The motion plastics specialist igus have been offering a material for the extremes for many years – iglidur X. Pressure, heat, cold, moisture or acids – is no big deal for iglidur X. As part of the igus standard range campaign that covers 113 dimensions, more are being added to the existing 312 catalogue dimensions. All standard sizes of the plain bearing material are thus available from igus within 24 hours.

iglidur X is the perfect material for applications that can be really hot, cold or harsh. iglidur has been designed by igus for extremely difficult environments. These include extreme operating temperatures from -100 to +250°C, even in continuous operation and with aggressive chemicals.

iglidur X provides a significantly longer life in practice

The chemical resistance of iglidur X makes it ideal for use in, inter alia, fuel pumps. Traditionally other plain bearings such as PTFE-coated bearings have at times contaminated the fuel and damaged the shafts. Now the iglidur X bearing ensures a longer service life of the pump. One of the most extraordinary areas of application of iglidur X was in the “Porton Man”, a robot used for testing protective clothing in the British defence industry. This was among the submissions for the 2015 manus competition for exciting bearings applications. The rugged iglidur X bearings that withstand the stress of chemical, biological or radioactive materials are applied in all joints of the robot being used for testing the protective clothing.

igus Inc., manufacturer of engineered plastic components for a wide range of industries, will be showcasing a variety of solutions for a multitude of applications at the upcoming IMTS 2014 trade show in booth 5677 in the East Hall of Chicago’s McCormick Place. At IMTS, igus will have on display a number of industrial solutions, including their e-spool and Triflex RSP Energy Chain Systems, DryLin E motorized linear systems, and heavy-duty PRT slewing ring bearings, all extensively tested in the igus test lab for reliability to lower customer maintenance and downtime.

The e-spool system connects two different energy supply systems in one system – a standard energy chain guided by a reel that always supports the proper length and tension of the energy supply system, and an igus TwisterBand that performs rotational movements. This design allows movements in any direction, making it suitable for a number of fields of application. For energy supply on robotic systems, igus is offering the Triflex RSP, which supplies continuous adjustable retraction force for the Triflex multi-axis cable carrier system.

Using maintenance-free, self-lubricating linear guides, the RSP system is a slim, open system which allows for both lightweight, open-style chains, or heavy-duty closed styles.

Also on display will be the new DryLin E, or ‘Electric’, system, a ready-to-install linear axis with motor. A lightweight design with choice of belt or lead screw drive, and a variety of motors, this new system is custom-built and shipped in 3-4 days in 15 variations.

igus’ polymer slewing ring bearings, which use self-lubricating, low-friction sliding elements in place of ball bearings, will also be out for demonstration at IMTS. Available with a variety of options, like gears and optional stainless steel versions, they are light weight and low cost, yet rugged and durable enough for even the toughest rotary applications.