Step#4 is deciding what type of strain relief best suits the application. NorComp offers two strain relief solutions, mechanical and compression, which depend on the backshell used. A mechanical strain relief is a clamp or clamps that are screwed to the backshell for durability and strength. The compression strain relief uses the shell as a push-off to compress the cable in place. This is a little less durable, but can save on assembly time.