Some ways to improve your sheet metal parts

    Sheet metal fabrication is a handy set of manufacturing processes used to create parts from flat pieces of metal. Sheet metal comes in a range of materials and thicknesses, and can be used to create parts like appliances, enclosures, brackets, panels and chassis.


    For those new to sheet metal fabrication, the process can seem daunting. Unlike versatile processes such as 3D printing and CNC machining, sheet metal fabrication is dictated by fairly strict design conventions. Sheet metal must be bent and cut in particular ways, and is only suitable for certain parts and products.


    As such, it is important to learn some basic principles of sheet metal fabrication before embarking upon a project. Courtesy of rapid prototyping specialist 3ERP, this guide offers five simple tips to improve Sheet Metal Parts, turning ordinary designs into professional-quality sheet metal products.


   



    What is sheet metal fabrication?


    Sheet metal fabrication is a set of manufacturing processes that share one common trait: they all use sheet metal — as opposed to blocks, powder or molten metal — as feedstock. Different machines form the sheet metal in different ways: some make holes or incisions in the sheet metal; others bend, stamp or spin the metal to turn it into various shapes.


    Using sheet metal fabrication, engineers can create durable, low-cost parts from a wide variety of metals. These stamping parts can be used across a range of industries, from aerospace to medicine to robotics.


    The sheet metal used in the manufacturing process is usually between 0.006 and 0.25 inches (0.015 and 0.635 centimeters) thick, with the chosen size dependent on the given material and end-use of the part.


   



    Improving sheet metal parts


    Sheet metal fabrication is unique amongst the various manufacturing processes because its feedstock is unlike any other. For this reason, it can be difficult to design sheet metal parts when one is used to designing parts for machining, molding and other common manufacturing processes.


    While the best way to ensure high-quality sheet metal parts is to consult and utilize a sheet metal specialist like 3ERP, it is also advantageous to follow certain design principles from the outset. By observing the following five tips, designers can create sheet metal parts that are strong, easy to fabricate and resistant to breakage.


   



    Aluminum casting is a method for producing high tolerance and high-quality casting parts by inserting molten aluminum into a precisely designed and precision-engineered die, mold, or form. It is an efficient process for the production of complex, intricate, detailed parts that exactly match the specifications of the original design.


    A positive benefit of aluminum casting parts is the layer of aluminum oxide that forms immediately after the part is removed from the mold, which provides a wall of protection against corrosion and rust.


   



    Thanks to a wide range of machines and materials, CNC machining is capable of creating a vast array of professional parts for use in many industries. However, engineers must be careful to design parts in a way that suits the manufacturing process.


    Considering the possibilities and limitations of the CNC machine — whether it’s a mill, a lathe or a high-end 5-axis machining center — leads to better machining parts, even if compromises have to be reached. A part is both enabled and constrained by its manufacturing process.


    With that in mind, designing for manufacturability, by following certain design principles, ensures that parts will come out in the best way possible, will not break during machining, will not damage the machine itself, and will be fabricated in an efficient and cost-effective manner.

Coronavirus Face Masks & Protection FAQs

    The CDC continues to monitor the spread of COVID-19 and makes recommendations for wearing face face masks, both for those who are fully vaccinated as well as those who are not fully vaccinated.


    The CDC also recommends that masks and physical distancing are required when going to the doctor’s office, hospitals or long-term care facilities, including all Johns Hopkins hospitals, care centers and offices.


   



    Can wear a face mask prevent coronavirus from spreading?


    Yes. Although being fully vaccinated greatly reduces your chance of catching or spreading the coronavirus, it doesn’t eliminate it entirely. If you are infected with the coronavirus and do not know it, a protective face mask is very good at keeping your respiratory droplets and particles from infecting others. If you haven’t yet received your COVID-19 vaccine, wearing a mask can also help prevent germs that come from another person’s respiratory droplets from getting into your nose and mouth.


    Since the coronavirus can spread through droplets and particles released into the air by speaking, singing, coughing or sneezing, medical face masks are still a good idea in crowded indoor public places that contain a mixture of vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals.


    Wearing a mask is still recommended in health care settings and other places where people around you may have risk factors for severe consequences of COVID-19. These include people over age 65 and those living with heart disease, diabetes, obesity, chronic lung disease, immunity problems or cancer.


   



    Do I need to wear a face mask if I currently have COVID-19?


    Yes. If you are actively infected with the coronavirus and cannot stay completely away from others in your home, droplets from your nose or mouth could infect another person who has not been vaccinated yet or who has a weakened immune system. Stay away from others as much as possible and wear your disposable face mask around others until your doctor says it’s safe to discontinue wearing it.


