High-temperature energy tube as an energy supply system in a CNC machining centre

• What was needed: E4 chain system, E4/4 energy tube, hybrid linear bearing and polymer rotary table bearing
• Requirements: slim machining centres require compact for energy supply and narrow bend radius, there are also long travel distances, temperature and chemical resistance had to be provided
• Industry: machine tool manufacturing
• Success for the customer: trouble-free supply of the systems with energy, data and media; robust, compact and easy-to-handle energy supply reduces maintenance and machine downtimes to a minimum, new product development of a new high-temperature material for the special requirements on site

The international company Niles-Simmons Industrieanlagen GmbH focuses its business activities on the research, development, manufacture and sale of machine tools.
Typical products are horizontal CNC lathes, CNC turning-milling-drilling machining centres and high-precision milling centres. The machining centres always have a compact, very ergonomic and user-friendly design.
This is also the case, for example, with the "N 30 MC" CNC machining centre, which is used for turning, milling and drilling truck and large crankshafts, among other things. Workpieces up to a length of 4.5 metres can be machined economically. The tailstock located in the interior is positioned automatically and is used to support long turned parts by means of a centre point that engages in the centring hole drilled into the front of the workpiece.
The approx. 4 metre long energy supply system in the work area is subject to adverse ambient conditions. In addition to long travel distances, narrow bend radius and high additional loads, temperature and chemical resistance must also be ensured. Turning, milling and drilling also produce glowing chips that can burn in and thus impair the functionality of the systems in the long term. In the past, the majority of our customers required a metal chain for the work area," explains Group Manager Michael Kamm. "But that wasn't what we wanted, because on the one hand it's unwieldy and on the other it's far too heavy after filling. We prefer lightweight plastic that is permanently resistant to hot chips and high temperatures."
This led to the requirement to develop a material that is resistant to swarf, chemicals and high temperatures. In addition, the cable carrier solution needed to be lightweight so that it could accommodate a corresponding filling.

To this end, the company has been working with igus® for many years. Numerous different products from igus® are installed in Niles-Simmons' machine tools and machining centres. These include hybrid linear bearings and tribologically optimised polymer rotary table bearings. They are lubricant- and maintenance-free and are used, for example, for auxiliary movements to guide the sliding magazine doors and to move the control panel. Secondly, Niles-Simmons also relies on plastic-energy chains from igus®, which guide and protect cables and hoses and thus supply the machines with energy, data and media without interference.
Due to the hot chips in the application, a material that can withstand this load was developed and extensively tested under real conditions in the igus® laboratory. With "igumid® HT", a material was then presented in which hot chips up to 850 °C simply bounce off the energy chain. Since then, the material has been used in the interior of the machining centres.
Specifically, robust energy supply systems from the "E4" universal chain system are predominantly used in the machining centres. The "E4/4" closed energy supply tube is primarily used in the interior of the "N 30 MC" CNC machining centre. Turned 90° sideways, it proves its suitability for everyday use in harsh environments. The so-called rear grip between two chain links increases the compressive forces and rigidity and provides the necessary stability. As the cables remain accessible at all times after insertion into the tube, maintenance and machine downtimes are reduced to a minimum. And to keep the overall length of the system as short as possible, the energy supply system rolls up around the corner outside the working area. This saves even more valuable space.