Guide Troughs Support e-chain® Cable Carriers Traveling Long Distances

A guide trough is a physical channel designed to protect, support, and reduce friction for cable carriers. Guide troughs are commonly used in long travel applications such as cranes in ports and industrial environments.

Guide troughs:

• Enable cable carriers to travel long distances in a linear path.
• Prevent cable carriers from moving side-to-side which could negatively impact the service life.
• Offer enhanced protection from abrasions at high speeds.

Consider:

• The environmental conditions (exposure to chemicals, saltwater, or extreme temperatures).
• Required strength and load-bearing capacity.
• Installation area and application space.
• Ease of installation and maintenance.

igus® guide troughs can be configured with lengths in 2m segments, and heights from 3.03 in – 9.29 in (77mm – 236mm) for aluminum and 2.76 in – 18.9 in (70mm – 480mm) for steel.

• Base: Supports cable carrier movement and provides a stable foundation.
• Cable carrier: Protects and organizes the cables, preventing tangling and damage.
• Glide bars: Reduces the amount of chain and cable needed in a full system.
• Silencer profile: Minimizes operational noise.
• Floating moving end: Enables force-free run of cable carriers in the trough, extending lifetime.

• Ensure the area is clear and level for proper alignment.
• Use manufacturer-recommended fasteners and support spacing.
• Properly secure and organize cables inside the trough with a cable carrier.
• Consider future cable expansion; oversize the trough if possible.

• The height of the guide trough should be at least twice the cable carrier's link height.
• Each side should have a minimum of 2mm of clearance from the cable carrier.
• Determine the travel length of the chain plus the overlength.
• Half of the trough length (rounded up) should have glide bars if the cable carrier is center mounted.
• Our e-chain® configurator can determine the length and quantities necessary for your application.

Glide bars are made of low-friction polymers assembled into the guide trough. Cable carriers glide upon this highly abrasion resistant material to reduce wear and noise when the fixed end of the cable carrier is in the center of travel.