Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for making armored cables. An example method for making an armored cable includes forming a strip stock into an armor tubing; welding a seam of the armor tubing in a welding zone; inserting at least one of a first optical fiber or a first wire into a first end of a first guide tube, wherein: the first guide tube extends through the welding zone; the first guide tube protects the at least one of the first optical fiber or the first wire during the welding of the seam; and the first guide tube is not part of the armored cable after the making of the armored cable; and supporting the first guide tube within the armor tubing by a plurality of support legs such that the first guide tube does not contact the armor tubing.

Novel tools and techniques for direct cable expansion are provided. A system includes a pump, a probe, and a coupler. The pump is coupled to a reservoir holding a fluid. The probe is in fluid communication with the pump, and is configured to introduce the fluid into a cable such that a channel is created, by the fluid, between an outer sheath of the cable and a core of the cable. The coupler is configured to attach to a cable, receive the probe, and position the probe at an interface between the outer sheath and an inner material of the cable adjacent to the outer sheath.