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Flat Cable Basics

Whether you make your own cables, or we make them for you, the first step is to define the cable you're using and what you want to do to it.

What type of flat cable are you using?

Standard Flat Ribbon Cable

Webbed Flat Ribbon Cable

Flat cable properties / characteristics:

1. Number of conductors

2. Wire gauge - 18 awg, 22 awg, etc.

3. Pitch - 0.025", 0.050", 0.100", 0.156", 2mm, etc.
(Note: Cable pitch is often not the same as connector pitch.)

4. Insulation material - PVC, Teflon, etc.

If you haven't already chosen your cable, let us suggest something.
We are an authorized stocking distributor for ITW Pancon wire products.

What do you want to do to your cable?

Standard Flat Ribbon Cable

Webbed Flat Ribbon Cable

Cable processing terms & definitions:

Measure & Cut: Cut cable to specific lengths.

Notch: On web cable, remove web between wires.
End-Notch: Remove web at end(s) of cable.
Mid-Way Notch: Remove web somewhere mid-way in the cable.

Pitch: The distance between conductors, center-to-center.
Note: Connector pitch is often not the same as cable pitch; to properly size and
configure cable prep tooling or services, we must know cable pitch.

Separate or Slit: Slitting simply cuts the insulation between wires. During or after slitting,
individual wires in the cable may also be physically separated, to facilitate connector attachment.
End-Feed Separation: Separate wires at end of cable.
Mid-Way Separation: Separate wires somewhere mid-way in the cable.
Pierce-to-End Separation:

Strip: Remove insulation from end(s) of wire.
Full Strip: Completely remove insulation.
Strip & Retain: Leave short length of insulation on end, to keep wires in position for termination.

Terminate: Attach connector(s) to end(s) of cable.

Tin: Prepare stripped wire ends for solder termination.
Note: AG Devices complies with RoHS requirements.

Webbed vs Standard Flat Cable: In standard flat cable, the insulation surrounding each conductor is bonded to the one next to it, with no space between wires. In webbed flat cable, there is some added space between the wires, with a 'web' of insulation between them to hold them apart.

Whether you're buying cable prep services or tools, we need to know what cable you have and what you want to do it, to make sure your finished cable meets your needs. To help with this process, please download our Cable Prep Worksheet, which you can fax or e-mail back to us, or call us with the information.

For standard flat cable, click here.

For webbed flat cable, click here.

AG Devices of Colorado - 17996 Hanson Road - Cedaredge, CO 81413 USA - Phone 970-856-4308 - Fax 970-856-4309 - E-mail info@agdevices.com