Saturday, December 23, 2006

Web site covers magnetic products and systems

Corporate Web site provides visitors with detailed information on Goudsmit's magnetic products, magnetic assemblies, magnetic systems and industrial components.

Goudsmit UK are pleased to announce the launch of their redeveloped Web site. The new corporate website provides visitors with detailed information on the company's magnetic products, magnetic assemblies, magnetic systems and industrial components. As well as product information the website also highlights the company's capabilities in consultancy, design, project management, logistics and subcontract manufacturing.

A full range of brochures and technical data sheets can be downloaded directly from the Web site.

Throughout the site are a number of case studies with examples of previous projects Goudsmit UK have worked on, as well as details of various applications for the company's product range.

Modular workstations add flexibility

Switching to modular workstations has enabled a petroleum tank truck products manufacturer to introduce highly adaptable production cells as part of its ongoing lean manufacturing programme.

Switching to modular Lean Tek workstations from The Tube and Bracket Company has enabled Emco Wheaton to introduce highly adaptable production cells as part of its ongoing lean manufacturing programme. The new self-contained production cells can be modified easily and rapidly to support changing manufacturing requirements and priorities and deliver continuous business improvement. 'We are aiming for maximum flexibility in manufacturing methods and what we manufacture so that we can adapt to changes in the market as soon as possible,' said Brian Langsdon, production controller at Emco Wheaton.

'I wanted something that I could take apart and adapt whenever I wanted.' Emco Wheaton has made products for the safe handling of hazardous fluids for over 50 years and is the world leader in design and manufacture of petroleum tank truck equipment.

The company, part of Gardner Denver, has recently opened a new facility in Margate, UK, where it has been based since 1953.

For the last two years the company has been adopting lean manufacturing to replace its traditional batch and queue production.

The objective is to optimise the overall production process and implement cellular manufacturing and related concepts such as single piece flow, Kanban and 5S to support highly flexible production processes and continuous business improvement.

When it started its lean manufacturing programme the company fabricated its own workstations by welding steel components.

These workstations performed well and provided an interim solution but as the programme developed the company recognised that greater adaptability was required so that production cells could be modified and configured to meet evolving production requirements.

'The key benefit of working with The Tube and Bracket Company is the partnership we have developed,' said Langsdon.

'We discuss ideas and they come up with a solution quickly.' Working to Emco Wheaton's basic specification The Tube and Bracket Company devised and built ten workstations with modular Lean Tek components.

The range of interchangeable and reusable components includes tubes, brackets, wheels and accessories that can be assembled into lightweight and manoeuvrable workstations, carts and trolleys that offer greater flexibility and cost effectiveness than comparable devices made from welded steel and similar materials.

The workstations were designed specifically to be self-contained for use in production cells for two of Emco Wheaton's core products.

They include areas for product working and assembly and incorporate ancillary facilities for lighting, power and air supply.

Production schedules and other information can be displayed on small noticeboards integrated into the overall design.

Each workstation is mounted on locking wheels and can be moved or repositioned easily by one person.

In line with lean manufacturing thinking the workstations have been designed to optimise the working environment and occupy exactly the right amount of space for the process they support.

The modular nature of their construction means that they can be modified whenever production requirements change by altering the basic dimensions or by the addition or removal of components.

'The Tube and Bracket Company has given us nice clean workstations which include all the accessories for these production cells,' said Langsdon.

'It is key to the factory that everything has its place and it becomes obvious when it's wrong.' The Tube and Bracket Company assembled the workstations at its factory in Banbury and delivered them to Margate.

Small modifications were made during installation to ensure that the production cells were optimised for maximum efficiency.

Further beneficial changes were made as the production cells went live.

Each workstation originally had two locking wheels but it was soon realised that four would be provide better stability.

The Tube and Bracket Company supplied and fitted the additional components on site.

The workstation noticeboards were also repositioned to make them easier to see.

'We could not do this with a welded workstation,' said Langsdon.

'If a cell is not right we can take it apart and rebuild it.' The new production cells will enhanced Emco Wheaton's lean manufacturing capabilities and help it to introduce single piece flow for its core products.

As the company continues its drive towards lean manufacturing it plans to standardise on adaptable modular solutions for its production cell workstations and other equipment.

