i.Sense EC.P
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Reduce machine downtime with smart pull/push force detection for e-chains

i.Sense EC.P infographic

i.Sense EC.P - Save a lot of money and trouble with little cost or effort thanks to igus smart technology

You have to master immense push/pull forces on energy chains or drag chains. Because: where travels and forces increase, so does the risk. Full control including switch-off recommendation is guaranteed by our i.Sense EC.P from smart plastics. Can be used on any e-chain® - unsupported or gliding - these intelligent sensors even work with changing loads and fluctuating environmental parameters. This significantly reduces your downtime costs and continuously increases overall system effectiveness. 
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Information ...

i.Sense EC.P manual Learn all the details about i.Sense EC.P installation, setup, and troubleshooting here in the manual.
 
Service, Help & FAQs

... Try it ...

i.Sense EC.P 3D data Download free design data in all common 3D formats directly and start designing. 
 
3D data portal

... Buy it

Buy i.Sense EC.P in the igus online shop Configure ready-to-install i.Sense EC.P systems for detecting push/pull forces directly in the igus® online shop and order them online.
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What is i.Sense EC.P, and what are its benefits?
What practical i.Sense EC.P success stories are there?
What are the technical components of i.Sense EC.P?
At what point does purchasing an i.Sense EC.P pay off for me?
What is on-site i.Sense EC.P assembly like?
How does i.Sense EC.P fit into predictive maintenance concepts?
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i.Sense EC.P functional principle and advantages explained in 70 seconds

What is i.Sense EC.P, and what can it do for me?

Functionality and advantages

  • The EC.P (EC = e-chain P = pull force) sensor is mounted on one end of the e-chain,
  • where the sensor continuously measures push/pull forces acting on the e-chain, then transmits them via cable to a DIN top-hat rail module installed in the switch cabinet.
  • The vast majority of failures are preceded by an increase in force due to such factors as foreign bodies, snow/ice, misalignment, and deformed or loose guide troughs.
  • If the acceptable forces are exceeded, the i.Sense EC.P System detects that fact, reports it, and switches the system off quickly in order to prevent expensive consequential or total damage. 

What are the technical components of i.Sense EC.P?

The technology for push/pull force monitoring in detail


 
i.Sense EC.P sensors

Sensors

There are two EC.P sensor unit variants that can be used depending on application environment:
  • Strain gauge force sensors 
  • Load cell in the FTA/floating moving end
In the first variant, the EC.P sensor unit consists of a sensor block and a dummy block screwed to the mounting bracket. This variant is a suitable standard for most applications. Then there the variant with load cell, which is usually part of a complete engineering project. The sensor is integrated as a load cell into the floating moving end (FTA, or floating tow arm).
i.Sense EC.P system evaluation module

Evaluation module

Subsequently, all supplied push/pull force sensor data are continuously evaluated with the i.Sense Module II, which is mounted in the control cabinet of the system to be monitored and connected with chainflex cables. The module detects all movement anomalies immediately and transmits them directly to the user or the machine control system, such as Siemens PLC, via an NC contact. This new generation can connect up to four condition monitoring sensors at the same time with just one switch cabinet module, saving lots of space and costs.
i.Sense EC.P online dashboard

Connectivity

The module also offers many typical Industry 4.0 use cases, such as remote resetting or an SMS/e-mail alarm function. The i.Sense module offers other network options besides direct integration into the PLC plant control system to prevent total machine failure in an emergency.

One is location-independent alerting with the optional SMS module. Another is that, in connection with an i.Cee module, all acquired sensor data can be output to an online dashboard.

How are i.Sense EC.P sensors mounted on the chain?

Mounted i.Sense EC.P sensor EC.P force sensors mounted on a plastic mounting bracket 
Download the sensor data sheet now
i.Sense EC.P sensor with load cell mounted on the FTA EC.P sensor implemented as load cell on the floating moving end (FTA)
Download the load cell data sheet
i.Sense EC.P sensor with load cell mounted on the FTA You can mount the EC.P yourself, whether it has force sensors or a load cell
Download installation instructions

How is the i.Sense EC.P module connected?

