Automate Highlight Series: Igus Builds Motion Components and Communities

Although the Automate trade show is now several weeks past, our editorial engineering team got to meet with so many excellent companies and professionals that they deserve unique articles. Thanks for reading our Automate Highlight Series, and we look forward to seeing you again at a future show!

Automate was a show that presented North America with one of its finest views of modern robots, and Igus, the motion plastics specialist, was a significant addition to the mix. Igus presented a wide array of innovations, some new, some with a long, reliable history, and some that were simply brilliant in their sheer simplicity.

A main takeaway from Igus' presence was the official launch of Axis, the new online community platform. Axis aims to connect industrial professionals, educators, and automation enthusiasts in a community that emphasizes collaboration, creativity, and accessibility. This platform provides creative challenge centers, a forum for sharing and receiving help with technical problems, a calendar of internal and external events, and a platform to host tutorials, educational courses, livestreams, and more. I just signed up, and there is a lot of content to offer. And I feel like they’re just getting started.

The introduction of Igus’ new axis online community.

Delta and Collaborative Robots

As with most of the Automate exhibitors, robots were stars of the show, and igus showed off its range of delta robots and the low-cost collaborative ReBeL.

The DR1000 four-axis delta robot, one of the newer devices in the Igus robot catalog, was a particular attraction, designed for high-speed pick-and-place applications rated for up to 96 picks per minute with a 2.5 kg payload. The controller allows for simple integration into existing systems because users can choose to use either the (free) Igus Robot Control software and control hardware or incorporate an independent controller with separate motion axes.

Igus’ DR1000 delta robot for high-speed pick and place applications.

Another robot on display was the collaborative ReBeL 6-axis arm, suitable for work alongside humans at a very affordable price point for both industrial and service applications. Igus also offers a compact autonomous mobile robot called the ReBeL Move, and a launch into the humanoid robot market with the recent announcement of the newest robot, Iggy Rob.

Igus and the History of Plastics in Motion

Signature plastic motion components are central to virtually all of Igus’ innovations. High-performance polymers, driving everything from sliding linear axes to robot joints and cable drag chains, are engineered for zero lubrication and minimal maintenance, in an effort to reduce wear, noise, and unplanned downtime.

Speaking of drag chains, one innovation stood out from the rest, not because of some remarkable sensor or network integration, but actually, because of the exact opposite.

The e4q e-chain was featured in one display. This is a tough, easy-to-install series, designed for unsupported lengths and long travel distances, and a tool-free opening mechanism. These drag chains, being plastic, are often subject to mechanical wear, failing after many, many hours of motion. Drag chains can be visually inspected or simply replaced at certain service intervals.

However, this lineup features an impressively simple add-on: a small plastic clip with green, yellow, and red plastic inside, shown in the inset of the image below. The device starts green, and as it wears, it will turn yellow, then red, indicating the drag chain condition to technicians at a glance. No more risky guessing, lengthy inspection times, or unnecessary replacement schedules!

A user-friendly drag chain featuring the simple plastic wear indicator device.

Igus, Where Motion and Material Science Meet

Igus’ Automate booth clearly illustrated why the company has such a reliable history with motion plastics by investing in the newest technology and being willing to pursue simple solutions to the industry’s biggest challenges. With the introduction of the new axis community, innovations in robots, and investment in plastic materials, Igus is actively shaping the future, or rather, ensuring that the future can freely and quickly shape itself!

All images used courtesy of the author.