igus launches solutions for material handling applications

The tribopolymer specialist offers the sector a broad range of corrosion-free, lubricant-free and lightweight products, from guidelok slimline Fright through to the iglidur PRT.

‘motion plastics’ are plastic components that drive, support and supply and igus wants to demonstrate its expertise in this area to its customers. The company’s products enable cost reductions while also improving technology. To help its customers in the material handling sector not only to save money, but also reduce space requirements, weights and installation times. For example, igus has designed the autoglide system, after all, you do not always need a guide rail to reliably cover long travel distances. ‘Guide combs’ can be used to convert the function of the igus energy chain crossbars so that the chains drive themselves when laid.

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igus ‘motion plastics’ – plastic components that drive, support and supply – for the material handling sector. (Source: igus GmbH)

Ever faster or ever higher

In the material handling sector, customers place ever higher requirements on machine manufacturers. For example, it must be possible to cover transport routes at ever greater speeds. To make this possible, igus has the developed the guidelok slimline F. This system prevents the vertical running energy chain from swinging sideways (due to the moment of inertia) and ensures it remains securely in the guide trough at high acceleration speeds. An alternative to the classic cable drum, the e-spool, is also available. A standard e-chain is wound and unwound from a spool and an igus twisterband enables the rotary movements of the system. As no slewing ring is required, cables for various media with a maximum diameter of 16 millimetres can be compactly wound up in the chain. The windable energy chain system is now available in two further versions, with a motor flange and even more power for greater filling loads and as a heavy duty (HD) version. Here, an extra strong spring is installed for retracting the e-chain on vertical applications. All three e-spool types are available from the standard range in different extension lengths (four, seven or 14 metres), each with one or two twisterbands. The maximum extension and retraction speed is 1 m/s.

Use for lubricant-free plain bearing technology

A further suitable solution from the igus range of lubricant-free linear modules is the drylin SLW-25120, which combines a compact design with a huge load capacity. This spindle linear module can bear radial loads of up to 1,000 kilogrammes and axial loads of up to 250 kilogrammes. Despite this high load capacity, the module has a slender and compact design that can be easily and flexibly installed. It is suitable for both manual and electrical adjustments. Its slender and robust design makes the drylin SLW-25120 ideal for demanding positioning tasks. The iglidur PRT polymer slewing ring bearings are also ideal for the material handling sector. These currently come in seven sizes and three designs. The smallest slewing rings have an inner diameter of 20 millimetres, the largest of 300 millimetres. Furthermore, igus GmbH’s flexible iglidur J universal gliding element enables users to create their own slewing ring bearings in custom sizes. Depending on the design, slewing ring bearings with diameters of up to one metre constructed on the basis of these gliding elements can even be subjected to loads of up to ten tonnes.

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The guidelok slimline F guide system enables drive speeds of up to 7 m/s and acceleration speeds of up to 10 m/s². (Source: igus GmbH)

About igus India

igus® operations in India started in the year 1998 with head quarters in Bangalore. igus offers widest range of products that includes polymer bearings, igubal® spherical bearings, DryLin® linear bearings & guide systems enable them to serve the whole industrial establishments in India from a small work shop to huge industrial establishments.

2015 manus: On the lookout for challenging plain bearing applications

A for automatic telescope, B for boring device, C for cross trainer ... right through the whole alphabet, over 400 submissions competed for the 2013 manus award. Motion prevails in all these machines and equipment - and that is precisely where the lubrication-free plain bearings are used. The application phase for the 2015 manus continues until 20 February 2015, the competition where special applications with plastic plain bearings are recognised and rewarded. The awards carry prize money worth up to Euro 5,000 and will be presented at the 2015 Hanover Show.

They perform their service millions of times in the truest sense of the word "silent". But since they are so inconspicuous, they attract little attention to themselves. To counteract this, the manus award was introduced for the first time in 2003, and in the last competition, 437 participants from 33 countries competed. Now, after twelve years, it will be the seventh time that applications using plastic plain bearings will be examined, applications are characterised by technical and economic efficiency and the creativity of the developer. "With this competition we want to support innovation and award bold applications, regardless of the industry," says Gerhard Baus, authorised officer for plain bearings at igus GmbH. "Among the winners of the 2013 manus award were the developers of a pneumatic rotary piston engine or a friction clutch, as well as the designers of a cross-country skiing exercise machine." An array of inventions from a sausage toaster to a foldable car were presented at the competition.

