Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a finished cable by a process
directed to reduce the amount of force required to install the cable. The
process involves the extrusion of the cable's outer sheath and the
incorporation of a pulling lubricant in connection with, and prior to the
completion of, the extrusion to reduce the sheath's surface coefficient
of friction as well as reduce the required force to pull the cable for
installation. The conductor core is coated with an extruded plastic
material with which an appropriate (in amount and type) pulling lubricant
is initially combined with the plastic material prior to the formation of
the sheath and in which the sheathed conductor core is thereafter cooled,
the lubricant either migrating to and/or permeating the sheath to be
available at the surface of the sheath at the time of the cable's
installation. The preselected lubricant is disclosed as either combined
with the plastic material during initial pelletization, or mixed with the
plastic pellets prior to introduction of the mixture into the extruding
head, or introduced into the extruding head at a separate location
downstream from where the plastic material is introduced into the
extruding head.