Calmont Wire and Cable manufactures





Showing posts with label silicone wire. Show all posts
Showing posts with label silicone wire. Show all posts

Friday, January 11, 2013

Custom Cable Solutions Offer Plenty of Support


There are a lot of cables and wires out there in the world already today. Of course, even though they're mostly universal, a lot of these cables aren't really going to help people. For that reason, there are companies that also offer custom cable solutions for those who need them. Custom wiring and cabling solutions are perfect for people who are looking for something more unique and who need a little extra help than they can find in a box of cords that they buy at the electronics store.

Companies that specialize in custom cable solutions are designed to give people the information and insight that they need as they work, as well. They understand the latest innovations in technology and how to get the most out of wiring and cabling so that they can give you everything that you need. Plus, they're always there to help you when you need it along the way. There's so much to appreciate that it just makes sense to check out custom solutions before you do anything else.

Whether you are looking for a certain type of electronics cable or even silicone wire that is customized to your needs, there are so many different ways to get what you want. Of course, if you shop online with a reputable custom wire store, it will be easy for you to find what you need. Plus, you'll get better selection and much lower prices, giving you even more to love about getting customized cable solutions for your business or your home, no matter what you have in mind.

The world of consumer technology is changing drastically in the coming years and it has already done so a couple of times. When you have the upper hand in items like custom cabling and wires, you will be able to get more out of your business or entertainment. Make sure that you take the time to read up on these services and see how much you can find that you can benefit from with custom cords and cables because there is truly something for just about everyone.

Custom cables are all about your needs. If you take the time to do your homework and talk to professionals about your cabling needs, it will be easy for you to get everything that you need from this investment. Just remember to check out your options and find the cables that fit your needs.

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Silicone Ribbon and Flat Cables: More Flexibility



When you think of extremely flexible wire, silicone insulated wire comes to mind because of its flexible properties. But what about using silicone in ribbon cable? Manufactures turn to silicone ribbon cables when applications require flat cables with specialized requirements or extreme flexibility. Flat cables and ribbon cables are often used when space is a factor ribbon cables can also be easily mass terminated using
an insulation displacement connector (IDC). Ribbon cables are manufactured in a variety of materials and configurations including silicone; the most common and least expensive insulation is PVC.
Space is a luxury as devices become smaller. Manufacturers are using flat and ribbon cables for more applications.

Industries include:
  • Aerospace
  • Automation/Robotics
  • Medical
  • Industrial
  • Automotive
  • Telecommunication
These types of applications often need insulation materials other than PVC due to special requirements such as extreme temperature, low smoke, flammability, flexibility, sterilization and chemical contact. Silicone is an excellent choice for these types of requirements. Not only is silicone wire extremely flexible, it can withstand millions of flex cycles, and has good steam and chemical resistance. Silicone ribbon cables can be extruded or bonded depending on the type of termination that is used. Extruded ribbon cables have a tighter center to center tolerance than the bonded ribbon cable. When using a bonded ribbon cable, terminating with IDC is recommended. Extruded ribbon cables normally require tooling to control shape and pitch which may add to initial cost. Bonded ribbon cables normally do not have special tooling used.
Flat cables can be manufactured in a variety of constructions which may include zip cords, ribbon cables and flat cables with an outer jacket. Custom cables can also be constructed with shielded twisted pairs, overall shield, and with tubing or lumens. Custom flat cables are also available in smaller gauges which you cannot find "off the shelf".
Silicone insulated wire and cables do have their drawback. Silicone has poor abrasion resistance, which can be a critical problem for applications where the cable comes in contact with sharp objects.  Higher abrasion resistant formulas are available for silicone. Consult your wire and cable manufacturer regarding your application to find out the options available to you.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Silicone Insulated Wire- Medical Grade Silicone Applications

Silicone insulated wire and cable is an excellent choice for medical cable applications. Besides being extremely flexible, silicone rubber can withstand autoclave and other forms of sterilization. Properties that make silicone suitable for medical applications include: Low thermal conductivity, low chemical reactivity, low toxicity and thermal stability (consistency of properties over a wide temperature range of 100°C to 250°C). Abrasion resistance is a concern when considering silicone insulation or jacket. Formulas for higher tear strength are available to increase resistance to abrasion.