Participants can apply online with a short text, images and videos of their application. This joint initiative of igus GmbH, Institut für Verbundwerkstoffe (Institute for Composite Materials), the Industrieanzeiger (industry indicator) and the Fachhochschule Köln (University of Applied Sciences Cologne) invites all developers and designers from around the world to participate. After the application phase an independent jury will select the winners. Whether for applications for the industry or individual pieces, the only requirement is that at least one built prototype of the proposed application must exist.

Award ceremony at the Hanover Show

The prize-giving ceremony of the manus award will be held at the Hanover Show on the booth of igus GmbH. The winners of the contest will be rewarded with a prize of up to Euro 5,000. Visit www.manus-award.com and get all information, applications competing in the past years and a link to our online registration.

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The manus award goes into the seventh round - the application phase runs until 20 February 2015. (Source: igus GmbH)

About igus India

igus® operations in India started in the year 1998 with head quarters in Bangalore. igus offers widest range of products that includes polymer bearings, igubal® spherical bearings, DryLin® linear bearings & guide systems enable them to serve the whole industrial establishments in India from a small work shop to huge industrial establishments.

igus presents innovative e-chains for automotive sector

With the increasing electrification of cars, so too is the demand for moving energy supply systems to reliably guide and protect. igus, the plastics expert, deals with all the challenges that energy supply systems bring with them in vehicles. In addition to its standard range of lightweight plastic chains, igus can also give customised solutions for every customer.

Whether in cars, commercial vehicles or special vehicles, the demands on energy supply solutions are becoming increasingly complex. The number of cables is steadily increasing, as is the required number of cycles. To protect them and optimise their service life, energy supply systems are increasingly being used. The applications are many and varied; from seat adjusters or sliding doors and tailgates to adjustable headlights and the power supply to entertainment systems. All these applications have very limited space for the energy supply system yet must offer absolute reliability. Replacement of chains and/or cables would result in complex issues, for example where panels must be removed.

"With its plastic plain bearings, igus has had a strong presence in the automotive industry for many years and has been certified according to the standard ISO/TS 16949:2009. This demonstrates our expertise in this area," says Johannis Zournatzis, Industry Manager for automotive e-chainsystems at igus GmbH. "The large number of cables in a vehicle must also operate continuously in moving applications. In order to be able to guarantee their safe use, we provide carefully matched chains and cables as well as expert advice." Suitable lightweight and compact energy chain systems are available, such as the easy-to-open E2 micro or one-piece E1, a kind of strip that can be easily shortened and lengthened. "Since we want to find the ideal solution for each customer, we offer customised solutions using close collaboration, in the event that the standard repertoire doesn't suffice," says Zournatzis. This means the need-based development of chain types, sizes, bending radii and accessories, even custom-made new moulds for injection moulding. In the test lab in Cologne, spread over a floor area of 1750 square metres, special solutions for long-term use in motion are also developed and tested.

Safe use and simple installation

The igus energy chains protect cables during operation and are also easy to install, due to the design of connectors and strain relief elements. Cables can be inserted easily due to the easy-to-open chain designs. Energy chains protect cables by preventing accidental kinking or damage. This makes igus energy supply systems in the car not only safe, but also simple.

Know more about this product here: http://www.igus.in/energychains?C=IN&L=en

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The number of cables in cars, which are frequently moved, is steadily increasing. To protect them permanently and thus and optimise their service life, energy supply systems are increasingly used in these applications. (Source: igus GmbH)

About igus India

igus® operations in India started in the year 1998 with head quarters in Bangalore. igus offers widest range of products that includes polymer bearings, igubal® spherical bearings, DryLin® linear bearings & guide systems enable them to serve the whole industrial establishments in India from a small work shop to huge industrial establishments.

igus included over 100 iglidur products standards in the catalogue range

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The igus plain bearings catalogue already lists more than 12,000 products that are available from stock. More products are added to it, such as the high-temperature material iglidur X in large dimensions from 80 mm inner diameter. (Source: igus GmbH)

The diverse catalogue range has become wider still to offer the right plain bearing for every application. And they are quickly available from stock.

The igus plain bearings catalogue is currently comprised of around 12,000 products. This autumn 117 more iglidur products will be added, which at igus also means offering this item ready from stock. Among other new entries, is the extension of available sizes consisting of the high tech, extremely temperature- and chemically-resistant material: iglidur X six new dimensions from 80 to 120 mm inner diameter. “Until now, there were primarily the ‘standard materials’ iglidur G, J and W300 in these large diameters. Our high-temperature classic iglidur X was missing here,” explains René Achnitz, head of the iglidur plain bearings business unit at igus. The material is suitable for continuous use at temperatures from -100°C to +250°C and has a very high compressive strength and universal chemical resistance. The extension of the standard range results from the requirements of laboratory and practical tests, and also from  direct contact with customers.

