Ready-to-install energy supply for SAMAG machine tools

• What was needed:
  Series E4Q e-chain® as ready-made readychain® (readychain Premium)
• Requirements: High reliability and machine performance despite chips and cooling lubricants in a small installation space. Fast and cost-effective installation of the entire system.
• Industry: Machine Tools
• Success for the customer: After precise design of the energy supply for SAMAG by our project team, the customer was able to save 2/3 of their usual assembly time.

The SAMAG SFZ series is a newly developed long-bed machine tool that uses a travel column design. The Y and Z axes have a travel of 1m and the X axis's travel can be selected in four steps from 2.5 to 7.5m.

The SFZ series was designed with a focus on high rigidity, stability, and machining performance, enabling high material removal rates. The system's machining speeds of up to 40 m/min and acceleration of up to 5 m/s² create a challenge for the energy supply. The cable management solution for all three linear axes must deliver reliable performance under a wide range of operating conditions. In a machine tool where chips and coolant are always present, a long service life and dependable operation for these components were essential. Because installation space is limited, the cable routing system also had to be as compact as possible.

SAMAG's goal was to extend maintenance intervals, increase operational reliability, and minimize downtime. In addition, a solution was needed that could be installed quickly and cost-effectively to reduce assembly time and overall project costs.

SAMAG found the cable management solution they were looking for in igus® E4Q.82 series e-chains as a pre-assembled readychain Premium system. In this version, the E4Q series e-chain is already fully equipped with cables and connectors. Therefore, the assembly time on the machine could be done in approximately 2/3rds of the usual time.

At the beginning of the project, SAMAG provided igus with all of the necessary parameters, such as the required cables and hoses, their assembly, and the length of the travel distances or the space available. As a result, the machine specialist was able to save not only an increased expenditure of time but also a greater organizational effort.

After close planning between igus's Orange Services project team alongside team members from Samag Machine Tool GmbH, the first and second prototypes were installed at the customer's site together with the assembly management, optimizations were developed and implemented promptly.