What does the chainflex® "class"(ification) mean?

For over 20 years, igus® has been providing cables under the chainflex® brand for continuous motion within e-chain® cable carriers. chainflex® cables are uniquely suited to work reliably within e-chains® above all else.

To achieve this, chainflex® cables must meet demanding requirements in all e-chain® applications, such as small bending radii, high cycle frequencies, small installation spaces, exposure to various chemicals, and other dynamic parameters.

igus® rigorously tests all chainflex® cables at our in-house technical center and test lab. The results of these tests ultimately lead to all cables being given a specific classification. Each "class" is based on the following four criteria: basic requirements, travel length, oil resistance, and torsion.

chainflex® class is composed of:

chainflex® class is composed of:

chainflex classification

Basic Requirements  1 to 7
Travel Distance  1 to 6
Ouil Resistance  1 to 4
Torsion  1 to 4

Basic Requirements

1: Flexible cables
2: Highly flexible cables
3: Chain-suitable cables without special structure (e.g. stranding in layers) for use in e-chains®.
4: Cables with special design for continuous movement in e-chains®, medium stressing, radii from 7.5 x d, speeds up to 3 m/s
5: Cables for continuous movement in e-chains®, heavy duty use, radius from 6.8 x d, speeds up to 10 m/s
6: Cables for continuous movement in e-chains® for heavy-duty use, for radii from 5 x d, speeds up to 10 m/s
7: Cables for continuous movement in e-chains® for heavy-duty use, indoor and outdoor applications, for radii from 4 x d, speeds greater than 10 m/s

Travel

1: unsupported
 
2: Travels up to 10 m
 
3: Travels up to 20 m
 
4: Travels up to 50 m
 
5: Travels up to 100 m
 
6: Travels up to 400 m and more

Oil resistance

1: No resistance to oil
 
2: Oil-resistant according to DIN EN 50363-4-1
 
3: Oil-resistant according to DIN EN 50363-10-2
 
4: Oil-resistant according to DIN EN 60811-2-1, bio-oil-resistant according to VDMA 24568 with Plantocut 8 S-MB of DEA

Torsion

1: No torsion
 
2: ±90°, with 1 m cable length
 
3: ±180°, with 1 m cable length
 
4: ±360°, with 1 m cable length

In theory the following classes would be possible: lowest "Class 1.1.1.1", highest "Class 7.6.4.4"

Example: You are looking for a cable which meets the highest mechanical requirements, meets oil resistance requirements in accordance with DIN EN 50363-10-2, travels up to 100m in an unsupported gliding application, and doesn't require any torsional movement. The classification would be as follows:
 
Basic requirements: 6
Travel distance: 5
Resistance to oil: 3
Torsion: 1

This results in the rating of the cable – "Class 6.5.3.1" in this case – which you can also find in the respective product pages.