Abstract: A method for making cable of at least two thermoplastic insulated electrical conductors by thermal bonding. Two electrical conductors are moved into an extruder and are coated independently with heated thermoplastic insulation which maintains concentricity of each conductor with respect to the surrounding insulation. The insulated conductors are held in a spaced relationship until the insulation sets and then the heated insulated conductors are touched together causing the heated insulation to fuse together thereby joining them.

Abstract: A machine for assembling a polystyrene spool by friction welding polystyrene end flanges (in the form of discs) to the polystyrene cylindrical sleeve or barrel of a spool, used for holding wire or cable wound thereon. The machine comprises a pair of coaxially spaced rotary mandrels, driven by respective motors, on which the end flange discs are first manually mounted, and a pair of cradle members for supporting a cylindrical sleeve in coaxial relation between the two mandrels. A control system is provided for initiating rotation of the mandrels with the end flanges, then causing inward movement of the mandrels toward the opposite ends of the sleeve with a predetermined air pressure to cause softening of a stepped shoulder on the end of the central polystyrene hub of the end flanges.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for coiling wire so that the finished coils are free from central cores or spools and the wire may be removed from the axis free from undesirable lay, comprising a frame having a plurality of rotating arms, each with a collapsing mandrel having a wire gripping means and index means for positioning the mandrel on the arm, wire delivering and directing means delivering wire to a mandrel at a loading station, inserting means at the loading station inserting wire into the gripping means, means rotating the mandrel to form a coil, a mandrel turning means for indexing the mandrel leaving the loading station and an unloading station including removing means for collapsing a mandrel and pushing a complete coil therefrom.