Roller energy chains - rolling instead of gliding

energy chains of conventional design are operated over long travel distances in sliding mode. Extending the technical limits of this type of operation was the trigger for the development of the roller energy chain. The igus® roller energy chains are predestined for applications in which long travel distances have to be realised at high speeds. This is often the case, for example, with finishing cameras or in conveyor technology. The system's low coefficient of friction can also save costs in slower applications in the crane sector or in shifting systems, as the dimensions of the drives can be significantly smaller.

When should I use a roller energy chain?
With long travel distances of over 100 m and high additional cable loads, in conjunction with accelerations of more than 1 m/sec2 , increasingly high tensile/push forces have resulted in sliding energy chains for cranes.

How often do the rollers on a cable drag system need to be lubricated or replaced?
The service life of energy supply rollers generally depends on the roller material and the external environment. Free-running or unprotected rollers are susceptible to external influences. In energy chain systems, rollers are integrated into the chain link and "lubricated for life" with a seawater-resistant grease. Such a system does not need to be replaced over the entire service life.

Can I also use the E4/4 roller chain in machine tools?
The E4/4 roller chain is known from the crane industry, among others. But what does it have to do with machine tools? High loads, long travel distances and dynamic behaviour - this description often applies to x-axis in machine tools. The 5050RHD roller chain, for example, enables travel distances of 10-800 metres with a maximum additional load of 30 kg/m. With an inner height of 80 mm, this chain can still be used dynamically. For example, amax is 50 m/s² and vmax 6 m/s.

Does the E4/4 roller chain fit my machine?
We have four different inner heights, up to 7 radii, up to 42 widths, two reinforced variants and everything is still available as e-tube from stock to ensure that it fits your machine. To be sure that the chain is used optimally, we recommend having it designed by an expert from igus®. They will check the filling carefully and also design the corresponding trough directly for you. In most cases, we can also make a reliable service life prediction based on our test data, which gives you and your system safety.
To summarise, this means that the E4/4 roller chain is a tried and tested system. It can therefore be used without any problems wherever the technical parameters are met.