Cable processing machine and method of operating cable processing machine

Abstract

The invention provides a cable processing machine (100). The cable processing machine (100) is used for processing an unprocessed cable (1) into a processed cable (2). A cable processing machine includes an operating tool (110, 120, 130), a sensor (111, 121, 131), a display (200), and a control system (300). The control system (300) is arranged to set a target configuration of the operating tools (110, 120, 130) based on a cable type (3) of the unprocessed cable (1) to be processed. The sensor (111, 121, 131) provides a sensor signal (112, 122, 132) indicative of an actual configuration of the operating tool (110, 120, 130). The control system (300) is further arranged to provide display data (310, 320, 330) based on the sensor signals (112, 122, 132) and the cable type (3), the display data being displayable on the display (200). Individual items of the display data (310, 320, 330) can be displayed on the display (200) in an animatable representation (5) of the processed cable (2), in which possible failure modes of individual components of the processed cable (2) can be distinguished from each other.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a wire processing machine according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention also relates to a method for operating a wire processing machine according to the preamble of claim 9, and to a computer program product relating to this method.

[0002] Cable processing machines are usually designed and programmed to mass-produce processed cables, such as electrical or optical cables, according to predefined specifications. As an example, the cable processing machine is programmed to produce (electrical or optical) cable pieces of a specified length, with the cable insulation being stripped off at one or both ends with a specified stripping length. If possible, and as an example of a special operation performed on such a cable processing machine, the stripped insulation should not be completely removed, but only partially pulled off in order to secure and protect the bare core wires of the cable. In the latter case, the cable processing machine is programmed to move the stripped insulation part (with the stripping length) beyond the specified pull-off length in order to leave a gap between the unstripped insulation of the central cable part and the partially pulled off stripped insulation part. This is usually called partial stripping.

[0003] Typically, as shown in Figure 1, the specifications (i.e., target physical dimensions) of the cable components to be produced are displayed on the (graphical) user interface of the wire processing machine. Furthermore, it is common practice for the operator to calibrate or commission the wire processing machine to produce the cable components before commencing large-scale production on the machine. To do this, the operator runs the wire processing machine to produce a prototype component and compares the prototype component (the dimensions) with the desired dimensions of the cable component. Based on the discrepancies identified between the prototype component produced and the target, the operator must determine which wire processing machine settings need to be corrected or adjusted to minimize or eliminate the observed discrepancies. Such corrections (e.g., the relative starting distance of the stripping blade or a preprogrammed cutting depth) can be entered through the user interface. This calibration or commissioning process, i.e., adjusting the appropriate parameters, requires considerable operator skill and knowledge. Subsequently, a new prototype component is produced to verify that the prototype component (the dimensions) are within acceptable production margins. These commissioning and prototype production steps are repeated until the wire processing machine is correctly adjusted for large-scale production. Inexperienced operators, in particular, may select and adjust potentially irrelevant settings, resulting in unnecessary and lengthy calibration / commissioning time, which reduces production efficiency. Such incorrect setting adjustments not only generate waste but may ultimately damage the machine and / or its tools. This can be a time-consuming and dangerous process of trial and error.

[0004] Therefore, there is a need for a wire processing machine and a method of operating such a machine that increases production efficiency by reducing, respectively minimizing, the (production) time lost when calibrating the machine. This is the object of the present invention.

[0005] The objects of the invention are solved by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous further developments are indicated in the drawing and in the dependent claims.

[0006] According to one aspect, the present invention provides a cable processing machine for processing / converting raw cable (i.e., raw cable including an insulation layer) into processed cable (i.e., processed cable), the cable processing machine comprising an operating tool, a sensor, a display, and a control system; wherein the control system is arranged to set a target configuration of the operating tool based on the cable type of the raw cable to be processed and based on the desired target specifications of the processed cable; wherein the sensor provides a sensor signal to the control system indicating the actual configuration of the operating tool; wherein the control system is further arranged to provide display data based on the sensor signal and the cable type, the display data being displayable on the display; wherein individual items of the display data are displayable on the display as an animated representation of the processed cable, wherein possible failure modes of individual components of the processed cable can be distinguished from one another. Advantageously, the present invention provides an operator with a continuous and / or guided human-machine interaction process to assist in adjusting the settings of the cable processing machine during a commissioning or calibration phase prior to the start of large-scale production of processed cables in the production phase. As another advantage of the present invention, the dependence of the display data on one (or more) sensor signals allows filtering out the most relevant failure modes from a library of potential failure modes. Thus, the commissioning phase in which the wire processing machine is properly adjusted for mass production can be minimized.To this end, the wire processing machine may comprise a memory or storage device connected to the control system for storing the library of wire failure modes.

