Closed energy chain for dirt and swarf protection up to +850°C

The cable chain with chip guard guides cables and protects against dirt and swarf.

In harsh environments, cables require special protection against dust, swarf, dirt and other external influences. The best protection is provided by the closed energy chain from igus - also known as energy tubes or e-tubes.

No burning or melting marks in the swarf area thanks to the igus® material igumid® HT
igus® Energy tubes have been used in the chip area for over 20 years. However, some applications - depending on the number, size and temperature of the chips - left burn and melt marks. The new igus® material igumid® HT puts an end to this. New possibilities are now opening up for replacing more unwieldy metal energy supplies.

Typical industries and applications: Material handling, woodworking machinery, in all areas exposed to dirt and swarf ...

Discover the closed energy chains nowRequest a project for chip-resistant energy chain now

igumid® HT in the test

Test: 20 g of hot swarf (200 to 850 °C) applied to various materials. The graph shows the amount of swarf burnt in. Test winner: igumid® HT up to 850 °C.

Comparison chart of material values at 200 to 800 °C for Material 1, 2, 3, STANAG material, and igumid HT.

Quantity (g) of burnt-in chips as a function of temperature

Granules and plastic scraps in a container.

Standard material igumid® G: Chips stick, burn in

Black material sample with visible wear marks and small particles in front.

New development igumid® HT: no chips stick to the surface

Chip-resistant energy chain up to +120°C

R2.1 series e-chains

Cable carrier with mounted bracket for guiding hoses or cables.

cost-effective and stable chip guard with hinged lid

Internal heights: 26 to 75 mm
cost-effective
Quiet operation due to built-in brake

RX tube

igus e-chain RX cable carrier in closed design.

Extremely warf-resistant for the direct chip area

Internal heights: 42 to 73 mm
IP tested by TÜV NORD CERT GmbH
Rounded contour allows chips to simply bounce off

To RX tube shop

What are closed energy chains?

Compared to open energy chains (diagram 1), closed energy chains (diagram 2) are completely closed. Closed energy chains made of the igus material igumid G can be used at temperatures up to +120°C and those made of the material igumid HT for hot swarf up to +850°C. Laboratory tests and numerous references have made igus closed energy chains a safe cable protection for welding robots and machine tools for over 20 years. Discover below the best closed energy chains that protect cables from dust, dirt, sludge, compost, wood, textile fibres, paper dust, grinding paste, coolants, glass dust, glass splinters, coal dust, sand, etc.

igus cable carrier on a white background.

igus chainflex energy chain for guiding cables and hoses.

Closed energy chains for reliable cable protection

Energy tube R2.1

Cost-effective and strong swarf protection with openable lid

Inner heights: 26 to 75mm
Available in two versions:

Openable in the outer radius from both sides
Openable in the inner radius from both sides

Large inner height and cost-effective
Quiet operation due to built-in brake
Smooth design with no interfering edges

To the products

RX energy tube

Extremely swarf-resistant for the direct swarf area

Inner heights: 42 to 73mm
Lid removable in the outer radius
Rounded contour allows swarf to bounce off easily
IP tested by TÜV NORD CERT GmbH

To the products

Energy chain system for moving cables and hoses.

Energy tube E2 R

Good swarf protection at high speeds

Inner height: 25 to 45mm
Lid removable in the outer radius
Quiet operation due to small pitch of the chain links

igus cable carrier with grey links and a black bracket.

Energy tube E2 R100

Cost-effective swarf protection

Inner heights: 21 to 50mm
Lid openable in the inner radius from both sides
Cost-effective protection against dirt and swarf

Background-removed igus cable carrier for pipe applications.

Energy tube R4.1L

Save costs, time and weight

Inner heights: 31 to 48mm
Lid openable in the inner and outer radius from both sides
Completely closed
Integrated "brake" for quiet operation
Undercut design for optimum lateral stability
Highly customisable to the application
Optimum price-performance ratio
30% lightweight and 80% faster assembly than comparable series
Double stop-dog system and large pin/bore connection for high force absorption

To the products

E4.1 roller energy chain in a straight configuration.

