Smooth operation with energy chains in automatic stamping/bending machines

The RM-no camber and GRM-no camber high-speed servo machines from Otto Bihler Maschinenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG produce up to 300 precision parts per minute and offer customers the invaluable advantage that they are fully compatible with the widely used mechanical machines in the RM and GRM series. The Bihler machines work with servo-drive technology, a sophisticated control technology with intuitive operation. The servo drives of the individual units ensure high-precision and fast punching and bending processes.
During the development of the new machines, the question of the energy supply to the six units also arose. As the arrangement of the units in relation to each other is not fixed, the energy supply system must be very flexible - not only in terms of manoeuvrability, but also in terms of length. In addition, the movements of the energy supply units in relation to each other are not defined. Because the space required in or on the machine is limited, the energy supply system must not take up too much installation space. And during punching and bending, sharp and pointed punching residues can occur at any time, which could block the energy chain or damage the cable.

Bihler's design engineers tested various energy supply systems. The E2/000-energy chain from igus® proved to be the best in combination with the chainflex® cable . For the chains that move underneath the tools, a partially closed design is used, which is additionally protected with a fabric hose. This prevents punching residue from getting into the chain. The energy chains in the upper and lower sections have zones with a reverse bend radius so that they can adapt to any desired position in a space-saving manner. The cables used are chainflex® servo cable type CF270.UL.D and encoder cables type CF113.027.D on the units and for the adjustment
drive. The Bihler plant personnel require six energy chains per machine, which are not only filled with the comparatively heavy servo cable and signal cable, but also with hose for cooling and lubricant. Each of the six chains has a different length and a defined configuration. And because Bihler wants to be just as fast and flexible in its own assembly as the users of the Bihler servo machines are in their work, igus® supplies a set of six pre-filled and pre-assembled chains as "readychains" in a readychain® rack specially developed for this purpose.

The E2/000 chains are not the only energy chain application in the world's fastest servo stamping and forming machines. Customers can order the machines with additional units, which are mounted directly onto the existing units on a second level. This option is also frequently utilised by customers. The servo drives of these units are then supplied with energy, signals and coolant - again on a second level - using three-dimensionally movable triflex® R chains from the igus® programme. The chains are then mounted outside the machine housing. Plain bearings from the igus® portfolio are also used in the RM-no camber and GRM-no camber: The linear axis of the complete press unit moves with a drylin® linear unit.