Cable Drag Chains for Moving Machine Axes
Murrplastik cable drag chains guide power, signal, data cables and hoses safely on moving axes, from small pick-and-place units to long-travel gantries. Our application engineers help you size the chain for your cables, radius and travel.
A badly sized drag chain shows up as cables breaking at the bend, jackets worn through by friction, chains jumping out of the guide channel on long travels, or chips and dust packing into the chain on a machine tool.
Types of cable drag chains
Light-duty chains for small axes
Compact chains with integrated strain relief at the chain bracket that can be easily shortened and lengthened. The MP 10.1 covers radii from 18 mm with a 15 mm pitch; the MP 18.1 has an 18 mm internal height and widths of 15 to 70 mm.
Models: MP 10.1 · MP14 · MP 18.1 · MP 18.2
Medium-duty chains for general machine building
Economical chains for machine tool axes, gantries and assembly lines. The EVOCHAIN PLUS MP 45.1/2 adds a soft-stop system that reduces noise by up to 10 dB(A) and modular dividers and shelving for cable separation.
Models: MP 3000 · MP 35 · MP 45.1/2
Closed chains
Closed variants that keep chips, dust and debris away from the cables on machine tools and woodworking machines, starting at a 60 mm radius (MP 25G) or 80 mm (MP 36G).
Models: MP 25G · MP 36G
Heavy-duty and long-travel chains
Broad interior layouts for large cable and hose packages, gliding shoes for longer service life on gliding travels, and plastic or aluminium versions. The EVOCHAIN MAX MP 420 is rated for vertical hanging travel up to 100 m.
Models: MP 41.2 · MP 52.2 · MP 52.3 · MP52.4/5 · MP 65 G · MP 420
What to specify
| Parameter | What to check |
|---|---|
| Bend radius | Start from the cable with the largest minimum bending radius in the chain (from the cable datasheet) and choose a chain radius at or above it. A larger radius means longer cable life. |
| Internal dimensions | Size the internal height to the thickest cable or hose and the width to the full package, leaving free space around each cable so it can move without being pinched. |
| Cable separation | Use separators or shelving to keep cables of different diameters apart and to separate power from signal cables, so they don't twist or rub against each other. |
| Travel and installation | Self-supporting for short travels; gliding with a guide channel for long travels, where gliding shoes reduce wear. Vertical hanging and standing installations have their own limits. |
| Open or closed | Open chains are easy to fill and inspect. Closed variants protect cables from chips, sparks and dust on machine tools and woodworking machines. |
| Fixing the cables | Fix every cable at both ends with the strain relief on the chain brackets, so the cables move with the chain and are not pulled inside it. |
15 models in our range
Cable drag chains 15
MP 10.1
EASY (FILL) MECHANISM · CHAIN BRACKET WITH INTEGRATED STRAIN RELIEF…
View Details →MP 18.1
Back radius combinations · Frame bridges, folding on one side…
View Details →MP 18.2
CHAIN BRACKET WITH STRAIN RELIEF · CAN BE EASILY SHORTENED AND LENGTHENED
View Details →
MP 25G
CLOSED VARIANTS, STARTING WITH RADIUS 60 MM · COMPACT DESIGN
View Details →MP 3000
LOW-COST VARIANT · CHAIN BRACKET WITH STRAIN RELIEF
View Details →MP 35
METAL CHAIN BRACKET · LOW-COST VARIANT
View Details →MP 36G
CLOSED VARIANTS, STARTING WITH RADIUS 80 MM · METAL CHAIN BRACKET
View Details →MP 41.2
GLIDING SHOES FOR LONGER SERVICE LIFE · BROAD INTERIOR LAYOUT…
View Details →MP 420
EVOLOCK · Crossbar lock system…
View Details →MP 45.1/2
Soft-stop system reduces noise by up to 10 dB(A) · Chain bracket with integrated strain relief…
View Details →MP 52.2
GLIDING SHOES FOR LONGER SERVICE LIFE · BROAD INTERIOR LAYOUT…
View Details →MP 52.3
GLIDING SHOES FOR LONGER SERVICE LIFE · BROAD INTERIOR LAYOUT…
View Details →
MP 65 G
PLASTIC VARIANT · METAL CHAIN BRACKET AVAILABLE…
View Details →
Murrplastik MP14
LOW-COST VARIANT · CHAIN BRACKET WITH STRAIN RELIEF…
View Details →
Murrplastik MP52.4/5
High-performance multi-line measuring system for precise length and position detection. · Suitable for demanding industrial applications requiring high accuracy and long measurement ranges.…
View Details →Where they're used
CNC & machine tools
Cable and hose guidance on X, Y and Z axes, with closed chains where chips fly.
Gantries & handling systems
Energy supply to portal axes and pick-and-place units.
Packaging machines
Compact chains on linear axes and moving units.
Woodworking & stone cutting
Closed chains that keep dust away from the cables.
Storage & retrieval systems
Long-travel chains with gliding shoes on automated warehouses.
Cranes & heavy equipment
Large cable and hose packages on long horizontal and vertical travels.
Common questions
What is a cable drag chain?
A cable drag chain (also called an energy chain or cable carrier) is a chain of linked plastic or metal segments that carries cables and hoses along with a moving machine axis. It keeps the cables at a defined bend radius and stops them from tangling, dragging on the floor or being caught in the machine.
How do I choose the bend radius?
Check the minimum bending radius for moving applications on the datasheet of each cable going into the chain, take the largest one, and choose a chain radius at or above it. When in doubt, go one radius larger; it costs little space and extends cable life.
Open or closed drag chain?
Open chains are quicker to fill and let you inspect the cables. Closed chains, such as the MP 25G and MP 36G, are the better choice where chips, hot particles or dust would otherwise land on the cables, for example on machine tools and woodworking machines.
Can the chain length be changed later?
Yes. Chains such as the MP14, MP 10.1 and MP 18.2 can be easily shortened and lengthened by removing or adding links, which helps on retrofits or when the travel changes.
Can you suggest a replacement for an existing chain?
Yes. Send us the internal height and width, bend radius, pitch and travel of the chain you are replacing, or a photo with the part number, and we will suggest a suitable Murrplastik chain.
- Established
- 1994
- Quality system
- ISO 9001:2015
- Offices
- 8 across India
- Support
- In-house application engineers
Need help sizing a drag chain?
Send us the list of cables and hoses, the travel length, the installation (horizontal, vertical or side-mounted) and the speed. We'll recommend a chain and radius.