Applications suitable for silicone cables include:

  • Arthroscopic
  • Surgical Robotics
  • Electrosurgical
  • Implantable
  • Ophthalmic
  • Foot Switch
  • Patient Monitoring

What makes a material medical grade? Materials are tested for bio-compatibility and are categorized to be used for medical applications. Medical grade materials are generally grouped into three categories: non implantable, short term implantable and long-term implantable. Materials approved as USP Class V and VI can be considered medical grade, most medical grade silicone is at least Class VI certified.

Uses for medical grade silicone cables include:

  • Tubing/Lumen
  • Drains
  • Feeding tubes
  • Catheters
  • Implants for long and short term use
  • Sensors

Co-extruded and multi-layer silicone cables can be used for high voltage applications such as X-Ray and MRI equipment which require electrical noise suppression and limited power loss . Co-extrusion involves extruding a semi-conductive silicone layer around the conductor to remove air thus reducing corona. Extruding both semi-conductive layer and jacket simultaneously insures no air or particles are caught between the layers. Benefits for co-extruded silicone include corona, moisture & ozone resistance, lightweight and flexible cable design and radiation resistance to name a few.

When working with your custom cable manufacturer, it is crucial to provided them as much information as possible about the application, the environment, sterilization and bio-compatibility requirements. The more information you can provide to your silicone cable manufacturer will help in determining if silicone is right for your application and to offer you material choices that will enhance your product's performance.

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Silicone Cable- 5 Things you didn't know about Silicone Wire

Silicone wire is extremely flexible and resistant to high temperatures, everyone knows that. There are some misconceptions regarding silicone wire and silicone cables. Listed below are five facts you probably didn't know about silicone insulated wire that I get asked frequently.

1. It doesn't have to be tacky. Recently at a trade show I handed a visitor a sample of our silicone wire and he said: "Wow, this isn't sticky, we stay away from silicone because it's always sticky." Silicone rubber is normally tacky, this can be a problem especially in medical applications where you don't want dirt sticking to the cable. Silicone cables can be made so they are not tacky or sticky. This is accomplished with manufacturing techniques and formulas can be used to make the jacket smooth and not tacky. Normally silicone wire and cable is coated with Mica to keep it from sticking to itself during the manufacturing process, this coating is not acceptable in some applications that requiring clean environments. The alternative is to manufacture the silicone so it is not sticky from the start.

2. Available in ribbon cables. Silicone cables can be manufactured as ribbon cable a few different ways. Silicone ribbon cables can be extruded, bonded and even molded into ribbon and flat cables. Silicone ribbon cables can be extruded as a ribbon cable which offers the tightest center to center tolerances. Bonding the ribbon cable involves extruding the individual silicone wires separately then they are bonded together, this method is less expensive than extruding the ribbon cable because there isn't any additional tooling. Bonded silicone ribbon cables work best with IDC connectors and soldering. Molded ribbon cables are usually silicone wires encapsulated with a silicone outer jacket, this method allows for unique flat shapes.silicone cable

3. Low outgassing formulas are available. Aerospace, specifically space applications often have outgassing restrictions for the wire and cable. Recent advancements with silicone formulas and manufacturing techniques have created low outgassing silicone cable. For space craft and satellite applications Calmont manufactures silicone wire and cable products which meet NASA .01% TML requirement. Depending on your outgassing requirements, check with your silicone cable manufacturer to find out what is available. Click here to view Aerospace insulation properties chart.

4. Reinforced silicone is available. High strength silicone formulas are now being used to increase abrasion resistance of silicone wire and cable. Fluorosilicone has better abrasion resistance than the standard silicone. Additional measures can be taken to reduce abrasion such as strength members between layers and nylon outer braid to protect the silicone insulation.

