Computer control in cable manufacture

As part of BICC Brand Rex's continuing programme of technical improvement, a Teaching company was set up with Leeds Polytechnic to investigate new ways of controlling cable manufacturing equipment. As would be expected, the work led to specialised systems that are not commercially available, although a need for them in many areas has been identified. One such project into tension control, undertaken by the authors, has shown up many issues that will need to be addressed in the design of unique equipment. The work has shown the advantages, both in system and development and in the final solution, of using programmable devices to perform control algorithms.