Suitable cables for CNC

[moffy]

I purchased 20m of 0.2mm2(19/0.12) PTFE twisted pair cable, might well do the trick for the signal cables: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/126539649000

Well, I received the Ebay item and unlike the 19 strand, 0.2mm2 twisted pair cable ordered they sent a 7 strand, 0.12mm2 twisted pair cable hoping I wouldn't notice the difference. I have lodged a complaint through Ebay.

P.S. Refund in full received.

[phil from seattle]

I have lots of experience building CNC machines and designing hardware for CNC systems, the common practice is to use  grounded, shielded, stranded wires.  The bending radius is fairly large (> 30 cm), even on small machines, so cable fatigue is uncommon. In addition, hobbyist level usage is relatively low so even less incentive to go for really expensive cables.  If I was building a machine that would run 24x7, I would go for them, though.

The number one problem (by a long shot) I see in one of the CNC groups I admin (130K members) - EMI from a lack of shielding and poor grounding. I think we hear around one bad cable report per year, if that. Spring for good quality connectors - that is the second most common reported problem.

On the point about plasma CNC machines.  Yes, the EMI from cheap plasma cutters with "HF start" can cause problems.  More expensive better quality ones use "blowback start" which isn't much of a problem. The solution - don't cheap out on your plasma cutter...

[r6502]

Hi moffy,

in our Company we are using Lapp and IGUS cables. At IGUS you can even order 1 m of cable and you also can order the cable chain you want. They have also details infos on the mechanical durability of their cables. 

Guido

[moffy]

Hi moffy,

in our Company we are using Lapp and IGUS cables. At IGUS you can even order 1 m of cable and you also can order the cable chain you want. They have also details infos on the mechanical durability of their cables. 

Guido

Awesome, they both have an Australian presence.

[Roehrenonkel]

Hi all,
 
just ordered for the vfd to spindle-connection:
HELU 15978 JZ-HF-CY 4G1,5qmm Grau Schleppkettenleitung PVC
Shielded and usable in cable-chains.
From Lapp there is also a hudge selection of "Lapp Ölflex Chain".

Good luck

[tooki]

FYI, “Schleppkette” == drag chain

[moffy]

Found this cable on Aliexpress 'TRVVP' supposed to be extra flexible shielded, meant for CNC so I ordered 5m: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004782857826.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.1.659b5af8nXhX7y&algo_pvid=c805974a-4007-4c09-a455-d2abc32b19d1&algo_exp_id=c805974a-4007-4c09-a455-d2abc32b19d1-0&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21AUD%2114.99%2114.69%21%21%219.62%219.43%21%402101ec1a17321828599397240ec688%2112000030468546917%21sea%21AU%213509633182%21X&curPageLogUid=dwMsIXxkBZYf&utparam-url=scene%3Asearch%7Cquery_from%3A
Will post when I get the cable.

[Roehrenonkel]

Hi,

finally the Helu-cable arrived and i'm happy with it.
Still flexible, good shielding, easy to handle.
And i even have got good 4 Meters left, so if anyone needs it....

Ciao4now

[moffy]

Cable arrived from Aliexpress and instead of shielded pair 0.3mm2 it was 0.2mm2. I raised a complaint which was rejected so quickly it made my head spin.

[moffy]

The seller got back to me about the number of strands I counted, I counted 33 they reckoned 38, so I restriped another conductor and got 37, so that is closer to 38 than 33. Looks like I was mistaken and the cable is legit. I expressed my apologies to the seller.  I measured the strand diameter at 0.09mm but they say it is 0.1mm, and since my vernier is +/-0.01mm they get the benefit of the doubt