Welcome to my technology blog. My name is Kat, and I have been an avid fan of technology for years. In my professional life, I am a restaurant owner, but I have dabbled in everything tech-related from building computers to online marketing to basic programming. In this space, I want to focus on brilliant innovations in technology. When I am not at the restaurant with my husband, you can find me curled up with my kids watching videos on their tablets, checking out new video games on our favourite consoles or other tech-related entertainment. Get comfortable, and explore these posts. I hope they inspire you to learn or do new things with technology.
In modern manufacturing facilities, there's a need for maintaining connectivity between various machines and departments within the business. In fact, smart factories now rely on data cabling to transmit and receive data in real time from the internet, administrative offices and other interconnected machines.
Data cabling for manufacturing plants is different from the cables you would expect to see in a regular office or data centre. While data cables in offices are protected, cables running across the factory floor are subjected to harsh environments. High pressure, temperature fluctuations, chemicals and vibration will all exert wear and tear on weak data cables.
To maintain connectivity, you need more rugged and durable data cables that decrease the likelihood of downtime. Here are important considerations when installing data cables on your factory floor:
1. Always stick to the industry standards
As a starting point, refer to the industry standard data cables used in manufacturing plants. These cables are rugged in design, have tough outer shells and are optimised for performance. They mostly come as Ethernet cables that maintain connectivity for many years, and can be securely attached to factory machines. Industry-standard cables tend to be thick, have a high temperature tolerance and can be easily routed across tight spaces without interfering with connectivity.
2. Carry out a stress test to determine vulnerabilities
In addition to selecting cables with a tough, rugged design, you should also make sure that the cables function optimally in your manufacturing plant. You can do this by carrying out a stress test on your data cabling. Expose the cables to the most extreme conditions that your machines operate under.
If you expect them to be exposed to corrosive chemicals or high levels of vibration, recreate these conditions and test your connectivity levels in the process. A stress test allows you to optimise the cabling system so you can avoid potential downtime. Remember that any sudden break in connectivity can result in significant data loss, reduced productivity and potential data security challenges.
3. Ensure that connectivity is enhanced at all times
After carrying out a stress test, make any necessary adjustments to improve the reliability of your cables. When it comes to industrial cabling, you have many available options. Some cables are optimised for indoor/outdoor use, weather resistance, UV tolerance and even oily environments. Select your most important features without interfering with connectivity.
4. Install supporting hardware in strategic locations
You should also ensure that your cables and supporting hardware are installed in areas where they're easily accessible. Avoid having them near extreme conditions, if possible, and make sure they can be easily serviced to fix any potential issues.
For more information, contact companies like One Step Ahead Communications.
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