igus® energy chain systems® E6.1 - quiet, clean, fast and stable
High dynamics, quieter, lighter, easier to open
System E6.1 is frequently the top choice when e-chains® are needed for cleanrooms, maximum dynamics, or low noise level. The easy accessibility and the high stability for this category render the E6.1 family as a specialist for highly demanding tasks.
1... Double lock
High retention forces, easy to open... high holding force
... can be quickly opened with screwdriver
Dual lock
Proven and extremely secure snap-open system. You loosen the crossbar by two simple lever movements. The crossbars thus reliably hold even with thick filling and can still be easily opened.
igus® tested
Rip-off test
The max. holding force of each crossbar is verified using practical pull-out test. This can also take place under the influence of oil or other liquids.
Application example
System E6 in a large-scale plotter
High accelerations at no vibration and abrasion, and reliable cable seating
2... Notching on the opening crossbars
For notched separators on applications rotated sidewaysDetails of working principle
Notching in the opening crossbars
The notching in the opening crossbars permits the use of notched separators. These remain reliably in their position even on applications traveling on the side. Cables cannot be crimped.
igus® tested
Cable wear
We conduct long-term tests on all chainflex® cables for wear, and therefore service life, in continuously moving operation. We also test customer-specific cables in order to predict the system service life.
Application example
E6 e-chain® and chainflex® measurement system cables for large machining centre
Numerous chainflex® cables neatly laid and mounted turned 90° in an E6 e-chain®. The interaction of energy chain® material and jacket material is a decisive factor for the service life.
3... Opening crossbars, open from left or right side
For quick insertion of the cables from both sides... easily accessible from above or below
... also pivoting on Series E61.29
Details of working principle
Pivoting crossbars
Crossbars on the E61.29 e-chain® are easy to pivot open and completely removable. This helps the easy insertion of cables. The crossbars on other E6.1 Series can be opened from left and right and are removable.
igus® tested
New snap-open mechanism, Series E61.29 optionally snaps open on left or right sides
Application example
Drastically reduce assembly time. Quick insertion of cables and hoses saves valuable assembly time and therefore money.
4...Plastic-Metal mounting brackets
Flexible and reliable connection in any direction... Fastening in any direction
... Optionally retrofitted with integrated C rail for installing a strain relief
Details of working principle
Flexible and reliable mounting
Fastening options in any direction – above, below, or front face. Pressed-in steel bushings for a reliable fit. Optimum connection to the e-chain® due to the same shape and material.
igus® tested
Circumferential mounting brackets, optionally with matching strain relief. Flexible mounting options and reliable connection in any direction
Application example
Mounted on the front-face with customer pre-assembled angle brackets on this large-scale plotter
5.1... Heavy-duty fastener
For long-lasting, reliable force absorptionDetails of working principle
Fasteners from special purpose materials
A highly-flexible fastener made from the special purpose material, igumid TE, ensures a reliable, long-lasting connection between E6.1 chain links. The special-purpose material is extremely flexible and is suited for a nearly unlimited number of bending cycles.
igus® tested
IEE Cologne - Expert opinion
Expert opinion: Suitability testing of
igus® energy chains of type E6.29.
for use in pick and place machinery
Expert opinion by the Electrical Energy Technology Institute confirmed that the fasteners reliably last for 1.8 bn cycles. As many as 3.8 bn cycles can be expected.
Application example
System E6 in an automatic extraction system.
Machines CD s leeves in a fraction of a second: Tool open, gripper on. Tool closed. All in 0.25 seconds, speed 8 m/s, acceleration: 78.5 m/s2
5.2... Heavy-duty fastener
For low abrasion valuesDetails of working principle
Nearly friction-free fasteners
The fasteners between the chain links replace the classic pin/bore connection This drastically reduces abrasion. Applications in rooms with high cleanroom classes become possible.
igus® tested
Cables and energy chains® with ISO Class 1 (IPA)
e-chainssystems® E6.1, certified according to DIN EN ISO Class 1, by the Fraunhofer IPA Institute. About 82% of all chainflex® catalogue cables are certified according to ISO Class 1 or Class 2 IPA . (847 chainflex® cables with tested outer jacket material available from stock)
Application example
Circuit board pick and place
Micro-processor technology demands an absolutely dust-free environment. In addition to executing pick and place cycles at extreme speeds, this represents a considerable challenge for energy supply systems, which the igus® E6 e-chainsystem® masters in stride.
6... Inner/outer link design
For straight run and high parallelism and high stability... alternating inner and outer links ensure very straight tracking
... accurate parallelism of the e-chain® bands support the long service life
Details of working principle
Inner-/outer link principle
The alternating inner and outer link mechanism has an enormous advantage. The outside dimensions of both sides are exactly the same size and absolutely parallel.
igus® tested
Inner/outer link design in all E6.1 e-chains®.
Application example
Assembly on site on long travel
High-speed camera travel requires high stability and smooth e-chain® travel
7... Small pitch, quiet run
Low-vibration and very low-noise operation, as low as 33 dB(A)Details of working principle
The "polygon effect" describes that many small elements create a rounder shape than few large ones. The particularly small pitch of the E6.1 ensures very "round" tracking behaviour. This reduces vibration to a minimum and enables maximum precision. At the same time, the rolling noise is significantly reduced.
igus® tested
Test 4076: Sound ranging 37 dB(A)
Series E61.29 was subjected to a sound measurement by the igus® lab with the result that the already good values of the E6.29 were improved by an additional 3 dB(A)
Application example
Large-scale plotter
System E6 is particularly well-suited for plotters and printers, since the quiet and low-vibration operation and cleanroom compatibility guarantee a clean print image.
