Automated loading of machining centres with the help of harnessed energy chains

• What was needed: Reliable solution for the automated loading of the MH HEIDI machining centre
• Requirements: Space-saving solution and small bending radii, high load capacity, dynamics
• Product: readychain assembled energy chain
• Area of application: Machine tool
• Success for the customer: Time savings during assembly, reliable machine operation in automatic mode thanks to the ready-to-install cable carrier system with system guarantee

About MH HEIDI: Storage systems with articulated robots and a large amount of space are often used for the automated loading of machining centres and rotary transfer machines - a very efficient but usually also complex solution. With MH HEIDI, SEMA Maschinenbau GmbH has developed a particularly sophisticated and powerful telescopic arm solution for loading standard machines from a wide range of manufacturers. The special feature: The telescopic arm can cantilever out to two sides, allowing the system to supply two machine tools.
The load capacity of the telescopic arm is 400kg with an overhang of up to 1,700mm on both sides.

A few design tricks are necessary to realise the double-sided extension of the telescopic arm. The energy chain used plays a key role here. This must be able to withstand the requirements in terms of weight, travelling speed and compactness and enable high dynamics in order to ensure that the telescopic arm can be extended on both sides.

It was also important for SEMA to create as many storage locations as possible in the system, which is why the handling system had to be as compact as possible. Initial solutions with individual chains for each telescopic axis could not be realised. A suitable solution had to be found.

Due to the requirements in terms of weight, travelling speed and compactness, the choice quickly fell on an energy chain from the E4.38 series, whose low weight makes the required dynamics possible. Due to the limited installation space, two chains from this series were ultimately combined and used in an S-shape with very tight bending radii - a kind of particularly sharp S-curve.

As the energy chain guide has to return to the home position independently after each loading cycle in order to avoid collisions during subsequent movements, the two chains were mounted together rotated by 180 degrees in order to achieve manoeuvrability in both directions and, at the same time, inherent stability of the chain.

The tight installation situation resulted in the subsequent problem that the small bending radius of the chain was too small for the cables used. For this reason, the cables were also purchased from igus - preassembled as readycables. The chain and cables were used as a ready-to-install readychain system. The advantages for SEMA were the system guarantee and the time savings.