Smart plastics sensor monitors glide bars in e-chains

Rolling energy chains have been performing in high speed and long travel applications for a long time but are more expensive than conventional energy chains. As a complementary, more cost-effective alternative, igus has now developed wear-resistant, high-performance plastic, that is suitable for speeds of over 5m/s and travels of 200 metres or more.

The new glide bars with the sensor are suitable for a number of applications, including linear robots in automotive production, on gantries in machine tool construction or on the 7th axis of industrial robots.

It consists of a glide bar made from a new high-performance polymer, which has been tested in the company's laboratory, providing a service life that is five times longer than the previously used profile. The wear-resistant rail is designed in such a way that it moves gently against the energy chain and, to monitor the condition of the glide bar, igus has integrated an EC.T sensor. 

The EC.T sensor measures the condition of the rail and gives maintenance recommendations when needed. It works wirelessly and is battery powered. At regular intervals, it sends a signal about its condition to the communication module icom. This prepares the data of all igus isense sensors and offers the option of integration in any desired maintenance tool. If there is an interruption of the conductor loop in the sensor, the service life algorithms can be used to predict the number of days until the next maintenance is necessary.