Flexible cable management
 

We've been using split loom tubing for many years to keep our wires organized, but last year we had a telescopic mast and with three motors and pnuematic cylinders at the end, there was a lot of cables and tubing to deal with. We ended up using very large split loom tubing, but did not like how it turned out, it was ugly and occasionaly hung up on a protuding edge or bolt.

However, we noticed a few teams at nationals using a flexible, rectangular type of conduit that would flex along just one axis. Has anyone seen this before, and where would we get it from? I searched to big industrial catalogs like McMaster, but to no avail unless I'm calling it by the wrong name.

Re: Flexible cable management
 

We used a 1/2" nylon sleeve like that found in PC modding and it worked amazingly well. We had cable for a actuator, two motors and 8 sensors. The stuff stretches to a little over twice the thickness. http://www.igus.com/echain.asp here's what you're looking for.

Re: Flexible cable management
 

I too was looking for stuff like this last year.

http://www.igus.com/ That came from a post on the 2006 Game Hints thread. Perhaps its what youre looking for.

Re: Flexible cable management
 

That's it, Thanks!!

Re: Flexible cable management
 

I think you're talking about igus chain

I found them on McMaster's online catalog on page 1358

Re: Flexible cable management
 

You know I looked at this stuff a couple months ago but Im not so sure about it. It looks bulky to me. Can anyone who has handled it atestify? So far nylon sleeve is my favorite. It may a pain to put cables in and out of but once the're in they are very easy to work with.

Re: Flexible cable management
 

When setting up energy chain take care in how you run cables and pnuematic tubing though it.

Mount the chain first and check the operation to make sure you have enough links and that it doesn't bind up. You can now run your cables/tubes through at this point. Zip tie them at one end only, then adjust the slack so they "float" in the chain, and then zip tie the other end. If you have them too tight they can chaffe as the chain moves eventually wearing through (the cables/lines that is). Too lose and they can twist and bind on one another and even poke out of the chain in places.

Also never have cables/lines entering or exiting the chain anywhere except at the ends of the chain. Also keep them in they're respected slots, don't jump from one slot to the next, in other words keep the cables in line through the entire chain.

If the chain ever gets damaged and needs a link (or section) replaced you don't have to pull the cables/lines out. Just open the doors on the damaged link(s) and on the adjacent links on either side. Remove the dividers and then use a flat blade screwdriver to pop apart the links lifting them off the cables as you go.
To add the new links in just lay them over the cables and snap them together. Replace the dividers while working the cables into they're respected slots and snap the doors closed and you're done.

Re: Flexible cable management
 

WOW, $12 - $20 per foot, that stuff ain't cheap!!

Re: Flexible cable management
 

I work with it almost everyday as I build and service robots and other automation equipment where I work.

It's available in many different sizes and some of them will be very bulky for use on a FIRST robot. The smaller sizes would work quite well for movement/extension of assemblies though and could have a place on one of our robots.

Also keep in mind that within the different physical sizes they also offer different bend radiuses.

Something else I didn't mention in my above post because it won't really apply for our use here, is possible electrical interference. If you're running high and low voltage (or signal) wires through the same chain is keep them on opposite sides and never sharing the same space in the chain. With them being next to each other there's a possiblity of electrical interference.
We've had this problem where I work. Our robot's motors run on 400 volts and if the motor wires are run right next to any signal wires, even if they have a shield, there could be problems. Some of our energy chains reach upwards of 30'. In the world of FIRST this isn't a big factor because we don't use high voltages on our robots and any energy chain being used is only likely to hold pnuematic tubing and wires carrying 12v for our motors.

Re: Flexible cable management
 

I have seen it in the MSC catalog before

Re: Flexible cable management
 

http://jskowski.com/gallery/ucf2005/CIMG0055

works great imho....look on top of the arm....that is where you see it used....also i believe RAGE relied on it to actuate their telescopic arm...

Re: Flexible cable management
 

Yes, Rage definently used it (though a heavier type than that in the picture). Just the other day I asked about it, not understanding how they actuated their lift. According to the team member I talked to, they only had it fail like once, which is amazing for their application. Normal chain can fail more often.

Re: Flexible cable management
 

I see our Rage telescope is making Igus very popular.

I designed the arm to extent by rotating a sprocket inside the openings of the chain. I really sick and tired of making cable and pulley operated telescopes. Their soooo complicated and the part count is huge.
All I have are 2 extending telescope tubes that free float. the chain is attached to the end segment. Really slick setup. The best benifit was the ability to run the 4 air lines right up the chain.

At first I used the closed chain for strength but repair was a pain.
So I started replacing the broken links with one side opening links.
the closed side I drove with the sprocket. Our two machines have been through 6 competitions and I'm never going back to cable/pulley setup again.
I can post some pictures of it apart.

You can't beat cable chain for wire management.
The size i used was a 15i.038.038