InMFG articles from April 2005

InMFG archives from April 2005

Out and about.(The Editors' Page)
April 1, 2005... Manufacturers across the U.S. got a chance to see the innovations and solutions from the market, in early March, at National Manufacturing Week in Chicago. The event encompassed eight shows: National Design Engineering, Micro Systems USA,...

Shocking accidents! How voltage warning indicators can increase electrical safety.(Emerging Technologies)
April 1, 2005... Electrical accidents are the 4th leading cause of occupational fatalities. Creating an electrically safe work condition is critical for electricians performing maintenance on de-energized systems. The presence of voltage is the only determining...

Qualifying power quality: basic methodology and common culprits.(Electrical/Electronic)
April 1, 2005... While we've enjoyed enormous benefits from the evolution of solid state technology, the fact is that the microelectronics at the heart of that technology requires clean power. Faster speeds and lower voltages mean that there is less tolerance...

Switch to heavy-duty switches.(Electrical//Electronic)
April 1, 2005... Heavy-duty switches range in size from 2-in. to more than 2-ft. wide and from a weight of just a few ounces to 500-lbs. Long-life contacts are provided on all switches for years of trouble-free service and reliable performance even under the...

Ultrasonic sensor.(Electrical//Electronic)
April 1, 2005... QT50U Series long-range universal voltage ultrasonic sensor is ideal for use on machinery where only AC power is present; features an advanced microprocessor design that simplifies setup and programming. * Extended range up to 8 m *...

A clean finish: Groove and Turn System reduces production costs and time.(Practical Solutions)
April 1, 2005... With the assistance of the A4 Groove and Turn System and other tools from Kennametal Inc., Kaltech Mfg. has become a dominant metalworking job shop in an area typically known for its sawmill, pulp and paper industry. Kennametal, a supplier...

Air/gas flowmeter: a low-cost/accurate solution.(Fluid Power/Handling)
April 1, 2005... The ST75 Series Flowmeter measures and monitors air or gas flows with a single instrument. Combining a non-clogging, small-size thermal dispersion sensing element with microprocessor-based electronics and precision calibration, the flowmeter...

Process pump.(Fluid Power/Handling)
April 1, 2005... PowerFlow pump, for highly viscous, abrasive or corrosive applications, handles adhesives and sealants, paints and coatings, paper starch, asphalts, polymers, resins, plastics, food products, pharmaceuticals and petroleum. * Temperatures:...

How smart is your plant? Advanced process monitoring software makes plants smarter and safer.(Fluid Power/Handling)
April 1, 2005... Manufacturing companies over a range of industries have identified significant value to be gained with real-time process monitoring systems operating in conjunction with their control systems. Accessing under-utilized process information for...

Robots: flexible automation for a strong economy.(IN Perspective)
April 1, 2005... Just how should American manufacturing react to the cheap foreign labor available overseas? Many people have answered this question by proposing tariffs and organizing boycotts, but others are taking a much more productive and proactive...

Rotary screw compressor.(Fluid Power/Handling)
April 1, 2005... AS-T compressor features integral refrigerated dryers and condensate drains to reduce wear on production equipment and improve product quality. * Split cooling air flow design * Sigma Profile airend * Flow rates: 59-112 cfm *...

Tubing Parts.(Fluid Power/Handling)
April 1, 2005... Custom Molded Tubing Parts offer solutions for problems such as leaks and uneven flow that can occur in dispensing units, fluid delivery and mixing systems, manifolds, fluid transfer, and other equipment. * No connections, resulting in...

Control valves.(Fluid Power/Handling)
April 1, 2005... JFC-4 and JFC-5 flow control valves control air flow from air cylinders as well as the speed at which the piston strokes, either while extending or retracting, depending on their location in the circuit. * Free flow from inlet to outlet ...

Rodless cylinders.(Fluid Power/Handling)
April 1, 2005... HORV Series features a flat profile, making the units up to 40% thinner than conventional rodless cylinders. * Block type end cap * Reduced zero stroke dimension * High strength stainless steel band * Sensor switch track with...

Defining world class globally: first of a three-part series.(World Class Manufacturing)
April 1, 2005... Global competition focuses most manufacturers upon labor rate differences. World Class organizations understand the real competitive issue: low brand value. They research the key characteristics needed to achieve a dominant brand value in each...

Your IT investment: what you need to know to make it in a global, on-demand environment.(Cover Story)
April 1, 2005... While folks from IT and the factory floor usually don't hang out together in the break room, there is undoubtedly a close relationship between the two groups in that modern manufacturing operations can't survive without the help of IT. But...

