igus UK Limited

For performance packaging, mechanical engineering and handling applications, igus introduces the drylin T series with extremely wear-resistant sliding elements made of high-performance plastics. The tough linear carriages are available in four different installation sizes. Equipped with captive sliding elements made of iglidur J200, the system offers up to 50% longer service life compared to the standard igus material used for linear guides.

Hartford uses fully-assembled energy chain systems from igus in its robotic machining centres. This cuts out many process steps for the manufacturer, reducing assembly time from several weeks to just half a day. Another benefit for Hartford is that when it orders readychain from igus, it is from a single source and delivered onsite fully tested.

  As the New Year approaches, the first major exhibition in the igus 2019 calendar is Southern Manufacturing & Electronics. Running from 5th to 7th February at FIVE in Farnborough, this exhibition signifies the first opportunity for engineers to get out of the design lab since Christmas.

Standing at a height of four metres, a new highly complex control, audio and power cable management system has been introduced by igus that challenges for a new work of art. The solution: e-spool from igus ensures reliable cable feed in a confined space even under the toughest of time pressures. It was quick to install, and easy to maintain and operate.

  The new online dresspack configurator from igus enables engineers to quickly find the right system based around the triflex R energy chain. Easy to install and fill, this multi-axis energy chain protects moving cables and hoses on robots and thus increases service life in operation.

With robolink DCi from igus, machine builders and production engineers can automate simple pick and place and assemble tasks without the associated high price tag. It is a complete automation package consisting of robotic arm and controller for intuitive operation. Suitable for lifting parts weighing up to 1kg with an accuracy of ±0.5mm.

A new CAN bus cable has been introduced by igus for highly dynamic energy chain applications, such as in machine tools and production equipment. The chainflex CFBUS cables is available with either a highly abrasion-resistant PVC (CFBUS.PVC.020) or oil-resistant PUR (CFBUS.PUR.020) outer jacket. Both cable options have EAC and CTP approvals, simplifying trade with the Russian market.

At igus’ dry-tech test lab in Cologne Germany it recently carried out an experiment in comparing the resilience of its xiros flanged ball bearing and a conventional metallic bearing in salt water. The results prove that the use of lubrication-free and maintenance-free tribo-plastics enables the xiros bearing to remain completely unharmed.

  If time and costs involved in the production of prototypes pile up, it can become economically challenging for startups. Easelink from Austria, relies on the 3D printing service from motion plastics specialist igus. Components, such as gears, can be configured online, printed cost-effectively and delivered within 24 hours.

Ensuring secure data transfer and reliable power supply in ever-smaller spaces is the challenge faced by many engineers. To meet this demand, igus has introduced a highly flexible and robust chainflex Ethernet cable. It is the ideal partner for the new ix Harting connector with a tested and proven long service life and unique 36 month guarantee.

A new e-chain concept with dynamically locking pins and a compact guide trough for the guidance of all media types has been introduced by igus as the lokchain. The pins extend automatically to hold the e-chain securely in the guide trough, allowing completely new machine design concepts for vertical, hanging or circular applications.

At the 10th Anniversary of the Advanced Engineering show, 31st October to 1st November, igus will present its latest innovations developed through pre-tested products designed specially to fulfil the needs of engineers. The products showcased on the stand, D32, have been through rigorous testing at its 2,750m² test facility.

Cost effective, and quick and easy to implement, the new Delta robot from igus is available directly from stock as a kit or delivered pre-assembled ready to install. Its maintenance-free belt drive units, lubrication-free link rods, encoders and stepper motors combine to create a lightweight, low cost automation solution for automated tasks such as pick and place. 

As part of its Young Engineers Support (YES) programme, igus supports innovative student projects such as ‘EMKindersicherung’. In Germany, the 94,000 calls made to the Poison Information Centre for burns and intoxications of children every year show that household cleaners constitute a real threat. To prevent these accidents, a team of seven students of TU Darmstadt at the Faculty of Electrical and Information Technology have developed a special child safety lock.

With the introduction of a new low-cost robotic concept from igus, simple tasks can now be automated easily with a relatively quick ROI. Under the name ReBeL, the new wave-driven joint differs fundamentally from the previous robolink models: Instead of stepper motors, brushless DC (BLDC) motors are used.

Double gears are an essential part of the everyday life of designers. When force, torque or speed in gears need to be changed, this task can only be performed if the geometry of the teeth is optimised. To enable manufacture of high performance geometrically complex gears such as these, time and money has to be invested.

The new modular motion system from igus, robolink Apiro, which enables design engineers to develop low cost automation systems, has been announced. Consisting of three lubrication-free worm gears for standard movement, inverted movement and linear movement, the system can be configured to perform simple linear motion to complex humanoid and animatronic robotic tasks.

What do you do when an important part of an exhibit suddenly goes missing on the way to the trade fair? The response of the Berlin-based company Blackcam, a manufacturer of camera motion systems, is the igus 3D printing service. Using industrial 3D printers, the motion plastics specialist manufactures customer wear-resistant parts within a few hours. This is how the missing special plain bearing was made.

It has been announced that Tribopolymer specialist igus is introducing a range of new sizes to its tribo-tape portfolio. The range, which is available in four high performance plastics, is suitable for lining tribologically stressed surfaces and shapes, as well as for transport optimisation, for machine beds, and as edge protection. 

Knowing the service life of the bearing system is an unbeatable advantage when it comes to operating moving applications safely and reliably, the igus online service life calculator has therefore been a valuable tool for engineers to predict the service life of injection moulded iglidur plain bearings for many years.