Safe Travels for Large CNC Lathe
Machine tool manufacturer Tornos Gurutzpe S.A. was one of first to implement a new horizontal guiding cable carrier system from igus designed to stop metal chips from causing abrasion and wear on large machines with extremely long travel cable carrier applications.
Posted: October 10, 2012
If another customer has a concern that, during the machining process, hot metal chips could eat through the plastic, Orbegozo takes a soldering iron and presses it onto the cable carrier in a few different places, “When customers see that this cannot damage the cable carrier, they are convinced.”
“Plastic cable carriers have many advantages compared to metal versions.” Joe Ciringione, the sales manager for Energy Chain Systems® at igus North America (East Providence, RI), confirms, “Steel is more expensive, much heavier, and less resistant to corrosion. Plastic Energy Chains® are also quicker and easier to mount, which saves customers time and money.”
Gurutzpe specializes in special turning machine solutions for customers with specific requirements. Currently only two manufacturers worldwide offer prismatic-turning machines, for example. Gurutzpe also makes guide machines equipped with fixed or hydraulic steady rests and offering a great degree of flexibility.
The company has seen market demand increase when it comes to very large, long travel CNC turning machines. “Gurutzpe has already built turning machines 66 ft long,” says Anitua. Safe cable guidance shouldn’t be an issue for these applications, since igus’ Guidelok cable carrier systems can cope with distances up to 164 ft.
Guidelok is also designed to be modular – the side troughs are optional – and is currently available with a four- to six-week lead time.
igus designs and manufactures industry-leading cable carriers, continuous-flex cables, plastic plain bearings, spherical bearings, and linear bearings and guide systems. These seemingly unrelated products are linked together through a belief in making functionally advanced, yet affordable plastic components and assemblies.
With plastic bearing experience since 1964, cable carrier experience since 1971 and continuous-flex cable since 1989, the company provides the right solution from over 80,000 products available from stock. No minimum order required.
igus, inc., PO Box 14349, East Providence, RI 02914, 401-438-2200, Fax: 401-438-7270, www.igus.com.
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