The Less is More Approach to
Robotic Cable Management
An igus
®
white paper igus.com Tel: 800.521.2747
Introduction
In recent years, cable management has come into the limelight because machine reliability has increased
dramatically, even though robots have grown more complex. Unfortunately, the methods used to attach
and guide cables have not quite followed suit. While managing cables and hoses is often an afterthought
in most designs, it is truly a vital part of any well-functioning robot.
Since the 1960s, cable management methods for robots have not changed dramatically. Most experts
agree that one of the top blunders made is underestimating cable management issues. For instance,
during a conference hosted by the Robotic Industries Association (RIA), a group of leading system
integrators cited cable issues as the number one reason for downtime in robotics cells. Headaches
range from tangled and corkscrewed cables, to complete breaks that cause downtime, lost revenue and
damaged reputations.
1
This is why the ways in which robot cables are attached and guided is important. The less is more
approach to cable management is a best practice that robotics engineers and integrators can apply. It
centers on designing cable management systems for six-axis robots – including cables, hoses, tubing,
carriers, and connectors – in three separate sections.
Jointed-arm (six-axis / articulated) robots use two straight components
with a rotating shoulder and elbow in horizontal axes.
