Two essential rules
There are two key rules of distribution that should always be followed, so that cables and hoses can move freely at all times with no tensile force exerted at the radius of the cable carrier:
Rule 1: D1 + D2 > 1.2 x hi
If D1 + D2 > 1.2 x chain inner height, no separation between the two cables/hoses is necessary. Two cables or hoses should never be left unguided on top of one another or be allowed to become tangled.
Rule 2: d1 + d2 ≤ 1.2 x hi
If d1 + d2 ≤ 1.2 x chain inner height, a vertical separator or a horizontal shelf must be used to reduce the inner height, thereby preventing the entanglement of d1 and d2.
Further guidelines for distribution:
1. The cumulative weight of the cables and hoses should be evenly distributed across the width of the chain.
2. No more than two cables or hoses should be installed on top of one another.
3. Cables and hoses should always be strain relieved at the moving end and, whenever possible, at both ends. The exception is that hydraulic hoses should only be strain relieved at the moving end.
4. For high-speed applications and high cycles, cables or hoses must not be laid on top of each other without horizontal separation.
Note: The standard values for this are: travel speed over 1.64 ft/s and cycles over 10,000 p.a. igus® interior separation offers a safe solution for this situation.
There are, of course, exceptions to every rule, which is when our technical specialists come in. They can help you ensure your system will operate properly, with the maximum service life for your application.