Special Solutions

Tech-Con provides unique automation solutions to order. Projects vary in scope from small hand held tools to structures two stories tall. Customer requirements have included special high temperature material handling, part finishing and part testing. Solutions have employed a wide range of technologies.

Example: Mesh Stacking Machine

Our customer needed a system to handle large panels of heavy steel mesh. Tech-Con engineers designed and constructed a stacking machine to handle the mesh. Robust and reliable the machine has provided years of service.

Example: Tube Feed System

Our customer needed a system to feed steel tubes through a pair of induction heating units. Tubes exit at temperatures up to 2000°C and have to be electrically isolated as they pass through the coils.

Tech-Con designed and built a system that can handle round, octagonal or square tubes, 2-6 inches in diameter and 4-15 feet in length. The tubes are centered in the induction units to within ± 1mm.

Example: Accumulating Tables

Accumulating tables are used to line up parts in rows. The table shown is designed to present cylinder sleeves to a robot four at a time. The table holds enough sleeves for the cell to run unattended for an hour.

In other projects, accumulating tables have been used for palletizing. An entire layer of parts is gathered then picked up and placed on a pallet in one pass.

Example: Degate Press

Engine block castings emerge from the die with extra material that has to be trimmed.

Tech-Con designers developed a hydraulic degate press to remove flash, gates and biscuit from newly cast blocks. Waste material drops into a chute for recycling.

The Degate Press is part of Tech-Con’s recent robotic Die Cast Machine tending project.

Example: Conveyor Bridge

Our customer needed to move a steady flow of 24 kg castings across an aisle to the next station.

Tech-Con designed and built a conveyor bridge. The structure includes two custom designed elevators that rotate the 90° as they rise to align the castings with conveyors on the ground and on the bridge.

Example: Auto Guided Cart System

Our customer needed a cost effective way to move parts around a large plant.

Tech-Con automation integrated a system of radio controlled, auto guided carts. The carts are fitted with auto loading and unloading racks.

The system includes automated unload/accumulating stations on the shop floor.

Example: 4-Lane Conveyor

Our customer needed a way to present different components to an assembly station.

Tech-Con created a system where different part containers could be unloaded onto multi-lane buffering conveyors. The cell keeps a choice of parts at hand to let the operator assemble struts to order.

Brake Tester

Our customer needed a way to check that brake systems were properly installed.

Tech-Con designed and built a simple hand held test unit to confirm brake travel for four different models of car.

A pneumatic cylinder extends to check brake stroke and lights on the unit indicate GOOD or NO GOOD.