Flexible cables and highly flexible cables

In most cases, the power supply for machines, the control system for systems and the monitoring of processes are realised via cables. When wired machine or system parts move, the cables are also in motion. Only highly flexible cables such as those from igus® GmbH can permanently withstand the resulting mechanical stress.

Energy chains bring order to movement The energy chains from igus® GmbH are the result of intensive development work. The e-chain® holds the cable and ensures a constant bend radius. The bend radius has a decisive influence on the service life of the cables for continuous movement. As the bend radius increases, so does the service life. However, the bend radius also determines the space requirement of the e-chain®. As the bend radius decreases, the space requirement decreases. igus® GmbH has developed highly flexible cables that achieve a very long service life with a small footprint. Users from a wide range of industries utilise these chainflex® cables.

Adapted to the environment Flexible cables are exposed to a wide range of environmental influences, which the sheathing material in particular must be able to withstand. In cleanroom applications, for example, it is important that the particle size and the number of particles caused by abrasion in the energy chain are minimised. High oil resistance is required in machining centres and machine tools. The cables for crane systems and other machines outside buildings are exposed to UV radiation and weather influences, which vary from climate zone to climate zone and can fluctuate greatly over the course of the year. In offshore applications, the cables must also fulfil the high requirements for resistance to seawater. Electrostatic discharges are not permitted when processing semiconductor components. Cables used there require conductive earthed surfaces. In the food industry, in chemical plants and in metallurgy, processes often take place at extreme operating temperatures, which the cables used must be able to withstand. The igus® GmbH range includes chainflex® cables for all these areas of application.

Torsion can be endured calmly In robot centres in particular, where the tools and gripper arms perform any movements in space, torsion loads occur in addition to bending stress. The robot cables  are twisted around their longitudinal axis. The shear stresses caused by torsion often reach very high values on the outer diameter of the cable, in the area of the sheathing. This load requires special design solutions, which the employees at igus® GmbH have succeeded in finding. All cable types are also available as torsion-resistant variants.

Avoid surprises with special operating conditions If no experience is available for planned applications, the operating conditions can be simulated in the test laboratory at igus® GmbH. In the largest test laboratory in the industry, 180 test stations with travel distances of up to 130 metres are available for practical tests. Tests in the climate chamber or outdoor tests make it possible to find the cables that will achieve the required process reliability. The test stations are also used by igus® GmbH for ongoing quality controls and for the development of new products.

Flexible cables from igus® in use worldwide Flexible cables from igus® GmbH reliably fulfil their service worldwide. Special standards apply in the different regions. In Europe, for example, manufacturers label their products with the CE mark, thereby declaring that they comply with all applicable EU regulations. For the Eurasian Economic Association, the EAC mark fulfils this purpose. UL (USA) and CSA (Canada) approvals are required for the North American market. These are also available as a combined version, which is labelled with the_c**ЯU**us_mark.

If required, igus® GmbH can supply cables for continuous movement that are certified in accordance with the standards of the respective countries.