditional cables in terms of structural design and material selection for applications such as cable chain bending and robot torsion, maximizing operational lifespan. However, in addition to the quality of the cable itself, the customer's selection and installation are crucial, greatly affecting the cable's bending and torsion lifespan. Chengjia Cable, based on years of accumulated customer selection case studies and common misconceptions during the selection process, will briefly share some insights to help customers better utilize highly flexible cables.
Common types of robot cables
Generally speaking, common types of robot cables include the following, as shown in the figure below:
- Robot drag chain cable: drag chain bending, two-wheel bending
-Robot mopping cable: cable chain bending, two-wheel bending
- Robot body cable: 3D torsion, 2D torsion, vertical torsion, two-wheel bending, bending rotation, 90-degree bending, rapid bending
- Internal wiring for flexible robots, cables for service robots
Robot cable structure selection
Below is a comparison table of German, Japanese, and Chengjia robot cable structures, which can provide users with a reference for selection.
Selection of robot cable stiffness and flexibility
Flexible cable is not the same as flexible cable. Flexibility can also be interpreted as elasticity, a property of an object relative to rigidity. Flexibility refers to the physical property of an object that, after being subjected to force, deforms and cannot return to its original shape once the force is removed.
Hardness: A physics term, referring to the ability of a material to resist indentation by a harder object in a localized area. It is the localized resistance of a solid to the intrusion of external objects and is an indicator for comparing the hardness of various materials.
Selection of robot cable bending radius and cable diameter
The bending radius, also known as the radius of curvature, refers to the radius of a circle that a cable bends into when it moves. The bending radius is the radius of the circle that replaces the curved segment, as shown in the figure below.
The bending radius requirements differ depending on the outer sheath material: PVC sheathed robot cables have a bending radius greater than 7.5D, up to 6D; PUR sheathed robot cables have a bending radius greater than 6D, up to 4D.
Once the structural design is complete, the installation space is determined. Under the premise of meeting electrical performance requirements, cables with the smallest possible outer diameter should be selected. Chengjia Cable's robot body cables and linear motor cables use fluoroplastics for insulation and PUR for sheathing, achieving a 4D limit bending radius.
Chengjia Robotics Complete Solution
Currently, Chengjia Flexible Cable's full range of products includes: anti-torsion robot body cables, linear motor cables (capable of high-speed torsion, conforming to Japanese standards), ultra-high flexibility 20 million cycles ultra-high speed drag chain cables (conforming to German standards), ultra-high flexibility 10 million cycles high speed drag chain cables (capable of high-speed torsion, conforming to Japanese standards), high flexibility 5 million cycles drag chain cables (capable of torsion, conforming to Japanese standards), data bus cables (drag chain type, fixed installation type), flexible industrial cables, high flexibility servo power cables, high flexibility servo feedback cables, high flexibility data bus cables, high flexibility sensor cables, etc.
Chengjia Robot Cables has three major application advantages:
1. Reliable quality and high cost performance: All motion series products have passed experimental testing, including eight test items for robot cables: torsion test (3D torsion, 2D torsion, vertical torsion); bending test (bending rotation, 90-degree bending, rapid bending, cable chain bending); two-wheel bending.
Second: Complete specifications, one-stop procurement, and the ability to develop robot cables for various special environments;
Thirdly, excellent service: low minimum order quantity: common specifications start from 1 meter, regular specifications from 300 meters, and non-standard customization from 1000 meters; short delivery time: large quantities of common specifications are in stock (regular specifications within 7 days, non-standard customization within 15 days).
Chengjia Robot's cables have all passed eight major tests, including torsion, bending, and double-bending.
