What does the data sheet tell us?
Max Herrmann | 21. August 2020
As soon as a cable has been built and put on the market, a data sheet is created. Today’s article shows what the data sheet should contain and where the special features lie.
The data sheet
Often a data sheet is associated with a very technical document, which at the end of the day does not always provide the answers one had hoped for. Many of us will be familiar with it: you are about to make a purchase decision and only need detailed information. The handle immediately goes to the data sheet of the respective product. Unfortunately, one quickly loses the overview here and the information that you precisely need cannot be found.
Not all data sheets are the same. They are structured differently depending on the manufacturer.
Before we discuss the contents of a data sheet here, we would first like to describe how you can obtain a chainflex data sheet. Just visit our home page and enter the desired article in the search field. On the respective product page in the Downloads section you will then find the appropriate data sheet, as a PDF file, for your part. Quick and easy. But what can we learn here now?
The initial view
As an example we will take a look at the data sheet for our shielded control cable CF6 . Our data sheets are always based on the same principle. On page 1 you get an overview of the cable and see the materials used. This way you can find out the specifications of a certain cable at the very beginning of the page. This is supported by our chainflex® classification. This is a kind of point system to describe the load, travel, oil resistance and torsional capacity.
Class 5.5.2.1 of the CF6, for example, describes that it is a cable for high stress, the cable is suitable for a travel distance of up to 100m, has oil resistance and is not torsional. In our data sheets, you will always find a picture of the cable in its detached state and an exemplary representation of the sectional view of the cable. This allows you to view the cable structure for each combination of core numbers. We always explain the cable structure from the inside out, whereby the respective component described is shown in a schematic sketch.
Dynamic information
After this overview of the materials and the cable structure we come to the point of dynamic values. This is a unique selling point for our chainflex data sheets.
We have already emphasised in numerous articles how important it is to adapt cables to the respective application and experience this in our daily business. I like to compare our task here with that of a men’s outfitter.
The salesman has the task to find the right suit for his customers and to advise them. It is important to consider not only the customer’s wishes, but also other circumstances. For example, the correct fit of a suit depends not only on the body size, but also on the occasion for which the suit is to be worn.
It is similar with a cable. This should also be precisely matched to the respective application. This is why we specify the appropriate dynamic values on our data sheet for each cable type. These values are based on numerous tests conducted in our test laboratory. With the help of these investigations we were able to find out under which conditions the best results are achieved. For this reason you will find three specifications of the bend radius on our data sheets.
We distinguish between fixed, flexible and the application in an e-chain. For the installation type of the e-chain, we describe a real application in an e-chain according to igus test criteria. You will also find three specifications for temperature resistance.
Guarantee
Due to intensive testing and years of experience, we have the unique opportunity to make a guarantee statement on the durability of the cable. You can easily determine the guaranteed service life based on your application parameters from the graph below.
Who wants to buy a pig in a poke? Deciding on the right cable is much easier when you have the certainty that the cable will last.
Everything at a glance
Time is a valuable commodity, of which we usually have too little. This is why we design our data sheets clearly and offer all information at a glance. We therefore often use clear symbols or signs. This also applies to the specifications and approvals of the respective cable. For example, a crossed-out flame stands for the flame retardancy of the cable.
Conclusion
Our aim is to make data sheets as understandable as possible for you. Our data sheets are designed to provide you with the information you need to choose the right cable. We would like to stand out from other data sheets, especially with the specification of dynamic values. We would like to give you the opportunity to offer the best cable that is guaranteed to work in your application. If you can’t find the right information, we will be happy to support you personally in choosing the right cable.