The modular E4Q energy chain from igus is a real all-rounder in mechanical engineering, as it is highly stable, can be installed without any tools and is characterized by low noise levels. It is used in numerous industries, from machine tools, gantry systems and woodworking to automated storage and welding robotics systems. The E4Q offers a robust solution for dynamic applications with high loads, particularly for medium travel distances from six meters up to 35 meters. igus has developed the EC.WLC condition indicator so that maintenance engineers can quickly monitor the condition of their e-chains at a glance.
It is installed directly in the middle of the travel path on the opening bar of the gliding energy chain - i.e. where the chain rests and wears the most during operation. If the sensor displays a green color, the chain is in perfect condition, yellow indicates incipient wear and red clearly indicates a need for action. The decreasing distance between the opening bars also indicates the state of wear. This makes it easier to plan maintenance intervals, avoid unplanned downtime and deploy resources in a more targeted manner.
Control at a glance
"The EC.WLC makes everyday work noticeably easier for maintenance staff: instead of time-consuming visual inspections or complex digital systems, a quick glance at the display is enough," explains Richard Habering, Head of Business Unit smart plastics at igus. "We wanted to create a solution that simply works, without any training, interfaces or complexity. The EC.WLC is exactly that: an intelligent, but foolproof answer to the question of how to make maintenance smarter and more economical, and at a price of just 39 euros." igus offers the condition indicator not only for the E4Q series, but also for various sizes from the E4.1, E2/000 and E2.1 series.
Find out more about the new EC.WLC indicator on the igus website here!