Standard Energy Chains also for Use in Cleanrooms
Tightened-up norm passed
Energy chains implemented in cleanrooms must be highly resistant to abrasion in order to fulfill the norm requirements for these sensitive environments. The Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation has tested standard energy chains made by a Cologne manufacturer and released them for use in cleanrooms fulfilling ISO Class 2 and 3 specifications.
Based in Stuttgart in Germany, the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation (IPA), Department of Cleanroom Manufacturing, determines the suitability of production equipment and materials for use in cleanrooms. Test benches specifically designed for use in highly-clean reference cleanrooms are utilized to test materials and operating utilities. Appropriate test procedures guarantee sound, reproducible test results. The IPA’s interdisciplinary orientation gives customers not only the opportunity to test already-established material pairings but also to develop systems suitable for use in cleanrooms. UdoGommel, a graduate physicist at the IPA in Stuttgart, has tested the cleanroom suitability of the E6 and E14 Series energy chains made by Igus.
E6 and E14 Series suitable for use in cleanrooms
In accordance with VDI 2083 Part 8 (Cleanroom suitability of operating utilities), when operated at the velocities of v = 1 m/s and v = 2 m/s, the E6 Series energy chains tested may be implemented cleanrooms fulfilling ISO Class 3 specifications (in accordance with DIN EN ISO 1. 4644-1.). When operated at the velocity of v = 1 m/s, the E14 Series energy chain which was tested may even be implemented in ISO Class 2 cleanrooms. With this convincing result and despite tightened-up norms, the energy chains made by the Cologne manufacturer are advancing into more and more highly-sensitive areas of application (such as the manufacture of microelectronic or pharmaceutical products). What is really unique is the fact that the models tested are standard variants and not products made out of special materials.
IPA Qualification Certificate
lguscame to the IPA to find out in which cleanroom classes the energy chains they manufacture can be implemented. The tests in the IPA Class 1 cleanrooms came to the above-mentioned conclusion that the chains fulfilled the high requirements of Class 2 and 3 cleanrooms. Igus is now in a position to document this fact with the IPA Qualification Certificate which is recognized worldwide, thus enabling the company to supply customers with the best products for their individual requirements.
Example of use: Cleanroom at Brooks
The 300 mm wafer factory owned by Brooks requires ultra-clean environmental conditions and needed cleanroom-suitable energy chains to connect upprocess devices. For this, Brooks used the zipper-type cleanroom-suitable energy chains in hanging installations, equipped with air and control lines. Even in long-term investigations, customer tests were unable to prove any wear of or inadmissible particle emission from the Igus energy chains with the zip system.
Hall 17, Booth H16
KEM, April 2004, S.54