5. Doesn't burn. Silicone insulation is self extinguishing, it will not burn. Flame retardant additives can be added to meet flame requirements such as VF1

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Silicone Ribbon and Flat Cables: More Flexibility

silicone insulated wireWhen you think of extremely flexible wire, Linksilicone insulated wire comes to mind because of its flexible properties. But what about using silicone in ribbon cable? Manufactures turn to silicone ribbon cables when applications require flat cables with specialized requirements or extreme flexibility. Flat cables and ribbon cables are often used when space is a factor ribbon cables can also be easily mass terminated using

an insulation displacement connector (IDC). Ribbon cables are manufactured in a variety of materials and configurations including silicone; the most common and least expensive insulation is PVC.

Space is a luxury as devices become smaller. Manufacturers are using flat and ribbon cables for more applications.

silicone wireIndustries include:

Aerospace
Automation/Robotics
Medical
Industrial
Automotive
Telecommunication

These types of applications often need insulation materials other than PVC due to special requirements such as extreme temperature, low smoke, flammability, flexibility, sterilization and chemical contact. Silicone is an excellent choice for these types of requirements. Not only is silicone wire extremely flexible, it can withstand millions of flex cycles, and has good steam and chemical resistance. Silicone ribbon cables can be extruded or bonded depending on the type of termination that is used. Extruded ribbon cables have a tighter center to center tolerance than the bonded ribbon cable. When using a bonded ribbon cable, terminating with IDC is recommended. Extruded ribbon cables normally require tooling to control shape and pitch which may add to initial cost. Bonded ribbon cables normally do not have special tooling used.

Small Gauge Ribbon and Flat Cables Flat cables can be manufactured in a variety of constructions which may include zip cords, ribbon cables and flat cables with an outer jacket. Custom cables can also be constructed with shielded twisted pairs, overall shield, and with tubing or lumens. Custom flat cables are also available in smaller gauges which you cannot find "off the shelf".

Silicone insulated wire and cables do have their drawback. Silicone has poor abrasion resistance, which can be a critical problem for applications where the cable comes in contact with sharp objects. Higher abrasion resistant formulas are available for silicone. Consult your wire and cable manufacturer regarding your application to find out the options available to you.

To find out more about flat cable options or if silicone cables are right for your application contact Calmont for assistance with your design or request a quote. Feel free to leave a comment.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Silicone wire: Art Using Custom wire and Cable

 silicone insulated wireCustom wire and cable in art? One usually doesn't think of custom cable and art. From time to time we are contacted by artists looking for custom wire and cable for their art projects which are usually in the way of sculptures. Often times the custom wire is part of the art piece. In 2007 Claude Zervas an artist in the Seattle area needed an extremely flexible wire for an electronic art piece he was working on. The flexible custom wires needed to be placed in a way to be aesthetically pleasing and not to take away from the art piece as the wire becomes a part of the art.

"Since the wire is often exposed and becomes a formal part of the sculpture it needs to have certain physical properties such as color and flexibility. The high flex silicone insulated wire is perfect since it resists kinking and drapes like string or rope" says Claude.

His challenge was "off the shelf" wire was too stiff and could not be draped and arranged properly. The wire Claude chose is a silicone insulated wire with a high strand count conductor. This is an extremely flexible wire which was easy to incorporate into the art piece. Silicone insulation is used in a variety of industries and applications requiring super flexible wire, high voltage or high temperature.

silicone wireThe silicone wire was used in a sculpture commissioned by the King County Arts Commission for the exhibition hall at the Brightwater Treatment Facility (pictured on left). Happy with the performance and look of the wire, he has been using the silicone wire for other art pieces as well.

The photos below illustrate the layout and a close up of Claude's sculpture. The silicone wire plays a part in the design and function of the art piece.

"Diatomoton 5" The layout A closer look at Diatomoton 5

Here's a video of Diatomoton 5 in action:

About Claude

Claude Zervas' artwork uses technology and a variety of media to explore representation of landscape, social ecology, and memory. He creates 2D, 3D, and time-based work using video or custom computer programs. He has stated, “I grew up in a rural part of Whatcom County and I have been greatly influenced by the physical landscape, the social topology, and the transformation of this region. I am interested in how the idea of place evokes emotion, the way emotion affects memory and how memory in turn affects perception.”

