Mechanical Components

igus have stretched the bounds of possibility further than ever. Tribology is the science of the interaction of friction, lubrication and wear, and forms the basis of igus products. It has been estimated that direct and consequential annual loss to industry due to wear is 1-2% of GDP, which for the UK would be up to an incredible £28 billion. The application of tribological knowledge results in considerable savings in energy, material use, production, maintenance and labour.

igus have expanded their range by introducing lubrication-free flange and pedestal bearings with plastic ball bearings. The new xiros polymer ball bearings with angular compensation were developed for maintenance-free use in conveyer belts, track rollers and deflection rollers. The light, corrosion-free and anti-magnetic bearings do not need any oil or grease, and compensate alignment errors caused by deflection and/or tolerances. Potential applications include conveyer engineering, automotive parts suppliers, newspaper printers, food and drinks industries, and also the textile and glass production and stone processing.

igus has several new developments in power and data supply for robotic equipment on show at the Automatica in Munich. The company has developed a new universal module called Triflex RS, specifically for robotic applications in very cramped conditions. The multi-axis robotic energy chain Triflex RS is always guided parallel and close to the robot arm, preventing a loop forming or cables becoming strained at the robot head. The low-profile module can be mounted directly to the existing fastening points on the robot. The moving end of energy chain is attached to the sixth axis with a mounting bracket. This system allows general movements, so no specific programming is required. Thanks to its compact design, the system can even be used if there is a valve cluster or distributor box on the third axis.

igus have developed a lubricant-free toothed belt drive, specifically for the low-cost sector for the fast positioning of small loads of up to 15kg. The new linear unit DryLin ZLW-0630 Basic is compact, very small and a lightweight design – a fast alternative to leadscrew drives or pneumatic cylinders. The 500 mm stroke version of the maintenance- and corrosion-free lightweight model weighs only 800 g. The stroke length is variable up to a maximum of 1,000 mm.

igus has developed the largest ever plastic energy chain in the world for offshore applications on offshore oil drilling platforms. The new E4.350 is wear-resistant, maintenance-free and resistant to seawater and mineral oil. Its material is naturally corrosion-free and the high-performance plastics from which it is made of are lighter and less expensive than comparable stainless steel energy chains.

The polymer bearing company igus illustrates just how robust iglidur plastic plain bearings are using a real Bollywood film as an example. In Bangalore and many other Indian cities motorised taxi rickshaws are fitted with the company's lubricant-free polymer bearings. These are used as main hub bearings on the anti-dive device as well as at other bearing points.

About two and a half years ago, energy chain expert igus presented their first prototype from its new energy chain E4.1 series. Now, the complete supply range of this new generation of energy chains is available for delivery ex-stock.

Her lightweight bike weighing just only 7.3 kg, the German mountain biker Sabine Spitz won the Olympic gold in Beijing by a solid lead of 41 seconds. Also on the winners' podium were the lightweight iglidur polymer plain bearings from igus which were fitted into the precision Magura spring fork. The German company Magura is a leading manufacturer of brakes and suspension technology for bikes, amongst other things.

DryLin R linear plain bearings from igus UK are free from lubrication, robust and corrosion-resistant. The linear bearings with highly wear-resistant polymers are replacing metallic bushings in many cases. Maintenance intervals are shortened, service life increased.

The igubal system provides design engineers with a complete range of self-aligning bearings that are made completely of tribo-optimised plastic. The type series from the bearings specialist igus (UK) comprises of rod end bearings, flange, pivoting and pedestal bearings, as well as ball and socket joints. In many cases, the maintenance-free bearings replace metallic components. Up to 80% of the weight can be saved and the parts give excellent vibration dampening.