[0007] Advantageously, the animate representation of the processed cable on the display, in which the possible failure modes of the individual components of the processed cable can be distinguished from one another, reliably assists the operator in performing his technical task of calibrating the cable processing machine through a continuous and / or guided human-machine interaction process. The present invention provides an objective, reliable, and causally linked assistance to the operator in performing his technical task and the animate representation of the processed cable on the display.

[0008] The control system and display according to the present invention are not only suitable for showing the operator what the desired target processed cable should look like (including graphical representations of dimensional values ​​such as diameter and length). Furthermore, they can also be adapted to show the operator what a typical deviation product part looks like in an animated manner. The display of the deviation product (or product part) supports and guides the operator in identifying the relevant setting parameters to adjust. By selecting the appropriate deviation product displayed, the control system and display can then indicate to the operator which machine settings can be changed and how to change these settings to eliminate the differences between the processed test piece (or sample) and the target processed cable.

[0009] In one embodiment, for this purpose, the display comprises a touch screen, which is arranged to generate a failure mode control signal indicative of a failure mode of the processed cable, and the control system is arranged to adjust the configuration of the operating tool based on the failure mode control signal following a corresponding input by an operator via the touch screen. Advantageously, the animatable representation comprises different displayable options, guiding and supporting the operator in indicating via the touch screen which option best matches the detected fault.

[0010] In one embodiment, for the above-mentioned purpose, an animated representation can include a segmented image of the processed cable. This allows for the display of possible failure modes of (portions of) the processed cable. Advantageously, this allows the operator to be guided to deviations in the configuration of the operating tools provided in the cable processing machine by comparing the state of the processed cable specimen with predefined target states. Furthermore, by providing a segment-by-segment representation of the cable, the present invention systematically assists the operator in adjusting the cable processing machine during the commissioning phase.

[0011] In another embodiment, each item of displayed data includes configuration parameters of the operating tool associated with the displayed failure mode. Advantageously, each item of displayed data can be a graphical representation of a specific portion of the processed cable, illustrating a possible failure mode of the processed cable that does not meet quality requirements. Examples of failure modes include scratches on the outer or inner insulation, unremoved insulation sections, improperly bent shield braid, scratched or cut inner conductors, and length differences relative to target values. The graphical representation guides and supports the operator in identifying the configuration parameters associated with the failure mode by comparing the test piece with the graphical representation.

[0012] In yet another embodiment, the configuration parameters are displayed in order of relevance to correcting the failure mode. Advantageously, the order of displayed relevance guides and supports the operator in selecting and adjusting the configuration parameters most relevant to eliminating any deviations between the test piece and the target processed wire.

[0013] In yet another embodiment, as described above, configuration parameters can be changed by an operator, preferably via a touch screen, and the failure mode control signal can include information regarding the configuration parameters to be changed. Advantageously, the animated representation can intuitively guide and support the operator in providing input for adjusting the parameter settings. Furthermore, the provided input allows the control system to readjust the settings of the wire processing machine to produce processed wire within acceptable quality margins.

[0014] In another embodiment, each item of displayed data includes an explanatory suggestion regarding the relationship between the occurrence of a failure mode and the settings of configuration parameters of the operating tool associated with the failure mode. Advantageously, the explanatory suggestion in the animated representation guides and supports the operator and increases the operator's understanding of the wire processing machine and the impact of its parameter settings on the final product.

