Lint/Fiber sometimes rubber in normal multicore cable  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: Cicada
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2016, 01:54:27 pm
content: HiI am doing a bit of cabling work using cables from various brands. I notice that some of the multicore (each core stranded) cables have a thin lint/fiber running along with the cores through the cable. In the past I have seen cables with a thin solid rubber tube of the same diameter as one of core the cores running through the cable with the cores.I was wondering what the purpose of this ling is. Is it a remnant from manufacturing or does it have some other purpose.O yes. It is usually on non-twisted pair, shielded cables with braided copper shields.Cicada

author: DmitryL
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2016, 01:58:58 pm
content: I presume that if you pull this strand hard enough (at the angle to the cable itself), it will cut the insulation

author: Cicada
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2016, 02:06:07 pm
content: Quote from: DmitryL on September 27, 2016, 01:58:58 pmPossibly. I have not thought of trying it. Although this particular cable have a braided shield which will be impossible to cut.Also some of the cables have a little rubber tube which is usually fairly soft. It will just snap. I have not pulled on the fiber in the cables with fiber but they look tough.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2016, 02:08:35 pm
content: Very thin threads are used for stripping insulation. Thicker will be a filler to keep the core construction round.

author: Cicada
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2016, 02:13:24 pm
content: Quote from: Monkeh on September 27, 2016, 02:08:35 pmYes. The cable with the rubber tube is non-twisted pairs and even amount of cores (18). So a extra rubber tube as thick as one of the cores can be used as a filler.

author: Cicada
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2016, 03:16:04 pm
content: This is what the fiber strand looks like.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2016, 06:29:34 pm
content: The strong fibre is there to draw the cable when it is being extruded to make the final sheath. This keeps the stress of pulling from being felt only by the copper cores, which would result in them being elongated and work hardened, and thus not able to carry rated current, but will also make them fall out of the thickness tolerance. The string is used as a tensile member so the copper cores do not stretch, and as it is inside the cable it is left there.Those with the filler only have a lot of copper and the manufacturer determined that not having the draw string was possible, but put the plastic dummy core in to get the overall diameter after it is lightly twisted ( to keep the cores together in an even lay) to conform to a circle. You need to have either 3, 4, 7 or 19 (IIRC) cores to get the cable to twist into an approximate circle without a filler or an overwrap of mylar film over the cores.

author: bicc1306
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 29, 2016, 11:57:16 am
content: May be Lint/Fiber makes Fiber Connector Cleaning Sticks superior to fabric and foam fiber optic swabs.