Design Basics sponsored by:
What is a continuous-flex cable?
Static, flexible, high-flex, continuous-flex - what's the difference? Unlike cables that
you often see alongside home appliances or purchase from hardware stores like the
one pictured below, high-flex and continuous-flex cables are designed specifically
for moving applications. Continuous-flex cables specifically, are designed to operate
inside cable carrier applications on automated or otherwise moving machinery.
Unlike high-flex, or flexible cables, continuous-flex cables are often seemingly very
stiff, which is due to their engineered design and high-strength materials used to ward
off breakage for millions of cycles. Continuous-flex cables are
manufactured and sold in a massive range of types, sizes,
and quality levels, so performance can vary dramatically.
This guide will walk you through the anatomy of a
continuous-flex cable and the design guidelines
that maximize performance and service life,
uncover R&D methods and testing procedures, and
discover how selection and installation, partnered
with design can mean the difference between an
application running a few thousands cycles and
tens of millions of cycles of reliable performance.
