With the new online configurator for rotary modules, igus eliminates acquisition costs and reduces construction time by up to three weeks. Engineers can now design and order tailored rotary energy supply systems within seconds using igus’s latest online tool. This innovation streamlines the process, cutting down on lengthy coordination via email or phone calls. Additionally, users benefit from lower prices as igus passes on the savings directly to customers.
In a busy planning office, a new industrial robot is set to weld components in a car factory, but it lacks a critical rotating energy supply system. This system is essential for delivering energy and data to the robot arm’s welding tools during operation. A standard solution won’t fit in the tight installation space, and creating a custom option could take too long.
“Individual designs often involve significant coordination through phone calls and emails, which can take up to three weeks,” notes Michael Berteit, Sales Manager for Engineering Projects and Installation Service at igus. To streamline this process, igus has introduced the online configurator for rotary modules, allowing engineers to quickly and efficiently create a custom energy supply system while saving money. “We reduce the design costs and pass those savings to our customers,” adds Berteit.
The online configurator is designed for ease of use. Users simply input the desired outer diameter, select an energy chain series, and specify the width—for instance, the versatile and reliable E4.21 model from the E4.1 series.
The configurator provides a visual preview of the system’s dimensions, including the minimum inner diameter, the length of the energy chain, the maximum rotation angle, and the overall height. If all specifications align with the user’s needs, they can view the price and delivery timeframe directly in the configurator and request a quote with one click. The tool also allows users to download a PDF with all the application parameters and receive a CAD model in STEP file format.
Berteit states, “Our goal is to help customers save both time and money from configuration to inquiry and integration. We’re currently developing a dedicated online shop for direct ordering of these custom systems.”
Applications for igus’s rotating energy supply systems extend beyond automation technology. They are also used in wind turbines to safely transmit energy and data to control systems in rotating nacelles or rotor blades. In the medical field, they can be found in imaging devices like CT scanners, as well as in machine tools, cranes, and bucket wheel excavators.
A typical rotary module consists of two circular guide trough segments, one attached to the stationary part of the system and the other to the rotating part. Users can select the fixed end of the energy chain, as both inner and outer parts of the rotary modules can rotate, allowing for angles up to 540° on one plane and rotation speeds of up to 360°/s. These capabilities have been validated through extensive testing in igus’s 4,000 m² laboratory in Cologne and across various applications, with some energy chains in operation for over 20 years. igus enables customers to design custom rotary modules quickly and safely.
igus® GmbH develops and produces motion plastics – durable, high-performance polymers that enhance technology and reduce costs in applications where movement is involved. igus is the global leader in products such as energy chains, flexible cables, plain and linear bearings, and lead screw technology.
The family-owned company operates globally, with subsidiaries in 31 countries and a workforce of around 5,000 employees. In 2023, igus generated a turnover of €1.136 billion. The company is also known for its ongoing research, its extensive test labs, and its large inventory of 243,000 products. igus’s commitment to sustainability is demonstrated through initiatives like the “chainge” program, which recycles used e-chains, and its involvement in projects to produce oil from plastic waste.
