Everything You Need To Know To Find The Best Machine Tool Cables cnc cable

Many hobby CNC enthusiasts often overlook the importance of cable chains. These chains carry the power and signals required to operate the machine efficiently. While replacing the cables might not be expensive, the process can be time-consuming. Moreover, cable failures during operation can lead to significant downtime and troubleshooting difficulties.

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When designing cable chains, it's crucial to select the appropriate type of chain and cables, followed by an optimal layout within the chain. Major manufacturers provide documentation on selecting and setting up their chains to maximize the lifespan of both the chain and its contents. Adhering to these guidelines can ensure lifespans typically in the range of millions of cycles, albeit potentially resulting in excessively wide chains that might not fit easily into certain applications.

A viable compromise is to stack cables on top of each other, reducing the carrier width but also potentially shortening the cycle life. Although stacking is not recommended by manufacturers, certain applications necessitate a reduced carrier footprint. Guidelines for stacking ensure cables move freely with minimum friction and reduce the risk of tangling.

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I have gathered this information from guidelines, emails, and face-to-face meetings with four major European manufacturers. I hope this guide helps you maximize the lifespan of your chains. Due to formatting constraints, a PDF with better layout is included at the end.

MJR7 said:

I was told that it is possible to replace an encoder cable which has braid-shielded wires inside with one that uses no braided shielding but has wires twisted together in pairs for noise protection. Anyone familiar with this?

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In most cases, this is not advisable. Twisted pairs reduce crosstalk between encoder channels but offer minimal protection against external noise.

The likelihood of encountering issues depends on several factors. Using 5-volt single-ended encoders is particularly risky without shielded cables. The presence of large contactors or a Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) further necessitates shielded cables.

Shielded encoder cables are available in short lengths from McMaster Carr, typically in ten-foot increments. The price is reasonable.

If budget constraints are significant, high-quality shielded cat5 patch cords can be a temporary solution. Although they are too delicate for industrial machines, they can effectively reject noise until they fail.

The debate on whether to terminate the shield at one or both ends is ongoing. Your safest bet is to replicate the termination method used with the original cable.

Doug

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