Everything You Need to Know About Cable Drag Chains

Everything You Need to Know About Cable Drag Chains A cable drag chain is a cable carrier to guide, protect, and support cables in a variety of industrial applications. Cable drag chains are also referred to as energy chains, cable tracks, and cable chains as per the industrial convenience and uses. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and material types to serve different purposes as cable carriers.

Cable drag chains can also be used to cover and protect hydraulic lines and water and oil hoses in some industries.

Why use cable drag chains?

Cable wires can be very messy on machines and other industrial environments. It can lead to uneven pulling, winding, and tangling due to cable motion, which results in damage, accidents, and downtime. It is where cable drag chains can be very handy to provide cables with a protective path and improve the overall performance. Cable drag chains reduce cable friction, uneven movement, and tangling to avoid any damage to machines or themselves. They also protect cables from dust and debris that could damage electronic parts and precision machines.

Materials Used to Design Cable Drag Chains Depending on requirements and application restrictions, you can divide them into metal and plastic drag chains for different industrial uses. Manufacturers use high-quality steel or plastic to make drag chains or cable carriers. Both the materials offer different advantages, features, characteristics, and benefits for different applications.

Steel or metallic cable drag chains Steel is a primary material to manufacture cable drag chains for heavy load carriers. It is an ideal choice for many industrial applications due to its strength and temperature resistance. There are mainly three types of steel used to create drag chains: Stainless steel: Offers heavy load carrying capacity with increased environmental resistance. · Zinc-plated steel: An ideal choice for heavy load carrying capacity for traditional applications. · Hybrid (metallic & nylon): Offer design flexibility along with other features like higher speeds and acceleration. · Plastic Drag Chains Continue Reading…