igus provides fast custom parts with SLS for 3D printing services

As part of its 3D printing service, the motion plastics specialist igus now offers Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) with the wear-resistant high-performance plastic I3-PL in addition to the FDM method. Components that have complex geometries but need to be extremely strong can now be made quickly and at a low cost.

In industry, selective laser sintering (SLS) is currently one of the most widespread manufacturing methods in additive manufacturing.  A plastic component with exactly the right dimensions is created layer by layer from a special powder. A laser beam quickly melts the very small powder particles so that even complex shapes are not a problem.  The entire production process takes place without tools. Due to the high construction speed of the SLS method, large quantities of customised components can be made within just a few hours.  Compared to the FDM method, laser sintering is more precise and produces parts of greater stability and strength. As the surrounding powder provides support, additional supporting structures are not necessary. As a result, subsequent machining is no longer needed and the component can be used immediately. igus is now expanding its 3D printing service with this method, so that wear-resistant prototypes or small batches of components for moving applications can be made quickly and easily, and delivered in a short time (at least 48 hours).

Wear-resistant Tribo components from the 3D printing service

Given that many companies do not have their own 3D printer, the 3D service offered by igus gives customers the possibility of having their individual wear-resistant parts directly printed as FDM or SLS components. On the igus website, the customer can simply drag and drop the data in STL format.  Next, the required quantities can be specified and a suitable material selected. Finally, igus makes a formal quotation or an order can be placed immediately by the customer.  "Thanks to the new SLS printer that we now use in our own manufacturing facilities, components with a height of up to 300 millimetres can be made directly here on site", explains Tom Krause, the product manager responsible at igus. "This means that we can now make complex special parts many times more quickly."

iglidur I3-PL triples service life of moving applications

Small batches of up to 500 parts made of iglidur I3-PL can now be printed in a very short time. This material was specifically developed for laser sintering. The abrasion resistance of this high-performance plastic is at least three times higher than that of conventional SLS materials and it therefore considerably increases the service life of moving applications.  This has been shown by extensive testing in the 2,750 square metre igus test laboratory, for both rotating or pivoting as well as linear applications. "In this way, users get a Tribo material that is characterised by good mechanical characteristics, high resistance to wear and low coefficients of friction and that can be shaped to create almost any conceivable component," explains Tom Krause. "The parts can then be used immediately in the application, without the use of any additional lubricant."

For more details please visit: http://www.igus.in/wpck/15292/Motek_N15_04_01_I3_PL_3D_Drucker?C=IN&L=en&sop=1

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® Linear Motion Bearings , Plain Bearings and Bushing Accessories etc. which enable them to serve the whole industrial establishments in India from a small work shop to huge industrial establishments.

igus uses Cost-effective 3D-printed injection moulding tools in production

Injection moulding is an efficient method for production of high-performance plastics in moving applications. The injection moulding tools required in this regard are usually manufactured from steel, at costs that reflect this. With the first 3D printed injection moulding tool in plastic, igus has now developed a cost-saving alternative for production up to 500 pieces.

As an injection moulded part, machined from bar stock, or printed in the additive manufacturing – igus offers users a wide variety of ways to get its lubrication-free and maintenance-free plastic plain bearings in the required form quickly and without huge costs.  Therefore every manufacturing method has its own advantages: Whereas large quantities of any iglidur material can be produced in the injection moulding process, cheaper special forms can be made from bar stock. With additive manufacturing cost-efficient, smaller batches can be produced with special iglidur 3D print materials. Now, the motion plastics specialist has combined the two methods to offer the customer the freedom in the choice of materials, and at the same time to  enable the production of special forms in larger quantities.

The best of both worlds

By using 3D printing igus is now able to produce customer-specific injection moulds made of high-performance plastics in a short time. With the SLS process the appropriate tool can be produced quickly and used in the existing injection moulding machine. The prerequisite is that the injected moulded parts must have simple geometries. To make injection moulded parts the customer has a wide range of iglidur materials available that are tribologically-optimised and predictable online: from chemically and temperature resistant up to the highest performance materials for almost any movement. With the printed mould tools, the customer gets the possibility of obtaining the required special part quickly and cost effectively even in larger numbers whilst maintaining application suitability. Distinct advantages arise therefore, especially in the test phase. Users who want to test samples for subsequent batches are often faced with the challenge in terms of bar stock or 3D printed products, because these parts clearly differ from the moulded parts. For this reason, the final endurance test is often done with injection moulded parts. Due to the 3D-printed injection mould, the special part is very close to the series product in the test phase and the costs are reduced considerably at the same time.

For more details please visit: http://www.igus.in/wpck/13370/3D_Druckservice?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® Linear Motion Bearings , Plain Bearings and Bushing Accessories etc. which enable them to serve the whole industrial establishments in India from a small work shop to huge industrial establishments.

New tribo-tape from igus: Optimise wear and reduce contamination

With the white Tribo-Tape made of iglidur W160, igus has extended its range of variable liners with an antibacterial and UV stable material. Therefore tribologically stressed surfaces in hygiene-sensitive applications, such as in medical and laboratory equipment, can be lined quickly and easily.