Get positioned with screw actuator.(Power Trans/Motion Control)
April 1, 2005... Machine screw actuator is ideal for applications requiring positive mechanical positioning. The actuator can be driven either by a manual crank or via gear motor, which is connected to the horizontal worm shaft. Translating contact is made...

Restart equipment.(Power Trans/Motion Control)
April 1, 2005... SENSING-SAF-START replaces the power cord on small machines and is designed to disconnect the machine's power during a power loss. * Three 120V styles * One 240V style * UL component recognized * Prevents unexpected startups...

Step motors.(Power Trans/Motion Control)
April 1, 2005... The 0.9 deg. NEMA 14 steppers assure smooth operation even at low speed in applications such as printers and plotters, X-Y tables, scanners, and robotics. * Type, color and length can be specified * Choice of bearings and custom shafts...

Motorized spindle.(Power Trans/Motion Control)
April 1, 2005... Hollow-shaft brushless DC motorized spindle features minute air gaps between the shaft and spindle housing as well as shaft run-outs held within 0.0003-in. * Torque: 5-oz.-in. * Operating speed: 15,000 rpm * 2.20-in. O.D. x...

Right-angle gearhead.(Power Trans/Motion Control)
April 1, 2005... HG+ gearhead uses single-stage gearing technology to achieve efficiency greater than 96% with guaranteed backlash of 4 arc-minutes and ratios of i=3-10. * Five sizes * Universal mounting system * Low inertia, noise and heat *...

A smoother ride: spherical bearings eliminate installation hassle for recumbent tricycle manufacturer.(Power Trans/Motion Control)
April 1, 2005... Recumbent tricycling is the fastest growing category in bicycling today. These trikes alleviate the stress and pain felt in the knees, back and buttocks when using upright bicycles. If a rider has trouble with balance, a trike is the ideal...

Customer service: a big slice of the ERP pie: FAB: features, advantages, benefits.(Special Report)
April 1, 2005... Lists of reasons for purchasing ERP (Enterprise Resources Planning) manufacturing software systems are common. Suggestions of Lean Manufacturing continued process improvements are rampant by the nearly 500 ERP vendors throughout North America....

"Clean Curtains" offer a clean break for processors.(Plant Operations/MROP)
April 1, 2005... Clean Curtains are designed to give protection, sanitation and flexibility for process operations. The curtain walls have welded seams and do not have sewn joints or hems. They are clear from top to bottom for visibility and to provide a...

Induction heaters.(Plant Operations/MROP)
April 1, 2005... Betex heaters feature a robust design along with ergonomic swing arm construction that allows operators to have both hands free to handle heated work pieces. * Prevents damage from overheating * Heats bearings from 15 mm I.D. to 600 kg...

Bird removal system.(Plant Operations/MROP)
April 1, 2005... Bird Chase Super Sonic protects property and surrounding areas from the damaging effects and noise of birds such as pigeons, crows, starlings, swallows, and more. * Protects up to 1 acre * Pro-pack attachments cover 6 acres * More...

Cleaning & safety equipment.(Plant Operations/MROP)
April 1, 2005... A 456-page buyer's guide includes the Oil-Only Mop System for quick clean up; Spill Kit in Storage Chests for large spills; and the Chemical Leak Diverter for chemical pipe leaks. * More than 4,500 products * Performance rating system...

Spray nozzles.(Plant Operations/MROP)
April 1, 2005... JPL Air Atomizing Spray Nozzles use compressed air or gas to produce an accurately controlled liquid dispersion in applications where a conventional liquid spray nozzle would not be suitable. * 303 and 316 stainless, and nickel-plated brass...

Gear oil solves gear wear: product and services solution helps cement plant decrease downtime.(Plant Ops/MROP)
April 1, 2005... Holcim (US) Inc. is one of the largest cement manufacturers in the United States, with 15 manufacturing plants and more than 70 distribution facilities. Each year, it ships over 16.7 million tons of cement and associated materials to customers...

Using real time information in manufacturing processes.(INDUSTRY watch)
April 1, 2005... Globalization increases the competitive pressures on manufacturers: make it better, faster and cheaper. These cost pressures radiate through the supply chain. Time-to-market cycles are compressed and the need to deliver greater choice and...

Efficient part sourcing begins online.(INDUSTRY watch)
April 1, 2005... As a manager, you know controlling the cost of materials is crucial to the success of a product launch. But many busy managers don't have the time to look beyond their traditional suppliers to uncover new sources of materials. What's the...

The benefits of strategic maintenance.(INDUSTRY watch)
April 1, 2005... Maintenance professionals know the benefits of a strategic maintenance program. The greatest hurdle they face is convincing others in the chain of command of the savings in time and money an investment in a sound maintenance program can...

