igus® Launches Self-Supporting Energy Chain with 600° Rotation for Industrial Robots
igus® announces a new self-supporting twisterchain energy chain that delivers reliable cable management through rotation angles of more than 600° on compact industrial robots. This rotary module sits in a sag around the robot base; as the robot rotates, it lifts step by step to a new level, enabling full 360° rotation without colliding with the connector plate.
The product solves two challenges in robotics. The first involves compact robots, which handle screwing, gluing, assembly and pick-and-place tasks but have long lacked reliable energy supply along the fast-rotating first axis. The second arises on the fifth axis of palletizing robots, where uncontrolled corrugated hoses often collide with the tool. In both cases, the chain's defined movement on two levels lets power and data cables safely follow full rotations, even with highly dynamic motion profiles.
Because the twisterchain system is self-supporting, installation requires only two connection points — no costly guide troughs or complicated alignment. The chains open at the inner radius for easy cable insertion, offer flexible interior separation with removable shelves and include adjustable pretension that can be tuned precisely to cable weight and rotation angle for maximum repeatability.
Key specifications include:
-Rotation angle of over 600°
-Unsupported design — no guide trough or trough system required
-Chain can be opened on the inner radius for easier cable insertion
-Cables easily accessible for servicing
-Shelves included for separating cables or hoses
-Axis 1: base of small industrial robots; mountable on the floor or a raised plinth
-Axis 5: palletizing and handling robots; mountable on robot arm or end-of-arm tool
-Recyclable at end of life through igus® recycling program
To learn more, visit: www.igus.com.
