Cable carriers
From fill and inner dimensions to bend radius, chain length and installation. Fifteen articles covering exactly the questions our technical desk gets every day.
Basics
What is it and how does it work?
What is a cable carrier and how does it work?
Function, parts and terminology: link, crossbar, bend radius, inner dimension and pitch — with a cross-section drawing.
6 min readHow do you determine the inner height and inner width of a cable carrier?
Measure the fill, add clearance and divide compartments — including the 60% rule of thumb and a full worked example.
5 min readOpenable inwards or outwards: which do you choose?
The opening direction decides whether you can fill cables without dismantling the machine. Four criteria and a decision table.
4 min read
Selection
Which version fits my situation?
Plastic or steel cable carrier: when do you choose which?
Travel, fill weight, temperature, swarf and noise decide — with concrete thresholds per criterion.
6 min readOpen crossbars or closed cover: which version do you need?
Cooling, dirt, swarf and water jets decide the crossbar type. Four environments with concrete advice.
4 min readWhich cable carrier series fits my machine?
Series differ in pitch, side-band height and radius range. How to derive the right series from your own dimensions in four steps.
5 min read
Calculating
Formulas and worked examples with real numbers.
How do you calculate the size and length of a cable carrier?
Five steps from fill to orderable chain length, with the formula Lk = S/2 + π × R + allowance and a full example.
7 min readWhat minimum bend radius does my cable need?
The 7.5×, 10× and 15× rules of thumb explained, plus what happens when you go below them.
5 min readHow do you calculate unsupported length and sag?
Fill weight sets the unsupported length. When to switch to gliding, and how much sag is acceptable.
6 min read
In practice
Installation, maintenance and troubleshooting.
How do you correctly fill cables into a cable carrier?
From unrolling and neutral position to strain relief: a seven-step installation sequence with the most frequent mistakes.
6 min readHow do you divide a cable carrier with separators?
Compartments, shelves and EMC separation: what belongs where and which distances to keep.
4 min readHow do you extend the life of cables in a cable carrier?
Three causes explain nearly all premature failures. How to spot them in time and what your maintenance plan needs.
5 min readWhen do you need a guide trough with glide shoes?
Trough width, glide surfaces and wear indication: how to build a gliding arrangement that lasts for years.
5 min read