Both the high number of catalogue products as well as the steady growth is largely due to the variety of materials offered by igus. The spectrum ranges from the cost-effective iglidur all-round bearings and FDA-compliant bearings, to high temperature and underwater bearings. This ability to offer almost any plain bearing for any situation is also illustrated in the dry-tech sample box, which can be ordered at igus free of charge by visiting www.igus.eu/box. The box is an "offline-analogue" option of the product finder at igus. Thanks to the enclosed overlay cards, the various materials can be filtered according to different criteria such as temperature, chemical resistance or food contact just as in the online configurator. This can then determine the ideal material for the individual application.

http://www.igus.in/wpck/10062/drytechbanderolesoverview?playlistid=56

Install and forget

iglidur plain bearings do not need external lubrication, making them completely maintenance-free excelling in dry operation. Following the motto “Install and forget”, they reliably operate throughout their service life contributing to the safety of machines. Indeed, the failure costs due to insufficient lubrication alone in the United States, according to the MIT in Boston, are around 240 billion dollars. The service life of the plain bearings can easily be predicted online. The basis for this is drawn from the results of continuous in-house tests at igus for durability, friction and wear in the test laboratory spread over 1,750 square metres. Over 15,000 plain bearing tests are performed every year.

For more information please visit: http://www.igus.in/iglidur

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Online or offline: Thanks to the online tools (left) and dry-tech sample box (right), the user can quickly find the most suitable iglidur plain bearings for his application. (Source: igus GmbH)

About igus India

igus® operations in India started in the year 1998 with head quarters in Bangalore. igus offers widest range of products that includes polymer bearings, igubal® spherical bearings, DryLin® linear bearings & guide systems enable them to serve the whole industrial establishments in India from a small work shop to huge industrial establishments.

igus launches a new tribo-tape and other new products for the machine tool industry

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The iglidur tribo-tape for machine guides made of the iglidur V400 material is extremely wear-resistant and withstands temperatures up to 200°C continuously. (Source: igus GmbH)

igus offers products for machine tools that are high quality and also cost effective. The tribo-tape made of a new material, the lubricant-free polymer slewing ring bearing with individually adjustable swivel angle, or the new chip-proof R2.75 energy tube.

"Save money – safe quality": This igus slogan symbolises the provision of reliability in conjunction with cost savings to the customer. Thus product and process costings for machine tool manufacturers should be reduced without compromising on quality. A novelty is the tribo-tape made of the material iglidur V400. The liner is now available in a more wear-resistant material. This withstands temperatures of up to 200°C, is extremely resistant to media and easy to bond. An example of this would be in machine beds; the iglidur tribo-tape provides great freedom in the construction of gliding surfaces.

Protection against chips, dirt and dust – the chip-proof R2.75 energy tube with snap-open lids on both sides

Constructed on the basis of the cost efficient E2 principle (two parts per chain link) made of tribologically optimised plastics, the energy tube of the R2 series also provides, in addition to the advantages of freedom from lubricants and maintenance, protection against external dirt accumulation and flying chips. The contours of the lid are smooth and its curvature and narrow manufacturing tolerances guarantee that there is no accumulation of chips between the stop dogs. At the same time the two-side flip-open lid saves assembly time, since they need not be completely removed to equip the energy tube with cables. Due to the double stop dogs the R2.75 energy tube can absorb high additional loads and handle even long unsupported lengths. The integrated grid also ensures a firm hold of the interior separation, even in side-mounted applications. All cables are effectively protected from abrasion and wear by smooth interiors and modular partitioning systems using snap-on separators.

