Guiding hoses in CNC machine tools: Which e-chain with extender crossbars should I choose?

Trima Triebeser Maschinenbau GmbH specialises in customised CNC machining centres for wood, plastic and light metal processing. For the cable and an extraction hose of a new machine, a decision was to be made about energy chain for guidance.

The 24-hour operation of the machine and design-related space restrictions were among the factors that played a role when deciding on the ironing chain. What challenges need to be considered when choosing the bow chain? And which system was ultimately chosen?

Trima: Established specialist in model and mould making

Trima Triebeser Maschinenbau GmbH in Zeulenroda-Triebes in Thuringia specialises in customised CNC machining centres for wood, plastic and light metal processing. This is because model and mould making places particularly high demands on workpiece machining, which often require individual machine concepts. Trima's solutions enable high-precision workpiece machining in individual and high-volume production and also master particularly demanding work on spatial bodies. After the machines have been shipped from Germany all over the world, they are used in a wide variety of areas. The machines are then used, for example, in the manufacture of windows, stairs, doors and furniture, in round arch processing, for creating engravings, the production of toys, special parts and much more.
And thanks to its extensive knowledge and long tradition in mechanical engineering, the company has been able to firmly establish itself in these fields of application. Last but not least, the in-house development and design department, a high level of vertical integration and comprehensive service to ensure the machines are ready for use also play a role here.

Which bow chain and energy chain were used? And what were the design advantages?

So how were the requirements for cable routing and hose routing in the machine tool solved?
A particularly large chain had to be used for the guidance of the voluminous suction hose. The hose measures over 6 metres in length with a diameter of 300 mm and is immediately noticeable when looking at the machine. While smaller hoses can be easily guided in an energy chain, only a bow chain was an option here.

After extensive consultation, the machine expert selected its solution from a modular energy chain system comprising 70,000 parts: The energy chain of the E4/light series, namely as a hanger version (our latesthanger chain, the design study " E4Q ", can be found here). This is suitable for hoses with an outer diameter of up to 300 mm. The extender crossbars are mounted directly on the side panel and ensure optimum hose and cable routing. The crossbars are so rigid that they guarantee secure guidance over the entire travelling length, even under load, without additional structural elements. The cable-friendly energy chain of the E4/light series also enables the desired continuous operation.

Additional energy chain easily integrated

The customer's limited space was also taken into account during the consultation. After all, every centimetre counts when designing the machines. A special design feature on the Y-axis is that, in addition to the bulky suction hose, the bow chain also directly carries the cable-guiding energy chain of the E2/000 series. This also saves space in the design of the machine.

Other energy chains installed are the E4.1 universal chain on the X-axis and another E2/000 series energy chain on the Z-axis. Trima always uses separators for all energy chains installed. Thanks to their rounded contours, these internal separators ensure a long service life for the cables in tough day-to-day operations and keep them in line at all times. This prevents the routed cables from slipping or becoming entangled.