1. What is the main application of the cable forming machine?

It is a type of cable used for various cross sections of multi-core rubber sheathed cables, plastic cables, cross-linked cables, telephone cables, and control cables, some times it can twist copper or aluminum wire. Meanwhile it can complete steel tape armoring, non-metallic wrapping such as non-woven fabric, paper, copper& aluminum foil, and auxiliary functions such as adding filler ropes.

2. What are the main names of cable laying machines?

• Cable laying machine
• Laying-up machine
• Cable forming machine
• Insulation wire twist machine
• Wire buncher machine
• 3. What are the main categories of cable laying machines? According to the purpose of the machine, we roughly divide it into:
• Cradle laying-up machine
• Planetary stranding machine
• Cantilever Single twist machine
• Double twist machine
• Drum twister
• Tubular stranding machine
• Bow type laying-up machine(bow twister or skip strander)

4. Do you know what these cable laying machines are?

The cable forming machines have their own characteristics according to their actual production needs, so when customers choose cable forming machines, they need to understand their main purposes and maximize their effectiveness. For example, production speed, cable specifications, quality of finished product lines, etc. I will briefly introduce the characteristics of each cable forming machine below:

1). Cradle laying-up machine:

It has parallel and tapered cable forming machines, which are mainly used for power cables, such as 10-300mm2 insulated wires. Especially the 3x240+1x120 structure is the best choice. The main structures of the machine include 1+3/1+1+3/1+4/1+6, etc. The latest cable forming machine can reach 50R/MIN, which is theoretically slow compared to other machines, but actual production is very fast. And it can be equipped with wrapping, armor, filling, etc. Another huge advantage is the ability to twist fan-shaped(sector) cables.

2). Planetary stranding machine:

in fact, it is parallel type laying-up machine. It can complete stranding of up to 100 insulated core wires. For control cables, OPGW and other cables, it is the best choice and also the machine that produces the best cable quality, with a 100% untwist rate. The main structure can be freely selected, such as 1+6+12+18+24+30.... 48, etc.

It also has copper aluminum conductors, galvanized steel strands, and stranding of steel wire ropes.

3).Cantilever Single twist machine: It is used to twist the core wires of various data cables into a cable, and can achieve one-time completion of center and side placement of wrapping tape. To complete one rotation of the bow, and to complete one pitch, it is a single twist machine.

4).Double twist machine:

Stranding various cable conductors. Large double twist machines can also achieve the cabling of core wires. Usually, we also refer to twinning machines as high-speed stranding machines.( If the twisting bow rotates one circle and completes two twisting pitches, it is a double twisted).

• COPPER - From mini 2 mm² up to 50 mm²
• ALUMINIUM ALLOY - From mini 2 mm² up to 54 mm²
• ALUMINIUM - From mini 2mm² up to 70 mm²
• 19 wires compacted strand :
• COPPER - From mini 4 mm² up to 50 mm²
• ALUMINIUM - From mini 4 mm² up to 70 mm² **
• 19 wires compressed strand :
• COPPER - From mini 4 mm² up to 70 mm²
• ALUMINIUM - From mini 4 mm² up to 70 mm².

Remark： Many South American customers really like this machine because it has multiple functions, but the quality difference is very large, and procurement requires a lot of effort.

5). Drum twister：

For insulated cables with a large cross-section of 1 to 7, it can meet the requirements of 16 to 400m2 single wire cabling and cover the functions of ordinary cabling machines. In addition, it has the function of steel wire armor. Generally, the cable factories that purchase this equipment are relatively large due to their large footprint and high cost.

6). Tubular stranding machine:

Its main use is ACSR, or steel wire rope. For example, galvanized steel wire. At the same time, this machine has the function of twisting insulated wires up to 50 square meters into cables.

7). Bow type laying-up machine:

Mainly used for overhead lines below 95mm2, such as ABC, etc. In fact, this machine is mainly used to replace small square cables for cable laying. It is faster than traditional cable laying machines, with a speed of up to 160r/min. Especially popular in South America.

In short, cable factories all have their own stranding process and sales points, so when choosing machines, the requirements are different. There are actually some other cable forming machines, but they are not mainstream products.

My advice for customers when choosing machines is as follows:

• It is best to choose a sub motor drive, which has the best advantage of convenient operation and all parameters can be achieved through the PLC interface.
• The pitch can be set through IHM and is more precise, superior to traditional gearbox adjustment methods.
• It is easier to maintain or replace in the later stage.Try to choose relatively large factories, especially suppliers with their own processing capabilities, whose machines will continue to improve during production and sales.