Low weight, high flexibility, reliable service life, cables that are protected from sharp edges (robot contours), protection from severe impacts, standard fixing options for a Motoman UP 20 robot, and spare part availability at short notice. In addition, a guide for the glass fibre had to be found. The fibre optics for transporting the laser beam is a very expensive and most sensitive part of the system. The minimum bend radius for the fibres is 200mm. Since the energy cables, hoses, and tubes in the energy chain have a bend radius of less than 200mm, the fibres cannot be routed together in the same energy chain. But all cables needed to be brought together at the same point near the welding head.