'One of the challenges with this type of change is that it is an ongoing process,' said Langsdon.

'We wanted to work with a company that understood what we're doing and could help us provide a uniform solution throughout the factory.' The Tube and Bracket Company provides lean manufacturing solutions that help deliver Kaizen-based continuous performance improvement to customers in manufacturing, engineering and production.

Its modular LeanTek system comprises coated steel piping, joints and fixtures that can be assembled into a variety of solutions including live storage, carts, trolleys and ergonomic workstations for use in Kanban and first-in-first-out stock management and throughout the manufacturing process.

These can be modified or reconfigured quickly and easily to meet process change.

The company offers a complete range of consultancy, project management, design, build and component supply services.

Friday, December 22, 2006

Large TFT colour screens for outdoor installation

Global Display Solutions has launched its 32' and 46' large screen colour TFTs specifically designed for outdoor installation.

Global Display Solutions (GDS), market leader in the design and manufacture of industrial displays, has launched its 32' and 46' large screen colour TFTs specifically designed for outdoor installation. These innovative displays are readable in full sunlight, have extremely high resolution and are designed to operate 24 hours a day. The design of these displays make them ideal for use in outdoor applications such as railway stations, airports, bus stations, theme parks, shopping malls and other passenger information and advertising display functions.

These displays are the latest outdoor products to be brought to market by GDS.

The new displays are totally weather-proof and vandal-proof, making them ideal for all external applications.

The frontal Advanced Optical Enhancement (AOE) treatment facilitates numerous performance improvements including high contrast, no condensation, no dust, no reflection and parallax problems.

All internal modules are also designed to aid easy replacement and maintenance.

The casing of the displays has been made to IP65 standard, which guarantees total protection from dust and low pressure water from all directions.

The quality of the graphics on the display is extremely high, operating at 1366x768 resolutions.

The displays also come complete with a 'Diagnostic Interface Board' for monitoring functions such as status of the display, presence power, vibration, front and back temperature and life lamp status.

Marco Cohen, Sales and Marketing Manager at GDS, comments: 'The introduction of these latest displays further reinforces our existing outdoor range and emphasises our expertise in this specific market.

We developed these displays in recognition of increasing demand from our customers for these specific sizes and specifications.

Linerless guide rollers improve system design

Custom Linerless Label Guide Rollers used in automated labeling, printing systems, packaging systems, and hand-held printing systems are available custom molded in a wide range of configurations, sizes and quantities from Hiawatha Rubber. These Linerless Label Guide Rollers have crepe configured surfaces with a special coating over the molded silicone polymer. This roller surface finish allows use of continuous label strips in automated printers and various packaging systems without liner backing, saving material, allowing more labels per roll while simplifying system design.

As a result, systems print, cut and affix labels faster while eliminating system jams and downtime.

To achieve the right custom Linerless Label Guide roller design, Hiawatha Rubber engineers, chemists and technicians develop a solution that best meets the required design criteria.

This includes selecting the right silicone blend and roller coating, then developing the correct molding and bonding process, followed by accurate grinding of the roller to correct dimensional and surface finish for highest level performance.

Hiawatha's in-house grinding department specialises in achieving custom finishes and special crowning for specific feeding characteristics and longer-wearing rollers.

Hiawatha Rubber offers material formulation chemistry, CAD design tooling, injection transfer molding, CNC grinding and CNC machining.

Manufacturing these rollers can include value added services such as bearing assembly, plastic or metal gears, drilling and tapping components, precision journal grinding, plastic-to-rubber bonding, metal-to-rubber bonding and segmented roller assembly.

Hiawatha Rubber is ISO 9001:2000 certified.

In-process quality controls include computerized data collection utilising laser micrometers, CMM (Coordinate Measuring Machines), and statistical process control.

Thursday, December 21, 2006

PTFE beading or miniature cord added

CS Hyde has announced the addition of PTFE (Teflon) beading, also known as miniature cord or rod.

CS Hyde has announced the addition of PTFE (Teflon) beading, also known as miniature cord or rod. We carry diameters ranging from .028' to .150'. PTFE beading is a good choice for electrical applications as it does not conduct electricity and it has a wide service temperature range -300F to 500F.

PTFE beading possesses a wide range of performance characteristics, including: chemical resistance, very lubricious (lowest coefficient of friction of any polymer), excellent dielectric insulation properties.

