A cable machine system for winding conductive tapes or wires around a cable core includes a rotatable pickup spool for receiving and winding a cable. The system also includes a rotatable shaft having a central passage along its axial length, through which the cable core extends during a winding operation. At least one rotatable conductor spool is rotatable about a spool axis and holds a conductive tape or wire. Each rotatable conductor spool is attached to the rotatable shaft and rotatable about the axis of the rotatable shaft with rotation of the rotatable shaft. A tape or wire extends from each conductor spool to the cable core and is wound around the cable core as the rotatable shaft is rotated about its axis. At least one of the conductor spools, the rotatable shaft, and the rotatable pickup spool is coupled to a drive device through a self-locking mechanism to inhibit rotation of the at least one of the conductor spools, the rotatable shaft, and the rotatable pickup spool when the drive device is not act
