Innovations from HELUKABEL

Cables applied to industrial robots and other moving machines must often withstand extreme torsional loads. We simulate this type of stress around a cable’s own axis in our testing facilities. This is how we ensure that all materials used are reliable and long-lasting.

See more: Put to the Ultimate Test – Part 1: Torsion Tests

Bending tests are used to evaluate the mechanical strength of cables and wires under bending stress. In practice, frequent directional changes after a while may lead to cable breaks, especially at weak points. With our testing equipment, we simulate various loads and bending radii to ensure that our products reliably withstand the stresses and strains that come with everyday use.

>>See more: Put to the Ultimate Test – Part 2: Bending Tests

Drag chain cables are always on the move: high accelerations, tight bending radii and constant abrasion are continuous strains on the material. Our drag chain test systems allow us to apply different travel distances and chain radii and therefore simulate various operating conditions.

See more: Put to the Ultimate Test – Part 3: Drag Chain Tests

Cables used in dynamic applications are exposed to a variety of mechanical stresses – including abrasion, for example, due to contact with other machine components. In the long term, this may damage or destroy the insulation of a cable and can even result in cable breaks, malfunctions, short circuits and fires. In our testing laboratories, we therefore run abrasion tests to evaluate the suitability of our sheathing and insulation materials against the demands of everyday use.

>>See more: Put to the Ultimate Test – Part 4: Kink and Abrasion Tests

Bending loads are part of everyday life for cables and wires in many moving applications. Over time, however, they can irreparably damage sheathing and conductor materials and even lead to a break, which can result in expensive malfunctions, machine failures and fire hazards. We therefore run special kink tests to assess a cable’s resistance and avoid unpleasant surprises when used.

There are applications where our cables and wires are exposed to torsional and bending
movements at the same time. For this reason, we have the so-called twister test:
this is a torsion and bending test with a special drag chain that simulates the loads
applied in highly dynamic applications. The travel distance and the maximum angle
of rotation are specified by the drag chain.

Cables in wind turbines are also exposed to strong torsional forces. This may cause
their mechanical and electrical functionality to deteriorate over time. We check the
torsion resistance of our products in our test tower for wind power cables to prevent
expensive system failures once in use.