May I lubricate or treat a cable carrier?

No. Plastic chains are maintenance-free and lubricants bind dirt. Blowing out with dry compressed air and, if needed, wiping with water and a neutral cleaner is enough.

How do I know how many double strokes my machine makes?

The controller almost always keeps an axis counter. Ask the PLC programmer to read out the motion counter; that is far more reliable than an operator's estimate.

Do you supply complete spare runs?

Yes, we assemble an identical chain with cables, hoses and end connectors so a failure only requires a swap. Request it through the quote form.

How do you extend the life of cables in a cable carrier?

Figure: Measuring point for diameter checks: just past the end connector, where the cable bends most.

Why does clearance matter so much?

A cable must be able to slide a few millimetres in the bend to absorb the length difference between the outer and inner curve. If it is pinched between sheath and crossbar, the sheath takes that strain and cracks. An overfull compartment is therefore the most common cause of failure.

Which signs point to imminent failure?

Watch for a locally thicker cable (conductors migrating), a spiral imprint in the sheath (torsion), powdery wear debris in the compartments (chafing), and signal errors that appear only at one end of the travel. The last is nearly always an incipient conductor break.

What belongs in the maintenance plan?

Every six months: blow out the chain, inspect compartments, check separators for locking and measure cable diameter just past the end connector. Annually: check glide shoes for wear and retighten the fixed point and driver mountings. Log the measured diameters; a 5% increase is your early warning.

When do you replace preventively?

On machines with a production-critical axis it pays to replace at 70 to 80% of the specified life, during a planned maintenance stop. Keep a pre-assembled spare run in stock: the cable is rarely the problem, the downtime is.

Table — Symptom, cause and remedy

Symptom	Cause	Remedy	Timing
Dikkere plek in kabel	Te weinig speling	Vak breder indelen	Direct
Spiraalindruk	Torsie bij montage	Kabel opnieuw invullen	Direct
Poeder in vakken	Schuren, geen scheiding	Scheidingsstegen plaatsen	< 1 maand
Signaalfout aan één eind	Aderbreuk in aanloop	Kabel vervangen	Direct
Ketting loopt zwaarder	Glijdschoenen versleten	Glijdschoenen vervangen	< 3 maanden

Frequently asked questions

May I lubricate or treat a cable carrier?: No. Plastic chains are maintenance-free and lubricants bind dirt. Blowing out with dry compressed air and, if needed, wiping with water and a neutral cleaner is enough.
How do I know how many double strokes my machine makes?: The controller almost always keeps an axis counter. Ask the PLC programmer to read out the motion counter; that is far more reliable than an operator's estimate.
Do you supply complete spare runs?: Yes, we assemble an identical chain with cables, hoses and end connectors so a failure only requires a swap. Request it through the quote form.