Motion plastic specialist igus has simplified parallel guidance of e-chain and corrugated tube.

The motion plastics specialist igus has again expanded its modular kit for the E4.1 energy chain series and now offers a solution for the guidance of e-chain and corrugated tube in the same system. Named E4.1 TUB, this system ensures flexibility, ease of assembly and long service life in a low-wear double system. With the new side plates for the E4.1 energy chain, corrugated tube clips can be fastened quickly and without tools.

Individual hoses and cables, which have a significantly shorter service life than the other media, are often guided outside the energy supply chain in a corrugated tube. Thus their replacement can be carried out quickly, without having to open the e-chain. To simplify and strengthen the connection of e-chain and corrugated tube, igus has developed new side plates for the universal E4.1 modular kit. The side plates of the outer link of the e-chains are provided with special rails, on which you can simply slide in clips to hold the hoses. You can thus combine the energy chain with the tube in a very short time. Until now, the corrugated tubes had to be bolted to the chain using clamps. The so-called clip system holders are available in all four E4.1 sizes in combination with 8 different sizes of high-quality corrugated tubes. The side plates can also be easily retrofitted on existing E4.1 energy supply systems as clip system holders.

Neither screws nor tools are required for their attachment to the e-chain and the assembly of the corrugated tubes. Both assembly and disassembly are therefore very fast and easy. The e-chain and corrugated tube are joined together in the E4.1 TUBs, so that the whole system works very harmoniously offering a long service life. The entire system was extensively tested at igus in the test lab with a floor area of 2,750 square metres.

The E4.1 modular system for the perfect use of installation space and cable protection Like the corrugated tube, the e-chain is characterised by easy and quick attachment to the machine. To this end the E4.1 e-chain allows the easy fitting of cables or hoses due to the removable crossbars on both sides. Moreover users can benefit from the high strength, robustness and low-noise characteristics of E4.1 even in small installation spaces. The new side plates can also be combined with the enclosed R4.1 version. In this way, the user can combine the user can combine: side plates, different crossbars, lids and shelves, separators, brackets, straps and now even clip system holders as needed.

The external parallel guidance of corrugated tubes in the E4.1 TUB smoothly extends the potential for cable guidance without a costly retrofit or even replacement of existing systems and without a significant increase in installation space. For machine builders, igus delivers a useful system that is already available from stock in interior heights 32-56 mm - even up to 80 millimetres on request.

Harish Booshan, Product Manager, igus (India) Private Limited, Bangalore. Tel: 080-49127809. Email: harish@igus.in