Example 8: tested, tested, tested! FOC – 37,000 miles 46,600 miles completed

Cover over 37,000 miles or 1.5 times around the earth with chainflex® FOC cables.

Users of data-transmission systems (bus systems) with high data rates, long transmission distances, or strong electro-magnetic loads frequently rely on fiber-optic cables (FOC).

Many users are not yet aware that chainflex® fiber-optic cables for cable carriers offer more advantages than standard FOCs.

Copper-based data-transmission systems characterize themselves primarily through two basic disadvantages:

The maximum transmission distances are limited by the transmission systems (between 16 and 160 ft cable length).

2

The copper-based cables used in cable carrier systems often display an increase in dampening values after a high number of cycles, which again has a negative effect on the maximum range.

Fiber optic cables made of glass and independent of data transmission and/or bus systems offer the following benefits:

Transmission distances are not limited by data transmission systems used and amount to - depending on the FOC type – a few thousand feet.

2

Dampening increases are so low in chainflex® FO cables - even for very high numbers of cycles in cable carrier systems - that barely measurable values are ascertainable and the largest part of the dampening is located at the plug.

How far the dampening behavior of an igus® chainflex® fiber optic cable is altered was analyzed in the following test arrangement, but has not yet been completed (as of 12/08).

Allowing for an average insertion loss of 0.3 dB and a maximum of 0.5 dB for the ST plug, the dampening increase of about 0.1-0.15 dB after over 30 million movements in the cable carrier is completely negligible. The cable covered over 37,000 miles of travel in the test.

The fiber-optic wavelength considered here is 850 nm.