Motion plastics specialist igus has announced that it now provides guaranteed temperature ratings for all chainflex cables operating in fixed and moving applications, as well as for cables in energy chains. The announcement follows the installation of a second climatic test chamber during the company’s recent test lab extension in Cologne, Germany.
“As part of our test lab extension to 2,750 square metres, the second 40-foot climatic test chamber enables us to carry out high and low temperature tests simultaneously," explained Justin Leonard, the-chain director, igus. “This separation gives us more precise test results, which enables us to provide our customers with a guaranteed service-life for our chainflex cables – whether running at -40degC or +60degC.”
In each of the test chambers, energy chains are populated with cables and tested under real-life conditions at various speeds. The varying temperatures in applications under these conditions are as different as the problems that can arise. In the case of extremely low temperatures, jacket ruptures are the biggest challenge. Excessive heat, on the other hand, can run the risk of distorting the core formation. As a result, for example, single strand breakage or the so-called 'corkscrew' effect can occur. In addition, problems associated with condensing water caused by rapid temperature changes can be highlighted.
“We not only provide the information on the specific temperatures in which a cable is suitable for fixed installation, as well as for the movement according to the standard cold winding test, we can also specify a temperature for each chainflex cable in which the cable can move with guaranteed reliability in an e-chain,” added Leonard.