igus has introduced a family of Ethernet/CAT5 chainflex cables, the CFROBOT8.PLUS, designed specifically for 6-axis robots. Suitable for torsion angles up to ±360 degrees, the cables have been tested in-house for several years and have remained running fault-free for more than 15 million cycles.
The number of robots used in manufacturing is growing rapidly. According to the estimate of the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), more than 3 million industrial robots will operate worldwide by 2020.
“The probability that the communication of the future will be dominated by industrial Ethernet is high,” said Justin Leonard at igus. “We have been working on the development of robot Ethernet cables for more than five years. The in-house tests are still ongoing to determine the expected maximum service life. However, we expect the final results in a few years.”
The CFROBOT8.PLUS has been tested for torsion at ±360 degrees in the igus triflex e-chain series for 3D motion. The result is that the electrical features of Ethernet communication work to ensure reliable communication between the robot’s axes, controller and superordinate systems. igus provides a guarantee of 36 months for its complete chainflex cable range, including the new CFROBOT8.PLUS.