PTFE beading is chemically inert.

This product also meets UL 94 VO for flammability.

Precision indexing clutches increase performance

Vi-Spring, manufacturer of quality beds, has increased performance and drastically reduced maintenance after fitting precision indexing clutches from Renold Clutches and Couplings of Cardiff.

Vi-Spring, the world renowned manufacturer of quality beds, has increased performance and drastically reduced maintenance on its Spuhl pocket spring making machines after fitting precision indexing clutches from Renold Clutches and Couplings of Cardiff. The previous clutches had to be routinely replaced at least once or twice a year on each of the company's eight machines. This was due to excessive wear on the internal race of the previous sprag clutches, causing them to slip, which reduces the indexing accuracy of the machine.

During the pocket spring making process the natural fibre material is pulled into the machine to a precise length, at which point the clutch engages, locking the mechanism and allowing a precision stitch to be made.

To provide Vi-Spring with even greater accuracy and to reduce maintenance Renold supplied high precision indexing clutches designed with more sprags, all of which were wider than in a standard design.

The increased number of sprags coupled with their additional width provides an increased contact area for greater accuracy and reduced stresses on the inner race.

The new clutch Renold supplied was fitted in July 2005 and is not yet showing any signs of wear.

Since then Vi-Spring have purchased 3 more clutches.

John Petrie of Vi-Spring commented: 'The Renold clutch not only gives us longer life but is also substantially lower in price than the old clutch.

We also get the additional benefit of a new sprocket supplied with each clutch.' Vi-spring were the first company to manufacture interior sprung mattresses and in the early part of the twentieth century their beds were to be found in luxury London hotels and in the first class cabins of the great Atlantic liners such as the Queen Mary and the ill fated Titanic.

Discerning travellers began demanding Vi-Spring beds for their own homes and today the company's name is synonymous with top quality, stylish beds around the world.

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Secure monitoring with temperature data logger

Crown Graphic is providing safeguards for the secure monitoring and transportation of vaccines, with the introduction of the SM420 temperature data logger from Dickson.
Crown Graphic is providing safeguards for the secure monitoring and transportation of vaccines, with the introduction of the SM420 temperature data logger from Dickson, a leading recorder manufacturer. The SM420 fulfils the demands for continuous, certified and calibrated temperature monitoring of vaccine storage conditions, helping to ensure continued potency for effective vaccinations. 'Effective and continuous monitoring of vaccines is vital in view of evidence from the USA that many thousands of vaccines are lost or recalled each year,' said Wayne Harper of Crown Graphic.
'Some medical facilities that store vaccines may not continuously monitor their temperature; and they have no way of knowing what happens to the vaccines 24- hours a day, 7- days a week, especially during nights or weekends.
As a result, there have been many cases where the effectiveness of vaccines has been called into question.' The SM420 is an answer to this problem.
It continuously monitors and records the temperatures of vaccines 24- hours a day, 7- days a week, enabling users to know exactly when and how long vaccines have remained at any given temperature.
The SM420 meets the current recommendation of a monitoring temperature range of 2 deg C to 8 deg C with an instrument accuracy of +/- 0.5 deg C.
As such, it effectively addresses the major issue with vaccine delivery: improper storage.
Suitable for both static and, via a battery option, the SM420 is applicable anywhere where the maintaining of temperature records of vaccine conditions is critical: in clinics, hospitals, laboratories, mobile immunization vans, nursing homes, pharmacies, veterinary practices, military treatment facilities, doctors' surgeries, and many more.
Designed for operations in the temperature range -45 deg C to +176 deg C, the SM420 is both easy to mount and monitor.
The modular design of the data logger minimises installation costs, enabling the unit to be mounted conveniently on the top of refrigerators or, alternatively, on walls, to allow visible checking - via a high-accuracy platinum probe - of temperature within the refrigerator.
Monitoring of the SM420 is made easy via a Jumbo LCD display; and user functionality is also enhanced by an adjustable high/low alarm function, and the convenience of super high speed USB 2.0 connectivity.
The latter allows data to be downloaded, fast, without having to access the refrigerator.
In applications where several SM420s are employed, an optional memory card complements the operation of the USB.

