How can automation reduce cable assembly leadtime?
In this week’s video igus showcases its automated assembly line for readycable at its UK facility in Northampton. The new line uses fully-automated machines and lean manufacturing methods to streamline its assembly process to deliver fully-harnessed drive cables shipped within 24 hours of order placement.
The five-step process to a readycable starts with automatically stripping off the jacket, then the shielding is loosened, and inner cores exposed ready for crimping. The strip and crimp machine turns a process that once took even the most experienced assembly worker up to a minute to crimp each core to less than a second. By automating these time consuming and laborious processes, igus now also gives 100% quality of assembly.
igus supports all major drives technologies and chainflex cable is cut to length from the extensive stock held in Northampton. As most customers requiring drive cables would also want power, igus has also added a power cable assembly line, which uses a similar five-step process.