After attending art school at Western Washington University Zervas fell into a career as a software engineer, eventually returning to art full-time. He leverages many of the skills acquired from his engineering experience to produce his art. Click here to see more examples of Claude's art.

If you have questions or an application requiring custom wire or cable contact Calmont for assistance. Please feel free to comment or share this article.


D5 from Claude Zervas on Vimeo.

Silicone Wire- Popular Applications of Silicone Insulated Wire and Cable

Silicone insulated cableSilicone insulated wire is a popular choice for a variety of industries due to its operating temperature range, extreme flexibility, and voltage properties. Silicone wire and cable compounds are available in special grades and formulas are available for specific requirements such as, medical grade/implantable, low smoke/halogen-free, increased resistance to abrasion , flame retardant and more.

Silicone wire advantages include:

  • Service temperatures from –50 to +200 °C
  • Special grades are available for use in a temperature range from –90 to +300 °C
  • Excellent aging resistance, even under extreme conditions
  • High resistance to many different chemical substances
  • Outstanding electrical properties
  • Extreme flexibility

Aerospace

Aerospace and space applications often require low smoke halogen-free wire and cable. Silicone insulated cable can be manufactured with low smoke halogen-free grades. Low smoke halogen-free silicone cables offer several advantages over conventional cable products:

  • Silicone does not emit any corrosive gases.
  • Flame resistance - Ensures reduced flame propagation.
  • Halogen-free cables generate little smoke, ensuring clear visibility during fires.

Commonly used Mil-Specs for silicone wire, is the MIL-W-16878

  • MIL-W-16878/7 Wire, Silicone Insulated, 200°C, 600 Volts.
  • MIL-W-16878/8 Wire, Silicone Insulated, 200°C, 1000 Volts.
  • MIL-W-16878/29 Wire, Silicone Insulated, 150°C, 600 Volts.
  • MIL-W-16878/30 Wire, Silicone Insulated, 150°C, 1000 Volts.
  • MIL-W-16878/31 Wire, Silicone Insulated, 150°C, 1000 Volts, Glass Braid, Abrasion Resistant.
  • MIL-W-16878/32 Wire, Silicone Insulated, 200°C, 1000 Volts, Glass Braid, Abrasion Resistant.

Other Mil-Specs using silicone insulated wires with FEP Jacket include MIL-DTL-8777, MS25471 and MS27110.

Medical Applications

Medical device manufactures use silicone insulated wire and cable because can be used in an autoclave, its chemical resistance and ultra flexible nature. Silicone is widely used in applications that include medical robotics, implantable, sensors and handheld devices just to name a few. Silicone wire is also manufactured for medical tubing and is typically used in applications such as catheters, drains, feeding tubes, and peristaltic pumps. Manufacturers considering silicone for these types of applications can choose from special grades that meet stringent health agency requirements.

Automation and Ribbon Cables

Silicone wire Typical ribbon cables are not designed for repetitive flexing. These cables are generally made of PVC which is brittle and not resistant to harsh chemicals. For applications in the automation and robotics industries a cable designed specifically for hi flex applications is needed. Silicone ribbon cables can withstand millions of flex cycles and can be extruded or bonded from as little as two conductors to over twenty and can be manufactured up to 40AWG. Applications such as multi-axis motion systems, robotic equipment, linear motor stages and packaging equipment all require flexible flat cable designed to achieve reliable performance. Silicone ribbon cables are also used in static installations where a flexible cable is required.

Automotive

Silicone wire is temperatures, tight spaces, and contact with fluid and chemicals. This type of environment is perfect for silicone wire and cables. Silicone insulated wire is normally used in the automotive industry for ignition, battery and spark plug wire. Custom silicone cables can be manufactured to improve the engine's performance. High performance options for ignition wires can include EMI suppression, Kevlar strength members, fiberglass braid, nickel alloy conductors.

There are many applications suited for silicone wire and cable. This article only named a few. If you would like to discuss your application or have questions, please contact Calmont. Feel free to leave a comment or share this article. To find out more about silicone insulation visit our silicone page or our Insulation and jacket materials page.

