Roller rail guides, which use cylindrical or barrel-shaped rollers instead of spherical balls for the load–bearing elements, are typically associated with machine tool applications. But the performance benefits that rollers bring to machining centers can be worthwhile in other applications as well. If you’re designing a machine or system that requires linear motion, consider these […]
Applications
Linear Motion in the Third Industrial Revolution
According to The Economist magazine, a third revolution is coming for the manufacturing industry, ushered in by 3D printing, new materials, and collaborative manufacturing services. Anyone who has watched the 3D printing industry develop over the past decade, or even the past five years, will likely agree. Gartner forecasts that worldwide shipments of 3D printers […]
Industrial conveyors: Summary of backlighting, nonmetal, magnetic, and maintenance features
Everyone knows what a conveyor is. They simply move product from Point A to Point B, right? In principle, that’s true, but there’s much more to modern conveyor design and operation than meets the eye. Once viewed as an afterthought on a production line, conveyors have become an integral component in a material handling application. […]
Electric current damage — How bearings fail Part 2 of 6
Recently we examined how corrosion contributes to bearing failure. Now we’ll examine electric current damage. Random electrical currents, which come from multiple sources, such as wiring, insulation, static electricity from operating equipment, and so on, will damage bearings. The damage usually appears on the surface of rings and rolling elements and is similar to that produced by electric […]
New Cost-Effective Cable Carrier with Easy-to-Open Multilink Band
EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Igus® Inc., the industry-leading developer of Energy Chain® cable carriers, Chainflex® continuous-flex cables and iglide® plastic bearings, announced a new, cost-effective cable carrier with an easy-to-open, multilink band. System E1 Energy Chain is designed to be a simple solution for smaller, less complex, cable-management requirements. System E1 is equipped with […]
Interior separating options for Energy Chain Systems significantly extend the service life of cables and hoses
EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. – To keep cables separated and free from premature wear, igus® Inc., the leading developer of Energy Chain® cable carriers, Chainflex® continuous-flex cables and iglide® plastic bearings, offers modular separation components that can be easily incorporated into any Energy Chain System®. Separators, shelves and spacers, or often a combination of the three, […]
Uniquely designed Energy Chains delivers extremely quiet operation
EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Igus® Inc., the leading developer of Energy Chain® cable carriers, Chainflex® continuous-flex cables and iglide® plastic bearings, offers System E6 Energy Chains for extremely quiet, low-vibration operation. System E6 is uniquely designed with abrasion-resistant connector strips—rather than a pin and bore configuration—that when combined with a short link pitch produces little […]
Strain relief from igus defends against cable damage and system failure
EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Igus® Inc., the industry-leading developer of Energy Chain Systems®, Chainflex® continuous-flex cables and iglide® plastic bearings, offers various strain relief elements for its comprehensive line of Energy Chain® cable carriers. Designed to house, protect and extend the service life of cables and hoses on automated machinery, Energy Chain is a lightweight, […]
“Zipper” Energy Chains make the installation of cables and hoses a cinch
EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Igus® Inc., the leading developer of Energy Chain® cable carriers, Chainflex® continuous-flex cables and iglide® plastic bearings, offers “zipper” Energy Chain Systems® to facilitate fast and easy access to cables and hoses. Different from the typical Energy Chain design, which features sidelinks and crossbars, “zipper chains” are built with interconnected lids. […]
The ideal energy chain solution for crane applications
EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. –Igus® Inc. is a leading developer of plastic cable carriers to house and protect moving hoses and cables on automated machinery. Its industry-leading Energy Chain Systems® meet the needs of almost any application, large or small. The System E4/4 Energy Chain® line was developed for heavy-duty and demanding applications in harsh environments, […]