design
basics
5. Ensure every cable has room to move freely during
movement of the cable carrier. Be sure each cable
has plenty of room to move while in operation. This
will maximize the service life and reduce risk of
abrasion and other common cable failures, like we
explored earlier in this guide.
6. Take the time to be sure that cables rest in the
neutral axis of the cable carrier, especially while
operating at the carrier's maximum bend radius.
When the carrier is bent, there should be no tensile
forces exerted on the cable.
7. If cables/hoses of varying diameters are being
installed, utilize interior shelving or separators. This
will prevent tangling. There are two easy cable
distribution rules to follow to see if interior separation
is needed. The first states that If the diameters of
the cables, D1+D2 are greater than 1.2 x the inner
height of the cable carrier, no separation between
the two cables/hoses is necessary.
If the diameters of cables D1+D2 are less than or
equal to the inner height of the cable carrier, use
vertical separators or horizontal shelf to prevent
crossover/abrasion. More resilient material will
gradually wear down the softer jacket, leading to
failure. See the diagrams to the right for a visual of
these rules.
8. Use strain relief at both ends of cables. There are a
number of strain relief options, including mounting
brackets, tie wrap plates, etc. Proper strain relief
keeps the length of cable inside the carrier fixed at
all times. In certain cases, strain relief may only be
necessary at the moving end of the cable carrier.
Rule 2:
d1 + d2 ≤ 1.2 x hi
If d1 + d2 ≤ 1.2 times the carrier's inner
height, a vertical separator or horizontal
shelf must be used to reduce inner
height, preventing entanglement of d1
and d2.
Rule 1:
D1 + D2 > 1.2 x hi
If D1 + D2 > 1.2 times the cable carrier's
inner height, no separation between the
two cables is needed.
