Selecting the Proper Cables for Your Stepper or Servo System Kollmorgen 540-633-3545
[email protected] www.kollmorgen.com Engineers devote a lot of time and effort designing highly efficient, reliable, and economical stepper or servomotor positioning systems. They select a motor, a controller, appropriate feedback circuits, and an amplifier to satisfy the specific motion system’s needs. Unfortunately, however, the signal and power cables connecting the components are often neglected until the project is nearing its end or worse yet, handed off to an electrician who lacks the proper training. Overlooking critical cable selection factors can deliver a system with lower than expected accuracy, frequent failures, low immunity from electromagnetic interference, and adverse affects on neighboring equipment. BASIC CABLE CONSTRUCTION Cables are designed and manufactured with characteristics intended to service a specific application for peak performance. Each element in the basic cable construction plays a unique role. All cables contain some or all the following elements: single or multiple conductors of proper ampacity, insulation with appropriate voltage breakdown specifications, an overall shield or multiple shields for individual conductors or pairs, and a jacket to protect the cable from mechanical, chemical, and environmental influences. Additional cable elements might include a drain or grounding wire used with foil shields, binding tapes, embedded steel-support wires, and fillers to give the cable a uniform circular, cross- sectional shape. SELECTION CRITERION Cable selection begins with characterizing the operating conditions that affect the cable during service such as temperature, moisture, chemical exposure, abrasion, flexing, and expected life. The proper type and thickness of the insulation selected depends upon working voltages.