Steel Aluminum Drag Chain: Analysis Of The Core Component Of Industrial Equipment Cable Protection

【description】 Steel Aluminum Drag Chain: Analysis Of The Core Component Of Industrial Equipment Cable Protection. In The Field Of Industrial Automation, The Protection And Traction Of Cables And Pipelines Are Key Links To Ensure The Stable Operation Of Equipment. Steel Aluminum Drag Chains, As An Efficient Protective Device, Are Widely Used In Scenarios Such As Machine Tools And Heavy-duty Machinery Due To Their Unique Structural Design And Performance Advantages. This Article Will Systematically Analyze This

Steel Aluminum Drag Chain: Analysis Of The Core Component Of Industrial Equipment Cable Protection

In The Field Of Industrial Automation, The Protection And Traction Of Cables And Pipelines Are Key Links To Ensure The Stable Operation Of Equipment. Steel Aluminum Drag Chains, As An Efficient Protective Device, Are Widely Used In Scenarios Such As Machine Tools And Heavy-duty Machinery Due To Their Unique Structural Design And Performance Advantages. This Article Will Systematically Analyze This Commonly Used Industrial Component From The Aspects Of Structural Composition, Characteristic Advantages, Classification, And Selection Principles.

1、 Basic Overview And Origin Of Steel Aluminum Drag Chain

Steel Aluminum Drag Chains, Also Known As Steel Drag Chains, Originated In Germany (such As The Igus Brand) And Gradually Developed Into Standardized Products Suitable For Various Industrial Scenarios Through Domestic Technological Innovation. Its Core Function Is To Provide Traction And Protection For Cables, Oil Pipes, Air Pipes, Water Pipes, Etc. In Machine Tools, Machinery And Other Equipment, Which Not Only Avoids Cable Twisting Or Wear Due To Movement, But Also Improves The Overall Aesthetics Of The Equipment.

2、 Structural Composition And Material Properties

The Main Body Of The Steel Aluminum Drag Chain Consists Of Three Core Components: Chain Plate, Support Plate, And Axle Pin

• Link PlateAdopting High-quality Steel Plate Chrome Plating Treatment, The Surface Is Smooth And Has High Strength, With Both Deformation Resistance And Corrosion Resistance;

• Support PlateMostly Made Of Extruded Aluminum Alloy Material, It Can Be Designed As A Whole Piece, Separate Or Frame Type According To Functional Requirements, Used To Support Internal Cables;

• Pivot PinChoose Alloy Steel Or High-strength Wear-resistant Alloy Copper To Enhance The Bending Flexibility And Wear Resistance Of The Drag Chain, And Reduce Motion Resistance And Noise.

The Synergistic Effect Of These Materials Ensures That The Drag Chain Remains Stable During High-speed Motion (up To 40 Meters Per Minute) And Has A Safe Service Life Of No Less Than 1 Million Reciprocating Motions (noise ≤ 68 Decibels).

3、 Classification And Typical Models

Steel Aluminum Drag Chains Can Be Divided Into Three Categories Based On Their Structural Form And Application Scenarios:

• Bridge Type Drag ChainOpen Design, Convenient For Cable Installation And Maintenance;

• Fully Enclosed Drag ChainSuitable For Harsh Environments Such As Dust And Oil Pollution, Strengthening Internal Cable Protection;

• Semi Enclosed Drag ChainBalancing Protection And Maintenance Convenience, With Flexible Application Scenarios.

Divided By Model, It Mainly Includes TL Series (such As TL65, TL95) And TLG Series (such As TLG75, TLG100). Among Them, The TLG Series Is More Suitable For Working Mother Machines And Large Heavy-duty Machinery (such As Steel Plants And Offshore Oil Platform Equipment) Due To Its Strong Load-bearing Capacity And Large Free Suspension Length (without The Need For Supporting Wheels).

4、 Selection Principles And Key Parameters

Reasonable Selection Of Steel Aluminum Drag Chains Requires Comprehensive Consideration Of The Following Factors:

1. Aperture And Model MatchingDetermine The Height Of The Chain Plate (Hg) And The Type Of Drag Chain Based On The Maximum Aperture (Dma) Of The Support Plate; The Inner Hole Diameter (D1) Of The Support Plate Should Be Slightly Larger Than The Outer Diameter (d) Of The Cable, Usually Taken As D1 ≈ 1.1d (rounded).

2. Selection Of Support Plate TypeIf The Cable Connector Size Is Large Or Requires Frequent Disassembly And Assembly, Choose A Detachable Support Plate; If The Load-bearing Capacity Is Large, Choose A One-piece High-strength Support Plate; If The Cable Specifications Are Diverse, Choose A Frame Type Support Plate.

3. Environmental AdaptabilityIn Dusty And Corrosive Environments, Fully Enclosed Drag Chains Or Steel Strip Protective Support Plates Are Preferred.

4. Width And Length DesignDetermine The Width Of The Support Plate (b1) Based On The Number Of Cables, And Then Determine The Total Width Of The Drag Chain (B); At The Same Time, Based On The Equipment Travel Requirements, Select The Appropriate Bending Radius (TLG Series Bending Radius Range 100-600mm).

5、 Application Fields And Value

The Application Of Steel Aluminum Drag Chains Covers Fields Such As Machine Tools, Automation Equipment, And Heavy-duty Machinery

• Machine Tool IndustryWidely Used In CNC Machine Tools And Cutting Centers To Protect Internal Cables And Hydraulic Pipelines, Ensuring The Stability Of High-precision Machining;

• Heavy-duty MachineryIn Scenarios Such As Steel Mills And Offshore Oil Platforms, The TLG Series Drag Chains Effectively Meet The Traction Needs Of Heavy-duty Cables Due To Their High Load-bearing Capacity And Long Suspension Characteristics;

• General Automation EquipmentBridge Type And Semi Enclosed Drag Chains Are Suitable For Automated Production Lines That Require Frequent Adjustment Of Cables Due To Their Convenient Installation.

In Summary, Steel Aluminum Drag Chains Have Become An Indispensable Protective Component In Industrial Equipment Through Material Optimization, Structural Innovation, And Precise Design. The Reliability Of Its Performance And The Scientificity Of Its Selection Directly Affect The Efficiency Of Equipment Operation And Maintenance Costs, And Are Key Components Worth Further Research In The Field Of Industrial Automation.