Energy chains for special environments
Special solutions for special requirements
igus® energy chains are also advantageous when it comes to their use in demanding ambient conditions - whether cleanrooms, very dusty environments, hot chips or aggressive chemicals - for every challenge, there is a solution in the e-change range of products.Working with customers, we have developed and tested products and polymers and they have been used successfully for innovative applications. From completely sealed RX tubes, small-component low-noise, low-vibration energy supply systems to elastic e-skin® for cleanrooms or energy supply systems made of highly developed materials for different flammability classes - here, you can find detailed information on solutions for special requirements.
Various solutions for certain environments
Cleanroom solutions
e-chains® made of non-abrading special material
- IPA-tested and confirmed in accordance with DIN EN ISO 14644-1
- More than 9,000 energy chain series for cleanroom applications, in accordance with ISO Class 1 to 5 certification²
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Conductive ESD solutions
e-chains® made of conductive special material
- Avoidance of incendive electrostatic charging
- ESD material tested with more than 10 million cycles
- Conductive
- Proven for use in ATEX areas
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Protection against dirt and swarf
e-chains® for Encapsulated and dirt-resistant
- Also effective against hot chips up to 850°C
- Dust-proof openable tubes
- Strong mechanical strength
- Protection from swarf
- Can be recycled
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Noise-optimised solutions
Quiet and low-vibration energy chains
- Noise reduction due to integrated noise brake
- Especially compartmentalised and vibration-free
- Optionally with dampening
- Cleanroom options available.
- Small ben radius options available.
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Solutions for use in chemicals
Chemically-resistant energy chains
- No corrosion thanks to special plastics
- Resistance to numerous chemicals tested
- Great compressive strength
- Protects against swarf too
- All chains are tested.
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Solutions against hot chips and heat
Chains for extreme temperatures
- Standard temp range from -40°C up to +130°C
- Special HT energy chains withstand temps up to 850°C
- Calculable service life under extreme temperature conditions
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Flammability classes of energy chains
Technical environment - igumid material
- Tested and certified flammability classes
- Variants with self-extinguishing properties
- Flammability / UL 94 HB / UL 94 V-2 / UL 94 V-0
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Energy chains for robots and movement along all axes
Multidimensionally safe guidance
- Especially for complex multi-axis robot
- Energy supply systems for axes 1 to 7
- Appropriate cable range for torsion
- Retraction systems available.
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Find energy chains for use in special environments
Service life calculator for energy chains
- Easily calculate the service life of the chain
- Tested in the company's own test laboratory
- Up to 36-month guarantee on all e-chains®
Calculate the service life
Energy chains used in special environments
Whether dirt, chips, ESD, chemicals or extreme temperatures: igus offers a wide variety of solutions for special applications under special conditions.
Safe cable guidance in spite of 850°C hot chips
Extreme conditions inside a CNC machining centre
Niles-Simmons Industrieanlagen GmbH in Chemnitz uses the encapsulated polymer energy tubes made of the material igumid HT for construction of its "N 30 MC" CNC machining centres. The temperature-resistant energy chains withstand the continuous presence of chips in the air and help to avoid machine shutdowns. The CNC machining centre is used for the turning, milling and drilling of lorry parts and large crankshafts, whereby the energy chain has to withstand high temperatures, glowing hot chips and cooling lubricant vapour in the work area. Thanks to the lightweight and flexible polymer design of the energy chains from igus, space and weight savings can be made in contrast to energy chains made of metal.
Chip-resistant and temperature-resistant energy chains in the CNC machining centre
Extremely quiet and low-vibration energy supply systems for camera robots
Absolute silence thanks to noise-optimised energy chains
For the operation of camera robots in the news studio of the ARD broadcasting company, an absolutely silent and vibration-free energy supply system is essential. Due to the special design of the chain links, the energy chains from the E6 system are ideally suited for this. Their chain links are connected by means of abrasion-resistant elements and are also especially compartmentalised, as a result of which extremely quiet and low-vibration operation is possible. The feared polygon effect during unrolling does not occur either thanks to these properties. In addition, there is the low weight of the energy supply system, which is suspended at a height of 7 metres and belongs to the overall design, which weighs up to 500 kilogram.
More about igus energy chains in the ARD camera robot
Abrasion-resistant energy chains for use in cleanrooms
Tested and proven suitability for cleanrooms
The Brooks company subjected igus energy chains to an independent test as the company's applications require especially clean air for its production processes. Even when used continuously with 50 to 60 cycles per hour in three-shift operation, no wear was detected. The investigations of the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation also show the special suitability of igus energy chains for applications in cleanrooms.
Test of energy chains for a cleanroom
Completely harnessed energy chain at -40°C
Fast and quiet in the high speed door of a cold chamber
For the construction of high speed doors, Coolit Isoliersysteme GmbH decided in favour of using the micro flizz energy chain developed by igus. The compact energy supply system enables the safe guidance of energy, data and compressed air even at extreme temperatures down to -40°C. In addition to the appropriate energy supply system, igus supplied the pre-harnessed energy and control cables, including connectors.
Energy chain sample box
If you would like to see a sample of an energy chain that could be suitable for your application, then please order a hands-on free sample for your special environment.Order your sample
More information on energy chains
chainflex® cables for motion
Fail-safe cables for energy chains, a full variety of jacket materials and cores available from stock.Visit the online shop
Tested!
Every year, 3,000 e-chain® tests are performed in order to ensure that they can withstand the hardest of conditions.To the test laboratory
Online tools
Overview of all online tools for energy chains.To the tool overview
igus energy chains are also advantageous when it comes to demanding ambient conditions - whether cleanrooms, very dusty environments, hot swarf or aggressive chemicals - for every challenge, there is a solution in the e-chain product range. Together with customers, products and plastics were developed, tested and successfully used for innovative applications. From completely sealed RX tubes, small-component low-noise, low-vibration energy supply systems to elastic e-skins for cleanrooms or energy supply systems made of highly developed materials for different flammability classes - here, you can find detailed information on solutions for special requirements.
Service life monitoring for all e-chains
- New sensors allow measurement of percentage pin/bore connection abrasion levels
- Cost reduction through clear measurement of the service life of the product – avoidance of an early replacement of the e-chain system®
- Output of service life information and warnings via HMI systems or the local network
- Transmission of sensor and dynamic data via LoRa module
Integrated service life monitoring with smart plastics
Easy to find, configure, calculate service life and order
Configurator: configure energy chain with filling
Configure an energy chain according to the cables you want to use. The result is a complete energy supply with cables, interior separation, mounting brackets and more.Further information
Go to the energy chain configurator
Calculate guaranteed energy chain service life
Calculate the expected service life in double strokes and kilometres. Based on the service life, a customised guarantee certificate is generated for the energy chain you have selected.Further information
Go to the lifetime calculator
