Example 8: Tested, tested, tested! FOC – 60,000 km now covered 76,000 km

Cover over 76,000 km or 1.9 times around the earth with Chainflex® FOC cables.

Users of data transmission systems (bus systems) with high data rates or long transmission distances or yet stronger electro-magnetic load frequently rely on fiber optic cables (FOC).

Many users are not yet aware that the Chainflex® fiber optic cables in E-Chain® systems offer yet more advantages than those generally provided by FOCs.

Copper-based data transmission systems characterize themselves mostly through two basic disadvantages:

1.

The maximum transmission distances are strongly limited by the transmission systems (according to system and transmission frequency between 5 and 50 m cable length).

2

The copper-based cables used in moving energy supply systems often display after some time an increase in the dampening values for a high number of cycles, which again has a negative effect on the maximum range.

It's a completely different thing for fiber optic cables made of glass independent of data transmission and/or bus systems. Besides the advantage of being suitable for every transmission/bus system (provided that the right converter is used), they offer the following features:

1.

The transmission distances are not limited by the employed data transmission systems, and amount to - depending on the FOC type - several hundred meters.

2.

The dampening increases are so low in Chainflex® FO cables even for very high numbers of cycles in E-Chain® systems, that barely measurable values are ascertainable and the largest part of the dampening is located at the area of the plug.


How far the dampening behavior of an igus® Chainflex® fiber optic cable is altered was analyzed in the following test arrangement, but has not yet been completed (as on 04/08).

Test cable: igus® Chainflex® CFLG.2HG.MF. 50/125
Number of fibers: 2 numbers
Fiber type: Gradient fiber 50/125µm
Plug: 2 x ST plug
Travel: 2 m
Cable length: 3 m
Energy chains: igus® E-Chain® series 15.015.100.0
Test radius: 11 x d

Application of Chainflex® FOC in energy chain  
 

Allowing for an average insertion loss of 0.3 dB and a maximum of 0.5 dB for the ST plug, the dampening increase of about 0.1-0.15 dB after over 30 million movements in the E-Chain® is absolutely negligible. Thus the cable covered over 76,000 kilometers of travel in the test.
 
The fiber-optic wavelength considered here is 850 nm.

More information on Chainflex® cables

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