Cable carrier suitable for long travels and hot chips

Horizontal guide system for CNC-turning machine

The Spanish machine manufacturer Tornos Gurutzpe S.A., based in Guipúzcoa, has delivered well over 5,000 machines within half a century. His latest horizontal lathe, the "A-2000 4G CNC", is equipped with a new energy chain solution for long, self-supporting travel distances in the chip area.

Profile

What was needed: double-barreled "guidelok" energy chains
Requirements: particularly long travel distances, high reliability of energy and signal routing
Industry: Mechanical engineering
Success for the customer: robust and reliable energy supply system, perfectly tailored to the application

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Problem

52 years ago, the success story of a now world-famous manufacturer of horizontal lathes began. We are talking about the Spanish machine manufacturer Tornos Gurutzpe S.A. Lathe manufacturer Gurutzpe specializes in custom-made products for customers with often special requirements. In addition to prismatic lathes, Gurutzpe also builds four-guide machines, for example, which allow extremely flexible applications. As a rule, these are equipped with fixed or hydraulic bezels and other accessories of the last generation. The market demand is increasingly tending towards large and long lathes. Gurutzpe has already built lathes with a length of 20 m. With these dimensions, of course, energy supply systems are also needed that can enable the particularly long travel distances associated with them. But these were not the only prerequisites in this application: The worldwide buyers of lathes attach great importance to 3 things: reliability, stiffness and efficiency. For its horizontal lathe, the "A-2000 4G CNC", Gurutzpe was finally looking for an energy and single supply solution that could meet these requirements.

Solution

For the new horizontal lathe "A-2000 4G CNC", of which a first model has now been delivered to a customer in the wind energy sector, Tornos Gurutzpe S.A. opted for two double-barreled "guidelok" energy chains from igus. Over a length of 13.5 m, the two opposing energy chains are self-supporting connected to the sled. The new energy chain solution from igus has been specially developed for long travel distances of up to 50 m in the self-supporting chip area. The guidelok system guides the upper run of the energy chain on swiveling roller seats, which fold in the movable radius of the chain and thus always guarantee an unhindered journey. Guided in a light channel, the energy chain first passes the reel seats. These then swivel in and out again according to the radius. The upper run then lays down on the reel seats. Thanks to this innovative design, no chips can get stuck between the sliding surfaces of the upper and lower run of the energy chain.

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The energy chain is robust, torsion-resistant and runs reliably.

Joaquín Orbegozo

Head of Electrical Engineering at Gurutzpe

Modern and resistant plastic instead of heavy steel

Joaquín Orbegozo, Head of Electrical Engineering at Gurutzpe, is convinced of the advantages of horizontal "guide locomotive" guidance. "The energy chain is robust, torsion-resistant and runs reliably." The mechanical engineering company also makes this clear to its customers. "Sometimes someone says I'd like to have this or that machine - but please with an energy chain made of metal." Then Joaquín Orbegozo stands on the lighter but highly stable plastic energy chain, jumps up and down and demonstrates that it can easily withstand the weight of a grown man. If another customer is concerned that the hot chips produced during metalworking could eat through the plastic, he quickly grabs the soldering iron and attaches it to the energy chain.
"Plastic energy chains have many advantages over metal versions," explains Matthias Meier, Managing Director of igus S.L. "Steel is expensive, much too heavy and also starts to rust at some point." Plastic energy chains are also faster and easier to install, says Meier, which saves the customer time and money.