   



    Medical gauze is a type of thin medical fabric with a loose open weave used in wound care. Both gauze pads and gauze sponges are made of 100% cotton. They wick vertically to draw exudates out of wounds and are stronger than other types of dressings due to their longer fibers. Our gauze is offered in both sterile and non-sterile forms. For open wounds, it is recommended to use sterile gauze only.


   



    Do I need to bandage a cut or scrape?


    You do not need to bandage every cut and scrape. Some heal more quickly when left uncovered to stay dry. But if the cut is on a part of the body that might get dirty or rub against clothes, put on a bandage to protect it. Change the bandage every day or whenever it gets wet or dirty.


   



    Pure absorbent cotton wool has many uses in personal care and medical care. Pure cotton wool is used in a wide variety of nonwovens, such as baby and adult diapers, incontinence products, feminine hygiene pads, disinfection and disinfection wipes. Cotton wool balls are also household items and have a variety of uses, such as cleaning wounds and using skin care products. In health care, you'll see a wide range of applications for pure cotton, including dressings, bandages, and fillers. Cotton wool is also the basic fiber of choice for patients and medical staff in robes, curtains, gloves, masks, tooth rolls, and balls. Cotton wool can be used in all of these products, whether 100% cotton, cotton mixed with other fibers, or fabric composites.


   



    The use of nonwovens in the medical arena goes back to the time of Second World War when need for new and large volumes of the medical products had arisen. In several reports published, nonwovens were regarded as the most effective materials for bacterial barriers. They were also found superior to linens in the reduction of air-borne contamination.


    After significant development of non woven products, they were designed in a way to suit the medical needs and give a performance much better than their woven counterparts in terms of cost, effectiveness, disability, etc. In hospitals, cross-contamination is always one of the biggest problems which were attributed largely to re-using of woven gowns, masks and other similar articles which would get contaminated and potentially spread the germs. The advent of nonwovens facilitated the development of a more cost effective alternative that was disposable and reduced the problem of cross-contamination greatly.


   



    Preparedness is a key element of first aid. While every home, auto, and boat should be equipped with a basic emergency kit that includes first aid supplies and a first aid manual, special circumstances may necessitate more advanced or specific degrees of preparation for an emergency.


    For example, residents of certain geographic areas where natural disasters (such as hurricanes, earthquakes, tornados, floods, landslides, or tsunamis) may occur should prepare for emergencies by assembling disaster preparedness kits such as earthquake kits, flood kits, and evacuation kits.


    Travelers should also prepare to administer first aid in the region they plan to visit. In many developed countries, this may amount to packing standard first aid kits and manuals with your belongings.


    Medicines to prevent motion sickness and advanced awareness about the management of traveler's diarrhea are also helpful to travelers.


   



    There are lots of types of wound care dressing, with hundreds of brands offering a range of products – some highly similar to each other. The most basic requirements for a dressing are that it protects against further damage or infection and that it promotes a good healing environment. A good healing environment is one with the right amount of moisture – dry wounds don’t heal as well as moist wounds, but wounds that are too wet can cause skin breakdown around the wound and prevent healing. The absorbency of the dressing, therefore, needs to be chosen based on the assessment of each individual wound.

Medical Protective Clothing: The Complete Guide

    Medical protective clothing, also known as medical protective suit, disposable protective coverall, or antivirus suit. Medical protective clothing refers to the protective clothing used by medical personnel (doctors, nurses, public health personnel, cleaners, etc.) and people entering a specific health areas (such as patients, hospital visitors, persons entering the infected area, etc.). Medical protective clothing has good moisture permeability and barrier, has the function of resisting the penetration of alcohol, blood, body fluid, air dust particles, and bacterial virus, effectively protect the safety of personnel and keep the environment clean.


    Medical protective clothing is a combination of hats, tops, and trousers. There are two kinds of medical protective clothing: isolation gown and protective clothing. The main difference between medical protective clothing and isolation gown is that medical protective clothing is more durable than isolation clothing, the protection grade is higher, the protection performance is better, the protection purpose and the protection principle of them are different.


    The common materials used in disposable medical protective clothing are polypropylene textile adhesive fabric, new polyester fiber, polymer coated fabric, SMS nonwovens, polyethylene breathable film/nonwoven composite. At present, most of them use polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) material to make medical protective clothing, PTFE is a kind of high-performance polymer, which cannot only resist water pressure but also discharge water vapor through micropores.


    There are many kinds of coatings for protective fabrics, such as PVC, polyethylene and so on. The waterproof, barrier bacteria of this kind of protective clothing is good, it can be reused, but the moisture permeability is poor and uncomfortable. The high-end laminated fabric is PTFE, super waterproof and moisture permeable composite fabric.


