Magnets instead of trough: strong vertical cable guide in the MRI device

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• What was needed: Energy chains to guide the rotating cables in the linear robot
• Requirements: Safe, smooth running and stability in vertical rotary movement, 180° rotation in both directions, compact design
• Industries: Medical technology, medical devices
• Success for the customer: By using our robust e-chains from the E4.1 series in combination with magnetic chain elements, the engineers at Robots and Design were able to equip the linear robot with an energy supply system that is strong and saves space. The fact that this solution does not require any additional stabilising guide plates resulted in lower production costs.

To safely guide the moving data and energy cables inside the linear robot, the designers at Robots and Design were looking for a suitable energy chain solution. The challenge: the cables had to be guided in a vertical semicircle in both directions.In this movement, the energy chain's own weight has a greater effect on the structure. The chain must be designed to be particularly light, but also strong.

The engineers initially tested plastic models from other manufacturers, but were not able to achieve a sufficiently smooth and reliable operation. As installing additional, stabilising guide plates was not a satisfactory solution, they looked for a leaner, more cost-efficient alternative.

With magsnaps, igus has a clever solution for precisely such vertical circular movements: these magnetic clips are simply clamped to e-chains' crossbars in the outer radius. They ensure that the chain runs along the outer radius of the metal guide trough during rotary movement. The magsnaps are equipped with a dampening device so that the magnetic force does not increase the noise when the chain link touches the metal.

The magnetic clips are available for all possible igus e-chains series. Robots and Design uses the E4.1 with an inner height of 56mm and a width of 200mm in the linear robot. The e-chain is our modular bestseller as it is suitable for almost all applications and features high stability and load capacity as well as low-noise operation.

By using the E4.1 e-chains with magnetic chain elements, Robots and Design was able to realise a strong and space-saving energy supply for the linear robot. The elimination of additional guide plates reduces production costs.