When microwave cables have to stand up to abuse
Nearly one-third of microwave cable failures happen during installation. That’s why W. L. Gore & Associates developed a simulator meant to duplicate the stresses that cables see during installation on airframes. The device uses four mandrels to mimic what happens when you route a cable around the internal structure of an airframe. Several routing guides induce torque into the cable as it gets pulled through the simulator. An abrasion bar simulates routing across sharp edges or through access holes in the airframe. At the end of this torture test, technicians test the cable for VSWR and return loss.
Gore used the device to show the merits of its Gore Flight microwave cable, said to be about 30% lighter than ordinary versions but just as tough, thanks to innovations in the cable’s crush layer.
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