techtalks: Technical articles and White Papers

Design guidance & tips that make using igus® plastic machinery components easy in any application.

Welcome to TechTalk, a design advice series created and written by igus® product managers, which offers design guidance and tips that make specifying igus®' plastic machinery components simple in any application.

Index

drylin® linear bearings and guides

energy chain cable carriers

chainflex® continuous-flex cables

iglide® plastic bushings

xiros® plastic ball bearings

igubal® spherical bearings

iglide® PRT slewing ring bearings

robolink® humanoid robot modules

dryspin® Lead Screw Nuts

Meet the Product Managers

drylin®

linear bearings and guides

How to Eliminate Binding and Stick-slip in Linear Plastic Bearings

In this TechTalk article, learn how to eliminate binding and stick-slip in linear plastic bearings.

Stick Slip TechTalk

ZLW Belt Actuators by igus®

I often hear about how a customer tried using plain bearings for a linear application, but experienced binding or irregular motion. With a little education, this is easy to avoid.

ZLW Belt Actuators by igus®

5 Installation Tips for Grease-Free Sliding Linear Bearings

I often hear about how a customer tried using plain bearings for a linear application, but experienced binding or irregular motion. With a little education, this is easy to avoid.

5 Installation Tips for Grease-Free Sliding Linear Bearings

Butting Rails Together in 5 Easy Steps

Linear rails typically come in lengths between six and 12 feet, but customers often ask: is it possible to make rails longer by butting them together? The answer is yes.

Butting Rails Together in 5 Easy Steps

5 Ways to Choose the Best Linear Guide for Your Application from the drylin® W Toolkit

Ten years ago, round-shaped ball bearings or T-shaped linear profile rails were the two geometries found on most machines. Nowadays, the introduction of flexible, long-lasting drylin® W linear guides has changed all that.

5 Ways to Choose the Best Linear Guide for Your Application from the drylin® W Toolkit

Convert Rotary to Linear Motion

Discover differences between common types of lead screw technology, such as wear rate, explore a range of lead screw nut options, and more.

Convert Rotary to Linear Motion

drylin® E7 vs. PTFE-lined linear plain bearings

Linear plain bearings are becoming commonplace in today’s manufacturing industry. As technologies and material sciences have advanced, so have the capabilities of linear plain bearings, particularly those made of plastic, such as the drylin® series of self-lubricating linear bearings from igus®.

Download Whitepaper

The 2:1 Rule and How to Define Fixed and Floating Bearings

When using drylin® linear guides, it is important to ensure that all acting forces follow the 2:1 rule.

The 2:1 Rule and How to Define Fixed and Floating Bearings

Choosing a Linear Bearing: A Quick Reference Guide

A quick-start reference guide to help you select the best linear bearing for your application.

Choosing a Linear Bearing: A Quick Reference Guide

The True Cost of Linear Bearing Lubrication

Over and over again, the main reasons cited as the causes of bearing failures are lubrication-related issues.

The True Cost of Linear Bearing Lubrication

Oil-Free Bearings Withstand 43,200 Cycles 24/7

Case study about packaging equipment, which has implemented linear bearings that must operate 24/7.

Oil-Free Bearings Withstand 43,200 Cycles 24/7

How to Lower Driving Force and Friction with Hybrid Bearings

drylin® WJRM - a cost-effective linear bearing that both rolls and slides - for manual applications subject to heavy loads.

How to Lower Driving Force and Friction with Hybrid Bearings

3 Tips for Choosing a Linear Slide Table

Whether you want to design your own linear slide table system or buy one as a ready-made assembly, there are a wide variety of linear products available on the market today.

3 Tips for Choosing a Linear Slide Table

How to Increase Speeds and Accelerations Using Plastic Bearings

A few years ago, we replaced ball bearings on the welding jaw of a vertical-form-fill-seal machine, translating into an impressive 20% increase in throughput.

How to Increase Speeds and Accelerations Using Plastic Bearings

The Proof is in the Plastic

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “The proof is in the pudding.” But when it comes to self-lubricating plastic bearings, the proof is definitely in the plastic.

The Proof is in the Plastic

e-chain®

cable carriers

Caring for Cables

Cable carriers guide and protect cables and hoses on moving machinery.

Caring for Cables

Plastic Versus Steel Cable Carriers

Nowadays, plastic cable carriers can achieve almost anything steel can!

Plastic Versus Steel Cable Carriers

The Basics Behind ESD Applications Using Cable Carriers

There are two key reasons why specialized cable carriers should be used in ESD applications.

The Basics Behind ESD Applications Using Cable Carriers

Gliding, Long Travel Cable Carrier Applications

Over the years, cable carriers have increasingly pushed the envelope in terms of higher speeds, longer distances and heavier loads.

Gliding Long Travel Cable Carrier Applications

The Cable Distribution Rules You Need to Obey

Correctly arranging every cable and hose within a cable carrier according to the recommended spacing requirements is vital if you want to prolong the service life of your system.

The Cable Distribution Rules You Need to Obey

Accessorize Your Cable Carrier

Accessories - or lack thereof - are a vital part of the performance of a cable carrier system.

Accessorize Your Cable Carrier

How to Select the Bend Radius of a Cable Carrier

When specifying a cable management system, there are different ways to maximize the service life of your cables. One crucial factor is choosing the right bend radius for the cable carrier.

