Rojone acquires new bending machine

Rojone’s new RD5 CNC bending machine has significantly increased the company’s capability to produce semi-rigid cable assemblies and delay lines suitable for microwave, military, RF and telecommunications applications to 18 GHz.

The bender produces 3-axis bends quickly, accurately and repeatably directly from the customer’s CAD or STEP files, using the full range of qualified Mil-C17 semi-rigid coax cables. The RD5 bends semi-rigid cable using a rotary wipe process, which facilitates signal transmission when the cable is in its final assembly. The collet closer that holds the coax during the bending process is designed specifically to grip yet be gentle on the cable’s outside jacket. The design of the carriage spindle allows the end of the coax cable to get right up next to the bend tooling on the very last bend. This often translates into avoiding a trimming operation after bending.

Semi-rigid coax cable assemblies are typically used in ground and airborne radar systems, satellite and terrestrial wireless communications equipment, high bandwidth data communication equipment, medical imaging apparatus, test equipment, electronic warfare and to connect to microwave antennas.

As communications bandwidth and imaging resolution increase, higher frequencies, power handling and shielding are important factors. These applications require durability, phase stable performance, low attenuation, high signal fidelity and the ability to handle more power. Semi-rigid coax meets these requirements and is ideal for high-temperature, high-power applications while maintaining excellent phase stable performance and minimising VSWR. Semi-rigid is especially significant in tactical environments where high shielding and shock or vibration tolerance is critical.