I think there isn’t a direct one-for-one relationship between pounds lifted squatting with free weight versus with cables. I just had a very nice set of cable squats but I certainly had to use high effort on the repetitions. It’s good to be close to or at maximum force on that last rep, but still in good form. I could knock out 5 with two cables at 15 pounds each, handles held together at the chest like a goblet squat. The angle of the force is not directly down like gravity and the force of free weights.
It takes a careful setup with the bench, and I raised the footrest bar on the bench so that I can have good clearance and dip depth. The distance of the bench from the machine as well as the distance between the two cable pullies is very important, and the angle of the bench needing to be at zero degrees.
It was a day well spent exercising and I’m very proud of my compound movements all being done on time. I might do a set of squats tomorrow before all the auxiliary exercises. It can’t hurt.
Motivation and Testimonials for a Whole Food-Plant Based Diet 