Product category:
Electrical systems
News Release from: Igus UK | Subject: Energy chains at Hannover Fair
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 27 July 2007
Energy chain systems are quieter and
more compact
Energy chain systems developments include compact size, easy assembly, higher speeds and increased wear resistance and the supplier has introduced introduced inductive and wireless data transmission.
At the Hanover show held in Germany during April igus showed how it had kept pace with rapid developments in cable-bound chain systems and also with inductive and wireless data transmission solutions As regards energy chains, latest developments include compact size, easy assembly, higher speeds, lower noise and increased wear resistance
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 21 Jul 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
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Profile roller energy chain is fast and quiet
For transmitiing energy and data to indoor and outdoor crane equipment and conveyor systems, Igus has dveloped its 'System P4' roller energy chain for even quieter operational smoothness.
Machine tool control cables take high loads
Machiner tool control cables take high loads Energy chain manufacturer, igus, has introduced machine tool control cables for dynamic applications with high cycle rates under high loads.
* High speeds and accelerations - the 'T3 Band Chain' for using at very high speeds and accelerations.
The cable carrier runs extremely smoothly with minimum vibrations and virtually no noise (33dB(A) with 26.5dB(A) of background noise).
The side The bands are injection-moulded as one piece, reducing production costs and thereby increasing affordability.
Further reading
Energy chains investigated for vibration
RWTH Aachen recently carried out a study, 'Vibration investigations on energy chains', which showed that igus' E6' energy chain exhibited minimum vibration and maximum smooth running.
Why oil or grease bearings - go plastics
Igus reported that a recent study found half of machinery lubricants seep into soil and water or evaporates, whereas tribo-optimised plastics bearings need no oil or grease.
Plain bearings do not need oil or grease
The iglidur plain bearings from igus are tribologically optimised so that they run without any oil or grease, therefore no contaminants escape into the environment.
Available ex-stock, the Energy Chain was developed primarily for applications in the electronics industry, but can be used with measuring machines, high-speed handling systems, graphic machines or linear motor shafts.
* Cleanrooms - the 'E6' Energy Chain has an inner height of 35mm.
The T3 and E6 chains are suitable for cleanrooms, because they suffer virtually no wear.
The same applies to the 'LeviChain' released at Hanover 2006.
The energy chain 'floats' within a magnetic force field and was deemed cleanroom-compatible by the Fraunhofer IPA Institute just prior to the 2007 exhibition.
* Universal use - also shown at Hannover was the universal 'E4.1'.
This Energy Chain combines all the key advantages developed for series 'E4', 'E4/4', and 'E4.100' in one product.
These benefits include the following.
1 - A base grip for lateral stability over long distances.
2 - Rubber nubs which act as silent brakes.
3 - External and internal straps for fast assembly.
4 - The chains are also dirt-repellent and have a smooth, wear-resistant surface.
Ideal for use in conjunction with new E4.1, the 'Quicklok' crossbar mechanism is a rapid locking device, which allows the opening links of a chain to be effortlessly opened and closed with a screwdriver.
This design is ideal for very full chains, which need to be repaired, or when fast retrofitting work needs to be carried out.
* Vertical applications - the 'Guidelok' system is for vertical applications, where hanging chains are kept in place even when there are massive transverse accelerations.
Thanks to this new design, applications in aisle stackers, lifts, hoists or material handling equipment, for example, no longer require expensive casings.
The Energy Chain is held in place inside a trough by two tilting levers automatically activated by the radius.
This means that the Energy Chain can not swing out or deviate to the side, even on masts up to 40m high.
The Guidelok system captures and contains the Energy Chain within the trough.
* Profile roller chain - the 'P4' profile roller chain gained an iF product design award and was shown with the other winners in a special area at the show.
The chain features 'Autoglide' crossbars, making it both faster and quiet.
The upper run rollers run through the lower run rollers, not over them, as in previous designs.
The P4 and new, heavy duty roller Energy Chain '5050RHDAX' are ideal for outdoor cranes.
The latter has stop dogs only on the outside of the side links, so they do not clog up with dirt.
Potential applications also include power plants, coal conveyors, mining and woodworking machines.
Condition monitoring for preventive maintenance against mechanical damage has become an increasingly important part of large-scale Energy Chain Systems.
igus launched its PPDS condition monitoring system for cranes at last year's Hanover show, but this year introduced the 'PPDS Easy'.
It is a slimmed-down developemnt, which includes an automatic emergency shutdown in case of overload.
* Robotics - igus claimed that recent trends in cable management incorporate robotics, too; from heavy production robots to small palletising robots.
The company has offered multi-dimensional Energy Chains to protect highly stressed cables on robots for about three years now.
At the Hanover show, the company presented two sizes of its 'Triflex R' product range: 'TRC/TRE.85' and 'TRC/TRE.30'.
The former is ideal for welding applications and the latter for narrow bending radii on 6-axis mini-robots.
For multi-axis applications, igus now also has its single-core, torsion resistant 'Chainflex CF Robot' cable.
* materials handling - for the crane engineering and material handling industry, the TPE fibre optical cable 'CFLG.6G.TC' has been tested in the igus in-house technical centre down to temperatures of -40 deg C, this cable can supply cranes with data even in Arctic regions.
* Power - igus is also researching new opportunities in contactless technology.
With 'invis power', the company has introduced product family for inductive energy transmission over distances up to 400m.
Here, just as with its cable-bound systems, igus relies on a modular design principle.
Instead of a long and tedious installation project, the customer receives a simple selection of components to implement one or several built-on sockets.
Contactless - and therefore involving no friction or wear - 'invis power' offers maintenance-free outputs with a net efficiency of 92 to 94% that range from 5 to 40kVA, depending on the requirements of the customer.
* Wireless data transmission - for wireless data transmission, igus has 'invis data'.
A high-frequency signal (e g, a USB 2.0 or FireWire 1394a/b) is converted into a light signal in a coupler, transmitted via glass OWG, and then converted back into an electric signal and transported further via copper cable.
This is the best way to transport large data quantities quickly, safely and inexpensively without any disturbance by electromagnetic fields.
* Catalogues on-line - ongoing product simplifications are an important factor for igus, a fact exemplified by the company's commitment to offering new and upgraded internet tools, such as its online catalogues, product configurators and service life calculations.
It now offers these for thirty-one countries in seventeen different languages on its website. Request a free brochure from Igus UK ...
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