Automated machining center loading with harnessed energy chains

• What was needed: Reliable cable management for the automated loading of the MH HEIDI machining center
• Requirements: Space-saving solution and small bending radii, high load capacity, dynamics
• Product: readychain® pre-assembled energy chain®
• Area of application: Machine tools
• Success for the customer: Reduced assembly times and reliable automated machine operation thanks to the ready-to-install cable carrier system with system guarantee

Storage systems with articulated robots and a large amount of space are often used for the automated loading of machining centers and rotary transfer machines - a very efficient but usually also complex solution.

With MH HEIDI, SEMA Maschinenbau GmbH has developed a particularly sophisticated and powerful telescopic arm solution for loading standard machines from a wide range of manufacturers. The telescopic arm can cantilever out to two sides, allowing the system to supply two machine tools.
The load capacity of this arm is 400kg with an overhang of up to 1,700mm on both sides.

To enable the double-sided extension of the telescopic arm, several design innovations were required. A key component is the energy chain, which must meet demanding requirements for weight, travel speed, and compactness. It also needs to support high dynamic performance to ensure smooth and reliable extension on both sides.

It was also important for SEMA to create as many storage locations as possible in the system, meaning the handling system had to be as compact as possible. Initial solutions with individual chains for each telescopic axis did not work. A suitable solution had to be found.

Due to the requirements in terms of weight, travelling speed and compactness, the choice quickly fell on a E4.38L series e-chain®, whose low weight makes the required dynamics possible. Due to the limited installation space, e-two chains from this series were ultimately combined and used in an S-shape with very tight bending radii.

As the e-chain guide has to return to the home position independently after each loading cycle in order to avoid collisions during subsequent movements, the two e-chains were mounted together rotated by 180 degrees in order to achieve maneuverability in both directions while maintaining the stability of the e-chain.

The tight installation situation resulted in the subsequent problem that the small bending radius of the cable carrier was too small for the original cables used. For this reason, cables were also purchased from igus - preassembled as readycables®. The chain and cables were used as a ready-to-install readychain® system. The advantages for SEMA were the system guarantee and the time savings.