Timber End Connectors

In this case all the TECs will be drilled with 17/32” diameter holes to accommodate ½” screws. The pocket can only accommodate a screw that is 4”-4.75” long. Longer screws can be used with the connectors; however, a specific installation method must be followed to enable the installation of longer screws.

No. We provide a Sample WPS/PQR that your welding engineer can use as a starting point to tailor to your equipment, procedures and practices. We will also provide you with two weld test plates of the cast steel material for the actual weld tests. We can ship the test plates ahead of the rest of the order.

Yes. The material we use, ASTM A958 SC8620 80/50, is not yet a pre-qualified base metal per AWS / CWB, a WPS needs to be developed and verified via PQR and testing.

No.

The holes in our connectors are 1/32” larger than the pin. This is based on AISC 360-16 clause D5.2D, which says that if the pin connection is expected to rotate under load the pin hole can only be 1/32” larger than the pin diameter. If the member is not expected to rotate a larger hole may be acceptable, but this is a decision that should be made by the EOR.

If field installation is a concern, shop-connecting the TEC to the gusset plate and then field welding or bolting the gusset plate to the other frame elements will provide additional tolerance. Also make sure the erector surveys any critical items, such as anchor rods, before delivering the steel.

Yes, provided that it has been checked for all applicable failure modes including pin bending. If a thinner gusset is desired, it is recommended that the connection include local reinforcement around the pin hole on both sides of the gusset plate, thus locally increasing the total thickness of the plate to the recommended gusset plate thickness.

We can supply domestically produced connectors, but it’s best if we know of this requirement before the tender so that we can anticipate the order in our inventory.

You can specify the product using language like “Cast Connex Timber End Connectors or approved alternate” but, if an alternate is proposed by the contractor, the engineer should consider whether it is truly a equivalent alternate i.e. one that provides the same architectural and structural performance as the specified CAST CONNEX product.

Yes we can offer a welded connection. We will need some information on the design of the knife plate, as it is dependent on the loading, choice of fasteners, and wood species.

Yes. However, don’t confuse stainless steel material with a “stainless steel look”. Cast stainless steel castings look just like the bare cast steel version, but the material provides improved corrosion resistance. To make it “shiny”, which may be what the design team are thinking when they request “stainless”, the castings would need to be fully machined or polished.

Yes!

Lead times vary by quantity and connector size and type; but, since we do keep some limited inventory of all our connectors, shorter than normal lead times may be arranged. Typical lead times are generally 6-10 weeks.