The motion plastics specialist igus demonstrates an exciting new approach for linear carriages. A clip mechanism enables easy installation and removal from the linear guide in a matter of seconds.
It undertakes work that is lethal for humans: the remote-controlled robot “Crawler” restores the inner walls of pipelines in power plants. An automation that needs to be regularly maintained in order to protect the power and data cables from the harsh environmental conditions. Here, the US manufacturer Remote Orbital Installations LLC relies on the collaboration with igus.
Classic clamps provide strain relief for pneumatic hoses in energy chains. But if they are over tightened, the hoses can be crushed. This can lead to a loss of performance. The answer from igus: a new CFX series clamp with high holding force, which at the same time makes over-tightening impossible.
In the industry, sparks due to a lack of electrostatic discharge can lead to expensive breakdowns of machines and systems and worst case explosions. In order to increase protection here, igus has expanded the range of lubrication and maintenance-free xiros guide rollers to include a dissipative variant made of stainless steel.
igus extends its range of iglidur tribological plain bearings for applications with special loads. The materials iglidur M210 and M260 are new to the range. They enable a quick changeover from thick-walled metal bearings to plastic bearings without any structural modifications. The advantage of a change is that the bearing points no longer require lubrication and are almost maintenance-free. They offer a significant time and cost advantage, especially in harsh environments in the daily operation of construction, agricultural and municipal machines.
Nature is often the best model: The shape of the new igubal pillow block is based on the design principles of a tree. Flattened radii ensure maximum resistance to mechanical stresses. This bionic shape makes the housings with their high-performance plastics that require no lubrication or maintenance a real alternative to classic cast iron housing bearings.
igus is expanding the scope of its 3D printing service: Chemical-resistant, lubrication-free tribo-polymer components can be manufactured using selective laser sintering (SLS). This evolutionary step is made possible by a new printing material for laser sintering printers: iglidur I10 is resistant to acids, bases, alcohols as well as greases and is therefore suitable for use in electroplating and food processing plants.
Articulated arm robots can travel over six metres, quadrupling their working space: the 7th axis offered by igus for this job is now compatible with all lightweight articulated arm robots worldwide thanks to a simple Plug & Play kit. So far, models from Universal Robots, Epson and the robolink series from igus have benefited from this increased mobility. Now Omron, Franka Emika, Doosan, Yuanda Robotics and many other lightweight robotics suppliers are joining the list.
As the world’s first manufacturer, igus has received UL AWM certification from the well-known US organization Underwriters Laboratories (UL) for its high-end TPE cables that do not use fire-retardant halogens as additives. This is the first time that the testing organisation has recognised that halogen-free TPE cables can also meet the fire protection requirements in industry.
Smart monitoring of igus bus and data cables goes into the next round: the latest generation of i.Sense CF.D monitoring sensors checks the electrical condition of chainflex cables in e-chain systems – without contact and without intervention in the existing harnessing. This allows real-time monitoring without any extra cores and, in combination with the new i.Cee: plus II evaluation module, allows even more efficient predictive maintenance for protection against expensive system failures.