Flexible 3D energy chains as cable routing to riveting robots for aircraft construction

LOXIN, a member of the ARITEX Group, was looking for a suitable solution for the energy supply system for the multi-axis robots. The problem, however, was to find a line solution that was reliable, resilient and trustworthy at the same time. This was aggravated by a high number and the resulting high weight of the cables to be routed. The tools on the end effector of the robots are connected to numerous energy, pneumatic and data cables. These cables must be able to perfectly follow the dislocations of the arm, even at high speed. LOXIN used conventional corrugated pipes in the past, but these did not turn out to be a solution. Due to the rapid wear due to friction, they are broken in many places, which would have led to the entire replacement of the pipe including line dismantling during operation. The result: several days of machine downtime.

LOXIN chose 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 thus do not hit the aircraft. If the robot arm returns to its original position after movement, the mechanical system retracts the chain. The robot arm is guaranteed full freedom of movement without parts of the chain rubbing against each other or forming loops. Should a chain link reach the end of its service life, quick and easy replacement is possible. With the twisterchain, another energy chain system from us is used on the robot arm. It protects cables from the foot of the robot arm to the first axis, moving in a guide trough. When the robot arm rotates, the chain folds so that the upper run of the chain rests on the lower trot. In this way, a circular movement of up to 540° is realized at speeds of up to 1 m/s. The twisterchain is extremely wear-resistant and the proven service life is over one million cycles.