Selection guide
How to choose a shielded drag chain cable
Five questions settle most selections. Answer them and you will know which series to ask for, or send us the answers and we will choose with you.
1. Control cores or signal pairs?
Use a multi-core shielded control cable (ARI120) for switching, valve, I/O and general control wiring. Use a twisted-pair shielded cable (ARI220) for encoders, sensors, analogue signals and serial data, where pair twisting keeps the signal balanced.
2. Which jacket: PUR or PVC?
The table compares our ARI220 PUR and ARI220 PVC as rated by the manufacturer. Other PUR and PVC compounds can behave differently.
| PUR jacket | PVC jacket | |
|---|---|---|
| Oil and coolant | High resistance | Low resistance |
| Abrasion | High | Medium |
| Flame retardance | Standard | High |
| Rated flex life, ARI220 at 7.5×D | 20 million cycles | 5 million cycles |
| Temperature in chain, ARI220 | −25 to +90 °C | +5 to +70 °C |
| Cost | Higher | Lower |
| Typical use | Machine tools, long duty, cold or hot sites | Indoor machines with little oil |
3. Does the cable fit your chain's bend radius?
The chain's bend radius must be at least 7.5 times the cable outer diameter. A larger radius gives longer life: the rating rises at 10×D and again at 12.5×D. Enter the outer diameter from the size table on a product page:
If several cables or hoses share one chain, work out the minimum radius for each one from its own data. The chain must meet the largest of those values, which is not always the thickest cable.
4. What are the travel speed and acceleration?
All three series are rated for 3 m/s in the chain. The PUR versions and ARI120 are rated to 10 m/s², the PVC twisted-pair version to 8 m/s². If your axis is faster, tell us the values and we will check the options.
5. How many cores and what cross-section?
Count the conductors you need and add spares only if you really expect to use them: more cores mean a larger diameter and a larger bend radius. Standard sizes run from 2 to 37 cores and 2 to 15 pairs; other configurations are made to order.
Installing cables in the chain
Good practice that applies to any drag chain cable:
- Unwind the cable from the reel without twisting it; do not pull it off in loops.
- Let the cable relax straight before installing, especially in cold weather.
- Lay cables loosely side by side. Use separators so they cannot cross or ride over each other.
- Leave clearance around each cable so it can move freely in its compartment.
- Make sure cables run through the neutral axis of the bend and are not pulled tight against the inner radius.
- Fit strain relief at both ends of the chain, with the cable free to move in between.
- After a short run-in period, check the cable position and adjust the strain relief if needed.
Still unsure?
Send us the part number you use today, or your travel length, speed and environment. We will propose a matching cable.