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Medical Cable- Applications of the Lumen in the Medical Industry

custom cable

In the medical device industry a lumen is a term used to describe tubing which is typically used to transfer liquids, gases/air or even other cable components such as fiber optics and cameras. Lumens can be manufactured in a variety of configurations and incorporated inside a cable with multiple lumens (multi-lumen).

If you have been to the dentist then you have had experience with lumens. The handpiece used for air and water has lumens within the cable. The suction piece placed in your mouth is a disposable lumen. Other uses for lumens include micro-surgical instruments and pressure transducers. Cables for handheld medical lasers likely contain lumens for cooling. Ablating handpiece cables can also contain lumens for irrigation and suctioning.

Lumens are not limited to the medical cable industry. Lumens are used in many industries and are often called other names such as tubing or hose.

Other industries using lumens include:

  • Industrial
  • Automotive
  • Instrumentation and sensors
  • Automation/ robotic

As products become smaller and more compact and it is more common to see tubing and cable incorporated into one component. A few examples outside the medical industry include hi-tech hand sprayers with electronic controller in handpiece, cables with hydraulic fluid tubes, pressure transducers and air controlled switches.Silicone Cable

Often when designing a device or equipment with tubing or lumens a custom cable solution is needed. It is important to tell your cable manufacture as much information as possible about the application and its intended use.

Key information may include:

  • Used for fluid, air or other?
  • Will it be pressurized?
  • Type of fluid or gas?
  • Flexibility requirements?
  • Bio-compatibility requirements?

The more your cable manufacture knows, the better the design will meet your needs. Working with a cable manufacturer early in your design phase will help to determine tubing size, material and construction to insure your project goes smoothly from the start.

Comments are welcome! Tell us about your lumen application or challenge.


Saturday, January 7, 2012

Implantable silicone lumen One of the obvious benefits for using silicone wire


Silicone wire and cable is known for being extremely flexible and resistant to high temperatures, which makes it the material of choice in a variety of applications and industries that require an extremely flexible cable. Silicone wire is also flexible in the many applications and industries that it is used in. For example, Calmont is involved in a wide spectrum of projects using silicone wire and cable ranging from medical implants, automotive ignition wires to applications where the wire was weaved into fabric and even used for art and decorative lighting.


Industries that use silicone wire include:

  • Medical
  • Aerospace
  • Robotics and automation
  • Automotive

for wire and cable is the flexibility. Silicone wire, depending on the construction can be as limp as a piece of string. This type of wire is ideal with applications where routing a wire through a tight space is required such as, box builds, equipment, robotic arms or handheld devices. Other benefits include resistance to gasoline, alcohol-glycol. The temperature range for standard silicone is -60°C to 200°C and has excellent weather-ability. The downside to silicone is it's abrasion resistance which is fair. Depending on the application this may have no impact, best uses are static installations or when the wire or cable is not subject to contact with sharp objects.

Fluorosilicone is another type which is widely used and has a significantly greater chemical resistance than silicone. It is resistant to hydrocarbon fluids (gasoline / diesel) and solvents. The temperature range varies by the grade. Most is 250C it is available up to 350C upon request. Fluorosilicone also has excellent flexibility and flame retardant properties.

Tell your wire and cable manufacturer any special requirements your application has to get the right silicone compound. There are different grades, and durometers available. Sometimes a special formula or additive may be needed to meet the requirements listed below.

A few options include:

  • Medical grade
  • Flame retardant
  • Low smoke
  • High temperature to 350°C


Silicone ribbon cables are often used in place of PVC ribbon cables when flexibility is required. Silicone ribbon cables can be extruded or manufactured using a special process to bond the conductors. The construction of the silicone ribbon cable can be from two conductors to over twenty depending on the manufacturer's capabilities.

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Co-extrusion: Silicone wire to the Hula Hoop.

Choosing co-extruded silicone wire for applications that require suppression of electrical noise, corona resistance, low loss of power and extremely flexible nature is ideal. The co-extrusion process for silicone wire involves the combination of two extruders running simultaneously to produce the semi conductive silicone insulation and the silicone outer jacket. There are many applications which require this type of performance.

