Seven ways to put industrial cables to the test

Industrial cables play an important role in today’s production environments. They can be found in automotive plants, machine tools, instrumentation, robotics, industrial automation and many more applications.

But to ensure reliability and safety, they must be tested — thoroughly.  

The Lapp Group's Center for Competence and Innovation, based in Florham Park, N.J., validates designs of high-performance industrial cables and connectors, strain relief cable glands and accessories through continuous testing, including: 

1. Mechanical testing

Lapp products are put through three types of mechanical tests. The tensile and elongation test evaluates physical and mechanical properties of wire and cable to ensure these products retain critical qualification values of tensile strength and elongation after being exposed to accelerated environmental conditions. The direct burial and crush test evaluates physical and mechanical properties of cables to ensure they retain critical qualification values of crush resistance through gradual and constant compression. The exposed run impact test evaluates physical and mechanical properties of cables to ensure they retain critical qualification values of impact resistance when exposed to a free-fall force. 

2. Environmental testing

Air-oven aging and oil resistance tests evaluate physical and chemical properties of wire and cable products to ensure they retain critical qualification values of tensile strength and elongation after being exposed to accelerated environmental conditions. 

3. Low temperature testing

Cold impact tests evaluate physical and mechanical properties of cables to ensure they retain critical low temperature qualification values of impact resistance when subjected to a free-fall force. Cold bend tests evaluate physical and mechanical properties of wire and cable products to ensure they retain critical low temperature qualification values of flexibility when subjected to bending. 

4. Electrical testing

Insulation resistance evaluates electrical properties of wires to ensure they retain critical insulation resistance qualification values when subjected to wet, high temperature conditions. DC resistance tests evaluate electrical properties of wires to ensure they retain critical conductor resistance qualification values when subjected to high voltage conditions.

5. Flex testing

Torsion tests evaluate twist motion properties of cables to ensure they retain critical operating performance characteristics when subjected to severe torsion cycle conditions. Continuous flex tests evaluate continuous motion properties of cables to ensure they retain critical operating performance characteristics when subjected to severe flexing cycle conditions experienced in power chain applications. 

6. Material construction and design

RoHS/WEEE compliance tests evaluate the potential hazardous substance content of Lapp products to ensure compliance and the retention of characteristics with regards to global initiatives and directives. Video microscope tests evaluate physical and design properties of wire and cable products to ensure they retain critical dimensional tolerance values of material thickness and diameter. 

7. Flame testing

Flame testing evaluates flame resistance characteristics of wire and cable products to ensure they do not propagate flame or spread burning particles within the specified application. 

For more information on this topic, contact Lapp Canada. 

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