Condition monitoring of linear robots
Richard Habering | 26. March 2021
Collaboration with Güdel
How did the collaboration between the Swiss automation specialist Güdel and igus come about in the first place? As a long-standing customer and partner, a close business relationship has existed for many years in the standard plain bearing and energy supply sector. Collaboration in the area of condition monitoring was the next logical step. The exact start date of the co-operation is not known. It is highly likely that it happened in the days when people still met physically at trade shows. Everyone knows and misses the situation when exhibitors show their latest innovations. At trade shows, you can marvel at these innovations physically and on your own. You question things, think of things like: “This can be linked wonderfully”.
This or something similar must have happened between Güdel and igus at one of the earlier Hannover Messe events. It was decided, probably along with a handshake, to feed the condition monitoring system from Güdel with the data from the condition monitoring system from igus (i.Sense). No sooner said than done, and the result is neither a one-off nor a partnership that is already over. The objective is to move the status of condition monitoring into a 100% predictive maintenance (i.Cee) system.
Linking both condition monitoring systems and the path to predictive maintenance
Normally, the range of igus condition monitoring systems includes the following products/areas:
- EC.P (push/pull force monitoring)
- EC.B (breakage detection)
- CF.P (tensile force measurement with the aid of the cables)
In this particular case, sensors for wear measurement (EC.W = e-chain wear) and measurement of movement data (EC.M = e-chain motion) have been used so far. This data flows into the Güdel condition monitoring system. This makes it clear that the customer’s own condition monitoring systems can also be supplied with smart plastics sensor data.A big advantage for Güdel was that they did not have to develop their own sensors for the energy chain; instead, established igus components are installed. Everyone supplies parts from their own area of expertise, and the result is a user-friendly system.
What is possible with the system on the linear robot is best illustrated by the following video.
Is there anything to note?
There is not much to observe when integrating smart plastics components into an existing condition monitoring system. Because as a user of the data, you have a very wide range of output channels for the sensor data. You can find out what these are and whether they are the right ones for your system in the blog on the topic: Information provisions for predictive maintenance with smart plastics i.Cee
If you are now inclined to think: “Then I’d rather have igus supply the data for my system through their energy supply and bearing technology”, please feel free to contact me. Together we will find an individual solution for your maintenance and servicing system.