Slides ideal for heavy duty applications

The versatile design of the 9300 series makes these slides ideal for access and positioning in a variety of heavy duty industrial, maintenance and vehicular applications.
The versatile design of the 9300 series, along with a choice of features and mounting options, makes these slides ideal for access and positioning in a variety of heavy duty industrial, maintenance and vehicular applications. Additional features include lock-in and lock-out levers, tool-less installation using pocket and bayonet mounting and optional platform brackets for bottom or side mounting. The 9308's sturdy lock-in and lock-out actions keep drawers safely open for access, or securely closed for transit.
This product is well suited for applications such as vehicle equipment drawers, storage trays or racks and equipment platforms.
Designed for applications such as battery trays or servers within rack enclosures, the 9307 lock-out feature ensures drawers remain stable while contents are serviced.
Both the 9308 and 9307 models are supplied singly as a right or left hand option and can be used in any combination or paired with the non locking 9301 slide model.
An optional platform bracket kit provides additional mounting choices for these slides.
Model 9328 features a pocket and bayonet mounting method that significantly reduces the amount of time required to install slides and drawers into the body of a vehicle, along with lock-in and lock-out.
This model may be paired with model 9322, a non-locking companion slide, for applications that require locking on one side only.
Both models are full extension and carry up to a 136kg load rating.
The latch that releases the lock-in and out feature is located at the front of the slide for easy access.
It is designed to resist disengaging when subjected to side-to-side racking.
Coated with a safety yellow finish in a durable soft plastic, the latch is highly visible, yet also easily identified by touch.
This allows users to quickly locate the latch, even when reaching around large chassis.
Each slide in the series is available in 50mm increments from 300mm to 1500mm and gives full extension with up to a 227kg load rating depending on the application.
Accuride International Limited is the world's leading specialist manufacturer of high quality ball bearing slides for a broad range of industries.
It has manufacturing facilities in the UK, Germany, USA, Mexico, China and Japan, European sales offices in the UK, Germany, Italy and France, and an equally global network of distributors.

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

DC backward curved impellers is RoHS compliant

The Diplomat range of DC backward curved impellers from Comair Rotron is now fully RoHS compliant.
The Diplomat range of DC backward curved impellers from Comair Rotron is now fully RoHS compliant. Available exclusively in the UK from Aerco, the Diplomat range was designed to meet the demands of modern, densely packed electronic systems and has wheel diameters from 101.6mm up to 280mm with airflow of 46 litres/sec (97CFM) to 520 litres/sec (1101CFM). All blowers in the range are available in 12, 24 and 48VDC and are fitted with speed control, fan failing alarm outputs and environmental protection as standard features.
Diplomat blowers are ideal for ducting systems, industrial

