Energy chains, cables, and bearing products for machine tools

Turning, milling, pressing, hammering, cutting, from low to high automation, from machining centres to production lines: without machine tools, there is no production. However, no machine can operate without a reliable supply of electricity, data, air or media. igus energy chains and cables are made for movement, improved machine performance and easy assembly. Servo cables suitable for manufacturer drives, energy chains that can be opened without tools, tubes with chip protection, bearing technology made of high-performance plastics for machine doors or rotary movements, clamps to prevent crushing of pneumatic hoses, robot kinematics, Industry 4.0 sensor technology - we will equip your machine tool.

What will you find on this page?

Energy chains, cables, linear drives, bearings, sensors and more.

Have the prototype sampled for free

With our sampling service, we offer individual consultation and design of e-chains, cables, linear drives and bearings. We will also show you our sensors for the machine tool 4.0.

[Link extid="2898" title="▶ Contact us now"]

Products according to the type of machine tool

Machining centres

Best cable protection with robust energy chains and tubes on short travels.

Cutting machines

e-chains, cables, and bearing products for laser, plasma, and water jet cutting machines.

Large machine tools

Extremely high reliability with strong energy chain systems for long travels.

New products for machine tools

Lean, green, smart - discover our new products for trends in the machine tool industry:

undefined
undefined
undefined

... and much more.

Everything compact in magazine format

The most important products, services and biggest success stories in the machine tool industry — all in the new magazine.

Download PDF now

Experience products virtually - on your own or personally guided

Trade show stand for the manufacturing industry

Did you miss the last machine tool show? We have the solution.
Visit our trade show stand for machine tools in Cologne online. Or [Link extid="86" title="arrange a virtual tour of the trade show stand with us here"].

▶ Experience trade show stand virtually now

igus provides information: important machine tool trends and topics

Rotation in machine tools. What new energy supply systems are there?

In lathes or lead screws, machine tools nearly always involve some form of rotation. The guidance of electric cables and hydraulic and pneumatic hoses is usually a difficult challenge. Even if each application is customised, most problems can be solved with these six products.

Learn more about the topic here

No more plant downtimes thanks to predictive maintenance

In the area of machine tools, not only do machine failures quickly become very expensive, but troubleshooting them often proves time-consuming. In the area of the energy chain, this problem can be solved with intelligent sensors for predictive maintenance.

Learn more about the topic here

Plastic energy chains and hot swarf (850°C). How is that possible?

During milling and turning, machine tools produce waste which can fly through the air in the form of hot metal swarf and pose a problem for external cables. What few people know, though, is that these cables can be continuously protected with plastic energy chains. For swarf temperatures of up to 850°C.

Learn more about the topic here

Assembly time reduced by 40%. The E4Q energy chain revolution

Errors can quickly become costly during energy supply system design and installation. This requires modular machine tool solutions that are as easy to handle as possible.
The E4Q energy chain was designed on the basis of this idea. Assembly is extremely easy and requires no tools.

Learn more about the topic here

Hose guidance through e-chain® with extender crossbars

Guiding hoses in CNC machines: what should be considered?

What are the challenges to consider when choosing the e-chain® with extender crossbars? Trima Triebeser Maschinenbau GmbH faced exactly this question. The machine manufacturer was looking for a safe guidance for a 300mm suction hose for a woodworking machine. You can find the requirements for e-chains® with extender crossbars in the manufacturing industry and information on the selected system here.

Successfully in use

If a chain breaks, the machine is stopped automatically to prevent subsequent damage.

Austrian engine factory
This engine manufacturer uses energy chains and abrasion monitoring. Sensors measure the chain wear during operation and notify the user early enough to plan a repair or an exchange.

...and many further success stories

Discover more than 40 application examples showing how our energy chains and bearing products are used in CNC machines, where they fulfil various requirements. The challenges to be overcome included flying swarf; tight installation spaces; continuous system operation; and quick, easy installation with tight schedules.

White paper: The influence of vibration on machine tools

Vibration behaviour of energy chains
Vibrations in machine tools components can lead to machines no longer working precisely, lowering the quality of workpieces and increasing wear of machine components. Energy chains, the "umbilical cord" of the modern machine tool, are a possible source of the problem. To improve their smooth running, innovative solutions are required ...

Download free PDF now

Tested in the test laboratory for use in the real world

All products are tested for wear and load capacity under real-life conditions in the igus test laboratory, the largest in the industry. This allows precise determination of product service life.

Upon request, igus carries out customer tests to check product use under completely customised conditions.

Further information

e-chains configurator
Configure your desired product online and view price, service life, and delivery time

New products for machine tools
Lean, green, smart: Our new products for machine tool trends.