   



    Antimicrobial technology adds a durable defense barrier on fabric, which helps fight odor-causing bacteria, mold and mildew. This makes a product with antimicrobial fabric stay fresher longer so you can wear it with confidence. This lasting, continual protection against potentially harmful microbes lasts wash after wash. The antibacterial fabric stays cleaner for longer and in between washings. If a towel stinks less, you will wash it less because it maintains that just laundered feeling. New energy-efficient washing practices do not get fabrics as clean. Adding antimicrobial product protection reduces the growth of odor-causing microbes that remain on your clothes even after washing.


   



    Your clothing doesn’t just look great. It also absorbs or blocks harmful UV radiation and remains one of the most effective forms of protection against sun damage and skin cancer.


    What's more, sun protective clothing is the simplest way to stay safe; unlike sunscreen, you never need to reapply!


    Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) indicates how much UV radiation (both UVB and UVA) a fabric allows to reach your skin. For example, a UPF 50 fabric blocks 98 percent of the sun’s rays and allows two percent (1/50th) to penetrate, thus reducing your exposure risk significantly. UPF measures the amount of UV radiation that can penetrate fabric and reach your skin. Sun Protection Factor, or SPF, is based on the time it takes for UV-exposed skin to redden; if you burn after 20 minutes, if used correctly, an SPF 15 sunscreen may protect your skin 15 times longer.


   



    The textile industry is considered the most ecologically harmful industry in the world. The eco-problems in textile industry occur during some production processes and are carried forward right to the finished product. In the production process like bleaching and then dyeing, the subsequent fabric makes a toxin that swells into our ecosystem. During the production process controlling pollution is as vital as making a product free from the toxic effect. The utilization of rayon for clothing has added to the fast depleting forests. Petroleum-based products are harmful to the environment. In order to safeguard our environment from these effects, an integrated pollution control approach is needed. Luckily there is an availability of more substitutes.


    Hemp, wool, organic cotton, soy silk, bamboo fabrics, jute, corn fiber, etc are considered eco-friendly fabrics due to their availability from nature without any harmful effects of chemicals or toxins. Moreover, as compared to other synthetic fibers they are available at a cheaper rate.


   



    Clothing has been used for protection since time immemorial, shielding the human body from social, physical and emotional threats. The term protective clothing defines everything used for physical protection of the body.



    Today, the array of physical threats is endless and so is the availability of protective wear. It can be worn in any situation to provide protection and make the wearer stand against any hazardous condition. Many individuals with injuries or handicaps use protective clothing to prevent further possible damage.



    Clothing psychology and comfort have changed the way people look at protective clothing. Consumers are embracing fashionable protective clothing to participate in sports and adventurous activities. They are ready to risk their life trusting advanced protective wear. On the other hand, protective wear are building trust by boosting the consumer's performance.

The relation between shaker screen mesh and the hole diameter

    A shale shaker screen is a vulnerable spare part of a shale shaker. But the shaker screen is very important in the drilling mud recycling system. The shaker screens design and quality determined the separation performance of the shale shaker. Generally speaking, the working environment and the drilling mud contents are the most determining factors to choose a suitable MI-SWACO shaker screen. The other factor is the size of the particle in the drilling mud fluid to be separated. If you know the particle size, so the shaker screen mesh is determined.


   



    What is the shaker screen mesh?


    Shaker screen mesh refers to the quantity of holes per square inch. So the Derrick shaker screen mesh has an inverse proportional relation with the hole quantity. That is to say, the larger the shaker screen mesh, the smaller the screen hole size. Commonly speaking, the relation between them is: Mesh x Hole Diameter(micron)=15000


    For example, if the shaker screen mesh is 200, then we can estimate that the screen hole diameter is about 75 microns. This is very useful for us to choose the proper shale shaker screen according to the mud fluid contents.


    Other shaker screens or you can say shale shaker screens too, are a type of mechanical screen, aim to take solids out or separate solids from drilling fluid (mud). Usually, a composite frame shaker screen is made of stainless steel, polyurethane or composite frame. It is a spare part of a shale shaker and a combined shaker frame by stainless screw and wedge block.


    Shale shaker spring is a component that provides a damping effect. The spring quality and feature will help us to get a better process when stopping the shaker. Most of the springs are made of high-quality special spring steel. However, some of the springs or we call it float amount/absorber is made of rubber or combined rubber and steel.


   



    In minerals processing, one of the most important hydrocyclone applications is within closed circuit grinding operations, classifying particles leaving the mill. Incorrect particle classification has a detrimental impact on plant efficiency and can unnecessarily consume circuit capacity.


