Integrated wire cable twisting, wrapping, and testing apparatus and method of operating same

A single machine (10) configured to manufacture a wire cable assembly including a twisted wire pair (14) and a drain wire (32) having a conductive tape (38) and an insulative tape (24) spirally wrapped about said wire pair (14). The machine includes a first clamp (12) that secures an end of the wire pair (14) and a second clamp (16) that secures the other end of the wire pair (14). The second clamp (16) rotates while the first clamp (12) is fixed thereby twisting the wires of the wire pair (14) one about the other. The second clamp (16) can also rotate synchronously with the first clamp (12) thereby rotating the wire pair (14) without twisting. The machine also has a tape reel (22) configured to move parallel to the clamps (12, 16) as they rotate, wrapping tape (24) around the wire pair (14). The apparatus (10) can be configured to apply the tapes (24, 32) simultaneously to electromagnetically shield and insulate the cable assembly. A method (100) of operating the apparatus (10) is also provided.