Strip Types
The Mercury-4 dual axis optics allows flexible wire stripping:
From top to bottom:
- cross-cut: laser separates the slug of insulation - Operator pulls off as a second operation
- slit: laser makes a cross cut but also slits along the insulation to aid peeling off a long length. Especially used for cable jackets
- window: like a slit, but two cross cuts are made to allow a window section of insulation to be removed - used especially for accessing the shield of a cable for attaching to the shield
- area ablation: the laser passes back and forth over the wire multiple times to completely vaporize an area of insulation.
Materials
The Mercury-4 strips wires and shielded cable ranging in size from 0.001" to 0.24" (0.025 mm to 6 mm) outer diameter.
The Mercury-4 is suited to:
- removing jackets from shielded multi-conductor cables
- removing jackets and dialetrics from high performance microwave cables
- cutting aluminized mylar foils of twin-ax cables
- removing bonded insulations.
The laser is strongly absorbed by the wire/cable insulation causing it to melt or vaporize. By stripping from both sides automatically a slug of insulation can be separated from the main wire/cable. Full vaporization can be achieved by passing the laser spot over the wire multiple times at high speed in a hatch pattern. For bonded materials this may be the best method for insulation removal. In the case of shielded cables, the shield needs to be reasonably complete (>80% coverage) in order to protect the inner wire insulation whilst laser cutting the outer jacket.
All polymer insulations can be cut with the Mercury-4 laser. The amount of melt, vaporization or chemical decomposition depends on the exact polymers used. Below is a non-exhaustive list of materials that can be stripped:
- Fluoropolymers, such as PTFE, ETFE, PFA
- Polyethylene
- Nylon
- Silicone
- PVC
- Rubber
- Mylar
- Fiberglass
- Polyurethane
- Polyester
Technical Data
Min. Outer Cable Diameter | 0.025 mm (0.001") |
Max. Outer Cable Diameter | 6 mm (0.24") |
Stripping Length Increments | 0.1 mm (0.01") |
Strip types | Cross cuts, slits, windows, area ablation |
Max. Stripping Length | 50 mm (2") |
Speed | Up to 2000 mm/s (80"/s) |
Cable Loading | Either single cable port or using a mini-fixture plate for holding complex cables |
Dimensions (L x W x H) | 150 x 400 x 500 mm (6 x 16 x 20") |