Flexible coaxial cable facilitates constant motion in robotics
Designed to provide consistent electrical performance during continuous flexure for applications including robotics and industrial automation, the XtendedFlex 178 is Times Microwave Systems’ latest continuous flex coaxial cable.
It is for use with plastic cable drag chains in applications requiring constant motion and flexibility, such as robotics and industrial automation technologies in large distribution centres, said the company.
The XtendedFlex 178 cable is able to deliver optimal bend movement and consistent electrical performance during continuous flexure, confirmed Times Microwave Systems. It is constructed with a stranded silver-plated copper-clad steel centre conductor, FEP dielectric, tin-plated copper braid and a rubber jacket. As a result, the cable is both flexible and durable to survive the rigours of millions of flexures, said the company.
Performance testing has proven the XtendedFlex 178’s reliability. For example, using a rolling flex tester robot, the cable was subjected to one million flexes and maintained low insertion loss and VSWR specifications while preserving mechanical flexibility. The cable continued to perform well even after five million flexes, Times Microwave System reported.
The XtendedFlex 178 is the first cable introduction in the XtendedFlex product line. As the industrial automation landscape continues to grow and become increasingly sophisticated, the XtendedFlex family will evolve to help support a wide range of industrial automation applications, said Times Microwave Systems. These will include autonomous vehicles such as skid loaders, as well as unmanned technologies such as electric vertical take off vehicles and drones.
The XtendedFlex 178 is available now as a complete, tested assembly with connectors (TC-178-SM, TC-178-SM-RA) on short lead times.
