Quickly to individual rotary energy control

With the rotary module online configurator from motion plastics specialist Igus, engineers can configure and order individual rotary energy guides in a matter of seconds. This means that weeks of coordination via email and telephone will no longer be necessary in the future, in favor of a shorter design time. Users of the configurator also benefit from a reduced price for the rotary energy guide, as Igus passes the saved effort directly on to the customer.

There is stress in the planning office: the new industrial robot, which is intended to weld body parts in an automobile factory, is facing a problem – the rotary energy guide is still missing. This important component is intended to supply the welding tools of the robot arm with energy and data during its rotational movements. But a standard system does not fit into the limited installation space. And a customized solution would take too long.

"Individual designs often require increased coordination effort by phone, email and on-site visits and can take up to three weeks," confirms Michael Berteit, Sales Manager for Engineering Projects and Assembly Service at Igus. To save customers this effort in the future, Igus has developed the new rotary module online configurator. With this tool, engineers can quickly and easily configure and order an individual rotary energy supply. They also save costs. "The design effort that Igus saves is passed on directly to our customers in the form of a reduced price," says Michael Berteit.

Igus: "We want to save our customers as much time and money as possible"

Igus has designed the online configurator so that users can operate it intuitively. All they have to do is specify the desired outer diameter of the system and choose an energy chain series and width – for example the E4.21 model from the E4.1 series, which is known for its versatility, robustness and reliability. Using a preview image, the configurator then visualizes the dimensions of the rotary energy guide in millimeters: the minimum inner diameter, the length of the e-chain including the connection element, the maximum angle of rotation and the height of the system.

If all parameters meet the customer's requirements, they can see the price and delivery time of the individual solution directly in the online configurator and request a quote at the touch of a button. In addition, there is the option of downloading a PDF with all application parameters and optionally receiving a CAD model as a STEP file. Michael Berteit explains: "From configuration to inquiry to integration, we want to save our customers as much time and money as possible. We are currently working on the online shop for this, so that the individually configured system can also be ordered directly in the future."

Versatile in use: From wind turbines to medical technology

Rotary energy guides from igus are not only used in automation technology, but also in wind turbines, for example, where they can enable the secure transmission of energy and data to the control systems in the rotating nacelles or rotor blades. They can also be found in medical technology, particularly in imaging devices such as computer tomographs, in machine tools, cranes and bucket wheel excavators. A rotary module consists of two circular guide trough segments. One trough part is attached to the static part of the system, while the other is attached to the rotating part.

The user has the freedom to choose the fixed point of the e-chain as desired, as the rotary modules can be rotated both in the inner and outer parts. They enable angles of rotation of up to 540 ° in one plane and rotation speeds of up to 360 °/s. This was proven in advance in extensive tests in the 4,000 square meter test laboratory in Cologne and in a variety of applications - with energy chains, some of which have been in use for over 20 years. This enables igus to not only enable its customers to design individual rotary modules extremely quickly, but also safely.