Cables comprising removable indicator strips, and methods and machines for manufacturing the cables

A method for manufacturing a cable that comprises at least one conductor, a protective sheath housing the at least one conductor, and at least one removable indicator strip, the protective sheath having a thickness and external diameter within a range of values defined by a standard, the method comprising:

• co-extruding the protective sheath and the at least one removable indicator strip;
• wherein the at least one removable indicator strip extends over at least one arc portion of an external circumferential surface of the protective sheath,
• wherein the at least one removable indicator strip is made of material enabling the at least one removable indicator strip to adhere to the protective sheath, while being capable of being detached from the protective sheath without altering the protective sheath, by applying an extraction force per unit width to the at least one removable indicator strip greater than a threshold of between 0.1 N/mm and 10 N/mm, and
• wherein the at least one removable indicator strip has a thickness of between 5% and 15% of the thickness of the protective sheath so that the external diameter of the protective sheath, increased by the thickness of the at least one removable indicator strip, is within the range of values defined by the standard.

A machine for manufacturing a cable that comprises at least one conductor, a protective sheath housing the at least one conductor, and at least one removable indicator strip, the machine comprising:

• at least one extruder cooperating with an extrusion die to form the protective sheath having a thickness and external diameter within a range of values defined by a standard;
• and
• at least one additional extruder cooperating with the extrusion die so as to form, by co-extrusion, the at least one removable indicator strip;
• wherein the at least one removable indicator strip extends longitudinally over at least one arc portion of an external circumferential surface of the protective sheath,
• wherein the at least one removable indicator strip is made of material enabling the at least one removable indicator strip to adhere to the protective sheath, while being capable of being detached from the protective sheath without altering the protective sheath, by applying an extraction force per unit width to the at least one removable indicator strip greater than a threshold of between 0.1 N/mm and 10 N/mm, and
• wherein the at least one removable indicator strip has a thickness of between 5% and 15% of the thickness of the protective sheath so that the external diameter of the protective sheath, increased by the thickness of the at least one removable indicator strip, is within the range of values defined by the standard.