In addition to the installation instructions, there are also detailed operating instructions for all our smart plastics systems. These guide you step by step through all the relevant aspects of operation:

  • Safety instructions
  • Installation and connection planning
  • Configuration and calibration
  • Operating conditions
  • Troubleshooting
Download the operating instructions
i.Sense operating instructions

Intelligent push/pull force monitoring implemented successfully

i.Sense EC.P in practice


Wastewater treatment plants and wastewater operations |
Port and container cranes | 
Conveyor and bulk handling

 

"Less effort, greater availability"

i.Sense EC.P in use "Less maintenance effort, greater availability, allows guiding all the different cables and hoses in a single system, electronic i.Sense EC.P. push/pull force detection … I would definitely choose intelligent igus energy chains again!"

Dipl.-Ing. Fabian Wilhelm, Project Manager for AOS Stade GmbH

Customer applications worldwide

i.Sense EC.P examples in the overview In international automotive production, the global crane industry, or regional wastewater plants: i.Sense EC.P systems are successfully used wherever maintenance costs are saved and machine downtime prevented:

To the application overview

When do I need a smart condition monitoring system like i.Sense EC.P?

Condition monitoring instead of production downtime

When regular maintenance work requires complete production shutdown ...
Condition monitoring system for very small deviations

When motion anomalies cannot be detected by humans in time ... 
Condition monitoring for continuous monitoring

If plants or machines need to be monitored frequently or continuously ...
Condition monitoring for hard-to-reach areas

If energy supply system travels are difficult to access or view ... 
Condition monitoring for security areas

If maintenance work poses a health or safety risk ...
Condition monitoring for reducing costs

If maintenance costs are to be reduced and service life extended ...

At what point does it pay to purchase i.Sense EC.P?

The financial benefits of safety systems are often difficult to assess, especially because the initial investment in a modern condition monitoring system increases costs instead of reducing them. So we performed a break-even analysis for the entire utilisation period based on practical experience in an automotive production hall.

Given the average cost per working hour for all typical maintenance expenses in the German manufacturing industry (EUR 41.60), an EC.P system reaches its benefit threshold in just the third year of use, even by a conservative estimate (regular case).
View the full break-even analysis
i.Sense EC.P break-even analysis Various scenarios were examined in detail in a break-even analysis
smart plastics expert Richard Habering demonstrates i.Sense EC.P

You are guaranteed personal advice

Do you have a crane or system for which you would like to monitor e-chain tensile forces to enhance system reliability?
If so, feel free to contact me.

I am looking forward to your message!
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i.Sense EC.P as the basis for predictive maintenance

Always the optimum maintenance solution with igus smart plastics

For a solid foundation for predictive maintenance concepts, you need a smart network of individual condition monitoring systems, such as i.Sense EC.P. At igus, everything related to predictive maintenance falls under the term i.Cee. Similarly, i.Sense encompasses all condition monitoring systems. 

The central element here is the i.Cee software, which, combined with i.Sense condition monitoring sensors on the energy chain, the plain bearing bushing, or a linear carriage, transform stock products into smart ones. This upgrade creates the capability of determining maximum service life and optimal maintenance intervals in real time based on real usage data.
More about predictive maintenance with smart plastics
i.Sense EC.P systems as the basis for predictive maintenance
All condition monitoring systems at a glance in the brochure

General smart plastics overview

Insight into the entire igus Industry 4.0 product portfolio


Table of contents for this free brochure:
  • Condition monitoring (i.Sense)
  • Condition monitoring systems
  • Advantages of condition monitoring systems
  • Condition monitoring application examples
  • Predictive maintenance (i.Cee)
  • Systems for predictive maintenance
  • Advantages of predictive maintenance systems
  • Application examples for predictive maintenance
  • Data flow in modern smart factory concepts
Download the smart plastics brochure
EC.P infographic
Back to the i.Sense condition monitoring systems overview