Parallel running energy chain solves space problem in machine tool

• What was needed: E2/000-energy chain of the 2600 and 2700 series
• Requirements: Tight installation space requiring reverse bending of the energy chain solution, hot chips
• Industry: Machine tool construction, metal processing
• Success for the customer: Reverse bend radius of the energy chain enables cable routing in the tightest of spaces, telescopic cover moves flexibly with the chain and protects against flying chips, long service life and easy access to the cable minimise maintenance costs

Yamazaki Mazak Corp. is a leading machine manufacturer specialising in machine tools for metal processing. The Japanese plant manufacturer was looking for a new concept for energy and signal routing for an existing plant, which was to be used in the processing area of the plant. A self-supporting horizontal solution had previously been used here, but this offered no protection from the hot swarf that could fall onto the cable routing and cables at any time during metalworking, resulting in high maintenance costs. Another problem in the system was the design-related tight installation space in which the cable solution had to be realised and which required a tight bend radius. At the same time, a large number of media had to be routed simultaneously.

Due to the large number of cables to be guided, the narrow bend radius and the tight installation space in the machine, the decision was made to use two energy chains simultaneously, which perform their work in parallel side by side. To be more precise, E2/000-energy chains from the 2600 and 2700 series are used, which enable a reverse bend radius and thus the special movement required by the tight installation space.
The special feature of the system, however, is the use of a telescopic cover that protects against flying chips in the system and at the same time flexibly follows the complex movement of the e-chain®.
The e-chain® itself is particularly robust and guarantees a long service life. This minimises maintenance work and costs. And if problems do occur, all cables can be accessed quickly and easily thanks to the open design of the 2600 and 2700 series.