MIL-DTL-83420 is the military specification that controls the manufacturing and performance standards of flexible aircraft cables used in aircraft control applications. And as most in the industry are aware, if has a lot of other benefits that make it useful in other military, aviation and general industrial applications. If you need a cable that will provide strength and extended cycle life in an application, you're going to want to specify a mil-spec cable.
The MIL-DTL-83420M specification provides controls and oversight for both Galvanized and Stainless Steel Aircraft cable. The cables are designated by size, type, and composition, and further segmented by construction. In other words, there are many options for selecting a certified aircraft cable by diameter, material, construction, and jacket type, should that be required. So how do you ensure that you’re getting the right set of parameters for your equipment, machine, or cable system?
First, you need to know what it is you require in your design:
Diameter
The overall size of material that you require.
Construction
Mil-DTL-83420 covers flexible aircraft cables, so the constructions available include 3x7 (in 1/32” diameter cables), 7x7 and 7x19 options.
Material Composition
There are two compositions of steel specified in MIL-DTL-83420
Composition A: Galvanized Steel
Composition B: Corrosion resistant (Stainless type 302/304) Steel
Material Type
There are two types of material specified in MIL-DTL-83420M
Type I: Bare Cable
Type II: Jacketed Cable
Once you have determined which cable you require, or what style will work best in your application, you simply need to relay these parameters to a qualified producer of MIL-DTL-83420 aircraft cable for purchase. They will confirm the availability of the product and provide a certified product that swill perform much better in any applications compared to a commercial product of the same size and construction.
And how do you know you are getting a qualified cable from a qualified manufacturer? The MIL-DTL-83420M Qualified Producers List provides you with a selection of manufacturers that are qualified and to manufacture and certify aircraft cable to the specification. Choosing one of these manufacturers is the only way to guarantee that the product has undergone the rigorous manufacturing and testing requirements need to certify the cable as compliant. And it’s the only way to verify to your customers and users that you have selected and provided the highest quality cable available in the market.
Strandcore is one of the few companies that meets these quality and performance standards. If you need certified MIL-DTL-83420 aircraft cable for your products, visit our aircraft cable page to learn more about what we offer. And if you have any questions about our full product line of aircraft cables, wire ropes, and assemblies, contact us at any time and we will be happy to help.