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| Students Say Y.E.S. To Igus Fostering Their Mechanical Design Ideas And Inventions By Offering Free Product Donations
Company Launches Y.E.S. Student Support Program
Igus launches Y.E.S. student support program, page 3Texas A&M University used an igus Energy Chain® aboard NASA's Reduced Gravity aircraft-the Weightless Wonder-to test the effects of acceleration on spatial orientation of liquid and ullage (gas/vapor) in a scale model propellant tank. The Energy Chain was used to organize, maintain and protect the instrumentation, power and control cables. According to one Texas A&M team member, the Energy Chain operated "flawlessly" under zero gravity conditions.
With the help of igus, another team created a revolutionary design that may one day help millions of people suffering from paraplegia. A group of professors and students at Northwestern University used the igus DryLin® T linear guide system in its wheelchair design. The seating system (US patent pending) relieves the adverse affects of prolonged sitting suffered by most wheelchair users. DryLin T enables the chair to be easily adjusted and used by any body type. It also delivers to the user a maximum amount of pressure relief, without creating a gap in the seat too large to sit in. The team at Northwestern also noted that DryLin T permits it to test the chair with many different kinds of people and also "makes [the chair] more comfortable and effective at the same time."
And these two teams are not the only ones who will vouch for the ongoing support from igus. There are many other student groups and organizations who stand behind igus' products as well.
Team Momentum, a student group from the University of Michigan, is using Chainflex continuous-flex cables in the construction of a solar car that it plans to showcase in a number of cross-country races this year. The team is using Chainflex 1AWG cables to minimize power loss in the solar car and said they were, "as light and thin as a 2AWG wire", and also, "very flexible, and allowed us to bend them around corners and fit them into tight spaces." Another team used free products from igus while building a vehicle, but of a completely different kind. As part of a senior capstone design project, students from the University of Rhode Island used igubal® spherical bearings to support the steering shaft of their off-road vehicle. The vehicle was designed by the seniors to survive the "severe punishment of off-road terrain" and provided them with a challenging project. Once the vehicle was completed, the team participated in the Mini Baja East Competition in Canada and earned 22nd place out of 62 applicants. The team is looking forward to using igus bearings in next year's competition as well. "Igus has long been dedicated to helping students with an inclination towards engineering," said Carsten Blase, vice president of igus. "With the Y.E.S. program, we are formalizing that support. We are impressed with the various ways students have already used our products and we are looking forward to the future of the program." While a number of universities and colleges have reaped the benefits of free products from igus, high school students have not been ignored. A team of students from Commonwealth Governor's School, a high school in Virginia, used igubal pillow block bearings, along with iglide G300 flange bearings in its robot project. While competing in the FIRST Robotics Competition, the students faced three problems that included weight, precision and cost restraints. The team used iglide bearings to reduce the weight of the robot by 10 pounds and also noted that the construction of the bearing block allowed for ease of design, construction and replacement. With the help of igus, the team advanced to the quarterfinals and also received the Motorola Quality Award for having a well-designed and constructed robot.
The company has dedicated a section of its Web site to showcasing various student designs. Visit http://www.igus.com/yesprogram.asp to learn more about the program and to view summaries of what some students have designed and built. Igus' aims are two-fold. It hopes to not only support young engineers, but also to build awareness about the advantages and merits of plastic components among the engineers of tomorrow who will one day be working on real world applications. Igus plans to continue sponsoring student teams and aiding in the design of various projects. Igus also looks forward to taking part in the future endeavors of students and encourages universities, colleges and schools to contact the company to learn how they can take advantage of the Y.E.S. Program. Igus also welcomes inquiries from organizations hosting design and robotics competitions that are seeking products and sponsors. About Igus Igus Inc., founded in 1985 and based in East Providence, R.I., develops and manufactures industry-leading plastic cable carriers, continuous-flex cables, plastic bearings and linear guide systems. With more than 28,000 products available from stock, the company meets the motion control and machinery component needs of customers worldwide. Product lines include Energy Chain Systems® to protect and house moving cables, Chainflex continuous-flex cables, iglide® self-lubricating, oil-free, plastic bearings, DryLin® linear guide systems and igubal® spherical bearingsFor more information and technical engineering support call either 800-521-2747 or 401-438-2200, or fax us at 401/438-7270 and say, "I saw it in MotionShop.com", or visit our Web site at http://www.igus.com. Igus, inc. specializes in iglide® self-lubricating, engineered polymer bearings, E-CHAIN/E-TUBE cable carriers and Chainflex® high-flex cables. Add Your Product/Company | Need a Website? | Need a Product Release? info@motionshop.com "MotionShop.com" and "The Motion Control Home Page" are trademarks of E-Media Publishing. Other product and company names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. |
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