Cable (Pro)
Overview
Section titled “Overview”The Cable makes a cable, hose, or dress pack flexible. You place Cable Points along the route, and the Cable calculates how the cable sags, bends, and follows moving machine parts such as robot axes or linear slides. The result is deterministic, so the same motion always gives the same cable shape — suitable for virtual commissioning.
Two components work together:
| Component | What it is |
|---|---|
| Cable | The cable itself: its length, thickness, stiffness, and how it is drawn |
| Cable Point | A child object of the Cable that marks where the cable is fixed (Anchor) or led through (Guide) |
The Cable can deform an existing CAD mesh, draw a generated tube, or show a simple line. In the Scene view you see a live preview of the cable shape while you place the points, even without running the simulation.
Quick Start
Section titled “Quick Start”- Add a Cable to a GameObject. For a CAD cable, use the GameObject that holds the cable mesh and leave Render Mode on DeformMesh.
- Click Add Anchor twice to create the start and end point of the cable. Add Add Guide points for clips or supports in between.
- Move the points in the Scene view with the standard Unity move tool. Each point has its own gizmo, so you can click it directly.
- For an end that sits on a moving part, drag that part (for example a robot axis) into Connected To of the Cable Point.
- Leave Cable Length at 0 for an automatic length, or enter the real length in millimeters.
- Press Play. The cable follows the moving parts.
Points (list of Cable Point) The ordered anchors and guides along the cable, from start to end. The first and last entry are the two cable ends; at least two points are required. Use the Add Anchor and Add Guide buttons to create points as children of the Cable.
Cable Length (float, millimeters) The rest length of the cable. 0 calculates it automatically as 1.05 times the distance along the points, which gives a slightly slack cable. Enter the real length to get realistic sag and reach.
Diameter (float, millimeters) Thickness of the cable. It sets the tube thickness, the line width, and the clearance used for collisions.
Render Mode (DeformMesh / ProceduralTube / LineOnly) How the cable is drawn. DeformMesh bends an existing CAD mesh along the solved cable. ProceduralTube generates a tube of the given Diameter. LineOnly draws a simple line, useful for debugging. If the CAD mesh cannot be deformed, the cable switches to ProceduralTube and logs a warning.
Source Mesh (MeshFilter) The mesh to deform in DeformMesh mode. Leave it empty to use the mesh on the Cable’s own GameObject.
Simulation
Section titled “Simulation”Segments (integer) Number of calculation segments between the first and last point. More segments give a smoother cable but cost more calculation time. The minimum is 2.
Solver Iterations (integer) How often the cable constraints are refined per step. Higher values give a more accurate, stiffer result at higher cost. Together with Segments it sets the cost of the cable.
Stiffness (0 to 1) Bending stiffness. Low values give a limp cable, high values a stiff hose that resists bending.
Min Bend Radius (float, millimeters) The smallest radius the cable can be bent to. Set it to the bending radius from the cable datasheet so the cable never kinks. 0 means unlimited.
Damping (0 to 1) Calms the cable motion. Higher values make it settle faster and swing less.
Collision
Section titled “Collision”Collide With Scene (boolean) Pushes the cable out of colliders it would run into, for example the robot arms. The colliding objects need Colliders; a convex Mesh Collider on each robot link is enough. Non-convex Mesh Colliders cannot be used and produce a warning.
Collision Layers (layer mask) The layers the cable collides with. Only shown when Collide With Scene is on.
Collision Clearance (float, millimeters) Extra gap kept between the cable surface and the colliders. Only shown when Collide With Scene is on.
Status
Section titled “Status”Overstretched (boolean, read-only) True while the points are further apart than the cable length. The cable is then pulled taut and drawn in orange in the Scene view. Increase Cable Length or move the points closer.
Cable Point
Section titled “Cable Point”Mode (Anchor / Guide) Anchor pins the cable to this point. Guide only leads the cable through or near the point, so the cable can slide through it like a clip or a cable guide.
Connected To (Transform) Optional moving part this point follows, such as a robot axis or a slide. Leave it empty to use the point’s own position. When it is set, the point is positioned by that part, and its direction is taken from that part as well.
Guide Radius (float, millimeters) Only for guides. The allowed slack around the guide point. 0 holds the cable exactly on the point; larger values let it move freely inside that radius.
Direction Length (float, millimeters) Length over which the cable is held straight along the point’s local Z axis (the blue arrow). On an Anchor the cable is rigidly fixed in that direction, like a cable gland. On a Guide the direction is held but the cable can still slide through, like a clip. 0 leaves the cable free.
Scene View
Section titled “Scene View”Cable Points draw their own gizmo, so you can click them in the Scene view and move or rotate them with the standard Unity tools. Rotate a point to change the direction of its straight run.
| Color | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Red | Anchor |
| Yellow | Anchor that follows a moving part (Connected To set) |
| Green | Guide |
The cable itself is drawn blue, or orange when it is overstretched. A line from the point shows the Direction Length; for a guide it extends in both directions.
Common Use Cases
Section titled “Common Use Cases”- Robot Dress Pack – Replace the rigid CAD hoses on a robot with a cable that follows every axis.
- Energy Chain Replacement – Show a festoon or supply cable between a fixed point and a moving slide.
- Cable Gland and Clip Behavior – Use Direction Length to leave a connector straight and to hold a cable in a clip.
- Concept Layouts – Visualize cable routing early, without modeling every hose by hand.
- Set Min Bend Radius from the datasheet. A realistic bending radius prevents unnatural kinks.
- Place a Guide wherever the real cable is held by a clip or sleeve. The cable then slides through it instead of being pinned.
- Use an Anchor with Direction Length at a connector so the cable leaves it straight before it bends.
- If the cable sinks into a robot arm, enable Collide With Scene and give each link a convex Mesh Collider.
See Also
Section titled “See Also”- Robot Inverse Kinematics — robots whose axes the cable follows
- Drive — the drives that move the parts the cable is attached to
- Ribbon (Web) Handling — flexible material running over rollers