Raychem TMS-SCE Military Grade Sleeves Selection Guide
TE Connectivity / Raychem TMS-SCE is a family of military-grade heat-shrinkable identification sleeves designed for permanent marking of wires, cables and harnesses. Manufactured from flame-retardant, radiation cross-linked polyolefin, TMS-SCE sleeves are widely used in aerospace, military, motorsport, oil & gas and other applications where identification must remain readable in demanding environments.
Most commonly used TMS-SCE sizes use a 3:1 shrink ratio and are supplied in ladder format for thermal-transfer printing. The series operates from -55°C to +135°C and includes a wide range of sleeve diameters, lengths and colors.
TMS-SCE Size Selection
The most important factor when selecting a TMS-SCE sleeve is the outside diameter of the cable or wire bundle. The sleeve must be large enough to slide over the cable before shrinking, while its recovered diameter must be small enough to grip the cable securely.
he following TMS-SCE models are currently stocked by DataStorageIC:
| Part Number | Cable Diameter Range | Expanded ID | Recovered ID | Length | Stock |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TMS-SCE-3/32-2.0-9 | 0.8–1.9 mm | 2.38 mm | 0.79 mm | 50 mm | 3,000 PCS |
| TMS-SCE-1/8-2.0-9 | 1.1–2.6 mm | 3.18 mm | 1.07 mm | 50 mm | 3,250 PCS |
| TMS-SCE-3/8-2.0-9 | 3.4–8.1 mm | 9.53 mm | 3.18 mm | 50 mm | 1,000 PCS |
| TMS-SCE-1/2-2.0-9 | 4.6–10.7 mm | 12.7 mm | 4.22 mm | 50 mm | 5,000 PCS |
| TMS-SCE-1-2.0-9 | 9.2–21.5 mm | 25.4 mm | 8.46 mm | 50 mm | 1,000 PCS |
How to Choose the Correct TMS-SCE Size
A practical way to select the sleeve is to first measure the maximum outside diameter of the finished wire or cable.
For example:
Cable OD around 1.0 mm: choose TMS-SCE-3/32-2.0-9
Cable OD around 2.0 mm: choose TMS-SCE-1/8-2.0-9
Cable OD around 4.0 mm: TMS-SCE-3/8-2.0-9 is a suitable option
Cable OD around 8–10 mm: consider TMS-SCE-1/2-2.0-9
Cable OD above 10 mm: TMS-SCE-1-2.0-9 may be more appropriate
Because the diameter ranges overlap, more than one sleeve size may physically fit some cables. In these cases, selecting the smaller suitable sleeve generally provides a tighter recovered fit, while the larger size may be easier to install over terminals, connectors or irregular cable sections.
Final selection should always be confirmed against the actual cable diameter and TE product drawing.
Other Common TMS-SCE Sizes
The TMS-SCE family also includes intermediate sizes that can help fill gaps between the stocked models.
| Nominal Size | Typical Compatible Cable Diameter |
| 3/16 in | 1.7–4.0 mm |
| 1/4 in | 2.31–5.46 mm |
| 3/4 in | 6.9–16.2 mm |
TE's TMS-SCE product family includes these sizes along with numerous color, length and prescore variations.
For users building a complete harness identification system, these intermediate sizes can be useful where the available wire diameter falls near the boundary between two standard sleeve sizes.
Why Use a 3:1 Heat Shrink Marker?
The 3:1 shrink ratio allows a single sleeve size to cover a relatively broad range of cable diameters. This can reduce the number of marker sizes that need to be stocked during cable-harness manufacturing.
TE also notes that the lightweight 3:1 products provide fast shrinking and wider wire-diameter coverage.
For example, the 1/2-inch version covers cables from approximately 4.6 mm to 10.7 mm, while the 1-inch version covers 9.2 mm to 21.5 mm.
Typical Applications
Raychem TMS-SCE sleeves are commonly used for permanent wire and cable identification in:
Aerospace wiring harnesses
Aircraft and avionics systems
Military and defense electronics
Motorsport wiring
Oil and gas equipment
Industrial control systems
Communication equipment
High-reliability cable assemblies
For aerospace and military harness production, the combination of lightweight construction, permanent thermal-transfer printing and wide temperature capability makes TMS-SCE particularly useful where long-term cable traceability is required.
FAQ
What is Raychem TMS-SCE?
TMS-SCE is TE Connectivity / Raychem's military-grade heat-shrinkable wire and cable identification sleeve family. It is designed for permanent thermal-transfer printed identification in demanding environments.
How do I choose the correct TMS-SCE size?
Measure the outside diameter of the wire or cable and select a sleeve whose compatible cable diameter range includes that measurement. Also make sure the sleeve can pass over any terminals or components before shrinking.
What is the operating temperature of TMS-SCE?
TE specifies an operating temperature range of -55°C to +135°C for the standard TMS-SCE family.
Is TMS-SCE suitable for military and aerospace applications?
Yes. TE specifically identifies aerospace and military among its TMS-SCE applications and states that the series meets SAE-AMS-DTL-23053/5 Class 1 performance requirements.
Which TMS-SCE sizes are currently in stock?
DataStorageIC currently lists stock for the 3/32, 1/8, 3/8, 1/2 and 1-inch white 2-inch TMS-SCE sleeves, with quantities ranging from 1,000 to 5,000 pcs.
