RBSC wire spacer machine

The RBSC Wire Spacer Machine was designed, manufactured, developed and commissioned by Brook Engineering for the Reinforcing Bar Spacer Company Pty Ltd (RBSC). The machine makes a product called MeshMate™ which is used widely in building operations throughout Australia and overseas for spacing reinforcing mesh.

This high speed Machine is PLC controlled and the operator interface is via a touch-screen system. The machine uses 6 servo axes as well as VFD controlled motors and pneumatic and hydraulic cylinders. Overall guarding is a combination of mesh fencing and a light curtain facilitating easy forklift access for wire coil changeover.

The MeshMate™ product has four legs which are used to support steel reinforcing mesh and bars in concrete beams and footings during the pouring of concrete. The machine makes 50 different unit heights from 50mm to 400mm. Sizes from 50 to 100 are made from 5mm wire, sizes above 100 are made from 6.3mm wire. The wire is taken from 2.5 tonne coils mounted on electrically driven uncoiler units.

In continuous processing by the machine the wire is straightened, cut, bent into shape, welded in pairs at 90 degrees to form the four legs and have plastic boots pushed on to the end of each leg. The finished parts are then unloaded to a conveyor from which an operator picks the parts for packing.