Igus, a leading manufacturer of energy chain systems and polymer plain bearings globally has launched TR.RSEL retraction system for energy chains to ensure fail-safe operation of robots in modern factories. The new system enables industrial robots work dynamically and quickly in production to perform functions of welding, riveting, and soldering effectively. Therefore, a safe and compact guidance of cables and hoses is required. 

 

If the e-chains form loops in the work area of the robot, it damages the cables and hoses and may lead to machine failure. In a bid to avoid such incidents, igus’s new low-cost TR.RSEL retraction system helps guide the energy chain in a line on the robot, ensuring trouble-free and fail-safe operation. igus’s has developed new retraction system for the three-dimensional triflex energy chains adhering to modern factories. 

Industrial robots assemble vehicle parts in the automotive industry; for instance, work with high rotations and swift movements. In such applications, users rely on energy chains to ensure that cables for data, pneumatic and energy supply are safely guided on the robot. The triflex R e-chains from igus are very useful here because they are specially designed for industrial robotics and adapt to the three-dimensional movements of robots. However, with the growing diversity in automated production technology, it is necessary to guide electrical and pneumatic cables, hoses for bolts, and rivets and screws. Since these hoses are not compatible with tight bend radii, a retraction system is required for the energy supply of the robot. The new system ensures that the e-chain is kept as compact as possible on the robot arm.

The new retraction system can be mounted directly on the 3rd axis of all common types of robots. This means that all existing triflex R series such as TRC, TRE and TRCF can be easily converted. The fixed end of the energy chain can be freely selected by the new system. Another advantage of using the linear retraction system, the user saves additional cable length and associated costs as no deflection is required. The triflex RSEL is available as a variant with two elastomer bands in sizes 70 or 85.