User reportLightweight energy chain for CNC glass cutting machine in XXL format

• What was needed: energy chain type E6.52, roller energy chain type 3838R as well as a twisterband for 360° rotations and the vertical lift of the overhead loader.
• Requirements: Low weight, smooth movement, low noise, robustness for travelling up to 11 m
• Sector: Glass industry, cutting machines
• Success for the customer: The energy chain enables the desired high productivity of the system at low cost and low noise levels. After the tests, the installation was also able to prove itself in practical use at the customer's premises.

The Turomas-Tecnocat Group has dedicated itself to the construction of machines for the glass cutting process. While the company's glass cutting machines could previously only process glass with a maximum length of 6 metres, this system is the first in the world to store, transport and process workpieces as long as 12 metres.
The huge glass processing machine consists of an automated warehouse, an overhead loading station with suction cups, a swivelling table that picks up the glass from the loading station and sends it to the cutting table, as well as two swivelling and synchronised unloading tables for picking up the glass.
Both the cutting tables, or more precisely the bridge and the cutting tool, and the overhead loader required an energy chain for safe cable routing. Due to the long travel distances, particularly long chain versions were required that could also cope with the high acceleration and speed of the cutting table's linear motors. Due to the dimensions, these should be as lightweight as possible and still ensure stable but also low-noise movement.
As the loading station rotates around itself for transport from the bearing to the cutting table, it should be equipped with a rotating cable guide.
Overall, the aim was to create a system that guarantees high productivity and reliability at low cost.

For the cutting table of the XXL glass processing machine, the machine manufacturer opted for an energy chain of type E6.52 (E6.52.100.100) with a length of 4 m in the Y-axis (cutting tool) and a roller energy chain of type 3838R (3838R.12.150.0) with a length of 8 m in the X-direction (bridge).
The axes move with linear motors that ensure an acceleration of 16 m/s2 and a speed of 212 m/min. The e-chain® placed in both axes supports this performance and also ensures low-noise movement of the glass cutting machine. In addition to the cutting table, the energy chains were also integrated into the overhead loader, where they have to keep up with the complex movements. Three chain systems were installed here: One for transporting the glass sheets on a 40 m travel, another for an 11 m long travel and a third rotating energy supply, which follows both the rotation of the loader and the vertical lift. The so-called twisterband has been developed for rotary movements in the smallest of spaces and allows 360° rotation.
The energy chain enables the desired high productivity of the system at low cost and low noise levels to ensure optimum working conditions. This also increases the safety of the system, which works with fragile material. Following the tests, the installation was also able to prove itself in practical use at the customer's premises. At the time of the last inspection, it had been in continuous production for a whole year without any incidents or the need for extraordinary maintenance work.