OKI announces highly flexible, flame retardant cables

ERJ staff report (DS)

Kanagawa, Japan -- OKI electric has announced a series of cables designed for use in robotic arms, which offer extreme flex resistance as well as fire retardance. The cables are about a third cheaper than existing fluorocarbon-insulated cables.

Current cables in this application tend to be made from fluorocarbon materials, but OKI says it has developed a proprietary flame-resistant special elastomer with a high level of flame resistance, flexibility and abrasion-resistance suited to the application. By improving the internal structure of the wires, the company succeeded in developing a highly flexible, smaller diameter “ORP Cable” offered at around 30 percent discount to existing cables.

OKI said flexing durability for sliding and twisting is more than 50% higher than conventional general fluorocarbon insulated robot cables. It has been designed to endure over 100 million times sliding and bending and 20 million times twisting. In addition, the “ORP Cable” prevents the cable body meandering, which is often seen with conventional cables and can lead to breaking and damaging the wire from moving usage. OKI Electric Cable's delicate twisting technology enables the cable to get 5% thinner.

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Press release from OKI