Igus develops retraction system for e-chains on industrial robots

Igus, the motion plastics specialist company, has developed a lightweight and cost-effective concept for the automatic retraction of energy chains allowing further advances in robotics. Besides carrying energy, data and media cables, industrial robots nowadays also frequently carry supply hoses for rivets or screws. The new triflex RSE system prevents looping of the energy chain, allowing these materials to be safely supplied to the end of the robot arm.

The triflex R series has been designed by Igus specifically for highly dynamic industrial robotic applications and as a multi-axis energy chain it can move in all directions in space. The universal triflex chains made from high-performance plastics work in even the most demanding industrial environments, are easy to install and can quickly be filled with cables from the outside. They also have high tensile and torsion strength.

"However, since nowadays it is not only just electrical and pneumatic cables that are conducted on the robot, but also often supply hoses for bolts, rivets or screws, tight bends or hanging loops can

sometimes cause problems," says Jörg Ottersbach, industry manager for robotics at Igus. "Any reduction in the minimum allowable bend radius of the supply hoses can lead to a fault, reducing the efficiency of the process. In the worst case a rivet or a screw gets stuck in the supply hose, which then leads to a plant standstill."

With its linear retraction of the e-chain, the triflex RSE retraction system offers an efficient and cost-effective solution that requires no curve, spring rods or deflecting rollers.

The extremely light system is based on the proven lubrication and maintenance free drylin linear guide from Igus, where a moving carriage transports the chain on a retraction distance of up to 600 millimetres. Elastic cords pull back the extended chain automatically. Thus the looping of the energy chain is prevented. In this way the service life can be significantly increased.

The self-guiding retraction system is designed for the enclosed or snap open triflex chain versions TRC, TRE and TRCF in sizes from 60 to 125 millimetres in diameter. They are retained by means of a mounting bracket and a glidethrough bracket on the system, which in turn can be easily fitted to a variety of

robot types. Since the triflex RSE directly guides and controls the e-chain on the robot and no other deflections are needed, the required length of the cable and chain is reduced. For this reason triflex RSE is not only space-saving and light, but is also a cost-effective solution.