Published: 2026-08-21
The drag chain cables on automated production lines bend daily, with common faults including broken cores at bends, sheath wear through, and shielding layer breakage. Most problems stem from the bending radius not following the standard during installation.
Drag chain cables have a strict specification: **minimum bending radius**, usually expressed as a multiple of the outer diameter. For example, 5D means five times the cable's outer diameter. If the bend is too tight during installation, the bending stress on the conductor and shielding layer exceeds the design value, which can inevitably lead to copper wire fatigue fractures and tearing of the shielding aluminum foil. A more subtle issue is the **internal fixing method of the drag chain** — the cable inside the drag chain must have enough slack, both ends must be securely fixed, and the middle cannot be stretched tight, otherwise the bending point will concentrate in the same position, causing rapid fatigue.
Another commonly overlooked factor is the speed and acceleration of the drag chain. High-speed drag chains (such as above 5 m/s) place higher demands on the twisted structure of the cables. With ordinary structures, the cores inside the cable can "whip" under high acceleration, causing the conductors and the insulation to rub against each other, which over time wears down the insulation and can lead to short circuits.
Selection recommendation: When selecting drag chain cables, confirm at least three things—minimum bending radius, drag chain speed, and travel stroke. Shanghai cable drag chain cables are designed for bending below 7.5 times the outer diameter, supporting high-speed drag chains (above 5m/s) and customized oil and wear resistance, and can provide bending life test reports.
About Shanghai Suoqi
Shanghai Suoqi Electric Wire & Cable Co., Ltd. is a specialized cable enterprise focusing on the research and development, design, production, and sales of special flexible cables. The company's products cover a series including reel cables, flat cables, drag chain cables, encoder cables, polyurethane cables, seawater-resistant cables, seawater-resistant network cables, and high-altitude vehicle cables, which are widely used in ports machinery, mining, industrial automation, marine engineering, and other fields. For more product information or inquiries, please call 13311756197 (same number on WeChat).