[0015] In another embodiment, the control system includes an artificial intelligence unit for determining adjustments to the configuration of the operating tool based on the failure mode control signal. Preferably, the cable processing machine includes a detector, such as a camera, for inspecting the processed cable. Detector signals representing the inspected processed cable, such as a photograph, can be combined with sensor signals indicating the actual configuration of one or more operating tools and fed as input to the artificial intelligence unit. The detector signals and associated sensor signals can also be stored in a suitable database accessible to the artificial intelligence unit. Advantageously, the artificial intelligence unit, which can include intelligent algorithms—including heuristic methods, artificial neural networks, and evolutionary (genetic) algorithms—provides as output to the control system a failure mode control signal indicating the failure mode of the processed cable. The control system can be configured to adjust the configuration of the operating tool based on the failure mode control signal. Using the adjusted configuration, new test pieces can be generated and inspected, enabling the artificial intelligence unit to learn to associate specific failure modes with appropriate configuration settings. Furthermore, the artificial intelligence unit can learn which configuration settings of the cable processing machine should be adjusted first to mitigate the failure mode. Furthermore, in addition to a priority order for different configuration settings, the artificial intelligence unit can also provide preferred values ​​or value ranges for different configuration settings to mitigate the failure mode.

[0016] According to a second aspect, the present invention provides a method for operating a cable processing machine for processing an unprocessed cable into a processed cable using an operating tool, the method comprising: (i) setting a target configuration of the operating tool based on the cable type of the unprocessed cable to be processed and based on the desired target shape of the processed cable; (ii) providing a sensor signal indicative of the actual configuration of the operating tool; (iii) providing display data based on the sensor signal and the cable type; and (iv) displaying individual items of the display data in an animatable representation of the processed cable, wherein possible failure modes of individual components of the processed cable can be distinguished from each other.

[0017] According to a third aspect, the present invention provides a computer program product comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method according to the second aspect of the invention.

[0018] Other advantages, features and details of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, in which embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0019] The list of reference numerals and the technical content of the patent claims and drawings are part of this disclosure. These drawings are described coherently and comprehensively. The same reference numerals indicate the same parts, and reference numerals with different indices indicate parts with the same or similar functions.

[0020] The accompanying drawings show:

[0021] FIG1 schematically shows a graphical user interface of a wire processing machine according to the prior art;

[0022] Figure 2 A first embodiment of a wire processing machine according to the invention is shown;

[0023] Figure 3 A first embodiment of an animatable representation on a display according to the present invention is shown;

[0024] Figure 4 A second embodiment of an animatable representation on a display according to the present invention is shown;

[0025] Figure 5 A third embodiment of an animatable representation on a display according to the present invention is shown;

[0026] Figure 6 A fourth embodiment of an animatable representation on a display according to the present invention is shown;

[0027] Figure 7 A fifth embodiment of an animatable representation on a display according to the invention is shown.

[0028] Figure 2 An example of a cable processing machine 100 according to the present invention is schematically shown. The cable processing machine 100 is arranged to process an unprocessed cable 1 into a processed cable 2. The unprocessed cable (or raw cable) 1 can be an electrical or optical cable in an unprocessed state. The unprocessed cable can be fed to the cable processing machine 100 from a reel or a spool, or can be provided in cable segments of predetermined length, for example introduced by a conveyor mechanism. By using operating tools 110, 120, 130 on the cable processing machine 100, the unprocessed cable 1 is converted into a processed cable (or processed cable) 2. The unprocessed cable can be a specific cable type 3, where the cable type represents the physical properties of the unprocessed cable 1, such as the total diameter of the cable, the thickness of the outer insulation layer, the diameter of the inner conductor, single core / multi-core, coaxial core, braided cable, the flexibility of the cable, the material properties of the insulation material (elastic modulus, hardness, tensile strength, bending strength, tensile elongation, etc.), etc.

[0029] The cable processing machine 100 includes (at least one) operating tool 110, 120, 130, sensors 111, 121, 131, a display 200, and a control system 300. The operating tools 110, 120, 130 of the cable processing machine 100 are, for example, cutting blades, stripping blades, alignment fixtures, clamping tools, rollers, and the like. The control system 300 is configured to set a target configuration for one (or more) operating tools 110, 120, 130 based on the cable type 3 of the raw cable 1 to be processed. This target configuration includes not only the (predefined) physical starting positions of the tools relative to each other, but also their (preprogrammed) operating modes for handling or processing the raw cable 1. Examples of such operating modes include the speed at which the blades approach the cable and the depth of penetration into the insulation. The sensors 111, 121, 131 associated with each operating tool 110, 120, 130 provide corresponding sensor signals 112, 122, 132 indicating the actual configuration of the operating tool. The control system 300 provides display data 310, 320, 330 to the display 200 and, respectively, to the graphics unit 210 of the display 200 for displaying an animatable representation 5 of the processed cable 2. Advantageously, in the animatable representation, possible failure modes of the processed cable 2 and, respectively, individual components of the processed cable 2 can be distinguished from one another. The display 200 includes a graphical user interface, such as a touch screen 220, which is configured to generate a failure mode control signal 350 indicating a failure mode of the processed cable 2. Based on the failure mode control signal 350, the control system 300 is configured to adjust configuration settings of the cable processing machine 100, such as configuration settings of the operating tools 110, 120, 130.

