Reliable energy supply at maximum process speed
Laser welding robots must work extremely precisely and at a high process speed. To produce successfully and cost-effectively, such sensitive production technology requires reliable components in order to minimise errors. Flexweld Robotic Welding, based in the Netherlands, was looking for a complete system to safely guide all energy cables (sensors, CCD camera, shock sensors, line pilot laser), cooling tubes (water cooling), and air hoses (cross-jet/protective gas) in one energy supply system.
Profile
- What was needed: triflex R
- Requirements: Long service life was to be guaranteed despite heavy loads on the cables
- Industry: Automotive industry
- Success for the customer: igus energy chains protect the cables in laser welding robots
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Problem
Low weight, high flexibility, reliable service life, cables that are protected from sharp edges (robot contours), protection from severe impacts, standard fixing options for a Motoman UP 20 robot, and spare part availability at short notice. In addition, a guide for the glass fibre had to be found. The fibre optics for transporting the laser beam is a very expensive and most sensitive part of the system. The minimum bend radius for the fibres is 200mm. Since the energy cables, hoses, and tubes in the energy chain have a bend radius of less than 200mm, the fibres cannot be routed together in the same energy chain. But all cables needed to be brought together at the same point near the welding head.
Solution
The solution: A triflex R FlexBar spring module for the optical cables and a triflex R TRC module for the others. The new components allow the production laser to work reliably at maximum process speed.
