Cable lacing

Laced wiring harness from a Tesla coil

Cable lacing is a method for tying wiring harnesses and cable looms, traditionally used in telecommunication, naval, and aerospace applications. This old cable management technique, taught to generations of lineworkers, ^[1] is still used in some modern applications since it does not create obstructions along the length of the cable, avoiding the handling problems of cables groomed by plastic or hook-and-loop cable ties.

Cable lacing uses a thin cord, which is traditionally made of waxed linen, to bind together a group of cables using a series of running lockstitches. Flat lacing tapes made of modern materials such as nylon, polyester, Teflon, fiberglass, and Nomex are also available with a variety of coatings to improve knot holding. ^[2]

PABX with extensive cable lacing

Styles

The lacing begins and ends with a whipping or other knot to secure the free ends. Wraps are spaced relative to the overall harness diameter to maintain the wiring in a tight, neat bundle, and the ends are then neatly trimmed. In addition to continuous or running lacing, there are a variety of lacing patterns used in different circumstances. In some cases stand-alone knots called spot ties are also used. ^[3] For lashing large cables and cable bundles to support structures in telecommunications applications, there are two named cable lacing styles: the Chicago stitch (or box stitch ^[4] ), and the Kansas City stitch. ^[5] A Chicago stitch binds the bundle of cables to the support as a whole, whereas the Kansas City stitch is a more time-consuming procedure that keeps the cables in a rectangular pattern by wrapping each pair of cables.

Some organizations have in-house standards to which cable lacing must conform, for example NASA specifies its cable lacing techniques in chapter 9 of NASA-STD-8739.4. ^[6]

Examples

• 
  Traditional waxed cord lacing made with a series of running lockstitches based on the figure-eight knot
• 
  This style of continuous lacing, also called "marline hitching", is based on a series of overhand knots. A series of half-hitches, while visually similar, is not recommended for this application. ^[7]
• 
  Spot ties formed with a clove hitch topped by a reef knot made in modern Nomex lacing tape. A surgeon's knot is an acceptable substitute for the reef knot. ^[8]
• 
  A variety of lacing techniques are visible on the cabling of the NASA Mars Exploration Rover Spirit and its lander.
• 
  A vertical riser of multiple cables laced to a frame using a Kansas City stitch
• 
  A bundle of wires laced to a horizontal bar of a frame using a Chicago stitch

Notes and references

1. "Cable Sewing Knots", Popular Mechanics, 7 (5), Hearst Magazines: 550, May 1905, ISSN   0032-4558, Every lineman should know how to sew these knots.
2. Gudebrod, Inc. "Braid Lacing Tape". Archived from the original on December 1, 2007. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
3. Matisoff, Bernard S. (1987). Wiring and Cable Designer's Handbook. Summit, PA: TAB Books. pp. 93–106. ISBN   0-8306-2720-0.
4. sfertal (2008-04-21). Box Stitch . Retrieved 2025-06-09– via YouTube.
5. Qwest Corporation. "Qwest Corporation Technical Publication - Telecommunications Equipment Installation Guidelines" (PDF). pp. 5–19–5–24. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
6. See "External Links" section for these documents.
7. Bureau of Naval Weapons (1962). "Workmanship and Design Practices for Electronic Equipment". pp. 7–9–7–14. Retrieved 2009-06-26.
8. "Cable and Harness - General Requirements". NASA. 5 April 2002.

External links

• NASA Technical Standard NASA-STD-8739.4 on Crimping, Interconnecting Cables, Harnesses, and Wiring
• "Workmanship Standards Pictorial Reference for NASA-STD-8739". NASA. Archived from the original on 2009-07-12.
• Online excerpt from Electronic Installation Practices Manual (1951), "Chapter 9, Cabling"
• Online excerpt from Workmanship and Design Practices for Electronic Equipment (1962)
• Cable lacing tutorial using modern lacing tape
• History, tools, and techniques
• FAA Advisory Circular 43.13-1B paragraph 11-158