[0030] Figure 3 The first frame of an animatable representation 5 on a display according to the present invention is shown. This frame depicts a target processed cable 3, in this case, a cable piece with 4.00 mm stripped ends on both sides. Segmented representations of the processed cable (e.g., the left cable end or the right cable end) allow for the depiction of a specific portion of the processed cable 3 in an animated manner. For example, as shown in this figure, the representation of a specific cable portion (left portion / right portion) can depict the target processed cable. Alternatively, it can (dynamically) depict a representation of a possible failure mode of the processed cable that does not meet quality requirements. In one embodiment, the representation of the possible failure mode of the portion of the processed cable that does not meet quality requirements can (dynamically) replace the representation of the target processed cable in the animatable representation 5. In another embodiment, the animatable representation 5 of the processed cable can include a pop-up window depicting one or more possible failure modes of one or more portions of the processed cable that do not meet quality requirements. Such a pop-up window can be displayed after selecting the appropriate segmented representation.

[0031] Figure 4 The second frame of the animatable representation 5 on the display according to the present invention is shown. In this second frame, the image representation of the left cable portion is selected (see FIG. Figure 3 ), a pop-up window will be displayed, which includes one (or more) graphic representations (e.g., icons) of possible failure modes of the left cable portion that does not meet the quality requirements. As an example, the left portion that does not meet the quality requirements may be due to partial cutting of the cable core conductor caused by misalignment or improper positioning of the cutting blade. As another example, the left portion that does not meet the quality requirements may be due to incorrect opening distance of the blade during stripping, resulting in unstripped insulation portions still existing on the cable end. The graphic representations of possible failure modes may include icons or low-resolution photos and may or may not be accompanied by explanatory text. In addition to the graphic representations of the processed cable that does not meet the quality requirements, the animatable representation 5 may also include graphic representations of machine parts (that do not meet the quality requirements), such as tools 110, 120, 130 for operating the cable. Therefore, the cognitive content of the one (or more) graphic representations of possible failure modes is related to the internal state of the cable processing machine and helps the operator to operate the machine correctly. Advantageously, presenting one (or more) graphic representations of possible failure modes of the (left) cable portion that does not meet quality requirements enables a continuous and / or guided human-machine interaction process to help the operator adjust the settings of the cable processing machine by comparing the produced test piece with the one (or more) graphic representations shown.

[0032] like Figure 5 As shown in the frame of the animatable representation 5 in FIG, after selecting the image representation of the cable or cable portion that does not meet the quality requirements that best matches the test piece produced under guidance, the animatable representation can display relevant tool settings or other machine settings related to the failure mode described in the image representation. As an example, once the failure mode of the (segmented) representation of the cable is selected, these relevant tool settings can be displayed as a pop-up window. Alternatively, the relevant tool settings can be displayed to replace the icon or image representation of the cable (portion) that does not meet the requirements. In some embodiments, the configuration parameters can be presented in text form (see Figure 5 In an alternative embodiment, the configuration parameters may be presented as (schematic) icons. Preferably, the configuration parameters are displayed in the order of their relevance for correcting the fault mode. Advantageously, the order of displayed relevance supports the operator in intuitively inputting adjustment values ​​for tool and / or machine settings.

[0033] The failure modes of the components or parts of the selected cable represent elements of the configuration of the operating tool. Incorrect settings of the operating tool (configuration) usually lead to typical unsatisfactory properties of the processed cable. Examples of configuration elements are:

[0034] ■Opening gap of cutting blade at the deepest cutting point

[0035] ■The opening gap of the cutting blade when the insulation layer is pulled off (" beim Abziehen)

[0036] ■Cutting pause time ("Einschneidepause")

[0037] Pull-off acceleration ("Abziehbeschleunigung")

[0038] ■Over-pull distance when fully / completely pulled out (" bei Vollabzug”)

[0039] Each specific configuration element may be accompanied by numerical parameter values ​​of the configuration settings that are used to produce the test pieces and that result in the produced test pieces not meeting the quality requirements.

