Plastic parts for the machine tools industry

igus supports motion throughout CNC machines and machine tools, particularly the supporting systems around the primary cutting process. Solutions span cable and hose management, linear and vertical motion, rotary and indexing motion, and pivoting, sliding and wear, with components for moving energy supply, doors, panels, auxiliary positioning, bearings and wear surfaces.

Visitors can explore these motion solutions, browse by machine type, or view machine tool applications to see how multiple igus technologies work together.

igus solutions are used across machining centers, turning, milling and grinding machines, laser, plasma and water jet cutting systems, and gantry and large machine tools.

The right solution can vary significantly with machine size, travel, dynamics, installation space and exposure to chips or coolant, so the Machine Tools site also lets users explore solutions by specific machine type.

Start with the movement and the environment. Important factors include:

• Linear, rotary, pivoting or multi-axis motion
• Load, speed, acceleration and travel
• Chips, coolant, dust and other contamination
• Installation space and maintenance access
• Required precision and service life

From there, the four machine tool motion solutions, application examples and igus configurators can help narrow the available options. Contamination is especially important because components that perform well in clean automation may require a very different approach inside a machine tool.

Moving cables and hoses, contamination, worn contact surfaces and difficult-to-service auxiliary mechanisms can all contribute to unexpected downtime.

A more reliable design looks at the complete motion system, including e-chain® cable carriers, chainflex® continuous-flex cables, bearings, guides and wear components. For critical energy supply systems, condition monitoring and predictive maintenance can provide additional insight into developing wear.

Chips, swarf, coolant and oil can damage cables, enter moving mechanisms, accelerate wear and make lubricated components more difficult to maintain.

Enclosed energy tubes can protect cables and hoses in heavily contaminated areas, while suitable drylin®, iglide® and wear solutions operate without external grease. Choosing components around the actual level of contamination is an important part of machine-tool design.

Reliable machine-tool cable management requires more than simply supporting the cables. Engineers need to consider bend radius, separation, strain relief, travel, speed, fill weight and environmental exposure.

e-chain® cable carriers guide and protect moving cables and hoses, while chainflex® continuous-flex cables are designed for repeated motion. readychain® systems can combine the carrier, cables, hoses and connectors into a pre-assembled system to simplify machine installation.

Gantry machines and large machining centers place greater demands on moving energy supply because long travels increase cable weight, sag and system forces.

Long-travel designs can use gliding e-chain® systems, guide troughs and additional support concepts to keep cables and hoses controlled over extended distances. Travel, speed, acceleration, fill weight and contamination should all be evaluated together when selecting the system.

Linear movement appears throughout machine tools in doors, covers, magazine systems, sensors, adjustment mechanisms and auxiliary positioning, as well as suitable compact or lighter-duty machine axes.

drylin® linear guides and actuators provide guidance and positioning, while dryspin® lead screws can generate controlled linear movement. The strongest fit is generally supporting motion where compact design, quiet operation, grease-free movement and lower maintenance are priorities.

Rotary motion appears in tool handling, fixtures, operator panels, automation equipment and other supporting mechanisms throughout the machine.

For suitable applications, iglide® PRT slewing rings, drygear® gears and gearboxes, igubal® bearings and xiros® ball bearings can support different types of rotary movement. High-precision machining axes have more demanding stiffness, accuracy and feedback requirements, so igus is generally best positioned around auxiliary rotary and indexing motion rather than every primary cutting axis.

Machine tools contain many smaller high-cycle motion points, including tool magazine joints, doors, guards, rollers, linkages, pivots and sliding surfaces.

Depending on the motion, solutions can include iglide® plain bearings, igubal® bearings, xiros® ball bearings, tribotape®, tribo-coatings and custom wear parts. These components can reduce friction and maintenance at motion points that sit outside the machine's primary axes.

Automation opportunities often occur around the machining process through machine tending, loading, doors, sensors, stops, tool handling and auxiliary positioning.

These systems can combine cable management, linear motion, rotary components and wear-resistant bearings. Retrofit projects can also use pre-assembled energy supply, replacement wear surfaces and custom polymer components to improve existing equipment without redesigning the entire machine.

Condition monitoring helps maintenance teams identify developing problems before they cause an unexpected shutdown. This becomes especially valuable as shops increase automation and unattended operation.

smart plastics solutions can monitor critical moving energy systems, while igus service life calculators and configurators help engineers evaluate components during the design stage. Together, these tools support more predictable maintenance from initial component selection through machine operation.