Understanding the total cost of computing.(INDUSTRY watch)
April 1, 2005... What's the best course when you need to purchase mobile computing equipment for use in a harsh environment? Do you stick with standard commercial grade or spend more money for ruggedized equipment? A white paper from Venture Development Corp....

Making the most of making machines.(INDUSTRY watch)
April 1, 2005... Made2Manage Systems' white paper explains how manufacturers of industrial machinery can benefit from improving their business processes. While software companies have focused on electronics and automotive industries, manufacturers of industrial...

PCs + PLCs = PACs: new industrial control architecture improves plant efficiency.(Instrumentation/Control)
April 1, 2005... The utilization of modern automation systems has driven plant efficiency to the point where a typical worker today produces 70% more output than in the 1960s. Hardware, such as PLCs, has enabled engineers to design systems that eliminate many...

Rotometers.(Instrumentation/Control)
April 1, 2005... FL-36900 through FL-3900 Series are supplied with correlation charts for air and water; scale is fused on the metering tube in 3/32-in. increments, which enables a user to read the flow rate with the highest accuracy. * Full scale...

Tension controller.(Instrumentation/Control)
April 1, 2005... Closed-loop tension controller provides precision control over both unwinding and rewinding in web and strand processing applications, while eliminating the common problems of feathering, breaking, wrinkling, or blocking. * Dual 4-20 mA...

Motion control system.(Instrumentation/Control)
April 1, 2005... The PACSystems DSM324i controller combines motion features with a fiber optic command interface to a broad range of servos, improving machine uptime and increasing application flexibility. * Controls up to 4 servo axes * Built-in...

Line up with shaft/coupling alignment system.(Instrumentation/Control)
April 1, 2005... Rotalign[R] ULTRA features a large scratchproof backlit color screen and backlit keyboard ideal for any working condition, day or night, indoors or out. Intuitive navigation guides the user through any alignment task from simple pump/motor...

Vortex tube.(Instrumentation/Control)
April 1, 2005... ThermaMax thermoplastic vortex tubes provide improved insulation and reduced heat loss for cooling and heating applications. * Uniform connectors * Weight: * Works without Freon or electricity * Maximizes temperature levels ...

Looking for a leak tester? Moving beyond the most popular methods.(Instrumentation/Control)
April 1, 2005... Leak testing is an essential element in product quality testing for a wide range of industries. Countless products have to be tested for tightness in order to meet specifications and be granted the positive end of the accept/reject option....

Lift truck elevates performance to a new level.(Material Handling)
April 1, 2005... The 7-Series 3-wheel electric lift trucks operate all functions with AC power, including mast control, drive and steering. Trucks are configured with three motors, instead of four. The AC motors have fast top speeds and high output. The...

Marking system.(Material Handling)
April 1, 2005... The programmable BENCHMARK 460 marking system features an electromechanical marking pin that eliminates the need for shop air supply. * 1-in. x 4-in. marking window * Weight: * Works with TMC420 controller * Marks up to 5 cps...

Light-directed pick system.(Material Handling)
April 1, 2005... System is ruggedized for heavy-duty environments and can be easily popped into position or moved along a newly designed data and power rail. * Bay lamp, pick and RS232 modules * Pick zone controllers with 8-character display *...

Mini puller.(Material Handling)
April 1, 2005... The 1/2-ton capacity LX Mini Puller is compact, lightweight and requires very low pulling force for operation; additional load chain lengths are available. * Corrosion-resistant load chain * Strong hook latches with safety tips *...

Weigh/bagging system.(Material Handling)
April 1, 2005... AccuFill weigh/bagging system offers an open-frame design that promotes safety and ease of cleaning, especially important in the food processing environment. * User-specified wicketed bag * "Quick change" wicket holder *...

OK to corral carts: cart system replaces forklifts.(Material Handling)
April 1, 2005... The Chrysler Group Indiana Transmission Plant II, Kokomo, IN, manufactures five-speed, rear-wheel-drive transmissions for several models, including the Chrysler 300, Dodge Magnum and Jeep[R] Grand Cherokee. The 600,000-sq. ft. plant employs...

RFID: an enabler of change: embracing RFID technology to drive process improvements.(It's Your Turn)
April 1, 2005... Depending on who you talk to or what you read, radio frequency identification (RFID) is either going to revolutionize business practices the way the Internet did, or it will simply become another information gathering technology that is...

"It's a piece of cake": shrink packaging machine wraps up cheesecakes.(The Last Page)
April 1, 2005... When you're on a first name basis with your shrink-wrap machinery serviceman, it could be a sign that the equipment you're using, even though relatively new, has some inherent issues that will never go away. That was the conclusion at Adam...