Configure Custom Cable Entries Online...

Terry Spriggs, Product Marketing Manager for Hylec-APL, comments: “The idea is to avoid situations where many different sized holes have to be drilled and a large number of odd cable glands fitted. Intended mainly for OEM customers and large volume users, the new plates fit into frames that can be screwed to bulkheads or larger enclosures allowing very fast entry for a large number of cables.”

To help customers design the entry plate Hylec-APL has added a free 3D online configurator to its website, www.hylec-apl.com. This free and easy to use application allows users to customise and visualise the Design-A-Flange, choosing various cable entry options and adding any necessary cable glands or grommets.

Using a “drag and drop” function, users choose which size base plate they wish to start with and drag it to the “working area”. Once the base plate has been selected a number of different size inserts can be positioned in the plate, with cable glands and grommets added where required.

Once the user is happy with the set up of the plate there are a number of options available. It is possible to name and save a number of different designs, allowing users to easily recreate popular set-ups; it is also possible to save the designs as a pdf or to print them straight from the page.

Terry Spriggs continues: “The online Design-A-Flange application makes it quick and easy for customers to specify their design and place an order. Once they have designed their product they are able to speak to one of our direct sales operatives with a list of part numbers that correspond to their needs. The application includes a walkthrough video, product facts and CAD files; ensuring the decision making process is as simple as possible.”

This new cable interface system allows the customer to choose from a wide selection of preconfigured solutions. The standard plates each have a pattern of sealed cable entries which the user is able to use simply by pushing the cable through the seal membrane. The plates lock into a frame which is then attached, using screws, to bulkheads or large enclosures. This design makes the whole interface extremely flexible as it can be uninstalled and new insert plates added if cable entry requirements change.

Hylec-APL has conducted in-house trials on this product and it is the flexibility of having lots of different cable entries that really highlights the benefits of the product. Drilling several holes of differing sizes in order to fit separate dome topped cable glands can take a while due to bit changes, it only takes a couple of minutes to fit an interface plate and then just seconds for each push-fit cable entry. In a situation where hundreds of enclosures or cabinets are being fitted this flexibility leads to substantial time and cost savings.

As standard all the entry points use water and dust proof membrane ‘push fit’ seals, however customers can also choose knock out inserts which allow the use of cable glands or the innovative quick entry Klikseal grommet, a high speed entry option which provides IP67 protection and cable retention. Neither the membrane seals nor knock outs require tools, meaning that an accurate and secure cable entry can be executed in seconds.

The plates are made from fibreglass re-enforced polypropylene which provides an operational temperature range of between -20°C to +125°C. This ensures that the flange will not weaken the overall integrity of the application to which it is fixed. They are compact and easy to install, a low protrusion design which takes up very little space, allowing discreet and aesthetically pleasing installations.