Getting custom cable made - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 09, 2016, 06:21:10 pm
content: We are looking to get some custom cable made. I don't think this is available off-the-shelf as we require a temperature rating of 150 degrees or more. Are any companies in the UK anyone can recommend for this purpose?

author: Christopher
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2016, 06:26:16 pm
content: I use type 55 by raychem where possible.https://www.rbracing-rsr.com/downloads/wiring_pdfs/spec55wire.pdf

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 09, 2016, 06:28:28 pm
content: Quote from: Christopher on February 09, 2016, 06:26:16 pmWe tend to use type 44 Raychem cable which is good for 150 degrees but yes I would like to use a wire of this grade or of the 55 type to create cables that are 3 sets of twisted pairs so not something I'm likely to get off the shelf with this temperature rating.

author: Neilm
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2016, 06:36:21 pm
content: I know at work we have used a company called K Lacy for some of our cables. The ones we get are nothing special, but I did approach them for a high temperature cable. They couldn't supply the connector we needed, so we didn't use them and ended up going to a Swedish company instead.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 09, 2016, 06:39:16 pm
content: We fit the connectors ourselves I just need the actual wires spinning together into a cable. If I ask our harness supplier he will get the cable made out and that means we are tied to using him as we would have to have a bulk quantity made. The only other supplier I know will go elsewhere and get it done for us so I'm wondering if it's worth just jump in the middle men and being in a position to free issue the cable to any Harness manufacturer we want.

author: HAL-42b
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2016, 06:50:05 pm
content: Spinning a cable requires a simple manual jig. If you are looking for small quantities spinning it in house may be the way to go.I was quoted minimum order of 300kg when I tried to do something similar.

author: Neilm
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2016, 06:50:26 pm
content: I would have thought you would end up spending more storing the cable than you could save.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 09, 2016, 06:56:45 pm
content: The whole cable needs covering in braid and a jacket that is not something that we can do in large volumes and is something that our harness manufacturer will charge a lot of money for so as it's cable that we will use often it worth having a roll of it created but going to a middle man is going to be more costly as they will just sell us the whole real anyway rather than sell it to us by the meter when we wanted. I wouldn't have more than hundred metres in any case.

author: Christopher
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2016, 07:33:32 pm
content: Speak to TE directly thru Rayfast.. They have quoted me before for twisted pair type 55 and it wasn't that expensive but their twist rate wasn't any goodSpinning up large lengths (more than 10m) is very hard... My limit is 3m and even then it's really tedious!

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 09, 2016, 07:37:19 pm
content: Well I have rayfast on the case already. Someone must be able to twist cable in large lengths as they do supply single two core off the shelf. Yes the twist won't be that dense.

author: PChi
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2016, 07:58:11 pm
content: Have you triedhttp://www.kalestead.co.uk/?

author: _Andrew_
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2016, 08:30:07 pm
content: The company I use to use to manufacture custom cables was Nexans. If I remember correctly for custom cable minimum order quantities were in kilometres.http://www.nexans.com/eservice/Corporate-en/navigate_-10/Global_expert_in_cables_and_cabling_systems.html

author: rob77
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2016, 08:50:35 pm
content: Quote from: _Andrew_ on February 09, 2016, 08:30:07 pmit was the same here and lead times were in months.... (but i'm not in that kind of business for a decade... but i doubt it has changed)

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 09, 2016, 08:51:25 pm
content: Yes the lead times will be a problem, I may end up making my own.

author: IconicPCB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2016, 09:20:11 pm
content: Have a chat with this mobhttp://www.novkabel.com/en/katalozi/Catalogues.htmlThey are a cable manufacturer and will sell in low volumes (say a hank of wire ).