Flexible energy chains as cable guidance for riveting robots for aircraft construction

LOXIN, a member of the ARITEX Group, was looking for a suitable power supply solution for the multi-axis robots. However, the problem lay in finding a cable solution that was reliable, robust and trustworthy. This was further complicated by the large number and resulting high weight of the cables to be fed. The tools at the end effector of the robots are connected to numerous power, pneumatic and data cables. These cables must be able to follow the contortions of the arm perfectly, even at high speeds. LOXIN had used conventional corrugated tubes in the past, but these did not prove to be a solution. Due to the rapid wear caused by friction, they broke in many places, which would have led to the entire pipe being replaced during operation, including dismantling the pipe. The result: several days of machine downtime.

LOXIN opted for our triflex® range. The hose-like protective cages made of wear-resistant plastic follow even the most extreme 3D movements of industrial robots. The cables are protected against mechanical stress caused by tensile load, twisting and expansion. With the triflex® RSE retraction system, the energy chains move close to the arm and therefore do not hit the aircraft. If the robot arm returns to its starting position after a movement, the mechanical system retracts the chain. The robot arm is guaranteed complete freedom of movement without parts of the chain rubbing against each other or forming loops. If a chain link reaches the end of its service life, it can be replaced quickly and easily.
Another of our energy chain systems, the twisterchain®, is used on the robot arm. It protects the cable from the base of the robot arm to the first axis and moves in a guide trough. When the robot arm rotates, the chain folds so that the upper run of the chain lies on the lower run.
In this way, a circular movement of up to 540° at speeds of up to 1 m/s is realised. The twisterchain® is extremely wear-resistant and has a proven service life of over one million cycles.