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igus® System triflex® R "light" - motion control in all axis

Triflex® R "light"

The 3 axis chain for robotic and non-robotic applications

The TRL has been designed to be lightweight, which is easy to install, modular, low-priced and offers a long-life.
Generally this is used on axis 1-3 of a robot because it is not subjected to the ardious movements that they other axis might have to withstand.

Below you will find 11 key features of the TRL & TRLF design such as:

Shortening & extending
its lightweight design
its opening mechanism

These features highlight the details of the working principle, gives examples of testing and introduce proven applications.

Would you like more information about the triflex® R range or do you need an individual consultation? Our experts will be happy to get in touch with you.

Contact the expert

TRLF

1... „easy“ lock

Lightning-fast filling of cables and hoses due to the "easy" mechanism

… filled quickly, easy, low-priced

Details of working principle

Dual lock

"easy" opening mechanism

Cables and hoses can simply be pressed into the chain using your thumb. This cuts assembly time by up to 80%.

igus® tested

tensile test

Reduce assembly times and cut time by 80%

Assembly time: Insertion of 2 cables Ø 6 and 10 mm (we will gladly provide you with details about these and many other tests)

Application example

CNC multi-spindle lathe

A host of triflex® R e-chains® on a CNC multi-spindle lathe. Fast cable assembly due to the "easy" mechanism

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2... High tensile force absorption due to the trailer mechanism

… Due to the special trailer mechanism, the triflex® R can absorb high tensile forces - similarly to the trailer coupling

Details of working principle

Trailer principle

Trailer principle

Due to the special trailer mechanism, the triflex® R can absorb high tensile forces.

igus® tested

tensile test

Test 3602: tensile force test

Tensile force test with TRE.100.145 in the igus® lab: 3846 N of tensile force

Application example

Welding robot

High accelerations and direction changes are typical for robot motions. The links stay together due to the igus® trailer mechanism.

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3... Defined minimum bending radius

...for max. cable service life
...prevents pinching of media hoses

Details of working principle

Dual lock

min. bending radius

All triflex® R types are rated with a defined minimum bending radius. This ensures that neither cables nor hoses are excessively pinched and damaged as a result. This increases the application's operational reliability and the service life of cables and hoses.

igus® tested

tensile test

Test 3418: breaking strength

Testing of the maximum breaking strength in the radius. Min. 217 N load at the extreme radius stop dog, e.g. for a TRC.40.058

Application example

Palletizing robot

Smallest robot dimensions also call for the tightest motion control radii on cables. triflex® protects cables and hoses due to defined minimum bending radii

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4... Torsion stop dog on each chain link

...minimises the torsion load on the cable

Details of working principle

Dual lock

Torsion stop dog

Each triflex® R chain link has a torsion stop of approx. +/-10°. This distributes the torsion that occurs in robot applications across the entire chain length and increases the service life of hoses and cables.

igus® tested

Torsion tests

Test: Torsion

The igus® lab conducts torsion tests on triflex® R and cables, during which the triflex® R is twisted and "rolled up"

Application example

Welding robot

Tight twisting and torsion motions occur specifically on the robot head. In this case, the triflex® R limits the twisting of cables with the defined torsion stop, and distributes the twisting over a greater length. This increases the service life of hoses and cables.

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5... Flip open mechanism (TRLF)

Fast opening and closing

Details of working principle

Dual lock

Simple opening and closing by hand or with screw driver. Secure, shape-locked connections between the curved opening crossbar and the structural element. For easy filling of cables and hoses even with large diameters!

igus® tested

tensile test

TRLF. 65 on the igus® test robot - field-based test setups provide a maximum of product reliability.

Application example

triflex® R TRLF - light version - easy to open by hand or with screwdriver

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6... TRL and TRLF – efficient and light design solution

Details of working principle

Dual lock

Series TRL is 50 % lighter and 58 % more affordable than the comparable TRE version. Save twice on weight and price .

igus® tested

tensile test

igus® TRLF on Fanuc test cell application - axis 2-3

Application example

TRL in a machine tool - quick filling - and cost-effective.