[0040] Figure 6 A frame of another embodiment of an animatable representation 5 on a display is shown. In this embodiment, after guiding the selection of the image representation that best matches the produced test piece, and in order to further guide and help the operator to perform the technical task of adjusting the cable processing machine, the animatable representation provides an indication that helps the operator to adjust the parameter value of the configuration setting. Advantageously, the indication is a graphic indication, such as an arrow. This helps the operator to adjust the parameter in the appropriate direction (up or down). Advantageously, the indication can include a color component, such as a graduated color scale. For example, a color tone from red to yellow to green and / or from light to dark can help the operator by indicating the amount of adjustment required to (appropriately) adjust the cable processing machine. For example, a red tone can indicate a relatively large adjustment amount and a green tone can indicate a relatively small adjustment amount, which can respectively indicate that the parameter has a (close to) optimal value.

[0041] Figure 7 The fifth frame of the animated representation 5 on the display according to the present invention is shown. As can be seen from the figure, in addition to showing the stripping length of the left cable portion, for example or the center length of the cable assembly In addition to the target values, the animatable representation also graphically depicts the failure mode of a specific portion of the processed cable that does not meet the quality requirements. For example, the difference between the target stripping length of the test piece (4.00 mm) and the actual stripping length (3.50 mm) is shown. As another example, the difference between the target center length of the test piece (400.00 mm) and the achieved center length (399.50 mm) is shown. In this embodiment, after the guidance has selected the (segmented) image representation of the left cable portion that does not meet the requirements, and in order to further guide and help the operator in performing the technical task of debugging the cable processing machine, the animatable representation can, for example, be displayed as a pop-up window with an overview of the "most recently used" (zuletzt verwendet) tool settings for debugging the cable processing machine for this specific cable portion. In this example, the following three most recently used configuration elements are shown:

[0042] ■Measured peeling length ( gemessen)

[0043] ■ Cutting opening

[0044] ■Opening during peeling ( beim Abziehen)

[0045] Examples of other configuration elements / tool ​​settings are:

[0046] Abziehen–Druckkraft

[0047] ■Peel-Speed ​​(Abziehen–Geschwindigkeit)

[0048] ■Purge section - stop time (Teilstuck wegblasen: Nachlaufzeit)

[0049] Advantageously, the configuration elements (both their identification and their parameter values) shown in the "most recently used" overview can depend on the operating mode functionality of that particular cable section. In other words, they can be different for the left cable end, the center cable length, and the right cable length, respectively. Even more advantageously, the order in which the configuration elements are displayed can be such that the most relevant configuration elements for commissioning the cable processing machine are displayed at the top of the list.

[0050] It will be clear to those skilled in the art that the embodiments and methods shown in the drawings or described herein can also be combined and interchanged within the concept of the present invention.For example, the "recently used" overview can also include (direction) instructions to help the operator adjust the parameter values ​​of the configuration settings.

[0051] As another example, within the meaning of the present invention, the sensors 111, 121, 131 associated with each operating tool 110, 120, 130 may be optical, electrical, magnetic, electromagnetic, piezoelectric, or the like, configured to provide corresponding sensor signals 112, 122, 132 indicating the actual configuration of the operating tool. Thus, after the control signals from the central control system 300 are executed to appropriately configure the tool, these sensors can determine appropriate physical parameters of the associated tool, such as position, distance, direction, or speed. Within the meaning of the present invention, the sensors may also be (active) controllers that provide operating signals for open-loop control of the appropriate physical parameters. As an example of such open-loop control, the controller may provide operating signals to a stepper motor configured to configure the associated tool. In this case, the sensor signals within the meaning of the present invention correspond to operating signals of a stepper motor, as stepper motors, as is well known, have an inherent ability to control position due to their built-in output step size. This allows them to be used for open-loop position control without the need for any feedback encoder, as their drive signal specifies the number of motion steps to be rotated. Therefore, in this example, an operation signal for driving the stepping motor can be used as the sensor signal.

