BuildYourCNC - 4 Conductor 18 AWG SHIELDED Cable

18/4 AWG Shielded stranded cable with insulation removed

4 Conductor 18 AWG SHIELDED Cable

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18/4 SHIELDED Stranded Cable per Foot

$0.49

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Introduction:

Use this SHIELDED 4 conductor 18 AWG stranded cable for signal level connection. This cable will be protected from interference

Description:

This is a cable that you can use to connect signal terminal from one device to another. I use this wire for driver to stepper motor connections to limit the interference to other more delicate signal wires. I also use this cable to connect the VFD to the spindle where three of the wires will connect from U, V and W to pins 1, 2, and 3 of the spindle connector. The 4th wire and the shield will connect to the housing of the spindle and the protective earth ground. There is a bare wire that is connected to the shield which is used to connect to the signal ground to remove the interference. The wire colors are red, black, blue and yellow.

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[4 Conductor 18 AWG SHIELDED Cable] Is this a flexible cable that will work well in a cat track?

Yes, this cable has many more strands than I have found in other motion cables. It is not, however, rated for motion, but I have been using this cable for years in my cable carriers without issue.
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[801] Is this a flexible cable that will work well in a cat track?
[4 Conductor 18 AWG SHIELDED Cable] Is this enough rating for a Nema 34 motor with max 6 amps? Also what about a 220V 2200Watt Spindle?

For the NEMA 34 stepper motor with a maximum current of 6 amps, 18 AWG wire would technically be sufficient. According to the American Wire Gauge (AWG) standard, 18 AWG wire can handle up to around 10 amps of current in chassis wiring and around 16 amps in power transmission. If you are considering running a very long length of cable from the driver to the stepper motor, you may want to consider using 16 AWG.

As for the spindle, this wire gauge is well-suited. There are three phase shifts, each at 120 degrees and each conductor is carrying only 1/3 of the power. At 220v, 2200 watts / 220 V = 10 amps. 1/3 of 10 amps is 3.333 amps, so each conductor will be have a load of 3.33 amps.
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[801] Is this enough rating for a Nema 34 motor with max 6 amps? Also what about a 220V 2200Watt Spindle?
[4 Conductor 18 AWG SHIELDED Cable] Is this cable rated for indefinite flexing in cable chain?

This cable is good for low-production or hobby CNC machines. It is not intended for industrial applications. I would recommend https://buildyourcnc.com/item/electronicsAndMotors-cable-wire-20awg-wrcon which is suitable for industrial applications and can be continuously flexed.
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[801] Is this cable rated for indefinite flexing in cable chain?
[4 Conductor 18 AWG SHIELDED Cable] What is the nominal outer thickness of the wire?

The outer diameter, including the conductors and the outer jacket, is 0.235"
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[801] What is the nominal outer thickness of the wire?

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