An important feature of multicore cables is the conductor twisting. In standard cables, the cores are typically twisted together in layers that have a long pitch. This means that when the cable bends, the inner cores are compressed while the outer cores are stretched. After a time, this process forces the cable to take up a corkscrew shape which, in effect, shortens it, and often pulls the cores out of their terminations or connectors. The deformed cable may also form loops that get trapped in the carrier or in machine parts, damaging the outer jacket and exposing the core conductors.
Igus chainflex cables feature a special bundling design that avoids corkscrewing and have been tested for reliability to 10 million double strokes.