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The chip-proof R2.75 energy tube has snap-open lid on both sides, whereby the installation time is reduced. (Source: igus GmbH)

Ready to install iglidur PRT slewing ring bearings with individually adjustable swivel angle

The ready to install iglidur PRT slewing ring bearings, widely used in the pivoting arms of control panels and screens of machine tools, are now available with individually adjustable angle stop. The angle range is freely selectable and adjustable in increments of 2°. If a subsequent adjustment of the angle is necessary during operation, this can be easily performed by manually converting the stop dogs. The conversion of the variable twist limitation does not require anything more than the manual loosening and shifting of stop dogs and pins. Plastic gliding elements made from the proven igus material iglidur J are used in the slewing ring bearings, so that any external lubrication and maintenance can be fully dispensed with, avoiding machine downtimes. The ruggedness against chips, dirt or dust is increased, since there is no oil or grease for adhesion. For a low-friction operation, the counter-running surfaces of the polymer gliding elements are hard anodised. In addition to the ready to install standard slewing ring bearings, slewing ring bearings can be universally installed by means of special universal gliding elements made of iglidur J; by joining together individual parts, slewing ring systems can be manufactured from an inner diameter of 500 mm to virtually infinite, as desired. The slewing ring bearing with a diameter of one metre constructed on the basis of these gliding elements, depending on the version, can be loaded with up to ten tonnes.

For more information please visit: http://www.igus.in/wpck/11074/N14_4_3_iglidur_Tribofolie?playlistid=48&C=IN&L=en

About igus India

igus® operations in India started in the year 1998 with head quarters in Bangalore. igus offers widest range of products that includes polymer bearings, igubal® spherical bearings, DryLin® linear bearings & guide systems enable them to serve the whole industrial establishments in India from a small work shop to huge industrial establishments.

igus launches modular system which guides and protects very small hoses and cables

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The e-cord micro is made of low friction tribo-plastics with predefined bending radii to reliably move small capillary tubes and cables. (Source: igus GmbH)

Medical machines often contain dosing and pipetting functions which require the constant movement of capillary tubes, which are only a millimetre or so in diameter. In these applications the fragile capillary tubes are often squeezed into a small bend radius which can cause damage to the tubes or blockages in the flow through them. igus has designed the e-cord micro to help in these cases. The system ensures the hoses do not fall within a pre-defined minimum bend radius of 45mm, and are also given some physical protection. The modular nature of the system and the elasticity of the material allows machine designers lots of flexibility when designing moving capillary tubes into the smallest of spaces.

Modular Design

igus assembles the e-cord micro to order, ensuring a perfect match to the required motion and space of the machine. In this way, different movement directions and travel path lengths can be implemented easily and flexibly. The concept for the e-cord micro, like many other igus products, was driven by customer requirements for a novel solution to their specific challenges. By producing a flexible solution, many other applications in different industries can be realised too.

For more information please visit: http://www.igus.in/energychains  

About igus India

igus® operations in India started in the year 1998 with head quarters in Bangalore. igus offers widest range of products that includes polymer bearings, igubal® spherical bearings, DryLin® linear bearings & guide systems enable them to serve the whole industrial establishments in India from a small work shop to huge industrial establishments.

New igus removable ball and socket joints guarantees a constant holding force though with a simple manual assembly

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With the new quick release igubal ball and socket joints from igus, the holding force remains constant even after repeated assembly and disassembly of ball pins. (Source: igus GmbH)

With the new quick release igubal ball and socket joints from igus, the holding force remains constant even after repeated assembly and disassembly of ball pins. A click-in mechanism, which can be closed by hand and simply opened with a screwdriver, ensures that the ball pins remained stable and were easily disassembled again at the same time. The ball and socket joint is made of the 100 percent high-performance plastic igumid, which makes it absolutely corrosion-free, requiring no maintenance or lubrication.

"Even when the ball and socket joints need to be released quickly for maintenance in the automotive industry for gas springs, pneumatic cylinders, linkage or sensor connections or even in machine and plant construction, the high holding force of the new angle joints of 300 N always remains the same in the assembled state," explains Thomas Preißner, head of igubal spherical bearings at the igus GmbH. The ball pins that are clipped into the ball and socket joint, are available in plastic, stainless steel or galvanised steel. "For the latter there are also ball pins with internal thread, whereby other components and assembly processes can be saved."

Various sizes or custom solutions available

Currently, the ball and socket joints for ball pins with 8 mm diameter and M5 thread, as well as 10 mm diameter and M6 thread are available from stock at igus - other sizes are already being planned. Customised solutions according to the modular principle are also possible, for example with sealing caps or as coupling rods with customised depth gauge.

For more information please visit: http://www.igus.in/igubal

About igus India

igus® operations in India started in the year 1998 with head quarters in Bangalore. igus offers widest range of products that includes polymer bearings, igubal® spherical bearings, DryLin® linear bearings & guide systems enable them to serve the whole industrial establishments in India from a small work shop to huge industrial establishments.