Articles
Designing or implementing a vacuum system for material handling applications is an important and often costly expenditure that can cause many decision makers to encounter mixed messages, making the right choice unclear.In order to ensure a profitable... more »
According to safety experts, more than 8% of industrial accidents result from improper use of power tools. Whether it's employing the wrong tool for the job, carelessness, or failing to wear protective gear, the consequences are oftentimes tragic --... more »
Whether setting up or replacing storage rack systems, warehouse operators are often confronted with a dazzling number of choices. That can be troublesome, since the selections they make will dramatically affect the throughput, and hence the profitability,... more »
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is the last line of defense for protecting workers from arc-flash hazards -- the uncontrolled release of energy during an arcing fault. An arc fault, or fault current that travels through the air, releases a high amount... more »
Flexible circuitry is intended to fill applications that require the circuit to bend, flex, and conform to fit the application's specific use.Using flexible materials in manufacturing a printed circuit does not in itself guarantee that the circuit will... more »
Foundation Fieldbus and Profibus are popular -- no argument about that. By some estimates, there are now fieldbus installations in more than two dozen countries around the world. Yet, for all its operational advantages, fieldbus can prove tricky to install.... more »
Hazardous industrial locations require specialized portable lighting to prevent explosions. Something as simple as flipping a hand lamp's switch to ON, or brushing its metal cage against a pipe can set off a chain of tragic events that costs countless... more »
In addition to saving energy, pipe and vessel insulation has two critical roles in refineries and chemical processing plants: controlling process temperature and protecting workers. Insulation failure can result in injury, fire danger, material waste,... more »
Perhaps unaware of technological advancements, many managers automatically choose to continue purchasing stationary heavy metal fixed-length conveyors, a choice that may lead to added costs, process interruptions and, ultimately, to the equipment boneyard.... more »
Over the last couple of decades, industrial equipment has used serial ports to read and write data mainly because serial ports are generally easy to use and provide an efficient way to transfer data.Use of serial ports, however, is limited: to access... more »
Conveyors can fail for a variety of reasons. Bulk raw materials such as grain or rocks may be damp or wet -- significantly adding to the weight on the conveyor belt and ultimately leading to belt slippage and slowdown. Conveyor belts can break due to... more »
There are hundreds of power quality measurements you can take on electrical systems and equipment. These instructions focus on four predictive maintenance (PdM) measurements and two power consumption measurements that can help you uncover hidden costs,... more »
Are you utilizing your grinding machine to its full job capacity? Many machine operators don't think past centers, arbors, fixtures, and magnetic chucks; and many shops are still doing second operation work when they could be set up to finish parts with... more »
Drilling of composite fiberglass material has been difficult and, for some, a mystery. The ability to accurately drill holes in composite fiberglass material has been the subject matter of numerous articles and how to demonstrations. Composites offer... more »
With corrosion costing the U.S. economy more than $300 billion a year, it seems clear that purchasing VCI packaging products whose performance is backed by unimpeachable scientific testing is more than just a luxury.It is the best way to protect investments... more »
Manufacturers implementing direct part mark (DPM) identification know that the quality of a two-dimensional code -- which serves as a part's permanent identity -- can greatly affect its readability as it travels through production, the supply chain,... more »
Quick disconnect couplings can significantly improve the serviceability of fluid systems by saving time, reducing spills, and increasing safety for owners, service technicians, and manufacturers.Material SelectionPlastic couplings used in fluid system... more »
Optimizing your compressed air system's performance requires a look at the individual components and how they work together. This "systems approach" starts with a complete analysis of both the supply side and the demand side of your system, ensuring... more »
Moving product in the food or medical industry requires a conveyor system to be not only sanitary, but also designed for easy disassembly and daily cleanings. (Steps in the disassembly process are shown in the photos.)When it comes to durability, start... more »
While UV curing offers many advantages over other drying methods, it has its own requirements for maintaining process control. In particular, UV lamps and irradiators deteriorate over time. Depending on several variables, lamps may last less than 250... more »