Multi-dimensional energy supply system for a flame cutting machine

The company SATO Schneidsysteme Anton Hubert e. K. in Mönchengladbach has been a successful manufacturer of CNC-controlled cutting machines in portal and cantilever design for 25 years. The "Satronik" series covers oxyfuel, plasma, laser and waterjet cutting.
The company's flame cutting machines cut sheet metal from a few millimetres up to two metres. To ensure that they function perfectly over the long term in tough everyday operation, which is characterised by heat, flying sparks and extreme levels of dirt, the individual components must be extremely robust and, like the system itself, state-of-the-art.
This also applies to the innovative 3D plasma bevelling unit, which has proven itself many times over in customer use for around two years. With this system component, SATO Schneidsysteme is setting new standards in dynamics, precision and energy efficiency.
The programmable 3D plasma bevel cutting unit is used for processing in the preparation of weld seams in structural and stainless steels. "We have designed it to be particularly compact," explains conductor Reiner Schiffer. "As a unique selling point, the new design ensures an extremely small footprint on the machine as well as high dynamics in the actual cutting process." 
The cost-effectiveness of the system can be seen, for example, in the area of multiple panel processing, which can be cut in one go without a break. Another advantage is the minimised waste. The low weight of the unit makes it suitable for use with compact machine types. The 3D plasma bevel cutting units with height sensing, which can be swivelled endlessly without rotation limitation, are in daily use as single and multi-torch versions and cut bevel and trim cuts up to 45°. With a stroke speed of 6,000 or 12,000 mm/min, it can be used for bevel cutting on all plasma systems.

The energy supply of a cutting system with two 3D plasma bevel units is ensured by energy supply systems from igus®. The E4.42 series, which can be opened on both sides, proves its efficiency on the x-axis with a travel of the entire torch system of 42 metres. It is suitable for high speeds and accelerations as well as long travel distances and high additional loads. The main power supply for the entire flame cutting system runs through it.
Installed in three separate guides, three Series 3400 energy supply units are used for each of the transverse movements on the bridge to supply a 3D bevelling unit. This means that six energy supply systems in a total of six guide troughs provide the supply lines to the two torches. They are easy to install and have a long service life.
One energy supply system in a bracket version runs to each of the two bevelling units. It guides the entire system overhead to the torch and ensures that all up and down movements are carried out safely in the long term.
The triflex® R product range, which can move in all directions and is now available in its third generation, has proven itself on the particularly compact 3D plasma bevelling units, the heart of the machine. It has been specially developed for demanding 6-axis robot applications. The unit moves in several axes. The 3D energy supply systems triflex® R, TRC series in closed design, and TRE in easy design for easy cable insertion, have proven themselves for guiding a wide variety of cables. While all drive, control and data cables, including the cooling system, are safely routed in the TRC version, all special cables that are responsible for the initial ignition of the combustion engine or for accident monitoring, for example, run through the TRE version. There are also the signal cables, which can be easily and quickly pressed into the chains from the outside using the "Easy" principle.