Four closed energy chains for dirt and chip protection that are guaranteed to work
jhang | 7. February 2022
In harsh environments, cables need to be protected from dust, chips, dirt and other external influences. The best protection is offered by the closed energy chains from igus® – also known as energy tubes or e-tubes.
What are closed energy chains?
Compared to open energy chains (picture 1), closed energy chains (diagram 2) are completely closed. Closed energy chains, which are made of the igus® material igumid G, can be used at temperatures up to +120°C and made of the material igumid HT for hot swarf up to +850°C. Laboratory tests and numerous references have made closed igus® energy chains a safe cable protection for welding robots and machine tools for over 20 years. Discover below the four best closed energy chains that protect cables from dust, dirt, mud, compost, wood, textile fibres, paper dust, grinding paste, coolants, glass dust, glass chips, coal dust, sand, etc.
Picture 1: Open energy chains
Picture 2: Closed energy chains (energy tubes)
Four closed energy chains for safe cable protection
System R2.1
System R2.1 is a cost-effective, stable energy tube with 26, 40, 48 and 75mm inner height and a very tight design and strong double stop-dogs for high additional loads as well as unsupported lengths.
- Available in two versions:
- Openable from both sides in the outer radius
- Openable from both sides in the inner radius
- Large inner height and therefore cost-effective
- Quiet operation due to built-in noise brake
- Smooth edge-free design
System RX tubes
The extremely chip-proof RX tubes are best suited for the direct chip area. This closed energy chain has a smooth, curved outer contour that prevents chips from getting stuck. Available inner heights: 42 to 73mm.
- Openable along the outer radius
- Injected sealing lips all around
- No holes, gaps or undercuts
- The RX40 series has been IP40 tested (TÜV Saarland)
System R4.1
Do you need a closed energy chain with inner heights between 28 and 112mm? Then we recommend the proven System R4.1. Our R4.1 is for virtually all applications and it can be used to further extend the service life of your application while reducing costs.
- For especially demanding applications
- High push force on long travels and for large unsupported lengths
- Integrated noise brake for quiet operation
- Robust, quiet, modular
- Very high stability due to the undercut design
Zipper system
For chip protection in the small installation space of 10mm to 32mm inner height, our zipper energy tubes convince with their practicality and performance, because the zipper function significantly reduces the installation time.
- quick and easy opening and closing
- Small pitch for quiet, smooth operation
- High accelerations: 100m/s2 and more
Real-world examples
Closed energy chains from igus® have demonstrated their reliability in various harsh environments for over 20 years.
Conclusion
The four systems presented above are just a small selection of the many options we offer. Because there are other energy supply systems that can provide cables with good protection against dirt and chips. You will find what you are looking for here.