Integrated mounting and manifold block

CCIMS, an integrated mounting and manifold block connects instruments directly to process piping in a tiny fraction of the time previously taken, and dramatically reduces the number of joints.
Parker Instrumentation has launched what it believes is the most significant advance in instrument mounting technology for over 40 years. Called CCIMS, the radical new integrated mounting and manifold block connects instruments directly to process piping in a tiny fraction of the time previously taken, and dramatically reduces the number of joints - and therefore potential leak paths. CCIMS (Close Coupled Instrument Mounting Solution) supports the direct connection of differential pressure transmitters - one of the commonest types of process instruments - to process pipework.
Parker Instrumentation believes that CCIMS is the first mounting solution to provide a practical solution for 'close coupling' these instruments, which are used in quantities of hundreds of thousands a year, for flow measurement in a wide range of industries including oil and gas, petrochemical and chemical, and power generation.
CCIMS allows pressure transmitters to be mounted directly onto an orifice plate assembly in less than 30 minutes, typically replacing hand-crafted assemblies of discrete tubing, joint and valve components that can take anywhere from one to three man-days to fabricate.
The labour saving from this aspect of CCIMS alone could save industry hundreds of millions of Euros a year.
Once installed, CCIMS also allows instruments to be clipped onto and off the pipe in seconds - easing maintenance.
'The costs of mounting differential pressure transmitters has stayed much the same for decades, and is unquestioned by plant owners', says Brian Rice, Market Development Manager.
'We have worked with both transmitter manufacturers and users to develop this new mounting concept.
The launch of CCIMS introduces a solution that challenges the status quo, allowing the industry to re-engineer instrument mounting practice to save cost and enhance performance.' The new product also benefits plant operators by reducing maintenance requirements and total cost of ownership, and by enhancing the integrity and performance of the instrument system - factors which are key to the successful operation of the new generations of highly automated and unmanned plants.
The requirement for maintenance decreases substantially because CCIMS technology eliminates the need for 'impulse lines' - the tubing flow paths that normally run between pipe and instrument - helping to avoid the common problem of blockages caused by many factors including viscous media, hydrate formation, freezing, and so on.
CCIMS also incorporates a unique interface that allows the instrument to be clipped onto and off the manifold in seconds, instead of undoing threaded connections, tubing joints, or even welds - which greatly speeds calibration and repairs.
CCIMS further cuts costs because it replaces application-specific assemblies of discrete tubing, joints, valves and manifold components with a single universal module that can be held in stock.
Taken together, these features make a substantial contribution to helping end users achieve the radical new levels of reliability and low maintenance that is required for the control and instrumentation systems in today's highly automated or unmanned plants.
In the oil and gas industry in particular, this issue is often exacerbated by the remote location of equipment, which might be sited on offshore platforms or at wellheads and pipeline pumping stations.
Further significant gains are derived from the 'close coupled' nature of the connection delivered by CCIMS.
A traditional connection, or 'hook up', for a differential pressure transmitter can involve 20-30 joints, every one of which is a potential leak path.
The integrated nature of the new CCIMS solution reduces this to just five - a massive leap in integrity that helps to avoid both the human and environmental safety issues caused by leakages or emissions.
The intimate nature of the piping connection provided by CCIMS also aids the performance of the instrument system.
The length of a typical impulse line arrangement (and the bends which often feature in such arrangements) introduce pressure drops and turbulence that can substantially decrease measurement accuracy, commonly referred to as 'gauge-line error'.
CCIMS positions a transmitter directly adjacent to the process pipe, and provides a short, straight and even flow connection - allowing end users to benefit fully from the instrument's accuracy to monitor their process.
Previous attempts to develop a practical close-coupled mounting solution have been hampered by the need to accommodate the large tolerances involved in connecting to process piping.
Differential pressure transmitters typically operate by measuring the difference in pressure between the upstream and downstream sides of a plate with a known orifice, which allows flow to be calculated.
This orifice plate is mounted between the flanges of two pipe segments.
Pipe flanges are machined to an industry standard, but the tolerances allowed mean that in practice the connection points for the instrument can be misaligned in X, Y, Z and rotational dimensions, as well as the angle of alignment of the flange faces.
This issue has meant that piping and instrument engineers almost invariably connect instruments using a series of discrete components: tubes with threaded connections to the pipe flanges take the impulse lines towards the instrument via isolation valves, and an instrument manifold then provides further valves for equalisation and bleeding/venting.
Such assemblies typically require a minimum of 20 connections and/or welded joints, and very often support brackets as well.
Parker's breakthrough CCIMS mounting solution has two interlocking elements.
A pipe interface module connects to the instrument interfaces on the two flanges, and incorporates two primary isolation valves; this module features an innovative 'universal tubing joint' to compensate for all alignment problems associated with the flanges.
An instrument mounting module - available with a range of manifolds to suit the application - then clips on top of this, again by means of a novel new mechanical interface developed by Parker.
The cost savings in installation and maintenance areas, and the dramatic reduction in potential leak paths that CCIMS brings are expected to be the main attraction for plant operators - and Parker believes that these will help to stimulate users to adopt the new technology.
Instrument 'hook ups' can vary widely, depending on the practices and preferences of the plant's instrumentation engineers, the piping fitters, and the physical space available, but they typically necessitate an assembly time of one to three man-daysfor differential pressure transmitters.
Mounting an instrument using CCIMS in half an hour (Parker Instrumentation can do it in 15 minutes, typically), represents a likely labour saving of around 12 hours - which equates to approaching 1,000 Euros/dollars per instrument.
With around half a million differential pressure transmitters a year being sold for orifice plate flow measurement applications, the potential savings are enormous.
When taken together with the reliability and performance gains that CCIMS also provides, Parker Instrumentation believes this new technology will fundamentally change instrument mounting practices.

