New Additions to Robot Cable Range


Cable carrier expert, igus®, has introduced twistable hybrid, bus, motor and fiber-optic cables to its torsion resistant Chainflex® robot cable range.

The line includes five with a PUR outer jacket. CF-Robot 9 is a hybrid control cable that is available shielded or unshielded. CF-Robot 8 is a shielded bus cable, while CF-Robot 4 is a shielded position-feedback cable. CF-Robot 6 and CF-Robot 7 are servo-motor cables that are available shielded or unshielded. All five are oil resistant and flame retardant.

CF-Robot 5 is a fiber-optic cable with a TPE outer jacket. It is oil and UV resistant and flexible at low temperatures with a minimum bend radius of 12.5 times its diameter. CF-ROBOT is the original single core, shielded cable of the range, which is PVC free and oil- and UV-resistant.

Standard Chainflex continuous-flex cables for cable carriers are designed for linear applications and have been tested over millions of cycles in the igus test laboratories. However, modern-day automation involves increasingly complex movements, for example torsional motion on a robot. Whether a cable can cope with torsional demands is very much dependent on the application and type of installation.

The torsion-resistant requirement for cables in cable carriers is not new, but has seldom been defined. For this reason, it's difficult to evaluate a statement such as, "This cable is torsion-resistant up to ± 180 degrees".

To satisfy this requirement, igus developed a torsion test bench on which its robot cable types are repeatedly twisted. The degree of torsion can be freely chosen and can vary for each test specimen. The test standard is ± 180 degrees.

After a prescribed number of cycles or a negative electrical or mechanical test result, the respective test specimen is taken apart, and the type and position of any damage can be determined exactly.

CF-Robot is suitable for multi-axis cable carriers, such as igus' Triflex® R cable carrier, which is designed to protect moving cables and hoses on six-axis robots. Triflex R is able to move through all axes and can twist up to 380 degrees per yard, enabling easy movement through complex configurations.

About igus

igus Inc., founded in 1985 and based in East Providence, R.I., develops and manufactures industry-leading plastic cable carriers, continuous-flex cables, plastic bearings and linear guide systems. With more than 70,000 products available from stock, the company meets the motion control and machinery component needs of customers worldwide. Product lines include Energy Chain Systems® to protect and house moving cables, Chainflex continuous-flex cables, iglide® self-lubricating, oil-free, plastic bearings, DryLin® linear guide systems and igubal® spherical bearings. For more information, contact igus at (800) 521-2747 or visit www.igus.com.

For press inquiries:

Nikki Groom

Marketing Specialist

ngroom@igus.com

Courtney Toomey

Marketing Specialist

ctoomey@igus.com

For general inquiries:

igus Inc.

PO Box 14349

East Providence, RI 02914

Toll free: 1-800-521-2747

Tel: (401) 438-2200

Fax: (401) 438-7270

e-mail: sales@igus.com

Web: www.igus.com

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