igus launches energy chain with 600-degree rotation for industrial robots

Motion plastics leader igus GmbH has announced a new self-supporting twisterchain energy chain that it said delivers reliable cable management through rotation angles of more than 600° on compact industrial robots.

This rotary module sits in a sag around the robot base. As the robot rotates, it lifts step by step to a new level, enabling full 360° rotation without colliding with the connector plate, igus explained.

Cologne, Germany-based igus develops and produces motion plastics. These lubrication-free, high-performance polymers improve technology and reduce costs wherever things move.

igus said it is the worldwide market leader in energy supplies, highly flexible cables, and plain and linear bearings, as well as lead-screw technology made of tribo-polymers. The company is represented in 31 countries and employs 4,600 people across the globe. In 2022, igus generated a turnover of €1.15 billion ($1.32 billion U.S.).

igus energy chain addresses two robotics challenges

igus said its new twisterchain product solves two challenges for robotics. The first involves compact robots, which handle screwing, gluing, assembly, and pick-and-place tasks but have long lacked reliable energy supply along the fast-rotating first axis.

The second arises on the fifth axis of palletizing robots, where uncontrolled corrugated hoses often collide with the tool. In both cases, the new chain’s defined movement on two levels lets power and data cables safely follow full rotations, even with highly dynamic motion profiles, according to igus.

Because the energy chain system is self-supporting, installation requires only two connection points. There is no need for costly guide troughs or complicated alignment, the company claimed.

The chains open at the inner radius for easy cable insertion and offer flexible interior separation with removable shelves, said igus. They also include adjustable pretension that can be tuned precisely to cable weight and rotation angle for maximum repeatability.

The company listed key features of the new twisterchain:

• Rotation angle of over 600°
• Unsupported design — no guide trough or trough system required
• Chain can be opened on the inner radius for easier cable insertion
• Cables easily accessible for servicing
• Shelves included for separating cables or hoses
• Axis 1: base of small industrial robots; mountable on the floor or a raised plinth
• Axis 5: palletizing and handling robots; mountable on robot arm or end-of-arm tool
• Recyclable at end of life through igus recycling program

igus works to expand offerings

“Research in the industry’s largest test laboratories constantly yields innovations and more security for users,” said igus. About 234,000 articles are available from stock, and the service life can be calculated online.

In recent years, the company, which has U.S. headquarters in Rumford, R.I., has expanded by creating internal startups. For example, it has units for ball bearings, robot drives, 3D printing, the RBTX platform for Lean Robotics and intelligent “smart plastics” for Industry 4.0.

To support sustainability, igus has invested in the “change” program for recycling used e-chains. It also participates in an enterprise that produces oil from plastic waste.

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