Watlow Cable Heater

Watlow cable heaters are small diameter, high performance units. Watlow cable heaters are fully annealed and readily bent into a multitude of configurations and shapes as dictated by the application. For example, Watlow cable heaters can be formed into a compact coiled nozzle heater for plastic injection molding equipment or snake through a sealing bar in packaging applications. Flat, spiral configurations can be used in semiconductor manufacturing and star wound cable can be used for air and gas heating. Watlow cable heaters are also ideal for harsh or unusual environments including cryogenic and subfreezing temperatures, high vacuum, and gaseous and liquid immersion conditions.

Whatever the application, the Watlow cable heater can be shaped to fit your needs. Construction design options include: one, two, three or four resistance wires; parallel coil or straight wire; drawn or swaged sheaths; with or without internal thermocouples; leads exiting from one or both ends and round, rectangular or square shapes. Cable heaters feature high ductility which allows them to be bent into almost any shape. With optional compression fittings or adapter seals, the Watlow cable heater can be isolated from its process environment. Additionally, the heater sheath can be brazed allowing the permanent attachment of mounted fittings to the heater.

The Watlow cable heater has a low mass which allows quick response to both heating and cooling. These heaters can generate continuous operating temperatures to 1200°F (650°C) with intermittent operating periods achieving up to 1500°F (815°C) depending on the type of element wire used. Watt densities up to 75 W/in² (11.62 W/cm²) can be generated within factory approved conditions although watt densities of 30 W/in² (4.65 W/cm²) are more typical.

Applications for the Watlow Cable Heater

• Plastic injection molding nozzles
• Semiconductor manufacturing and wafer processing
• Sealing and cutting bars
• Medical, analytical and scientific instruments
• Air heating
• Restaurant and food processing equipment
• Cast-in heaters
• Laminating and printing presses
• Textile manufacturing
• Heating in a vacuum environment

Ordering Information

Please contact us to order a Watlow Cable Heater. To help us determine which Watlow heater will best satisfy your application requirements, please determine as closely as possible the size, forming options, voltage, wattage/watt density, lead wire, termination and required options of the heater you will need.