These applications include:

  • Aerospace
  • Medical
  • X-Ray and MRI
  • Radar systems
  • Photo copiers
  • Robotics

Extruding the semi-conductive insulation and the outer jacket layers of silicone at the same time insures that there is no air or any contamination particles at the joining of the two layers. The use of a semi-conductive silicone layer over the copper conductor reduces corona by filling the space around the conductor with semi-conductive silicone to remove the air. The semi-conductive material also increases the effective corona inception diameter from that of one of the strands in the conductor to a diameter slightly larger than the total conductor diameter. This results in the higher corona inception values and increase effective radius of conductor found in co-extruded silicone wires.

Features and Benefits:

  • Corona, moisture and ozone resistant
  • Lightweight and extremely flexible design
  • Radiation resistance
  • Excellent electrical characteristics
  • Resistant to temperature extremes
  • Lower EMI

Increased Customer Benefits:

  • Reduces noise on radar
  • Spots on Xerox copies
  • Error spots on medical x-ray's

Built in stripes

Other uses for Co-extrusion
In 1958, The Wham-O Company had a problem: The stripe in the original Hula Hoop was painted on and was wearing off quickly after a short time of use. The Wham-O Company asked Calmont Wire & Cable's founder Bill Chilcote to find a solution to the problem. Bill seized the opportunity and developed a co-extrusion process and built the equipment to add the stripe right into the tubing, which made the stripe permanent. The stripe has evolved over the years but the fundamentals of Bill’s technology are still being used today for the Hula Hoop and many other applications in a variety of industries.

Friday, December 30, 2011

Flexible Wire- Conductor and Insulation selection for flexible wire and cable

flexible cable Medical device, aerospace and automation manufacturers often require flexible cables for their products. Flexible wire and cable can have many interpretations. Sometimes a simple description such as, “the wire needs to be as limp as a wet noodle” is enough to understand your needs. The choice of type of conductor and insulation can greatly influence the flexibility of the cable performance. Understanding what the flexibility requirements are will help to determine the materials and construction for the flexibility of the wire or cable.

When specifying a flexible cable you need tell your cable manufacturer what the intended use will be.

  • Do you need to route it through equipment or a tight space?
  • Will it be subject to repetitive flexing?
  • Do you need the cable to flexible during use?

There are several factors which make a cable flexible, a few are:

  • Conductor stranding
  • Shield types
  • Cable lay
  • Insulation materials.

Typically in conductor stranding, the more strands a conductor has the more flexible the wire will be. Normally “off the shelf” wire and cable is stranded in 7 or 19 strand configurations, is not flexible enough for most applications requiring flexible or high flex cycles. The general rule is the higher the strand count of the conductor, the more flexible the wire or cable will be. Stranded conductors are composed of un-insulated “strands” of wire twisted together. The advantages of stranded conductor over a single strand are increased flexibility and flex-fatigue life. When you see 22AWG (19/34) for example, what the description means is that there are 19 strands of 34 AWG making up the 22 AWG conductor. Other common options for a 22 AWG is a single strand (solid) up to 168/44 strands. The construction of the conductor also plays a role in the cable’s flexibility, for example a rope stranding is the most flexible. For repetitive flexing applications such as robotics and automation, the use of high strand alloy material is recommended.

Choosing the right insulation can add to the cable’s flexibility. Silicone is one the most flexible of the compounds used. Silicone wire is used to meet a variety of demands such as extreme high and low temperature requirements, flame resistance, flexibility, strength and purity. The application and environment also play a role when choosing jacket material. Harsh environments, chemicals, and abrasion will narrow down your insulation and jacket options. Discussing your flexible wire application with a cable manufacturer can help you choose the right materials for the performance and longevity of your product

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Wire Applications in Military Vehicles: H Model Cougar MRA

Applications for custom wires and cables generally fall into one of several categories, one of which being mechanical requirements for military vehicles and equipment. Military wires and cables provide electrical power, communications, and a host of other functions within a given piece of hardware.

As combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq (Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom) intensified, there was a growing need for a series of vehicles designed to survive the explosive threats posed by the Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) as well as conventional mining and ambush tactics employed against Coalition personnel. These vehicles were collectively described as MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) capable, and would be specifically built to defeat these threats. One such vehicle is the Cougar. Manufactured by Force Protection Inc. employing advanced flexible wire technology, the Cougar has been in production, and in service for the past seven years.


Vehicles such as the Cougar are not new designs. While new to the US military, the Cougar design can trace its origins to the Olifant Manufacturing Company of South Africa, which originally developed the multi-wheeled, "V" shaped blast hull design for use by the South African military in its operations against Angola and Namibia in the 1980s. These vehicles were designed to have good road speeds and endurance (to allow for the long distances traveled, as well as reduced maintenance requirements because of their wheeled design) and were specifically designed with advanced silicone wires and armor technologies to maximize passenger survivability against small arms ambushes and conventionally laid mines and IEDs.


The Cougar MRAP H model is a 19.4 feet long, 9 feet wide (spare tires mounted), 8.6 feet tall (not including turret splash shield.) 3-door, diesel powered, 3-ton capacity 4-wheel drive Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle. The Cougar-H is The Cougar is equipped with an automatic transmission and in addition to the driver and co-driver, has seating for 4 additional passengers. Each seat is equipped with a 4-point ribbon cable shielded pur safety harness. The vehicle is equipped with driver/co-driver doors, as well as double doors for the passenger compartment, and a single vehicle accessibility hatch on the roof. The Cougar is equipped with dual A/C units (24,000/48,000 BTU/hour), is NBC overpressure and filter protected, and is equipped with a 9,000-pound capacity electrically powered winch. The unprepared fording depth is 39 inches, an approach angle of 40 degrees and a departure angle of 50 degrees. The Cougar is capable of travel both on and off road and is equipped with run-flat tire inserts. The Cougar-H is air transportable by the C-17 transport aircraft.


Monday, February 14, 2011

Getting The Right Custom Cable For Your Application


With each passing day, the need for customized solutions is rising steeply. Customers require solutions designed and manufactured for their specific needs. Custom cables and wires are readily available and affordable. Buyers can get their precise design needs met at manageable cost and with shorter lead times. Custom cables are developed for use by cutting edge companies in medical, robotics, aerospace, military, sensory and a host of other industries. They are specifically designed for meeting exacting requirements, such as ultra-flexibility and high voltage and high temperature tolerance. The extensive capabilities and the variety of materials used by custom design companies form the basis for their innovative designs.

Silicone rubber insulated high voltage wire and cable offers excellent dielectric strength and flexibility. Silicone wire is extremely popular for its superb electrical properties and high thermal conductivity. These light weighted yet long lasting silicone cables are resistant to moisture, chemicals, ozone and sunlight. Operability over a wide temperature range and ease of silastic bonding are other outstanding characteristics of silicone rubber cables. High quality silicone wire is used in the medical, military and space industries. It is also used in high temperature applications like motors, transformers, generators, lighting fixtures, power supplies and in electronic devices.

The need for flexible wire and cable is paramount in some industries. Flexible wire is multi-stranded wire insulated with PVC, silicone, TPE, Teflon and other insulating materials. Each application requires a unique flexibility. The right design is used along with the right choice of conductors and compounds to produce flexible wire and cable that are long lasting and fit the customer’s requirements. Some industries that commonly require flexible wire and cable are medical, robotics, aerospace, sensors, test & measurement and instrumentation.

Medical wire is manufactured for meeting the exacting and specific requirements of medical equipment. Wire in different grades of stainless steel, precious metals and a range of other materials along with coatings and surface treatments such as anodizing and electroplating is made available. Insulation and bondable coatings are applied to the wire which makes them consistent and extremely tenacious. Medical wire can be delivered in the form of spools, coils, braider bobbins and straightened lengths. Medical wire is widely used in a whole range of medical equipment, such as cardiology, surgery, laparoscopy, ultrasound and radiology.

As medical technology gets to be more and more sophisticated, the demand for custom wire and cable is going to increase manifold. With each passing day, more medical equipment companies will go in for customized wire and cable.