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A source for industrial products & services news and events ranging from, Overcome Obstacles with Campion Plastics, IMI precision Engineering, Die Casting Corp, and much more.

Wire Rope: A Rock Climber’s Best Friend

For the past year, my younger brother has been backpacking around New Zealand, sleeping in a tent, working on farms and climbing mountains. From the pictures I’ve seen, it’s been an amazing adventure in one of the most naturally beautiful places on Earth. The older sister in me, though, is always a little bit worried. I imagine him scaling the sides of steep rock formations or climbing his way to the top of Mount Cook, and I realize how much more of a thrill seeker he is than me. While I would prefer he take up a more relaxing outdoor sport like fishing, the fact that he’s well equipped for belaying allows my mind to rest easy. Instead of relying on a good grip and foot holding, most rock climbers these days use an effective system consisting of a harness, pulley and belay loop, which are all attached to a sturdy climbing rope. Belaying ensures the climbers won’t fall very far in case they slip off a rock.

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Social Media for Manufacturers

This article focuses on local search and the steps that websites need to take in order to get better rankings. Google is used over 6 billion times a month for local search and these steps are instructive for manufacturers trying to better

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Conventional EDM

Conventional EDM is also referred to as Sinker EDM or Ram, and uses an electrically charged electrode to burn shapes and holes into metal components. The removed material is washed away by a continuous flush of dielectric fluid. This process is used for the most part in the tool and die industry. Materials of varying hardness or toughness can be machined in this way as long as they are electrically conductive. Aerospace and electronic applications also use EDM for materials that are difficult to work with, if they have small/odd angles for example or need to be machined with intricate contours and cavities.

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The Technology of Proportional Solenoid Valves

Proportional solenoid valves are surprisingly complicated. The way that the valve works is through the balance between the forces in the action of the plunger. This balance is achieved through a mechanical force provided by a specifically-designed spring and a current that passes through the coil that creates a magnetic force. The spring force is opposed by the magnetic force, which keeps the valve in balance. The valve works because the current that passes through the valve heats the coil, which increases the internal resistance. When the resistance is increased, the current drops and the magnetic force drops. This causes the valve to close. When the valve closes, the current and magnetic force can increase, which will cause the valve to open again.

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The Machine Vision Team

As children we learn that there is no “I” in “team,” a concept that teaches us to think unselfishly and use our individual skills for one common goal. As adults, those of us who venture into the business realm learn quickly that no company can thrive when every member of the staff is a lone wolf. Success depends on communication and a common vision. The same is true of many of the systems used in the manufacturing industry, such as machine vision. Regardless of how technologically advanced and impressive each piece of machinery is, it must function within the larger context of a full machine vision system to reach its full potential. A comprehensive look at what machine vision is and why the individual parts must work together as a team to make the manufacturing industry more efficient, less expensive and safer for workers will reinforce what has been drilled into our heads since we were small; it’s better to have a team then to go it alone.

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Linear Slides for Easy Motion

You are sitting in a dark tunnel, when suddenly the mining cart you are sitting in takes of and goes flying down a large hill, ripping around corners, soaring up and down, making your adrenaline rise and your stomach fall. If you cannot completely imagine the scenario, you could easily pick your favorite movie consisting of a scene such as this. Maybe Indiana Jones or Harry Potter? The reason I want you to think of these situations is it is a slightly more exciting transition into our next topic, linear slides. If you picture these large carts and carriages, they are often sliding along on wheels on a metal surface or railing. Linear slides can be thought of as the metal railings these large carts would slide down. However, instead of the wheels, ball bearings are used. The slides work much like the railings in that they dictate exactly where the carriage will go.

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The Benefits of Laminated Glass Are Clear

People come in contact with laminated glass every day, even if they do not realize it. Every time you gaze out the window at work, or spot that red light from a mile away in your car you are looking through laminated glass. Every time you visit a bank, their windows and doors are made using laminated glass. That shower door you slam closed each morning is made possible through the use of laminated glass. Laminated glass serves many different purposes, and the characteristics that make up its composition often translate into valuable benefits.

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Industrial Quick Search Receives 2009 Best of Grand Rapids Award

Industrial Quick Search has been selected for the 2009 Best of Grand Rapids Award in the Marketing Consulting Services category by the U.S. Commerce Association (USCA). The USCA ‘Best of Local Business’ Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USCA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

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Desirable Extruded Aluminum

Fast reliable processes that are profitable with high repeatability are a manufacturer’s best friend. Extrusion is one of these processes. Several metals and materials are used in the extrusion process, going as far back as 1797 with Joseph Brahma. The process continued to evolve into the 19th century with Thomas Burr and again in 1894 with Alexander Dick. Since the beginning, three items have been needed in order for the extrusion process to function. Those items are a ram, a billet and a die. In addition, there are a few types of extrusion and temperatures that are advantageous in their own ways. One of the most preferred metals across industries is aluminum. Extruded aluminum is a favorite in this process for a number of reasons.

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Cost-Effectively Create More Space at Your Facility with Mezzanines

When I hear the word mezzanine, I immediately think of that field trip to an opera version of Romeo and Juliet in ninth grade. All I remember from that experience is sitting in the theater mezzanine wishing that those two star-crossed lovers would stop singing and just die already. But we did have great seats. A mezzanine in a theater is the lowest balcony, a nice elevated position to see all the action. Mezzanines in commercial and industrial settings serve a similar function of creating another level within a building.

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ASSMANN CROSSLINK CHEMICAL STORAGE TANKS CERTIFIED BY NSF

Assmann Corporation announces new NSF 61 Certification for its crosslink tanks. Assmann’s High-density crosslink resin tanks are Certified for chemical storage and are suitable for a variety of chemicals. Assmann’s crosslink tanks include vertical storage, horizontal storage, double wall, conical bottom and open top tanks as well as chemical feed stations and secondary containment basins.

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Towing Vehicles: The First Automaticlly Guide Vehicles

Towing vehicles, also known as tuggers, are one of the oldest forms of AGV, or automatically guided vehicle. As the name implies, the main purpose for these vehicles (which look like scaled down Zambonis) is to pull carts/trolleys carrying materials and/or goods to varies destinations in a factory setting. Depending on the towing AGV model, these AGVs can carry from 8,000 to 60,000 pounds. For teams of laborers to efficiently transport that size of loads would be practically inconceivable.

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Rolling Along: Forming Wall Siding

Of all of the production processes, roller forming is the most interesting, simplest and most productive. To envision it, think of a very long strand of flat metal about a few feet wide that can stretch across the length of a large factory and beyond. This is the potential capacity of a roller forming machine, which is only limited by the length of the metal fed into it. A well-tuned roller forming machine can produce close to 70,000 parts per year, far more than any other form of production.

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Types of Helical Springs: Tension and Compression Springs

Coil springs, or helical springs, are used to store and release energy. This is a simple mechanical device that is used to maintain a force between contacting surfaces or to absorb shock. Typically, coil springs are used in applications such as bouncers and shock absorbers for machines, or as a way to close a lid or door automatically after they have been opened. Usually, a coil spring is manufactured in the shape of a helix from an elastic material that can stretch or compress according to need. After stretching, the spring will automatically return to its original shape.

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