With its Tribo-Tapes made from friction-optimised polymer materials, the Cologne-based motion plastics specialist igus provides an easy way to reduce coefficients of friction. The liners with 0.5-1mm  thickness, which can simply be cut to size and optionally glued, create a sliding surface that reduces the frictional resistance in moving applications. This protects the components and at the same time saves energy and operating costs in machine tools as well as conveyor lines.

Fourth Tribo-Tape for hygienic environments

After supplying options for high wear, heat and chemical resistance or food compliance according to the FDA standard, igus now offers a fourth material with iglidur W160. Its antibacterial properties make the new Tribo-Tape an interesting material for hygiene-sensitive applications, such as in medical and laboratory equipment. Due to the white colour, the Tribo-Tape can be used just as well in the medical field as a visible part. "UV-stabilising additives in the plastic compound also prevents the alteration of material properties triggered by photooxidation," highlights René Achnitz, head of iglidur plain bearings. "Thus the maintenance-free iglidur W160 gets its tribological advantages permanently in the UV light also, for example, in machines for dental hardening or sterilisation." The liner can be ordered in various desired widths from 20 to 500 millimetres and optionally with an adhesive back for easy installation. Through the igus cutting service, the film is also supplied by the metre exactly matching in width and length or for freely designed finished parts. Therefore Tribo-Tape W 160 can be used flexibly even in a small installation space to reduce wear of moving applications significantly, effectively and at a low cost.

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® Linear Motion Bearings , Plain Bearings and Bushing Accessories etc. which enable them to serve the whole industrial establishments in India from a small work shop to huge industrial establishments.

Energy chains from igus give the "rowing tricycle" safe riding enjoyment

Rowing is considered a strenuous, but healthy and effective sport. However, if no suitable body of water is available, only going to the gym or buying a stationary training device for your living room is an option. The RowTrike of the Portuguese engineering company Solien changes that. The action of the three-wheeled device is comparable to the original rowing motion on water, but the trike moves forward, instead of backwards as with a rowing boat. Moreover, the RowTrike can be manoeuvered like a bicycle to the left and right and thus travel on straight roads in the city as well as on winding country roads.

Small igus e-chain masters great demands

The hydraulic brake cables and electric cables of the RowTrike are reliably guided between the two mobile elements with a stroke of 600 millimetres. The device uses two 76 link long igus energy chains of the E2 micro series, and perform 80 "rowing strokes" per minute. The plastic chains are free of corrosion and lubricants, and are excellent for use even in rain, dirt and grime. The reliable energy guidance is ensured by the shock-absorbing property even when driving on a bumpy terrain.

Use of motion plastics in the sports and fitness sector

From lubrication-free plain bearings in suspension forks of mountain bikes and linear guide systems in weights machines up to energy chain systems in crosstrainers and ergometers, igus products are known for their versatile use in the sports sector. They make the operation of the sports equipment silent, vibration-free as well as maintenance-free.

The RowTrike in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4BtLkiMLSY

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® Linear Motion Bearings , Plain Bearings and Bushing Accessories etc. which enable them to serve the whole industrial establishments in India from a small work shop to huge industrial establishments.

igus presents New Tribo-Filament: Chemical-resistant components from the 3D printer

The motion plastics specialist igus has expanded its range of wear-resistant Tribo-Filaments for 3D printing with the chemical-resistant iglidur C210 and now offers a total of six materials using the FDM method. Prototypes and small batches for even more applications - for example in contact with aggressive cleaning agents - can be implemented with this new solution.

The 3D printing is poised to revolutionise industrial production in future years. Here, the additive manufacturing always contains two different things, precise 3D printers and high-performance materials. The latter must comply with the special requirements of melting and shrinkage processes in 3D printing and in doing so, must not lose their characteristic material properties. The filaments of the motion plastics specialist igus are designed for friction and wear – components printed from these materials are up to 50 times more abrasion-resistant than standard plastics used for the 3D printing.

Specialist for the pharmaceutical and food industry

With iglidur C210, igus now offers a new material as Tribo-Filament, which is extremely resistant to chemicals. It withstands a large number of acids and solvents. The Tribo-Filament made of iglidur C210 is resistant even against hydrogen peroxide, which is frequently used as a bleach and disinfectant. In addition, the material is characterised by high wear resistance, which ensures a long service life for the printed component. It also proves to be tough against high temperatures. The Tribo-Filament can withstand application temperatures up to 180°C in the short term and up to 100°C in the long term. The material is available with a diameter of 1.75 or 3 millimetres and can therefore be used in commercial 3D printers for the FDM process. The filament made of iglidur C210 is suitable for a range of industries and applications, especially for hygienically sensitive areas such as in the pharmaceutical and food industry, where components often come into contact with aggressive cleaning agents.

