Hybrid technology has been one of the biggest trends in the cable industry in recent years. In view of this ongoing trend, igus, a motion plastics producer and developer, is expanding its chainflex cable portfolio with two new hybrid cables. With over 30 different types, igus has the largest portfolio of highly flexible hybrid cables, which consists of two series: CF280.UL with Polyurethane rigid foam (PUR) outer jacket and CF220.UL with Polyvinyl.

chloride (PVC) outer jacket. The two different jacket materials are there in view to select the right one, individually for different applications and external conditions. For example, the jacket made of oil-resistant PVC is the ideal partner for use in the energy chain due to its high abrasion resistance when it comes to high cycle numbers in dry areas like in woodworking machines.

The company explains, PVC is designed for ambient temperatures ranging from +5°C to +70°C. PUR, on the other hand, has an exceptionally high notch and oil resistance. This makes the halogen-free PUR cables suitable for use in the energy chain, especially with very high oil loads, like in a machine tool. In addition, it works reliably in an extended temperature range from 25°C to +80°C. The chainflex cables are available from stock, sold by the metre and as harnessed products, and are designed to match the well-known manufacturer standards. "To be able to offer our customers more and more solutions for the drive systems of a wide range of manufacturers, we are continuously expanding our cable range. That is why we are now offering two new hybrid cables suitable for Bosch Rexroth and Siemens," explains Rainer Rössel, Head of Business Unit chainflex Cables, igus. More solutions for different areas of application

With the PUR hybrid cable CF280.UL.H401 for synchronous servo motors of the MS2N series, igus is also adding a product for the modular drive system ctrlX DRIVE from Bosch Rexroth to its portfolio. The new cable is suitable for applications with a bend factor of up to 15xd and can therefore be used in a wide range of industries—from machine tools and material handling to the automotive industry. In addition to that the company is offering its hybrid cable as CF220.UL.H304 with PVC outer jacket to match Siemens’ SINAMICS S210 drives.

"Our customers can now also use the proven hybrid cable with a 15.3 per cent more cost- effective PVC jacket for applications in dry environments. This additionally reduces costs in the hybrid cable segment, giving customers the choice between two technically identical cables with different jacket qualities, depending on the area of application," says Rössel. "This allows us to implement even more diversity and offer our customers additional individual solutions for their applications." By using chainflex cables, users also save around 3 40 per cent installation space in the energy chain and 43 per cent material weight compared to opting for separate servo and measuring system cables. The fact that the system needs to drive less weight also means that a lower amount of energy is needed.

Tested with millions of cycles for guaranteed fail-safe performance The highly flexible cables, specifically designed for use in moving applications, guarantees a long service life even with high dynamics. The cables are specially adapted to their respective motor type. Igus tests it’s all chainflex cables, and in the same fashion the new hybrid cables have also been tested under real conditions with millions of cycles. The results collected in the 3,800-square-metre in-house laboratory, can make a service life statement for its cables by the cable specialist. This data also flows into an online tool, with the help of which customers can calculate the service life of their cable very easily and in the shortest possible time. As the only manufacturer on the market, igus therefore also offers a guarantee of up to 36 months on its entire cable range. This gives customers additional security for planning their application.