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The Lost Art of Lacing Cable (2018)

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Re: The Lost Art of Lacing Cable (2018)

#41

Post by wstuartcl »

close04 wrote: post #12
stinos wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Likely same reason as many, many other things: the modern 'automated' version (tie wraps usually) is easier, cheaper, faster. And has the standard consequences which unfortunately get ignored: requires close to no skill, plastic, seldom reusable, probably won't get recycled and ends up as waste eventually. Lacing has some of those disadvantages as well though.

One big problem with lacing is that it's one long string of knots instead of many individual tie points. You can always cut a zip tie and replace it with another. For lacing that was cut in the middle fixing is a slightly more involved process. So unless it's a final install it could bring some headaches. It's very unforgiving if you realize you got something wrong. With regards to the material used, I have never use…

> For lacing that was cut in the middle fixing is a slightly more involved process.

Only if you are speed lacing and do not knot the intermediate restraints. If there is any chance that you will need to break apart mid line you add a stable knot at each intermediate and can simply break between any tie.

Re: The Lost Art of Lacing Cable (2018)

#42

Post by DanBC »

Eduardo3rd wrote: post #22
stinos wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Likely same reason as many, many other things: the modern 'automated' version (tie wraps usually) is easier, cheaper, faster. And has the standard consequences which unfortunately get ignored: requires close to no skill, plastic, seldom reusable, probably won't get recycled and ends up as waste eventually. Lacing has some of those disadvantages as well though.

Why is it a negative consequence that the replacement requires no skill? Turning on a light switch requires far less skill than trimming wicks for oil lamps, but I'd consider that a feature not a bug.

Creating a wiring loom is a skilled task. If you keep those same skilled workers and make part of the job easier that's probably a good thing.

What sometimes happens is that a PHB will see the switch away from lacing and to cable ties and think that the rest of the job is now lower skilled, and they put lower skilled workers on that job. This is bad, because wiring looms are tedious to inspect and test, and we now need better inspection and test to compensate for the lower skilled staff.

Also, because cable tying tends to be done with a hand tool (reproducable tension, uniform cuts, speed of assembly etc) there's a small risk of repetitive strain. I used to use this tool, and it was okay if I was doing the entire loom, but it sucked if I had a big pile of other people's looms and all I was doing was adding cable ties. https://uk.farnell.com/duratool/d03033/cable-tie-gun-stainle...

Re: The Lost Art of Lacing Cable (2018)

#43

Post by your-nanny »

Aromasin wrote: post #32
walrus01 wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And people in a hurry with dull tools inevitably cut off the tail of the zip tie less than flush, and at a 45 degree angle. Those things will gouge up the back of your hands and forearms and draw blood. They're not only a hazard to humans but also to other fragile cable jacket that might run up against it during installation. Zip ties are totally banned from the fiber meet me rooms at many major internet traffic exch…

Not sure why you're getting down voted. As part of our stand procedure we have to file down zip ties because it caused too many issues with damaging cables - and having been sliced while inspecting a unit, the fact they are now all nice and smooth is fine by me.

to answer your question, because. because they can and because it's easier than actually engaging with content you disagree with.

Re: The Lost Art of Lacing Cable (2018)

#44

Post by VBprogrammer »

crysin wrote: post #39
adestefan wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ban nylon ties and get the Velcro ones. They’re as fast as using nylon ties, are reusable, and are soft and wide enough to save the insulation.

https://www.velcro.com/legal-and-privacy/dontsayvelcro/

Amusing, but we all know that's just lip service to show that they are trying to defend there trademark. Google had the same thing a few years back.

Re: The Lost Art of Lacing Cable (2018)

#45

Post by janders »

crysin wrote: post #39
adestefan wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ban nylon ties and get the Velcro ones. They’re as fast as using nylon ties, are reusable, and are soft and wide enough to save the insulation.

https://www.velcro.com/legal-and-privacy/dontsayvelcro/

This is wild. It's perfectly logical what they're doing but I'm used to seeing this kinda thing after the trademark has lapsed (Kleenex, Xerox, etc). But to see a company release a pretty funny youtube video begging you to say their name less, well, it's just a weird thing to see.

Re: The Lost Art of Lacing Cable (2018)

#46

Post by syn0byte »

dsfyu404ed wrote: post #24
Aromasin wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's certainly a time and place for it though still. Certainly in the aerospace industry, cable lacing is a very important part of the harness making process. When trying to be compliant to safety measures (like incredibly low or high temperature points, flammability, or vibration) heatshrink/conduit/tape often fails spec and the only alternative is good old fashioned wires and lacing.

Cable lacing is used in aerospace because it's lighter and they use such generous safety margins for preventing abrasion and securing wires that the issues with the cable cutting the insulation or abrasion that make loom the obvious choice are non-issues and aircraft, it's easier to inspect cables that are laces (vs ones in a loom) and spending a few grand to save a few pounds is justifiable in that context. Temperat…

Installation in buildings. Try pulling a bundle of CAT6 cables from a comms closet with huge plastic blocks from zipties jutting out every other foot through 10-50 feet of drywall and/or drop ceiling. Loom doesn't even warrant a sarcastic comment in that context. The biggest advantage is of course the string takes the brunt of the stretch stress.

I'm not gonna go lace up a DC but it's still useful enough that every hardware store around carries rolls of twine right next to the cable spools and zip ties.

Re: The Lost Art of Lacing Cable (2018)

#47

Post by Aromasin »

java-man wrote: post #34
Aromasin wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We still use lacing cord for most of our aircraft harnesses. Nobody but the engineers and technicians ever get to see it, which is a shame because it really does look beautiful.

pictures, please!

Unfortunately the factory floor has a no camera policy, so I'm not able to share. I'd be hoarding the karma in /r/cableporn otherwise.

Re: The Lost Art of Lacing Cable (2018)

#48

Post by TurkTurkleton »

crysin wrote: post #39
adestefan wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ban nylon ties and get the Velcro ones. They’re as fast as using nylon ties, are reusable, and are soft and wide enough to save the insulation.

https://www.velcro.com/legal-and-privacy/dontsayvelcro/

I was going to say "found the Velcro employee"-- excuse me, I meant "employee of the company Velcro BVBA"-- but surely a Velcro employee would know that Velcro BVBA makes Velcro-branded hook-and-loop-fastener cable management products.

Re: The Lost Art of Lacing Cable (2018)

#49

Post by JustSomeNobody »

VBprogrammer wrote: post #44
crysin wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

https://www.velcro.com/legal-and-privacy/dontsayvelcro/

Amusing, but we all know that's just lip service to show that they are trying to defend there trademark. Google had the same thing a few years back.

Not just lip service, they come right out and say it:

    Us lawyers have to protect our people. Using the VELCRO® trademark properly allows us to protect the integrity of the VELCRO® Brand and our trademark rights, and protect consumers from purchasing products incorrectly identified as VELCRO® Brand products. It’s, you know, the right thing to do

Re: The Lost Art of Lacing Cable (2018)

#50

Post by ken »

For stage rigging, the "method of choice"? Never seen it.

It "lasts longer than cable ties"? Not sure if they mean zip ties, velcro, tie line, etc, but I've never seen any of these fail due to age.

It "does not create obstructions along the length of the cable"? We use e-tape.

Rigging isn't generally about electrics, anyway. I wonder if that's a typo.

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