Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1476549
October/November/December 2022 I 27 • Transferring the pulling force beyond the connector and its boot without the risk of damaging the connector. • Achieving mass manufacturing at low costs. There was no easy way to build a miniature Kellems pulling grip capable of flying over a connector while applying a strong grip force to the cable section past the connector. A Kellems pulling grip squeezes on the con- nector, resulting in the pulling force being transferred to the connector rather than the cable as shown in Figure 4. Accordingly, this is not a viable option for pulling a pre-terminated cable. When removing the SC connector's outer body, it becomes possible to pull it through a hole as small as 3/8 in (≈9.5 mm) in diameter. FIGURE 4: Kellems pulling grip on an SC connector without outer body. Furthermore, a Kellems pulling grip is difficult to mass manufacture at low costs due to its endless weave design, which requires it to be hand woven on a mandrel. Both metal wire and aramid thread are expensive, and supply constraints are problematic. Another solution had to be developed. A simple question was asked: Could the same function be performed by a part made of plastic? The active development of the PCPA as a plastic part was a pivot in the research effort. Fortunately, it was possible to become quickly immersed in the recent progress in additive manufacturing, leading to fast and affordable proto- typing of injection molded plastic parts. In early 2022, injection molded PCPAs for SC connectors became available. Operators can now begin to qualify use of the PCPA in their operations. The PCPA is positioned as the first tool designed specifically to facilitate the pulling of pre-connectorized cables versus the use of a textile pulling sock.