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As featured in a previous issue of "Wiring Harness News"
Lay is the ratio of wind-to-twist when producing wire cable. It is the distance between twists and is measured in inches. It is the distance between twists when measuring one strand, starting at the top of the bundle of wire, when it reappears a second time at the top of the bundle, and so on.
As an example, in the production of wire cables, Lay is a critical measurement in determining the quality of the finished product as well as the cost in manufacturing the product. Too much distance between twists or a large Lay ratio can mean a cable without enough strength. Too little distance or a small Lay ratio could mean too much material was being used, thus adding to the cost.
Historically, wire as an example, was manufactured strictly with manual operated, mechanically geared, turning machinery. A physical measurement using a ruler was made to determine the Lay. If the Lay distance was too long, the wire was simply twisted more to produce the desired Lay.
Modern machines are driven by electrical motors and produce cable at a much faster rate than in the past. Electronics allowed instrumentation to be created to monitor these machines. Meters were used to display Rate, RPM and Count which would be used to calculate the Lay. Later, control systems with some intelligence were created using an additional meter which would read out the Lay directly. However, these systems would only control accuracy to 10-25 percent.
New control systems such as the MS LAY-1, manufactured by Murdock Systems, will monitor and adjust cabling machines to maintain accurate cable Lay (wind-to-twist) ratios to 0.01 percent. Using state-of-the-art digital PID-based design, these new instruments insure the highest quality of finished product while reducing manufacturing costs.
The MS-LAY-1 is a multifunction, high accuracy Lay controller with 100 percent digital PID (proportional, integral and derivative) capabilities. Designed for cabling machines that use a PIV or adjustable pulley design, the MS LAY-1 monitors and adjusts cabling machines to maintain accurate cable lay (wind-to-twist) ratios to 0.01 percent. The MS LAY-1 replaces older systems that require the use of individual meters for Lay, Rate, RPM and Count with a self-correcting, digital system that insures lay control accuracy at any line speed throughout a production run.
The MS LAY-1 features an easy-to-read, 2 X 20 Character LCD display and a 12-key, keypad. LCD displayed parameters include:
Keypad operator interface features include:
Each system includes:
Murdock Systems, Inc. is a manufacturer of standard and custom industrial control systems serving a wide range of manufacturing applications.
| Murdock Systems 15 Commerce Way, Suite 1003 Norton, MA 02766 |
Tel: 508-285-7831 |
A Division of Nortech Engineering, Inc., All Rights Reserved
Last Updated 5/22/2006