8... Cable-friendly interior separation
Rounded contours for an increased service-life... nearly halve the cable wear
... less parts, more possibilities
Details of working principle
Cable friendly polymer crossbars
Smooth, cable-friendly and rounded contour provides for a long service life of the cables and hoses. In addition, a better and more cable-friendly interior separation can now be implemented with less standardized components.
igus® tested
Wear tests
With the new rounded separators, the wear of the cables could be almost halved.
Application example
Here the rounded plastic crossbars assist in increasing the service life of cables
9... opens along the inner and outer radius
For quick insertion of the cables from both sides... easily accessible from above and below
... also pivoting on Series E61.29
Details of working principle
The e-chain® E6.1 has opening crossbars that can be removed along the inner radius as well as the outer radius. This simplifies access to, and the insertion of cables and hoses into the e-chain®.
igus® tested
New snap-open mechanism, Series E61.29 optionally snaps open on left or right sides
Application example
Drastically reduce assembly time. Quick insertion of cables and hoses saves valuable assembly time and therefore money.
10... Cable-friendly plastic crossbars
For even higher service life of the cables through rounded design... Cables have the longest durability with plastic crossbars
... no plastic deformation with external impact force
Details of working principle
Cable friendly polymer crossbars
Smooth, cable-friendly inner contour and rounded crossbars provide for a long service life of the cables and hoses. The combination of the tribo-optimized plastic of the crossbars with the jacket material of the used cables proves to be the best matching pair for the service life of cables in tests.
igus® tested
Cable wear in plastic crossbars: Jacket materials of different materials show the best wear results in plastic crossbars. Moreover, compared to aluminum crossbars, these are not subject to plastic deformation with external impact force.
Application example
Cable-compatible inner separation and opening crossbars guarantee a long service life for cables and the entire system for this large-scale plotter.
11... Few parts, made from one material
Assembled quickly, high dynamics, and uniform material expansionDetails of working principle
The use of plastic in all components of the energy chain guarantees that the material exhibits uniform behaviour in response to temperature variations. This ensures consistently high precision and dynamics.
igus® tested
Few components for fast assembly. Even tight and uniform tolerances are standard, since all components are made from the same material
Application example
Large-scale printers have extreme demands on constant precision. Vibrations in the energy supply system that can occur due to non-uniform material expansion must be avoided.
12... 1,030 chainflex® cables from stock
from 1 m, no cutting costs, no minimum quantities …
chainflex® works or your money back
Details of working principle
Variety in cables
Flexible cables in energy chains or robots need special characteristics to last through many cycles, high speeds and accelerations, as well as demanding environmental conditions. Yet another requirement is that EMV safety standards, as well as NFPA 79, UL, CSA, VDE, Inter- and Profibus standards are met. The igus® chainflex® product range covers energy-chain friendly control cables, servo cables, motor cables, as well as robot cables and also bus cables, data cables, encoder cables and fiber optic cables
igus® tested
Complex tests of all chainflex® cables in moving operation
All chainflex® cables are always tested in practice. This means in the e-chain® or in motion, such as here in the igus® climate chamber at -40°C.
Application example
Harnessed E6 systems with matching chainflex® cables
Available as a matching cable for cleanroom applications (more than 800 cables with Class 1 or 2 IPA certification) or for reliable functionality in any direction. Machines and plants must be reliably supplied with media, energy, and signals in each individual working position, which requires high durability and reliability of the cables.
13... Few components, modular design
Can be separated and joined at any locationDetails of working principle
Easy assembly without tools
All igus® e-chains® can be assembled and disassembled by hand or with a simple slotted screwdriver. This facilitates chain link replacement at any time and at any position of the e-chain®, and the ability to shorten and extend the e-chain®.
igus® tested
Faster assembly due to few components
The straightforward design and the fact that a simple screw driver is sufficient for assembly renders igus® e-chain® assembly particularly easy and fast.
Application example
E61.29 at the igus® test laboratory
Tests are set up and adjusted with speed and ease. Here is an abrasion test that tests wear on long travels.
14... Small springs on the fasteners
Dampens stop dog contact noiseDetails of working principle
Tabs as noise dampers
Small tabs on the fasteners between the E6.1 chain links ensure that the contact noise of the links is dampened. This dramatically reduces the noise profile in the e-chain® radius. In combination with the small pitch, this accomplishes the low noise generated by the E6.1.
igus® tested
Study by the Machine Tools Laboratory and Business Operations (WZL) at RWTH Aachen on "Vibration Tests in Energy Supply Chains". Results: The "E6" energy supply system made by igus® GmbH, Cologne, is characterised by extreme low vibration and smooth operation.
Application example
Quiet operation on camera applications
Low-vibration and quiet operation is particularly important on camera applications Vibrations in the image and distracting audio noises must be prevented.
15... Without pretension
With a simple turn of the inner link...solve a no-camber configuration with the same e-chain®
...no (thermal) post-processing, available from stock
Details of working principle
No pre-tensioning
Due to simple turning of the inner links, an e-chain® with pretension can be quickly turned into an NC version. NC versions are needed for special applications, e.g. in suspended applications and confined spaces.
igus® tested
Special products, e.g. for storage and retrieval units, are also tested here, for instance the guidelok slimline F system that prevents the e-chains® from swinging out in storage and retrieval units.
Application example
guidelok slimline at the igus® trade fair booth
e-chains® without camber are used in suspended applications, as shown at trade fairs with the guidelok slimline F.
Sample order
More than 100,000 products available! Delivery and consultation Mon-Fri from 7am-8pm and Sat from 8am-12pm!