Page 17 - 2021 High-Reliability, Harsh Environment Connectivity eBook

Conditions that can impact the durability and life cycle of the cables within cable carriers include:
• The radius of the cable carrier (maximum bend)
• The speed at which the cable carrier is required to travel
• The number of cycles per minute required of the cable carrier
• The maximum acceleration and deceleration rate of the cable carrier
• The total number of complete motion cycles required to match the equipment lifetime
It is critical to consider these factors when specifying cable that will be used in a cable carrier. The best cable selections will be closely matched to both the requirements of the cable carrier and overall electronics system, not only in terms of optimal power and/or signal transfer but in terms of durability and longevity as well.
3. Do the selected cables meet the application’s lifecycle requirements? Another critical step in the medical cable specification process is ensuring that the specified cable meets or exceeds the lifecycle required by the medical equipment it’s being designed into. Ideally, specified cables will not only fail to break down over the expected product lifetime; they will also deliver the performance levels required under anticipated operating conditions for the full duration of their rated lifetime.
One way to verify cable performance in terms of application lifecycles is to have the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) set up a field simulation equipped with the cable. Another approach is to have test and measurement specialists subject the cable to an array of specified environmental and operating conditions designed to mimic a real-world simulation. After either simulation, all of the cable’s electrical and mechanical characteristics should be carefully measured and compared to its initial specifications, prior to its employment in the simulation. If the cable was properly specified, there should be no more than a 10% difference between the measurements taken prior to the simulation and those recorded after the simulation.
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» This Towline Cable, designed and developed by BizLink, offers ductility of more than 10 million cycles and is especially designed for easy installation.
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