Cable and Harness Marking - Standard referenced on a cable drawing

[jepam]

Does anyone know if this standard (MIL-W-5088L) is referenced on a cable drawing if it requires that the wires in the assembly be laser marked or will individual labels meet the requirement. Any information will be appreciated.

 

[harry]

Does anyone know if this standard (MIL-W-5088L) is referenced on a cable drawing if it requires that the wires in the assembly be laser marked or will individual labels meet the requirement. Any information will be appreciated.

I don't quite get you but will try. Cables manufactured to particular standards such as 'VDE' carry markings as required and describe in the standard. This is a product certification. If drawings referenced such, you will need to use cables manufactured by approved sources. Any attempt to mark it yourself is an infringement.

 

[jepam]

Sorry, I wasn't clear. We manufacture cables and wire harnesses. One of our customers has a requirement on the drawing that the cable be marked IAW Mil-W-5088L. I know we cannot hot stamp anymore but does that mean laser marking is our only option?
Thanks

 

[somashekar]

Sorry, I wasn't clear. We manufacture cables and wire harnesses. One of our customers has a requirement on the drawing that the cable be marked IAW Mil-W-5088L. I know we cannot hot stamp anymore but does that mean laser marking is our only option?
Thanks

Do you have a connector in the harness which has a surface to laser etch the IAW Mil-W-5088L ?
You can try Willett inkjet also in case it is to be on the cable insulation / or connector body.

Please never laser on the wire insulation. You may cause more serious damage to the harness than doing a marking.
... this may happen

 

[jepam]

We are not required to mark the connector just the wires in the harness assembly. Does MIL-W-5088L require laser marking only or are heat shrinkable labels still acceptable? Thanks

 

[somashekar]

We are not required to mark the connector just the wires in the harness assembly. Does MIL-W-5088L require laser marking only or are heat shrinkable labels still acceptable? Thanks

Ref to MIL-S-85848
Sleeving, for identification marking, Heat shrinkable, general specification for.

These are said within MIL-W-5088L

3.8.6.3 Insulation degradation. Wirlng shall be handled, stripped and
Installed so as not to distort, roughen or damage the insulation on which
sealing is to be effected. Methods-of marking and identification shall be
applled so as not to provide a track for moisture entry. The impression left
on the insulation of shielded and twisted wires can also cause unacceptable
degradation of the insulation in relation to the elastomer seal. Caution
shall be used to avoid this condition.

3.9 Wire and cable identification. Each wire and cable shall be marked
with an identification code on the jacket or sleeving of the wire and cable.
Hot stamp marking of wire and cable shall not be used unless other marking
methods are not compatible with wire or cable insulation.

Perhaps www.bradycorp.com would have a solution and you would like to see the provided link.

Hope this helps

 

[jepam]

Thank you very much. I have read the standard, I am just confused whether or not heat shrinkable labels are still permitted in aircraft wiring.

 

[somashekar]

Thank you very much. I have read the standard, I am just confused whether or not heat shrinkable labels are still permitted in aircraft wiring.

I would check back with customer as well as with Brady (The link I provided)
Heat shrinkable sleeves are permitted. That is what MIL-S-85848 is about.

 

[jepam]

I sent an e-mail to Brady. Thank you.
So are Heat shrinkable labels still allowed per MIL-W-5088L

 

[somashekar]

I sent an e-mail to Brady. Thank you.
So are Heat shrinkable labels still allowed per MIL-W-5088L

3.9.3 Marklnq,
3.9.3.1 The wire identification code shall be printed to read
horizontally from left to right or vertically from top to bottom.
3.9.3.2 The characters shall be legible and permanent and the method of
identification shall not impair the characteristics of the wiring.
3.9.3.3 Wiring shall be identified, throughout its length, at intervals
not longer than 3 inches, as measured from the end of a mark to the beginning
of the next mark.
* 3.9.3.3.1 when it Is not possible to print directly upon a wire or
cable, an identification marker shall be used. The marker shall be a
MIL-S-85848 or MIL-I-23053 heat-shrinkable sleeve; a MIL-S-23190 (MS3368
Identification strap, see 3.11.3.8) or a MIL-I-3190 glass braid. The marker
shall not be used as an electrical insulating device. The markers shall be
used as follows:
(NOTE: MIL-S-23190(MS3368) identification strap shall not
be used within cables, groups, harnesses or bundles, )
a. Cables upon which identification cannot be printed shall be
identified by printing the identification code (and individual
wire color, where applicable) on a markqr placed external to
the outer covering at the terminatlng end or a common jacket
shall be identified with printed markers at each end and at
intervals not greater than 3 feet. Individual wires within a
cable shall be identified wlthln 3 inches from their
termination.
b. Wires on which identification cannot be marked shall be
identified by printed markers at each end and at Intervals not
greater than 3 feet.
c. Wires for which the Identifications are reassigned after
installation In the aircraft may be reidentlfied by markers at
the termination of each wire segment. It is not necessary to
reidentify such wires throughout their lengths.
3.9.3.3.2 Short wires and cables less than 6 Inches In length need not
be identified In the aircraft, but shall be completely Identified on the
drawing.
3.9.3.3.3 For developmental model aircraft, wiring identlfication may be
provided at junction and termination points only.
3.9.3.3.4 For protected harnesses and shielded, jacketed multi-conductor
cables and when using nonsignificant wire identiflcatlon, color coding or its
alphanumeric equivalent may be interchanged within the same harness. The
alphanumeric equivalent of the color code shall be in accordance with
MIL-STD-681. See paragraph 30.2.3.3 in Appendix C for an example of alphanumerlc
equivalent of color coding.

Above is the complete text of Marking per MIL-W-5088L, and you can see heat shrinkable sleeve in it