Monday, December 18, 2006

Neutron detection screen for 20% more efficiency

Applied Scintillation Technologies (AST) has developed a new neutron detection screen which gives up to 20% improved efficiency of detection and improved signal to noise ratio.
Applied Scintillation Technologies (AST) has developed a new neutron detection screen which gives up to 20% improved efficiency of detection and improved signal to noise ratio. The screens provide good resolution and overcome the size, cost and handling difficulties of alternative 3He detectors. AST neutron detection screens are formed from a blend of 6Li compounds and phosphors and make use of the reaction between 6Li and thermal neutrons to produce energetic tritons (tritium nuclei) which in turn interact with the phosphor to create light that can be detected by a photomultiplier tube or CCD imaging system.
The new screens feature increased 6Li loading per unit area, which gives up to 20% increase in neutron capture whilst maintaining minimal response to gamma rays that could interfere with the neutron signal.
In addition, the screens exhibit improved signal-to-noise.
The new screens are available in large area formats (up to 1m x 1m) but can also be produced in novel shapes.
This allows the screens to be designed to offer an increased area for neutron capture for individual applications.
The new screens are of great interest to the high-energy physics community with Oak Ridge National Labs, Rutherford Appleton Labs and JAEA all looking at utilizing this product in their new detector designs.
Other neutron detection applications include studies of fuel flows in jet engines, authentication and restoration of paintings, crystallography and the identification of plastic explosives

Choosing the right chain for the job

Chain is possibly the most hard working and ubiquitous mechanical component that is employed right across industry for driving, lifting and conveying - and there are many different types.
Chain - possibly the most hard working and ubiquitous mechanical engineering component that is employed right across industry for driving, lifting and conveying. It comes in many forms and variations from the standard configurations through to derivative specials that perform more than their 'basic' duties. In essence, there are two types of chain, roller and leaf.
Roller chains are employed primarily for driving functions as a component of a power transmission system for delivering power and torque and are normally driven by toothed sprockets.
Leaf chains are used for lifting and pulling applications with power being applied at the opposite end to the load, usually via an hydraulic cylinder.
The benefits of using roller chains as a means of delivering a motive force are numerous.
They include high efficiency (up to 98%), are suitable for both long and short centre distances, ideal for linked processes such as engine timing, permit use of smaller bearings for driving and driven shafts (unlike belting no initial tensioning required), withstand shock loadings, easy to install and maintain, and longevity.
Both types of chain are manufactured in various forms either to suit the application or the industry and, in some cases, a combination of the two.
As well as single strand designs, roller chains are supplied frequently in multi-strand configurations, usually for high speed applications (up to 23m/second).
Also, by modifying a chain's design it can perform a secondary duty.
For example, by extending the pin or adding attachment links with integral mounting brackets, the chain is able to become a transporting device as well as being part of the transmission system, such as in conveyors on packaging machinery.
Similarly, for leaf chains, side flanges can be added to act as travel guides for the chain.
* Materials and finishes - chains are available in a range of materials and finishes, including stainless steel, nickel-plating and zinc-aluminium based coatings, making it possible to optimise material choice according to application.
Self lubricating and low maintenance chains are also available for applications where lubrication is problematic or undesirable.
Today's manufacturing techniques and materials have improved significantly the performance and durability of chains as well as making it possible to produce products ideal for specific markets with particular demands.
Modern manufacturing processes include sophisticated heat treatments that achieve a combination of both high surface hardness for (pins and bushes), and through hardening that imparts shock resistance to the plates and rollers.
To further enhance fatigue resistance, plates, bushes and rollers are shot peened.
This cold working process, which involves bombarding the components with tiny balls, improves the load bearing properties of the plates, bushes and rollers by pre-stressing the surfaces through work hardening, thereby improving fatigue resistance.
However, hardness levels need to be controlled carefully because if they exceed certain levels components become brittle and fatigue strength diminishes.
The components also become more sensitive to aggressive media (free hydrogen, acids, etc) and more vulnerable to corrosion.
To further improve chain performance, a technique called ball drifting is employed.
This process involves forcing precision balls through plate holes to remove all punching flutes and sharp edges left after stamping whilst simultaneously introducing strain hardening around the aperture.
* Pre-loading - pre-loading is also a significant element in the manufacturing process.
After assembly, chain is subject to a high tensile load which minimises the initial stretch that all chains experience during the first hours of use.
Some manufacturers have also developed new link plates.
These are the product of lengthy R and D work that looked at every aspect, including plate height, thickness and eccentric profile of link heads, all in conjunction with the adoption of enhanced materials and manufacturing techniques.
The result is a 30% improvement in fatigue resistance.
Lubrication - initial lubrication is a key factor for chain manufacturers.
Factory pre-lubricants are chosen both to lubricate and provide some protection against corrosion.
However, increasingly specialist pre-lubricants are being developed as coatings.
These reduce the amount of maintenance lubrication required due to the superior protection they provide.
In fact, Salt Spray tests (DIN 50021SS/ISO 9227SS) have demonstrated such coatings to be up to 10 times better than conventional pre-lubricants, resulting in maintained link articulation and longer service life.
In addition to practical performance, some of these coatings also have environmental benefits, in that they do not contain heavy metals, no Teflon and no silicon.
Further, they comply with NSF-H2 food industry requirements and the electric/electronic industry's RoHS:2005 standard.
* Chain performance - when specifying roller chains the breaking strength has little significance.
Instead, it is the bearing pressure and fatigue resistance that determine the life and performance of the chain.
In fact, chains with comparable breaking loads can have fatigue strengths that can differ by as much as 100%.
Chain selection is dependent upon a number of factors governing the complete drive system.
Considerations include the number of teeth for both the drive and driven sprockets in conjunction with the drive ratio required.
It is then necessary to consider the impact load classification following which it is possible to select the correct chain pitch.
The economic and technically superior solution is the single strand chain of the smallest pitch based upon the output values to be transmitted and the revolution of the small sprocket.
If the design envelope is too small to accommodate the sprocket size for a chain with a single strand, a smaller size chain with multiple strands can be employed.

