There
are two basic levels of stripping requirements. The
first type is commercial stripping. Manufacturers
of lighting fixtures, electrical appliances, automotive
harnesses, etc. use commercial stripping. These manufactures
are looking for wire strips which contribute to the
reliability of their products and which can be obtained
at a relatively low cost.
The second type of stripping is precision stripping.
This kind of stripping is found in machines, which
undergo high stress and have a need for extreme reliability.
Aircraft (both military and commercial) computers,
aerospace missiles, radar and guidance systems, communications
systems and more require precision stripping. In many
cases, the military specifications (mil-spec) are
required and meeting that specification is rigidly
enforced. Different types of blades are used in precision
stripping versus the blades used in commercial stripping
as productivity is a desired element.
Poorly stripped wire can result in nicks, scrapes
or burnishes causing conductor damage. Any of these
can lead to a stress concentration at the damaged
cross section. Heat, rapid temperature change, mechanical
vibration and oscillatory motion can aggravate the
damage, causing improper signals in the circuitry
or even total failure. Lost strands are a problem
in splices or crimp-type terminals, while exposed
strands might be considered a safety hazard.
Slight burnished on conductors, as long as they had
no sharp edges, were acceptable at one time. Now,
however, reliability experts feel that under certain
conditions removing as little as 40 micro-inches of
conductor plating from some wires can cause failure.
A variety of factors determine just how precisely
a wire can be stripped; wire size, insulation concentricity
and adherence are important application information.
It is a common mistake to believe that a certain gauge
of stranded conductor has the same diameter as a solid
conductor. This is a very important consideration
in selecting proper blades or strippers.
The type of stripping method chosen for the job is
very important. Specifications and standards, both
commercial and military, vary considerably on these
points.
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Provided
by IDEAL Industries, Inc. The way every job
should be.
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