How to Select the Bend Radius of a Cable Carrier

Reduce Energy Use with Plastic Cable Carriers

Tests prove energy consumption can be reduced by using the right cable carrier material.

Reduce Energy Consumption With Plastic Cable Carriers

A How-To Guide For Rotary Applications

Here are three different types of rotary applications and the cable carrier system used for each.

A How-To Guide For Rotary Applications

chainflex®

Continuous-flex cables

Continuous-flex Cable Construction

An explanation of the bundling versus layering technique in the construction of continuous-flex cables.

Continuous-flex Cable Construction

6 Common Cable Failure Modes

It's very important for cables used in continuous-flex applications to follow certain construction and performance guidelines.

6 Common Cable Failure Modes

7 Cable Management Mistakes You Don't Know You're Making

Seven common cable management mistakes and how you can avoid making them.

7 cable management mistakes you don't know you're making

Robotic Cable Management Made Easy

The complex movements made by six-axis robots require special consideration when integrating cables and hoses.

Robotic Cable Management Made Easy

7 Guidelines for Continuous-flex Cables

Construction and performance guidelines for cables used in continuous-flex applications.

7 Guidelines for Continuous-flex Cables

2 Key Factors When Specifying Vision Cables

New and exciting applications inevitably bring a new set of cabling challenges especially in industrial applications where reliability and mean time between failure are critical.

What to Look for When Specifying a Robot Cable

What to Look for When Specifying a Robot Cable

As industrial robotic applications become more and more demanding, flexible cables need to handle more complex movements and still deliver a long service life.

The Less-is-More Approach to Robotic Cable Management

Managing cables and hoses may seem simple, but in reality it is an important part to of any well-functioning robot.

3 Ways to Avoid Corkscrewed Cables

What characteristics a cable must have in order to prevent corkscrewing.

Where to Use Cost-effective Continuous-flex Cables

In applications where a low to medium-duty continuous-flex cable can be used, there are some cost-effective options.

7 Guidelines for Cable Installation

7 Guidelines for Cable Installation

igus® does not recommend that cables be “relaxed” or “shaken out” prior to being installed into a cable carrier

7 Guidelines for Cable Installation

NFPA 79 Standard Update: When to Use AWM Cables

Revised NFPA 79 standard permits the use of certain AWM cables, many of which can be used for high-flex applications.

iglide®

plastic bushings

The 5 Major Benefits of Polymer Bearings

Polymer bearings can endure extreme temperatures, heavy loads and high speeds.

The 5 Major Benefits of Polymer Bearings

Choosing the Right Bearing Shaft Material

The ability to use low-cost shafting heavily depends on the bearings chosen to run on it.

Choosing the Right Bearing Shaft Material | igus®

Delegate to igus®

igus long lasting, high performance plastic bearings are held to high standards. They must be able to handle high loads, low coefficients of friction and low wear rates.

Plastic bearings are high performance and long lasting

Wear Capabilities and Limits of Plain Bearings

plain plastic bearings wear and limits

Wear Capabilities and Limits of Plain Bearings | igus®

How to Install and Quality Test a Plain Bearing

how to install and quality test a plain bearing

How to Install and Test Quality on a Plain Bearing

3 Misconceptions about Thin-Walled Bushings

When it comes to plain bushings, thick-walled isn’t necessarily better than thin-walled.

3 Misconceptions about Thin-Walled Bushings

4 Reasons To Use Environmentally Friendly Plastic Bushings

4 reasons to use environmentally friendly plastic bushings, the iglide N54 bushing

4 Reasons To Use Environmentally Friendly Plastic Bushings

iglide® PRT

slewing rings

The Latest in Slewing Ring Bearing Technology

updates on slewing ring tech

The Latest in Slewing Ring Bearing Technology

3 Ways to Avoid Failure When Mounting a Slewing Ring

Slewing ring bearings are ideal for rotating and turntable-type applications. While understanding the design and performance capabilities of a slewing ring bearing is important, it is equally important to be aware of how certain mounting surfaces affect this type of bearing.

3 Ways to Avoid Failure When Mounting a Slewing Ring

3 Ways to Drive a Slewing Ring Bearing

In rotating and turntable applications using a slewing ring bearing, the component used to drive the system is important.

3 Ways to Drive a Slewing Ring Bearing

igubal®

spherical bearings

6 Reasons To Use Plastic Spherical Bearings

igubal rod end bearing vs metal

6 Reasons To Use Plastic Spherical Bearings

Plastic Versus Steel Rod End Bearings

It is important to remember that not every rod end is the same; each has its own unique set of advantages, disadvantages and limitations.

Plastic Versus Steel Rod End Bearings

6 Little-known Facts about Plastic Bearing Linkages

Bearing linkages, also known as double-jointed bearings or “dog bones” (the latter due to their close resemblance to the tasty treats for our four-legged friends) are basically a combination of structural elements and joints that enable movement in various types of mechanical systems. While there a number of options to choose from, plastic bearing linkages have some unique features and benefits that other solutions do not offer.

6 Little-known Facts about Plastic Bearing Linkages

xiros® & robolink®

plastic ball bearings

- A Guide to Ball Bearing Materials

Humanoid Robots