Cable Jacket Stripper — Frequently Asked Questions

We've listed answers to some of our most common Cable Jacket Stripper questions for your convenience.

What are Cable Jacket Strippers used for?

Huestis Industrial Cable Jacket Strippers help salvage cable cores from scrap, or defective product. This scrap or defective material originates from many sources including the manufacturing of the wrong color product or the wrong number of conductors, gaps in the insulation, failed testing, or a revision to a military specification which requires the insertion of a new identification marker. In all of these instances, the ability to reclaim the core, without damage, becomes a major consideration.

What is the stripping range of Huestis Industrial Cable Jacket Strippers?

Huestis Industrial Cable Jacket Strippers utilize a striper foot (shoe) to accommodate cables ranging from .030” to 4.00” core diameter. While they are not able to offer a solution to every cable produced, they do offer manufacturers an opportunity to handle the majority. A company can then reclaim valuable cores for re-jacketing; remove curing jackets or provide for an upgrade of scrap for salvaging.

Is the cost of a Cable Jacket Stripper easily justified?

Huestis Industrial Cable Jacket Strippers are very cost effective. The costly alternative is to scrap the entire lot and lose the materials and labor which were used. Since the cost of the core is known, it is quite simple to calculate the pay back of purchasing a stripping system which can accomplish this requirement.

We already have an in-house stripping system, why should we consider a Huestis model?

There are a number of homegrown strippers, the majority of which, all employ the same principle. A typical homegrown stripper usually employs some type of ring with adjustable knife blades in the 12, 3, 6 and 9 o'clock positions. As the cable is pulled through the ring, the knife blades are adjusted to cut the insulation so that it can be removed, much the same as how a banana is peeled. The major drawback to this type of stripping system is that since the height of the knife blades is fixed, any variation in the jacket thickness can alter the result. In particular, a thinning of the jacket will most likely result in a damaged core.

What issues are important when considering a commercially available system?

The majority of commercially available systems also utilize some type of fixed or rotating knife. Many of these systems do not allow for any variations in jacket thickness and thus will eventually cause damage to the core. The core is generally not protected from the blade or knife. While these systems may prove to be very useful for scrap upgrade applications, they may not always lend themselves to salvaging the core for re-jacketing.

How are Huestis Industrial Cable Jacket Strippers different from other commercial systems?

Huestis Cable Jacket Stripper, will allow for thickness variations and does protect the core from the cutting blade. This system employs a stripping foot or shoe, which is designed to pass between the insulation and the core or conductor. This type of jacket stripper, which provides the stripping action, is used in conjunction with pay-off and take-up stands and it is the take-up stand which actually provides the “stripping process.”

What types of materials can your stripper handle?

Huestis Industrial Cable Jacket Strippers have been used successfully with single and stranded conductors, fiber optics, flat cables and many other cable constructions. This system may also be used to remove curing jackets including lead sheaths.

How is sizing an important factor in the design of your stripping system?

The stripper foot is sized closely to the core diameter of the product being stripped. In other words the radius of the foot is matched to the radius of the core. The core then becomes the guiding surface as the material is processed through the stripper foot. The degree of latitude in “sizing” depends upon the jacket material and the overall construction. For example a product which has a stiff, tight jacket, may require an exact match while something that is loose or soft may allow for a wider tolerance.

How does your stripper work?

On the top of the stripper foot is a closed groove or slot in which a high speed cutter blade rotates at 3,600 RPM. During set-up, the tip of the foot is inserted between the core and the jacket which is being removed and the core is then attached to the reel on the take-up being used. Entrance and exit guide rolls on the stripper insure the material is presented to the foot correctly. In most instances the material is presented at a slight downward angle of perhaps 2 to 3 degrees. As the core is being pulled and the jacket is cut, the design of the foot causes the jacket to peel away from the material and drop below the stripping machine.

Is there any accommodation to recycle the jacket material?

Typical applications may also employ a puller chopper to cut the jacket into short lengths. These lengths can then be placed into a storage bin, grinder, granulator or other type of reduction machinery.

Are there any considerations for hard or tight jackets?

Certain products may require a special or “short-nosed” foot. In this style, the distance from the tip of the foot to the cutter blade is lessened. It is approximately 1/16” versus the 3/16” on a standard foot. By shortening this distance, the cutting of the jacket begins to take place sooner and less pressure is exerted on the core. This type of foot (short nose) is typically used with harder, tighter jackets.

What about very large or thick jackets?

For large diameter cables or cables with tough or relatively thick jackets, an optional second cutter may be added. In this configuration the stripper has two cutting stations which cut the jacket on top and on the bottom, effectively separating it into two halves. These two halves would then be handled in the same manner as that of a stripper with a single station, however in some instances, driven nip rolls will become necessary to help pull the jacket, in essence assisting the take up with the stripping process.

