igus offers maintenance-free and extremely light ball bearings specifically designed for confined spaces

The motion plastics specialist igus has developed thin ring bearings in accordance with DIN 625 for small installation spaces and where very low weight is crucial. The xiros plastic ball bearings are, for example, suitable for a wide range of control systems in vehicles due to the freedom from lubrication and maintenance as well as very low friction.

Temperature, ventilation or suspension dynamics - a lot can be adjusted in the car by means of various rotary controls. Here, the new xiros type 67 and 68 thin ring bearings are particularly suitable since an extremely low weight is crucial and usually only a small space is available. The motion plastics specialist igus offers this in two different materials (xirodur B180 and xirodur S180) in inner diameters between four and 30 millimetres. Special dimensions or customer-specific integrated solutions are also possible on request. For both xirodur materials, users can choose between balls made of stainless steel 1.4401 or glass, whereby the use of glass balls guarantees a completely non-magnetic version of the ball bearings. In addition, the use of plastic balls is possible on request for a further weight reduction.

Maintenance-free and light-weight

The xiros thin ring bearings from igus are suitable for application temperatures between -40 degrees Celsius and +80 degrees Celsius. They do not require lubrication and are corrosion free. In the largest test laboratory for plastics in motion at igus with a floor area of 2750 square metres, various rotating and pivoting tests have proved that the bearings are suitable for several 100 million cycles within permissible loads. "As in all xiros ball bearings, the frictional torque of our thin ring bearings is also very low," says Marcus Semsroth, head of the xiros ball bearings division at igus. "Thus, no breakaways can be felt when they are moved, which, for example, ensures very good haptics when used on rotary controls." For the correct selection, configuration and ordering, igus has developed easy-to-use online tools. The best xiros ball bearing can be configured with just a few clicks here:  http://www.igus.in/wpck/4961/ballbearing?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.

igus presents Zigzag modules from the modular e-chain® system

With the standard zigzag energy chain module, igus offers a space-saving and cost-effective solution for vertical applications. The zigzag module can be individually configured thanks to the e-chain's modular design and delivered quickly. This offers solutions for guiding energy and data in the theatre, lighting and storage industries as well as in hydraulic work platforms.

All shows need spectacular stage backgrounds and effective lighting, from the Royal Theatre London to the Opera in Barcelona, and in many other musical applications around the world. The necessary stage equipment and lighting fixtures are usually moved vertically. For the reliable supply of data and energy, it is necessary to also guide the required cables vertically. The challenge on the one hand is to have a sufficiently low noise vertical movement and on the other hand to have a visually neat guidance of the cables in a restricted space. In both cases, igus GmbH developed an ingenious solution – the zigzag module: A folding energy chain with all the cables guided safely and neatly stowed away in a standardised box. The energy chain is stored in the box when the platform is down. When the platform goes up the e-chain unfolds and follows the movement – up to 30 m in height. The galvanised steel box can be unobtrusively integrated in the stage elements or fastened to the movable lighting units. When the lighting unit shuts down, the e-chain unfolds downwards. On special request, the box is also available in low-reflection black or in other colours.

Modularity reduces costs

The added value lies in the modularity of the system: The boxes were previously available individually or in small batches, but now the igus standard box can be configured, manufactured and delivered within ten days at a reasonable price without much design effort due to the modular system. The modules can be ordered in the size spectra of 75-500 millimetres chain outer widths as well as 600 to 3000 mm box lengths and up to 2000 mm maximum box height. In this way, expensive special designs are no longer necessary for most applications.

The intelligent design of the zigzag movement allows a silent vertical movement unlike rope retraction systems in comparable applications Also, the system can carry high loads. On the energy chain a moving end plate is fitted with double strain relief for the cables. The zigzag design is possible with almost all energy chains of the series E2 and E4, but the E4 series offers advantages in installation and filling, because it can be opened on both sides. The standard box is an ideal means of transport for a preassembled energy chain. Thus, the module can be delivered as a complete readychain system and thus can be quickly mounted as a ready-to-instal plug & play system with e-chain, chainflex cables and connectors.

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

igus 2017 manus: International award for plain bearing applications goes into the 8th round

Once again, the opportunity to apply for the international manus award will now be open for companies and individual developers. Whether serial applications for the industry or individual parts – anyone can apply with a polymer plain bearing application. The winners will be awarded at the 2017 Hannover Messe, and the prize money is up to 5,000 euros.

Whether in water, on land or in the air, there is hardly an area where polymer plain bearings do not display their characteristic advantages. They save weight in the solar aircraft, they protect against corrosion in the wave power plant, they ensure a smooth drive on the road and are more economical and more durable than comparable metallic solutions. The prestigious manus award will now be held for the eighth time to show the tremendous potential of plastic bearings technology. The joint initiative of igus, the Institute for Composite Materials, the Industrieanzeiger and the Technical University of Cologne honours plastic plain bearing applications that are characterised by technical prowess and economic efficiency as well as the creativity of the developer. "The term 'manus' (lat. hand) symbolises the drive in the bearing technology to go new ways," says Gerhard Baus, authorised agent for plain bearings at igus GmbH. This was performed by 467 contestants from 34 countries at the last 2015 manus award. They showed the whole exciting range of application potentials of plastic plain bearings, from the prototype to the serial application: spherical bearings in a steeringless bicycle from Italy, linear bearings in a French machine for cake decoration or plain bearings in an Indian car washing machine. In the end, an innovative system for ear surgery from the Leibniz University of Hanover won the golden manus, which is used to treat inner ear deafness and severe hearing loss.

The awards ceremony at the 2017 Hannover Messe

The independent jury will select the award winners in February 2017. Participants can apply online until then with a short textual description as well as pictures and videos of their application. The prerequisite is that at least one built prototype of the presented application exists. The awards ceremony of the manus award will take place at the 2017 Hannover Messe at the igus stand. The winners of the competition will receive prize money of up to 5,000 euros. This page www.manus-award.com contains all information, participant applications of the past years as well as the link to the online registration.

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 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.