Energy tube R4.1

A series for almost every application

Inner heights: 28 to 108mm
Lid removable in the inner and outer radius
Completely closed
For particularly demanding applications
Undercut design for optimum lateral stability
Double stop-dog system and large pin/bore connection for high force absorption
High thrust on long travels and for long unsupported lengths
Noise-dampening "brakes" and noise dampers as an option
Integrated "brake" for quiet operation

To the products

E4.1 Light energy chain with a closed, lightweight design for cable guidance.

Energy tube R4/light

Large inner heights with low mass

Inner heights: 56 to 80mm
Lid removable in inner and outer radius
Completely closed
Reduced thickness of the side panels and thinner crossbars

To the products

igus energy chain with zip opening and cables.

Energy tube zipper

Swarf protection around small installation space

Inner heights: 10,3 to 32mm
Lid on a belt on the outer radius
Tubular version for light dirt impact
Quiet operation due to small pitch of the chain links
Also available as a closed "tube version"
iF Design Award for zipper design

To the products

triflex R

Movements in three axes - completely closed

Inner height (fillable): 10 to 46.8
Ideal for demanding movements in all axes
TRC version also protects against dirt and swarf as it is completely enclosed.
High torsion resistance
Easy to shorten and lengthen
Defined torsion stop-dog and minimum bend radius
Many other versions available
iF Design Award 2004, 2007 & 2013

To the products

R2.1 e-tubes - cost-effective chip protection

Cost-effective, robust e-tubes with an inner height of 26, 40, 48 or 75mm. Openable and removable lids along inner or outer radius, openable from both sides. Designed to provide a tight seal, with strong double stop-dogs for high fill weights and unsupported lengths.

Advantages of System R2.1:

Large inner height and cost-effective
Cables are protected from chips
Easy to fill, lid can be opened on both sides in the inner or outer radius
Quiet operation thanks to built-in brake
Integrated ratchet in the e-tube chain link and lid for side-mounted application

R2.26

Cable carrier for linear motion with mounting bracket.

inner height hi: 26 mm
inner width Bi: 25 - 150 mm
bend radius R: 60 - 175 mm
Unsupported length: ≤ 2.00 m

To the product

R2.40

e-kette cable chain with divider and 40 mm dimension mark.

inner height hi: 40 mm
inner width Bi: 50 - 200 mm
bend radius R: 80 - 250 mm
Unsupported length: ≤ 2.75 m

To the product

R2.48

inner height hi: 48 mm
inner width Bi: 50 - 250 mm
bend radius R: 100 - 250 mm
Unsupported length: ≤ 2.75 m

To the product

R2.75

inner height hi: 75 mm
inner width Bi: 111 - 200 mm
bend radius R: 130 - 400 mm
Unsupported length: ≤ 3.00 m

To the product

R2i.26

Chain guide with cable carrier and mounting bracket.

inner height hi: 26 mm
inner width Bi: 25 - 150 mm
bend radius R: 60 - 175 mm
Unsupported length: ≤ 2.00 m

To the product

R2i.40

inner height hi: 40 mm
inner width Bi: 50 - 200 mm
bend radius R: 80 - 250 mm
Unsupported length: ≤ 2.75 m

To the product

R2i.48

inner height hi: 48 mm
inner width Bi: 50 - 250 mm
bend radius R: 100 - 250 mm
Unsupported length: ≤ 2.75 m

To the product

Cable carrier with orange spiral symbols for igus e-chains in a schematic view.

e-tubes made of igumid® HT material for hot chips up to +850°C, available upon request

Electrically conductive ESD e-tubes, available upon request

UL94-V0 classifications upon request

E2 R system

Two-piece e-tubes - Chip protection - Very smooth running

E2R energy tubes - small pitch for higher speeds and quiet running. igus® e-tubes also for the direct chip area and applications with heavy dirt and dust loads such as in wood or metal processing as well as in the paper, textile and agricultural industries or other adverse environmental conditions.

