Beginner topic - type of wire for motion projects?

Forum 2005-2010 (read only) General Frequently-Asked Questions
1

I have a project with an arm that moves by a servo. And I have LEDs on the arm. My problem is that the wire I have is made for a breadboard, so it is thick and stiff. What is the best, common type of wire that should be used when the wire will be moving a lot?

Thanks.

2

Stranded wire is more flexible and if you route your wire correctly you can minimize flexing.

3

Any links to correct wire routing and placement?

4

Any links to correct wire routing and placement?

That will be the same link you are using to create your project. :wink:

Oh you are inventing it yourself, it that case you will have to invent the routing and placement. But you know that it has to minimise flexing so you are half way there. :slight_smile:

5

Big problem for me when we use a wire in the project in my team we in touch the current we never expect my friends was down on the floor and he close her eyes we taught she dad he was shock in that time.

6

I don't know too much about the subject, but it seems if we increase the distance away from the wire, perndendicular to the axis of movement, we increase the total flex necessary. Where as if we increase the distance along the axis of rotation, we produce less flex (and more twist).

Also, stranded is the way to go. Sometimes it's the little stuff like this that I should have learned in a class somewhere along the line.

7

I don't know if this will help but sometimes having a name to go on can set you down the road. A fairly supple and abrasion resistant wire insulation is called TXL or if you want thicker GXL (TXL ~= Thin cross linked polyolefin) GXL is something similar just thicker. TXL is used in the automotive industry for wiring harnesses. You can specify the number of strands as well. Good luck.

8

If you go to Digi-Key.com and type "hookup wire" in their search engine and limit the search to 24 AWG stranded wire you will find a lot of suitable and easy to work with wire. there probably are a lot of less expensive sources if you search long enough.

Find yourself 4 100 foot roles of 24 guage stranded hookup wire in 4 different colors and you will have a ten year supply for any low current hobby projects.

KG2