Case Study - WIRE FORM AND ASSEMBLY AUTOMATION SYSTEM

Wire Form & Assembly Automation System for the Construction Industry

Designed and manufactured by TCA to produce concrete-forming ties, this 10' x 25' wire form and assembly machine has the capability to process wires with walls of 200, 250, and 400 mm, with a 1/2" hexagon across the flats and 120 or 210 mm end lengths.

Offering high throughput operation, this machine features a hopper that holds up to 1,000 raw wires. TCA designed and built the 80 ton servo forming press to deliver highly accurate speed, motion, and position control in order to keep the parts within tight tolerances.

Two cold forming operations (coin & bead forms) are performed as a one-up forming cycle in the press. Dual thermal-upset hex form positioning slides are also servo-driven to maintain the same accuracies throughout the entire process. A chain conveyor moves the formed ties and stages the packaging boxes to further speed operations, and floor mounted perimeter guarding completely ensures operator safety.

TCA was able to design, build, test, and install this high speed automation system in 24 weeks. We provided a fully programmed Allen Bradley interface and PLC, and commissioned the system at the customer site.

HIGHLIGHTS

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

This wire form & assembly machine was designed and manufactured to produce concrete-forming ties.

CAPABILITIES APPLIED / PROCESSES

Design

  • Design new Wire Form & Assembly System
  • Created 3-D Models
  • 3D Simulation

Manufactured in-house using our CAD/CAM equipment and capabilities.

PLC Programming

HMI Design & Programming Integration

Supervision of Site Installation

System Commissioning

Operator Training

Documentation

  • Hard-Copy & CD-ROM Copies of Manuals
  • AutoCAD Assembly Drawings & Schematics Warranty
  • 1 Years up to 3,000 Hours Running Time

OVERALL SYSTEM DIMENSIONS

10 ft X 25 ft

OVERALL LEAD TIME

24 weeks

MACHINE FEATURES

Processes the End of Each Wire With a Resistance Heated hot

Formed Hexagon

Hopper/Loader Allows Loading of up to 1000 Raw Wires

TCA Designed & Built 80 Ton Servo Forming Press

Chain Conveyor to Move and Stage Packaging Boxes

Allen Bradley Servo Motor & Nord Gear Reducer

2 Servo Actuated hex Form Positioning Slides

Floor Mounted Perimeter Guarding

Indexing Transfer System

CSA Certified Control Panel

Allen Bradley SLC 5/04 PLC Controller

Allen Bradley PanelView 600Operator Interface

DIMENSIONS OF WIRES FORMED

Process Wires with Wall (W) of:

  • 200mm
  • 250mm
  • 400mm

Wire Ends:

  • 1/2" Hexagon (Across Flats)
  • 120mm or 210mm End Length