Very good protection against swarf (including hot swarf)
Robust and leak-proof
Space-saving with a good ratio of internal to external dimensions
Modular interior partitioning options
Universal "all-round" mounting bracket

igus E2R R48 energy chain with a height of 25 mm.

Series R48

inner height hi: 25 mm
inner width Bi: 25 - 130 mm
bend radius R: 60 - 250 mm
pitch: 30.3 mm

Buy R48 series now

E2R R58 energy chain with grey links and visible bend radii.

Series R58

inner height hi: 35 mm
inner width Bi: 50 - 200 mm
bend radius R: 75 - 250 mm
pitch: 33.3 mm

Buy R58 series now

Series R68

inner height hi: 45 mm
inner width Bi: 50 - 250 mm
bend radius R: 100 - 300 mm
pitch: 36 mm

Buy R68 series now

E2 R100 - Two-part e-tubes - Chip protection - Swivelling lid

Since igus® introduced the first openable and (two-part) e-tubes in the mid-1980s, many additional parts and improvements have been added to the programme. Energy tubes can be used in areas with hot chips, dirt and dust caused by woodworking, steel mills, pulp, textiles, agriculture, coal mines and many other unfavourable environmental conditions. Opt for the cost-effective, alternative R100 series for low and medium speed applications.

Very good protection against chips (including hot chips)
Robust and leak-proof
Can be opened either internally or externally - lid can be swivelled or removed, shorter assembly time
Space-saving due to good inside/outer dimension ratio
Modular interior partitioning options
Double stop-dog system for longer service life and long, unsupported lengths

Series R117

E2R100 series cable carrier with size 21.

inner height hi: 21 mm
inner width Bi: 20 - 100 mm
bend radius R: 63 - 180 mm
pitch: 30.5 mm

Buy R117 now

Series R118

E2R cable carrier with cable holder and 21 mm dimension mark.

inner height hi: 21 mm
inner width Bi: 20 - 100 mm
bend radius R: 63 - 180 mm
pitch: 30.5 mm

Buy R118 now

Series R157

E2R series energy chain with 40 mm height for moving cable guidance.

inner height hi: 40 mm
inner width Bi: 40 - 200 mm
bend radius R: 100 - 250 mm
pitch: 46 mm

Buy R157 now

Series R158

E2R100 series cable carrier with size 40.

inner height hi: 40 mm
inner width Bi: 40 - 200 mm
bend radius R: 100 - 250 mm
pitch: 46 mm

Buy R158 now

Series R167

E2R energy chain in 50 mm width, front view.

inner height hi: 50 mm
inner width Bi: 50 - 250 mm
bend radius R: 100 - 300 mm
pitch: 58.8 mm

Buy R167 now

Series R168

inner height hi: 50 mm
inner width Bi: 50 - 250 mm
bend radius R: 100 - 300 mm
pitch: 58.8 mm

Buy R168 now

AX e-chain® Series - Special chain for fine dust applications

Black connecting element for two igus parts with marked snap points.

The 4240AX was developed for applications in which fine dust makes the use of a conventional e-chain® difficult. With conventional stop systems, very fine dust can accumulate on the stop-dog and cause the radius of the e-chain® to increase over a longer period of time. This is not the case with the 4040AX and 4240AX thanks to the external stop dogs.

Advantages of AX chains: External stop-dog, no accumulation of (wood) dust on the stops, no "setting up" of the e-chain® and optimised interior space

Typical areas of application: woodworking industry, coal-fired power stations, mines and in applications with very fine dust/particles

The external stop-dog prevents dust from collecting in the stop pockets and is pushed straight back out of the chain.

Technical data: Material: igumid® G, Temperature: -40°C to +120°C, Flammability class: UL94-HB