cable carrier photo

[kjlpdx]

photo of cable carrier

[Bob La Londe]

Very nice.  I have one question though.  Isn't one of the desired properties of a drag chain or energy chain that it only flexes in one direction? 

[kjlpdx]

I am unaware of that.  I saw chains that lie on shelves, so didn't think about that aspect.  I could easily change my design.  it would require rights and lefts, but no big deal.  how do the chains you purchase function?

[lloydsp]

All the cable carriers I've purchased are (more or less) perfectly rigid when held straight up against their built-in "stops".  They may sag - a little bit - but they bend ONLY in one direction.

If you flip them over from the 'straight' position, they fall limp like a regular 'links' style of chain.

It's just a 'stop' in the hinge to prevent them from swinging past the straight position...

Lloyd

[Dragonfly]

This is my iteration on a DIY cable chain which was shared by Bertram here
http://www.cambam.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=385.msg2393#msg2393

Taken with my phone so the quality is not too good.

[Bob La Londe]

I am unaware of that.  I saw chains that lie on shelves, so didn't think about that aspect.  I could easily change my design.  it would require rights and lefts, but no big deal.  how do the chains you purchase function?

It was my impression that each end of the drag chain should be fixed and the chain should be configured so that it doesn't sag with each end set parallel and just slightly more than the diameter of possible bends apart.  This minimizes cable and hose flexing and limits it to the area within the moving portion of the chain.  This way you do not get any significant flex at critical locations like where a wire enters the motor, or where a cooling hose enters the fitting.