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Cable CarriersCable carriers are composed of a series of flexible links that house and organize conduits such as cables, hoses and chains. They reduce ware and stress on conduits, prevent them from tangling and improve operator safety and response time. Cable carriers are used where moving automation occurs involving the transfer of energy, liquids or gases. They are composed of a carrier, cables, mounting brackets, connectors, strain relief and separation elements. Machine tools, cranes, car washes, medical lab equipment, forklifts and oil rigs all use cable carriers to house multiple conduits. Internally, they are composed of individual sleeve units that separate different cables from each other. Depending on their specific application, cable carriers can dramatically range in size—from a fraction of an inch to 25 inches in width. There are 2 main design options for cable carriers—open carriers, which use linked crossbars to contain the cables, or closed carriers, which cover the conduits completely. Some systems have crossbars and covers that may snap on and off for easy insertion and removal of the cables or hoses. Cable carriers are made out of metals like steel, and plastic material like fiber-reinforced nylon and polypropylene. Depending on their application, some are made to tolerate high levels of mechanical stress, harsh weather conditions and ambient conditions. Some are clean room compliant. In order to work properly, the interior should only be filled to 80%, and twisting is possible if the height of the housing compartment exceeds 150% of the cable’s diameter. Most carriers are only able to bend in one direction to prevent twisting, and many are designed with wheels for easy maneuvering.
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