A TCS spoke has a square-shaped section that a machine can grip. The spoke is held still while the nipple is tightened, so it stays aligned with no torsion, especially important on straight-pull spokes.
Holland Mechanics designed and patented the TCS spoke. It is made under licence by leading spoke manufacturers.
For standard, e-bike and straight-pull wheels. The TCS gripper holds the square while the nipple is driven.
New for carbon wheel production. Round and bladed carbon spokes with a correctly oriented square.
The gripper closes on the square and nothing else, so no torsion reaches the spoke.
Tension goes in with zero wind-up. No damage, no breakage.
With the spoke fixed, the machine tensions, centres, stabilises and measures in one sequence.
The square must face the gripper in the right orientation — that is where the machine engages.
wrong vs. right square orientation
square angle and measurements (No torque
TCS spokes have a few benefits for durability and many other thing, for both steel, aluminum & carbon spokes. For Carbon it is even recommeded to get TCS spokes if you want higher quality and faster production.
TCS grippers are an option on our lacing machines and the Robot-OT.
