Robot Cable Strain Relief and Bend Radius

A robot cable sample can pass continuity and still fail on the bench because the mechanical route was never really quoted. The connector is correct, the pinout is correct, the label is correct, but the conduit rubs a bracket, the boot exits at the wrong angle, the clamp loads the crimp barrel, or the installed bend radius is tighter than the cable family can tolerate. In a representative industrial-equipment harness program, the buyer had already completed a multi-month testing phase before sending dimensional feedback. The issue was not a pinout error. Field testing found that the primary harness used a conduit size that did not meet the assembly requirement. The program had a small prototype batch in review waiting behind the next sample decision. Our engineering team reviewed the conduit feedback, worked with the customer's engineers to define the corrected dimension, and prepared a revised quote for updated samples and the production batch. That scenario is the reason robot cable RFQs should treat strain relief, bend radius, conduit, sleeves, clamps, boots, and glands as buying data. If those inputs are missing, suppliers quote different mechanical assumptions and the cheapest quote may only be cheaper because it omitted the installed route risk. Send drawings, BOM, route photos, connector datasheets, clamp points, conduit or sleeve targets, quantity split, lead time, and compliance target. We return DFM questions, sample timing, tooling notes, test scope, and a quote separated by prototype, pilot, and production volume. Standards scope: IPC-A-620 workmanship, UL-758 wire and material expectations, IATF 16949-style traceability, and IEC 60529 IP-rating language where sealing applies.