EuroWire September 2020

Technology News

Taping and stranding – into the future at high speed

wrapping and collect all process data, with the possibility of statistical analyses (taping pitch, tape and wire tension, cable dimension, speed, etc). All data can be uploaded and reported on an internal company network. WTM taping machines are configured according to the needs of the customer’s product, with the possibility of different primary sizes, one or two drain wires, one or two heating systems and different payoff and take-up reel dimensions. WTM was requested to develop a specific rigid stranding line to provide a solution for the cabling of Twinax pairs and taking into account the production needs of such a cable in terms of tension, guiding, forming and construction. The rigid stranding bays are available in units with four or six reel positions, with different combinations able to cover a wide variety of cable constructions. Each reel position has its own independent electronic tension control, which can be set or adjusted during running by the operator, and each Twinax pair is guided along the whole path to the stranding point by rollers with a special anti-flipping design. The stranding line can be completed and configured according to the customer’s product needs, by adding taping modules, capstans, caterpillars and take-ups. WTM Srl www.wtmachinery.com

The constant demand for telecommunications systems around the world is one of the main reasons for growing requests for high-speed data cables with high transmission speed and low signal loss. WTM is a supplier of Twinax technology machines, taping lines and stranding machines that are necessary to meet the needs of this particular product. In the taping process, from a technological point of view the targets to be achieved vary: precise tension control of the various elements forming the cable (cores, drain wires, tapes); bringing the various elements together in the correct configuration; precise and consistent taping pitch; preventing the cable components from changing position; and full equalisation of extra tensions on the finished cable. These must be achieved while also considering the importance of production capacity. The heart of the system is the taping head with dynamic dancer. This system, patented by WTM, allows management of very low tape tension even at high speed – an important factor in an application that requires a precise taping process. To meet the quality inspection and process control needed in this application, in addition to traditional systems (laser gauge), WTM adds the camera-based Visio System, which has a dual function: to continuously measure the taping pitch during

Easy-clean extrusion head with quick-change tooling and deflector retaining system

Guill Tool introduced The Bullet® in 2015 – an extrusion head with fixed-centre design, multi-port spiral flow design and gum space adjustment, with the added feature of no fastening hardware, making cleaning and restart easier and faster. The company has now announced the next generation of the patented tool. The Bullet II allows quick tooling changes, as the tips remove from the back and the die removes from the front of the unit. The absence of fastening hardware eliminates leaking, as does the taper body and deflector design.

The new patent-pending Cam Lock® deflector retaining system offers additional benefits to extruders and machine builders. Only half a turn of the Cam Lock is required to remove and install the deflector and tip, and no fastening hardware is necessary. It features a threaded retaining ring for the die and threaded tip retainer. Tooling retainers also provide gum space adjustment. High- and low-volume applications are both suitable for this head and are accommodated with the simple changing of just one component. A range of crosshead designs is available and users can specify the ‘calibre’, ie the maximum die ID. A vacuum chamber and kit for assembly and disassembly are included with the unit. Optional keyed tooling capability offers machine designers and end-users quick orientation, so the overall unit design enables faster disassembly and proper cleaning. Guill Tool & Engineering Co, Inc www.guill.com ▲ ▲ The Bullet II’s absence of fasten- ing hardware simplifies dis- assembly, cleaning and restart

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September 2020