Automation only pays back when the mechanical side is reliable. We design the grippers, feeders, transfer units, conveyors and cell structures that robots and PLCs depend on.
Layouts are made integration-ready: clear mounting references, cable and air routing paths, sensor positions and safe access for operators.
What We Do
Material handling systems
Conveyors, lifting devices and pick-and-place units sized for the load and rate.
Fixture and tooling design
Locating, clamping and gripping designed around part tolerances.
Cell layout
Footprint, reach and access studied before steel is cut.
Integration-ready design
Sensor, cable and pneumatic provisions built into the mechanical model.
Feeding systems
Hoppers, bowls and auto-feed mechanisms for small and medium parts.
Safety-conscious engineering
Guarding and access planned with the layout.
Typical Deliverables
- Cell layout drawing
- 3D model of mechanical equipment
- Gripper and fixture drawings
- Drive and actuator sizing sheet
- Bill of materials
- Installation notes
The mechanical side of automation, designed properly
Automation projects are usually specified around the robot and the PLC, but most of them succeed or fail on mechanical details: a gripper that drops parts at speed, a feeder that jams, a transfer unit that loses position, or a cell frame that vibrates. LTM designs the mechanical equipment that robots and controls depend on, so integrators and manufacturers can focus on programming and commissioning instead of rework.
Automation equipment we design
- Robot cells: cell bases, robot risers, part presentation stations, guarding and access layouts.
- End-of-arm tooling: grippers, vacuum heads, multi-part tools and quick-change interfaces.
- Feeding and orientation: hoppers, step feeders, escapements, magazines and bowl feeder tooling.
- Pick and place units: pneumatic and servo gantries, rotary indexers and transfer shuttles.
- Inspection and reject stations: loading, in-process inspection and reject separation, as in our valve loading and inspection cell.
Common reasons automation equipment underperforms
When we review automation equipment that is not hitting its target, the causes are usually mechanical. Grippers designed for nominal part size fail when parts arrive at the edge of their tolerance. Pneumatic cylinders sized at 90% load ratio slow down when plant air pressure drops at peak demand. Servo axes with a high inertia ratio take too long to settle, so each move is longer than the cycle chart assumed. Feeders jam because the part orientation logic does not handle burrs or slight deformation.
Designing against these failure modes from the start costs very little: wider gripper compliance, cylinders sized at 50 to 70% load ratio, axes with a sensible inertia ratio and feeding tooling tested against worst-case parts. It is far cheaper than redesigning during commissioning.
Designed for integration from day one
Every layout includes planned mounting for sensors and cameras, cable and air routing, valve terminal positions and clear access for maintenance. Pneumatic cylinders are sized with a proper load ratio so motion stays consistent when supply pressure drops. Servo axes are sized for peak and RMS torque and a sensible inertia ratio so they tune easily. The result is equipment that your controls engineer can wire, program and commission without redesigning brackets on site.
Cycle time and reliability
We build a motion sequence and cycle time estimate before detail design so you can confirm the cell will meet its output target. Wear parts, guides and grippers are selected for life at the required stroke rate, and change parts are designed for quick, repeatable swaps when the cell runs several product variants.
Deliverables
A typical package contains a cell layout drawing, 3D model of all mechanical equipment, gripper and fixture drawings, drive and actuator sizing sheet, bill of materials with vendor part numbers and installation notes. Work is quoted at a fixed price after a short brief. Fixture designs are quoted within 24 hours.
Try the free pneumatic cylinder force, linear guide life and servo motor sizing calculators for your own axes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you design the electrical and PLC side as well?
LTM focuses on mechanical design and works alongside your controls engineer or integrator, providing sensor positions, air consumption, motor data and I/O lists from the mechanical side.
Which robot brands do you design for?
Cells and tooling are designed around the robot you choose, including ABB, FANUC, KUKA, Yaskawa and collaborative robots, using the manufacturer models and payload data.
Can you design low-cost automation for small manufacturers?
Yes. Many projects use pneumatic and simple servo mechanisms instead of robots to automate a single operation at a fraction of the cost.
How do you make sure the cell meets cycle time?
A motion sequence and cycle time chart is prepared at concept stage, using actual actuator speeds and settling times, and approved before detail design begins.
Can you review an existing automation cell that is underperforming?
Yes. We review cycle data, actuator sizing and mechanical design, identify the bottleneck and design the changes needed to reach the target output.
How an Engagement Works
Brief
You share the function, loads, space, cycle time and any drawings you already have.
Concept
We propose a concept with a layout sketch and the key calculations, so you can approve direction early.
Detail design
3D model, calculations, GD&T drawings and BOM, reviewed with you at agreed checkpoints.
Release and support
Native files and PDFs handed over, with support during fabrication and assembly.
Have a project in mind?
Send a short brief with sketches or specifications. You get a clear scope and a fixed quote, usually within one business day.