Vector Award winner
Robots drill and rivet on the aircraft fuselage
Every two years, Igus presents the Vector Award, which recognizes outstanding applications with energy chain systems. The golden Vector went to Loxin 2002 from Spain. In this application, two articulated robots work in the final assembly line of aircraft fuselages.
Two industrial robots work automatically in the final assembly of aircraft fuselages with a diameter of four meters and carry out work steps such as drilling and riveting: In the past, the main problem with this application was avoiding collisions between the robots and the aircraft fuselage, which could lead to dangerous damage to the aircraft.
Two three-dimensionally movable E-Chains from Igus are now used. They are attached in parallel to each side of the robot arms, allowing better mobility of the robot arms and greater accessibility to the aircraft fuselages despite the difficult geometries. This also means that more different cables and hoses for connecting elements can now be routed to the end effectors of the robots.
In addition, other energy chain systems with different geometries and directions of movement supply the robots. An application for which Loxin received the golden Vector and 5,000 euros in prize money at the Hannover Messe. The prize, which is awarded every two years, recognizes exciting and spectacular energy chain applications. This year, 187 different applications from 30 countries were submitted for participation. The jury is made up of representatives from the trade media, industry and research.
Irrigation and fertilizer supply
Silver was awarded for "Hummingbird", an innovation from Cordoba Technologies for the agricultural industry for irrigating and fertilizing fields. It replaces conventional individual machines, can be equipped with various sensors and has access to software that processes data relating to temperature, nutrients or disease infestation. This allows the substances to be sprayed to be adapted, mixed and distributed according to plant growth on a case-by-case basis.
The routing of cables and hoses is solved here by a micro-flizz system from Igus, in which an energy chain travels compactly in an enclosed aluminum channel.
Elevator with linear motors
Thyssenkrupp Elevator, one of the leading companies in the field of elevator technologies and services, has replaced the conventional ropes with linear motors. The linear drive and the guide rods can rotate through 90 degrees, allowing the cabins to be moved both vertically and horizontally.
This is the first time that energy guiding chains have been used for this type of application in the elevator sector. Two energy guiding chains, each running in opposite directions on a circular path and guided in a channel system, together with the corresponding cables from Igus, guarantee the necessary energy and data transmission to the rotating platform. The company thus secured the bronze Vector 2018. as
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