How can I tell if the Cable Jacket Stripper will work for my cable material?

Because cable construction varies so much, it is usually not possible to tell without observing a sample, whether or not the product will lend itself to these machines. Jacket materials, shields, tapes and fillers all have an effect on the degree of success.

Can helical core products be stripped?

Products which have a helical core, particularly with a slow (high) helix can present problems. This type of cable will tend to twist as it passes through the stripping foot and will eventually twist itself out.

How about braided products?

Braided products can generally be stripped so long as the coverage is at least 60%. Anything less usually results in destruction of the braiding.

Are tapes and shields a factor?

Tapes, shield and other similar components also add additional variables which need to be assessed on a case by case basis. For example, it may be necessary to strip a cable with certain tape wrappings in the opposite direction of the wrap. Thin aluminum and copper shields can usually be accommodated however, steel tapes present problems with cutting and heat dissipation, and generally do not fare well.

Can cross-linked and hard jackets be stripped?

Cross-linked and other hard jacketing present yet another set of problems. Whether or not these strippers can handle this class of products again depends upon the individual construction. To a large degree it depends upon the overall size (diameter) relative jacket thickness, the core construction and whether or not there is bonding between the jacket and the interior components.

What is the direction of process?

Our standard equipment is supplied for a left to right feed, facing the front of the stripper. Right to left option is also available.

What is the process line height?

The standard wire line pay-off height is 46” for all of our floor models. This height can be modified for special applications. The wire line pay-off height is measured from the floor to the top of the cable being stripped. The center distance (floor to cable center) varies depending on cable diameters.

Where should equipment be installed?

Installation varies depending on application. For instance, for the removal of a curing jacket, the stripper can be installed “in-line” for a continuous process. For the removal of a defective jacket, the stripper may be located in a remote part of the plant with the equipment installed in that area designated specifically for stripping. Other times, the stripper is located in the rewind area. The location of the stripper depends on many factors including plant layout, work flow, stripping volume, application requirements, and availability of auxiliary equipment.

What are process speeds?

Process speeds depend on all of the aforementioned variables. If the material strips easily, you can achieve several hundred feet per minute. Obviously, this assumes that you have adequate equipment (pay-offs and take-ups) to provide this process speed. If the jacket has lumps, defects, or other irregularities, you will have to strip at a considerably lower speed.

What are short-nose shoes used for?

We can supply special short-nose shoes which ride on approximately 25% of the circumference. When using a short-nose shoe, cutting starts sooner because the “groove” is closer to the tip of the shoe. This shoe is used when stripping a harder jacket and when less drag on the core is desirable.

What is the second motor and cutter?

We can also supply a second motor and cutter mounted in-line, further to the right of the first motor and cutter. It is positioned 180 degrees (upside down) to cut and strip the opposite side of the cable from the first cut and strip. This dual cutting method is useful for very hard and/or thick curing jackets. By cutting the jacket into two separate pieces, it will pull away from the core more easily. Dual cutters can also be used to strip odd shapes such as rectangular cables. Other applications include situations when the jacket and core are so hard that the stripper shoe cannot get under the jacket. In this case, we can strip without stripper shoes, as long as the cable is relatively concentric. Cuts are made just deep enough in the jacket to avoid hitting the core while allowing the jacket to be torn and pulled away. This second motor and cutter is an optional accessory and not necessarily essential to a standard cable jacket stripping application.

What is the pre-heater?

We offer a pre-heater that can be used in applications where the jacket is excessively hard. The pre-heater is installed prior to the stripper and softens the jacket for easier removal, cutting process, and being able to get the shoe under the jacket. This is an option and not essential to a standard application.

What are the jacket puller/ driven nip rolls?

Our jacket puller/ driven nip rolls supply the pulling force for the cable jacket puller accessory. Our puller has its own separate variable speed DC drive and is used to assist in pulling the jacket away from the conductor or core. The jacket puller is not designed to provide the stripping process, only the jacket pulling force. The jacket puller is an optional accessory.

What is the puller/ chopper?

Our puller/ chopper performs the same function as the jacket puller as well as an additional function. The chopper cuts the jacket in 8” — 12” lengths (depending on line speed) for easy disposal or reclamation. Many times a tote box is placed under the accessory to collect the scrap material. The CJS-1000 puller/chopper is limited to a 1/4” conductor dia. because, as the jacket goes through the puller, it must be flattened and is limited to this width. Max jacket thickness is 1/4” with a max line speed of 250 ft./ min. Jacket materials should be approved or tested by Huestis Industrial or an authorized agent prior to ordering. Larger puller/choppers are available for our CJS-3000 and CJS-4000 and are quoted to your specific application.