Young engineers support from cable company igus

The idea is to raise the profile of high performance polymer products and build awareness of their advantages among the engineers of tomorrow.

The program has already been implemented by igus in the United States, where it has seen a great deal of success.

Texas A&M University used an igus Energy Chain to organise and protect power and control cables in a scale model of NASA’s reduced gravity aircraft. The project was to test the effects of acceleration on the spatial orientation of liquid and gas. According to one project team member, the Energy Chain operated “flawlessly” under zero gravity conditions.

Another team from Northwestern University, Illinois, used an igus DryLin T linear guide in a unique wheelchair design. DryLin T enables the chair to be easily adjusted and used by any body type and delivers maximum pressure relief to the user’s spine.

Meanwhile, a student group from the University of Michigan used Chainflex highly flexible cables in the construction of a solar car that it subsequently showcased in a number of cross-country races. The cables helped minimise power loss in the solar car and were, “very flexible”, according to the team, “they allowed us to bend them around corners and fit them into tight spaces.”

“igus has long been dedicated to helping students with an inclination towards engineering,” said Matthew Aldridge, Director at igus UK, “With the Y.E.S. program, we are formalising that support. We are looking forward to the various ways in which students will use our products in the future.”

The campaign targets universities, but also colleges and schools. A team of students at a high school in Virginia used igubal pillow block bearings and iglidur G flange bearings in a robot it entered into the FIRST Robotics Competition. The team managed to get through to the quarterfinals and received the Motorola Quality Award for having a well-designed and constructed robot.