[0052] As yet another example, in an embodiment, the representation of the failure mode may be a photograph of a typical non-compliant processed cable section, rather than a Figure 4 and Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the failure mode shown.

[0053] Reference Signs List

[0054] 1 Unprocessed cable

[0055] 2 Processed cables

[0056] 3 Cable Type

[0057] 5. Animation possible

[0058] 100 Wire processing machines

[0059] 110 Operating Tools - Cutting Blades

[0060] 111 Sensor-Cutting Blade

[0061] 112 Sensor signal-cutting blade

[0062] 120 Operating Tools - Stripping Blades

[0063] 121 Sensor-Peeling Blade

[0064] 122 Sensor signal - stripping blade

[0065] 130 Operating Tools - Alignment Fixture

[0066] 131 Sensor-Alignment Fixture

[0067] 132 Sensor signal - Alignment fixture

[0068] 200 displays

[0069] 210 graphics units

[0070] 220 touch screen

[0071] 300 control system

[0072] 310 Display data

[0073] 320 Display data

[0074] 330 Display data

[0075] 350 Fault mode control signal

[0076] 360 Artificial Intelligence Unit

Claims

1. A cable processing machine (100) for processing an unprocessed cable (1) into a processed cable (2), the cable processing machine comprising an operating tool (110, 120, 130), a sensor (111, 121, 131), a display (200) and a control system (300); in, The control system (300) is arranged to set a target configuration of the operating tools (110, 120, 130) based on the cable type (3) of the unprocessed cable (1) to be processed and based on a desired target specification of the processed cable; wherein the sensor (111, 121, 131) provides a sensor signal (112, 122, 132) indicative of the actual configuration of the operating tool (110, 120, 130); wherein the control system (300) is further arranged to provide display data (310, 320, 330) based on the sensor signals (112, 122, 132) and the cable type (3), the display data being capable of being displayed on the display (200); The individual items of display data (310, 320, 330) can be displayed on the display (200) as an animatable representation (5) of the processed cable (2), wherein possible failure modes of individual components of the processed cable (2) can be distinguished from one another.

2. The wire processing machine (100) according to claim 1, wherein: The display (200) comprises a touch screen (220) arranged to generate a failure mode control signal (350) indicating a failure mode of the processed cable (2), and the control system (300) is arranged to adjust the configuration of the operating tools (110, 120, 130) based on the failure mode control signal (350).

3. The wire processing machine (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The animatable representation (5) comprises a segmented representation of the processed cable (2).

4. The wire processing machine (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The respective items of the display data (310, 320, 330) include configuration parameters of the operating tool associated with the displayed failure mode.

5. The wire processing machine (100) according to claim 4, wherein: The configuration parameters are displayed in order of relevance for correcting the failure mode.

6. The wire processing machine (100) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein: The configuration parameter is modifiable by an operator, and / or when dependent on claim 2, the failure mode control signal (350) includes information relating to the modified configuration parameter.

7. The wire processing machine (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The respective items of the display data (310, 320, 330) include explanatory suggestions regarding the relationship between the occurrence of a failure mode and the setting of the configuration parameter of the operating tool (110, 120, 130) associated with the failure mode.

8. The wire processing machine (100) according to claim 2, wherein: The control system (300) includes an artificial intelligence unit (360) for determining an adjustment to the configuration of the operating tool (110, 120, 130) based on the failure mode control signal (350).

9. A method of operating a cable processing machine (100) for processing an unprocessed cable (1) into a processed cable (2) using operating tools (110, 120, 130), the method comprising: a) setting a target configuration of the operating tools (110, 120, 130) based on the cable type (3) of the unprocessed cable (1) to be processed and based on the desired target shape of the processed cable; b) providing a sensor signal (112, 122, 133) indicative of the actual configuration of the operating tool (110, 120, 130); c) providing display data (310, 320, 330) based on the sensor signal (112, 122, 133) and the cable type (3); d) Displaying individual items of the display data (310, 320, 330) in an animatable representation (5) of the processed cable (2), wherein possible failure modes of individual components of the processed cable (2) can be distinguished from one another.

10. A computer program product comprising instructions which, when said program is executed by a computer, cause said computer to carry out the method according to claim 9.

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