Already six Tribo-Filaments are available

Besides the new material made of iglidur C210, igus has five other filaments in the range, which can be used to print components. According to requirements, each material has its own benefits for light processing (iglidur I150-PF), an extremely high strength (iglidur I180-PF) or high application temperatures coupled with the best wear resistance (iglidur J260 PF). All Tribo-Filaments from igus have significantly lower coefficients of friction than conventional 3D printing materials. Due to their abrasion resistance, they are particularly suitable for dynamic applications. Tribo-Filaments can be obtained as a filament material, or alternatively as an already finished, ready-to-install printed component from the igus 3D printing service. On the website three simple steps are sufficient, from configuration to order. Prototypes or special parts for small batch production can be produced easily, quickly and at a low cost. With the different Tribo-Filaments and their respective special properties, users can take full advantage of the 3D printing. More economical material and lower energy consumption as well as a quick production open up enormous savings potential.

For more details please visit: http://www.igus.in/wpck/15341/3D_Priting_Material_Startpage?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 Plain Bearings and Bushing Accessories etc. which enable them to serve the whole industrial establishments in India from a small work shop to huge industrial establishments.

Linear axes variable width and length from igus based on the modular principle

With the new drylin ZLW modular kit the motion plastics specialist igus offers even more versatility and designing freedom for design engineers - widths, rail distances and materials of the ready-to-install axes can be assembled according to your requirement. Thus, high-performance linear axes can be implemented at a low price.

Ready to install, maintenance-free and lubricant-free linear guides are becoming more popular in machine and plant manufacturing. "Off the shelf" solutions that fit exactly to the construction requirements of the user are uncommon To simplify product selection for design engineers, the motion plastics specialist igus has developed a construction kit for its drylin ZLW axes, with which the customers can individually assemble their own solutions. In this modular system, width, rail distances and length of the axes can be adapted quickly and easily. Due to the low profile of the toothed belt axes, even small installation spaces are sufficient for this. In addition, users can order the cross beams, rails and carriages made of aluminium or stainless steel. The latter is of particular interest for applications in the food industry, due to the majority of components being made from stainless steel, this is a unique when considering standard 'off the shelf' items.  A maximum service life is possible in combination with liners made of iglidur E7. The linear guides can be supplied with the igus motor or connected to the customer's which enables a variable motor integration to the right and left of the axis by means of solid and hollow shafts.

Now even higher loads and more dynamic applications are possible

Due to the new installation size ZLW-20, loads up to 75 kg can be lifted, with maximum stroke lengths of up to 3,000 millimetres. The wide drive belt also permits high speeds of more than 5 m/s depending on the load. The polyurethane toothed belt with steel cable reinforcement is set centrally on the carriage at the required belt tension. An underwater application is also possible with a special belt. Grooved ball bearings ensure a robust support and greater energy efficiency. A quiet running and a long service life even in continuous operation make the ready to install solutions interesting for numerous applications, such as the most varied handling tasks in the food or laboratory technology. Due to the open design, the linear axes are easy to clean and also insensitive to dirt.

For more details please visit: http://www.igus.in/wpck/2370/drylin_zlw?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® Linear Motion Bearings , Plain Bearings and Bushing Accessories etc. which enable them to serve the whole industrial establishments in India from a small work shop to huge industrial establishments.

Flexible design, secure guidance: modern office furniture with e-chains from igus

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With the e-chain ZF14 from igus, cables are guided securely and unobtrusively on furniture. (Source: igus GmbH)

The workplace ambience is changing and with it furniture design. Today, modern office furniture is characterised by flexibility and increasing electrification. For these applications, the motion plastics specialist igus provides the ZF14 energy chain, with cables guided safely and unobtrusively on the furniture.

Desks whose heights can be adjusted by pressing a button, worktops that automatically move forward and backward, cabinets that extend a presentation display electrically – office furniture is increasingly being geared to the individual needs of their users. Simultaneously, the electrified furniture should fit harmoniously into the design of the room without disturbing cable clutters. One solution is a guidance system that allows cables and connectors to be bundled and routed safely. With the energy chain ZF14, igus has designed an energy chain for these applications in the office furniture industry.

Guide energy and data safely

The e-chain ZF14 integrates into modern furniture design and is fixed by means of mounting brackets that simply attach to the furniture. Mounting brackets can be either screwed on or bonded, thanks to the large smooth surface on the bottom The e-chain is then simply clipped in, small barbs on the mounting bracket snap onto the crossbar of the chain and ensure a secure hold. Thanks to the easy chain principle, the insertion of cables by hand is very easy, even when the energy chain is already installed on the furniture. The ZF14 is very cable-friendly in use because it has very smooth inner contours. In this way the cables are still securely guided, even after many years. The colour of the chain can be individually selected for major projects and can be based on the design of each piece of furniture. The development of ZF14 owes much to the specific requests of customers: thus, at present several thousand desks by American and European manufacturers of office furniture are being equipped with the ZF14.

A video on the ZF14 can be viewed at: https://youtu.be/988KLxXmgf0

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 Plain Bearings and Bushing Accessories etc. which enable them to serve the whole industrial establishments in India from a small work shop to huge industrial establishments.