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7... Modular system for convenient shortening and extending

... no steel ropes, springs, or the like

Details of working principle

Easy assembly/disassembly

Easy assembly/disassembly

Because of its modular design, the triflex® R can be extended and shortened on-demand. This provides maximum flexibility for any installation.

igus® tested

tensile test

Assembly example

No cutting of steel ropes, springs, or the like. An injection moulded part, therefore extended and shortened "on demand".

Application example

Handling robot

As is the case on conventional igus® e-chains®, triflex® R e-chains® can be extended/shortened at "any" location

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8... Cavities for an ideal separation for cables and hoses

Defined partitions for cables and hoses

Details of working principle

Dual lock

TRL + TRLF has a 3 house system. This allows an ideal separation of cables, air hoses and more

igus® tested

tensile test

Easy filling and exchange of pre-harnessed cables or media hoses.

Application example

For thick, rigid hoses and/or many cables

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9... Individual opening of each cavity

Details of working principle

Rugged

Each cavity can be opened independently of the other. This greatly simplifies filling with cables and hoses.

igus® tested

tensile test

Test: spin test

The impact-resistance of a triflex® R filled with cables is tested in spin tests

Application example

3D plasma cutter

In addition to igus® triflex® TRE, other e-chains® (E2/000, E4.1) and drylin® linear guides (drylin® W) are installed in this plasma cutter.

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10... Standard mounting bracket with strain relief

... Reliable and fast strain relief

Details of working principle

Dual lock

Modular accessories

Mounting brackets with strain relief tiewrap plates are available for easy assembly. This allows cables and hoses to be quickly and conveniently strain relieved with cable tie wraps.

igus® tested

tensile test

Test: Tensile test

Tensile strength testing on igus® tiewrap plates with cable tie

Application example

Handling robot

Reliably strain relieved, and optimally mounted on the robot due to the extension link.

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12...Robot configuration tool

www.igus.eu/quickrobot

... with only a few clicks to your robot configuration

Details of working principle

Dual lock

Online Tool

igus® QuickRobot is a configuration tool for robot energy supply systems. With only a few clicks, the matching configuration can be selected for 79 robot models.

to the Online Tool

igus® tested

tensile test

Robot configuration tool

Selection of robot types according to manufacturer and the required chain sizes according to diameter

Optional articles can be selected

Parts lists are created in PDF format

Equipment option per axis can be conveniently ordered with one article number.

Application example

Customised ordering

Ordering directly online or with the parts list.

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13... A host of twistable cables available

www.igus.ru/chainflex

... more than 100 different twistable cables available from stock

Details of working principle

Dual lock

CF.Robot

Approx. 100 different CFRobot cables are available from stock without cutting charges and minimum quantities. We also supply fully harnessed with connectors, or as a complete, ready to install readychain® system.

igus® tested

tensile test

Cable testing

All chainflex® ROBOT cables in a triflex® R energy supply system are twisted at least 3 million times with a fixed point clearance of 1 m and a torsion of ±180°.

Application example

Complete and reliable.

Highly flexible triflex® R robot e-chain® and the matching, long-lasting chainflex® CF.Robot torsion cables

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robot config

Robot equipment configurator

With our e-chains® robot equipment configurator, you can configure the appropriate igus® equipment for your robot model in just a few steps. If necessary, you can use the respective Help buttons of the fields to obtain more detailed information on the individual components. Finally, you can place your completed configuration directly in the shopping cart, place an order with us or use one of the additional features (e.g. CAD and PDF download).

Configure your robot

Consulting

I would be happy to answer your questions

Rob Powell

triflex® Product Manager

Shipping and consultation

In person:

Monday to Friday from 8am - 8pm.

Online:

24h

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