Sunday, December 17, 2006

Pressure sensitive adhesive tape resists heat

PEEK tape with pressure sensitive adhesive is 'super-tough', strong, flexible and resistant to very high temperatures and chemicals, coupled with friction and wear and heat resistant properties.

Pressure sensitive adhesive tape resists heat PEEK tape with pressure sensitive adhesive is 'super-tough', strong, flexible and resistant to very high temperatures and chemicals, coupled with friction and wear and heat resistant properties. CS Hyde Company announces a new development in pressure sensitive adhesive tapes: PEEK Tape with Pressure Sensitive Adhesive. This fully-crystalline PEEK film is well known for its extremely high performance characteristics.

It is 'super-tough', strong, flexible and resistant to very high temperatures and chemicals.

This tape has the best combination of friction and wear properties combined with high heat resistance, chemical resistance, purity and electrical insulation.

PEEK tape is hydrolytically stable with very low absorption and permeability.

PEEK Tapes can be used on many different hard mating surfaces such as steel, ceramic or glass.

PEEK Tape is a superior linear bearing material and is also used in demanding, high performance applications.

Typical applications for the tape include sliding bearings, abrasion resistant wire wraps, high temperature shielding and oil field equipment requiring abrasion resistance and electrical insulation.

Victrex PEEK meets many aerospace, automotive, fire, smoke and toxicity, food/water, medical/pharmaceutical, and military approvals and standards PEEK Tape is available in rolls, strips, die-cut shapes, squares, sheets.

PEEK Tape is also available with custom adhesives.

When you need a super-tough, strong, abrasion-and-wear resistant material with high temperature and chemical resistance, PEEK is the material of choice.

Machine tool sensors brochure published

A Sensors for Machine Tools Brochure incorporates the most popular sensors - including special sensors - used within the machine tool environment as well as application advice.

This full colour 16 page Sensors for Machine Tools Brochure incorporates the most popular sensors used within the machine tool environment as well as application advice. Quick and easy to use, sensors are grouped by type - sections include - inductive, photoelectric, electromechanical, RFID, linear encoders and Linear Transducers. All sections are fully illustrated and give an overview of the product capabilities.

Included within the brochure are Balluff's range of special sensors adapted to cope with problem applications.

SteelFaceTM inductive sensors - especially designed for harsh environments and applications that are too extreme for standard sensors.

The latest Remote Inductive Transmission System - when full freedom of movement is required such as rotary index tables and robot grippers.

Also Tool and Pallet identification with industrial RFID.