Thread: Suitable cable chain
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06-12-2019 #1
Hi everyone,
Could anyone recommend what sort of cable chain would be suitable for my 4 x 2 foot 3 axis router that I'm building. Just need an idea what sort of width to buy and where's the best place to buy it from.
Regards Chris
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06-12-2019 #2
In my experience, wider is much easier. You can run out of room fast.
An important consideration is bend radius. You don't want too small / tight radius as it's bad for cables (radius needs to be bigger than minimum specified for all cables you use), too big and it can be a problem fitting the cable chain. Too big is most commonly a problem on the Z axis.
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08-12-2019 #3
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06-12-2019 #4
I JUST managed to squeeze everything into 15 x 30, but it did require a bit of laying in to make sure stuff wasn't crossing over anywhere.
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06-12-2019 #5
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/R38-18mm-...K/163618534489
I have this on mine. I have two on each axis to get enough room and to keep signal and power wires separate. it also makes it easier to get the cables in as it opens up along its entire length
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06-12-2019 #6
I think the advice I found was aim to fill no more than 60% - so I measured the diameter of each cable I intended to run through, and then treated them as squares to provide a safety margin (so an 8mm air pipe takes up 64mm2). Then get the total area, and divide by 0.6. That's the approximate internal cross section you want - the over estimate on the area means you'll have plenty of room for upgrades in the future.
Then I went shopping on eBay etc to look at common options and chose the bending radius to suit. Try to get the opening type so you can get the connectors through if you're using them.
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07-12-2019 #7
Thanks Andy thats a good point. Maybe It would be better if I buy some CY cable and spindle cooling tubing (and whatever else I may need) to get an idea of the size of cable chain.
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07-12-2019 #8
Bangood has a host of sizes available up to 25 x 77mm at minimal cost. I think I got the 15 x 40 for my machine and have all the cables inc spindle power and cooling hoses in there.
https://www.banggood.com/buy/cable-chain.htmlAn optimist says the glass is half full, a pessimist says the glass is half empty, an engineer says you're using the wrong sized glass.
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07-12-2019 #9
With regards to CY cable. Is it best practice to buy shielded 2 core cable to keep step and direction signals apart in order to limit interference. Or do i use 4 core?
Regards Chris.
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07-12-2019 #10
The CY goes between the motor and the driver, carrying the A+ A- B+ B- rather than step and direction.
In the electronics cab between the breakout and the driver you want something like CAT5, keeping step + and - to a single twisted pair, and dir to another pair.
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