Complete indoor crane automation thanks to the i.Sense monitoring system

• What was needed: 4040CR.23.200.0 energy chain, chainflex® cable (CF77, CF27, CF113, CFBUS), complete smart plastic package, supplied as readycable®/readychain®
• Requirements: Low operating costs while maximising operational availability
• Industry: Wood processing industry / furniture production
• Success for the customer: Real-time monitoring of the status of the automatic crane's energy supply and significant reduction in the risk of downtime

The main task of the new TLF bearing is to ensure the continuous supply of production. The cutting plans are drawn up in advance so that the bearing can prepare the optimum plate feed, taking into account the remaining pieces.

The biggest challenge was to plan and install a reliable and predictive power supply that could fulfil the dynamic requirements in the often very hot and dusty warehouse. With a travel of over 60 metres and acceleration values of over 1 m/s², only a few technologies are suitable for this.

As significant savings in operating costs and maximum operational availability were also required in the subsequent utilisation of the system, only a future-oriented energy supply system that can map automatic operability in real time could be chosen.

As part of the modernisation of the automatic crane's power supply, igus® supplied a "readychain®" - a prefabricated 4040C series guide system equipped with separators and a set of appropriately placed cables and the pre-assembled cables: power, control system, signal, network and pneumatics.

As the operation of the crane is fully automatic, a i.Sensemonitoring system has been implemented, equipped with the EC.P tensile / shear force sensor for chains and CF.P cables and an EC.B breakage monitoring sensor. In order to maintain complete control over the operating conditions and predictive maintenance information at all times, the innovative i.Ceemodule was also installed, which enables real-time measurement of the speed, acceleration and environmental parameters and issues maintenance forecasts to the system operator on a daily basis by comparing them with historical service life data from the huge igus® test laboratory.

... igus® Engineering Service
igus® carried out measurements, the selection of a new solution, the implementation of the readychain® system, the prefabrication of control cabinets with the modules EC.P, EC.B. CF.P as well as i.Cee and a comprehensive installation in the factory. In addition, the commissioning and calibration of the complete i.Sense system and the harnessing of cables as an intermediate connection between the guidance, which supplies the crane runway, and the guidance, which supplies the cross lift, was also ensured by the igus® service team.