Fibre optics for mechanical engineering

Transmitting data volumes quickly and without interference
The technical requirements for energy supply systems in mechanical and plant engineering demand functionally reliable cables. igus® The company , Cologne, is increasingly relying on glass fibre optic cables, which allow very high data volumes with increasing cable lengths. The "chainflex® CFLG.2HG" product family is now available as sold by the metre or assembled with connectors from stock.

Fibre optic cable in industrial use

The company MACH4 Automatisierungstechnik in Bochum develops, produces and sells automated medicine storage systems for pharmacies and hospitals. Fibre optic cables have been used in the energy supply systems in all installations from the very beginning.
In the meantime, the CFLG.2HG.MF from igus® has been operating in well over 300 systems for eight years without any problems.

Dirk Beils, CEO of MACH4:
"The interference immunity of the fibre optic cable against electromagnetic influences as well as the absolutely secure data transmission and high data transmission rate play a decisive role here. Added to this is the higher stability of fibre optic cables compared to copper cables." Durst Phototechnik AG, a global leader in the field of photo printers and large-format inkjet printers, has a similar view. In their Austrian plant in Lienz (East Tyrol), prefabricated igus® fibre optic cables are used. Reinhard Schneeberger from the design department: "We are very satisfied with this solution. It enables us to realise the required high transmission rates and image data to the respective print heads."

Tested for 60,000 kilometres

The glass fibre optic cable of the CFLG.2HG series was also tested for two years in the igus®® energy chain laboratory. A travel of 2 m with a bend radius of only 100 mm and a speed of 2.5 m/s was selected. Even after more than 30 million movements in the energy chain - that is 60,000 kilometres - no technically relevant increases in attenuation were detected. The end of the test is not yet in sight.

Here you can find the products used

You can find more interesting applications from a wide range of areas here

Application examples for chainflex® cable