    Feed pellet machines can bring benefits to your poultry farming. Choosing a suitable feed pelletizer machine and using it properly will significantly improve the quality of the feed. It will soon reflect a benign effect in the production process. If you can further master the technology of making animal feed pellets, you can also greatly reduce the cost of materials, thereby increasing profits.


   



    It is agreed upon in the trucking industry that ratchet straps are the most secure way to tie down a heavy load, providing the most strength and security for oversized gear! The best heavy-duty ratchet straps wrap, hook, or clip to your trailer rub rail or D-rings. These tie-down straps tighten using a ratcheting system so you can apply the right amount of pressure over or around your cargo to ensure it will stay firmly in place. Having reliable, high-quality ratchet straps is integral to making sure you deliver your cargo safely and securely!


   



    Are you planning your next overhead lifting project and unsure about the best type of industrial lifing sling to use? Or, maybe you are not getting the service life you would expect out of the slings that you’re currently using? Alloy chain slings, wire rope slings, synthetic slings, and metal mesh slings can all be used to safely and efficiently lift, move, and position a load.


    But, choosing the right type of lifting sling is dependent on a complete understanding of the application, the environment it is being used in, and how the sling will be used to support and lift the load. Wire rope is a preferred lifting device for many reasons. Its unique design consists of multiple steel wires that form individual strands laid in a helical pattern around a fiber or steel core. This structure provides strength, flexibility, and the ability to handle bending stresses.


   



    Regardless of the time spent on a roof, the risk of falling is high. Any fall is likely to result in a serious injury. Industrial rope and nets installed below a high-level work area reduce the distance that a worker can fall. They absorb the impact of the fall and provide a soft landing to reduce the likelihood of a person being injured. Safety nets are collective fall arrest systems, not fall restraint systems. That is, they provide passive protection from falls while allowing people to work at height without restricting their movement. A safety rope passes through each mesh around the perimeter of the net and determines the net's overall dimensions.

What are Precision Stamping Machines?

    Precision metal stamping is a process for punching markings, three-dimensional shapes, or other designs into material surfaces, and precision stamping machines exert a high level of force to engrave dies and forms onto the surface material. Metals such as steel, copper, and aluminum are the most commonly stamped materials, though other metals, plastics, and cement can also undergo precision stamping.


   



    Benefits of Precision Metal Stamping


    Along with machining, die-casting, forging, and many other examples, precision metal stamping is a standard and ubiquitous manufacturing process. Some of its major benefits include:


   
       
            Lower die cost: Precision metal stamping dies tend to be relatively less expensive to produce and maintain than those used in other common processes.
       
   
   
       
            Lower secondary costs: Cleaning and plating precision stamping machines are cheaper than similar treatments for other metal forming techniques.
       
   
   
       
            High level of automation: Precision metal stamping machines are relatively easy to automate, and can employ high-end computer-control programs that provide greater precision, faster production, and quicker turnaround times.
       
   


   



    Precision Stamping Industries and Applications


    Precision stamping machines are useful in a variety of applications, especially those involving three-dimensional designs, lettering, or other surface engraving features. Such terminal stamping products are commonly produced for home appliance manufacturers, automotive companies, telecommunications services, aerospace industries, medical equipment manufacturers, and electronics companies.


    The specific products and components can range from simple metal stamping parts, such as metal clips, springs, weights, washers, and brackets, to more complex designs, such as those found in engine bases or friction plates.


   



    Operated with Computer Numerical Control (CNC) systems and provided with precise design instructions, CNC Lathes are machine tools where the material or part is clamped and rotated by the main spindle, while the cutting tool work on the material, is mounted and moved in various axis.



    CNC Lathe services are normally used for machining parts, where the material/part is clamped and rotated whereas the cutting tool is stationarily mounted for OD (Outer Diameter) and ID (Inner Diameter) operations, e.g. shafts and pipes. They are ideal for parts that have the same symmetry around an axis that could be chucked up (i.e. radially clamped) in the spindle.


   



    Most subtractive CNC machines such as mills, water jets, and plasma cutters have the workpiece secured to a bed and the cutting done by a spinning tool. To cut, the tool moves across the workpiece or a tool head shoots at it. In contrast, CNC turning company reverses that process by rotating the workpiece and cutting away at it (by moving a static cutting bit against the workpiece).


    Because of how they operate, CNC mills are primarily used for creating complicated geometries, while CNC lathes are used for creating cylindrical or oblong shapes. A CNC lathe is usually chosen over a CNC milling service or 3D printer because of its ability to make multiples of the same part incredibly fast and from one stock piece of material. Check out this mesmerizing video of a CNC lathe in action:


    Horizontal turning centers are enclosed CNC lathes that integrate milling and drilling capabilities. A turning center can also include a traveling tool turret, more tooling axes, coolant flooding, a tailstock that is separated from the carriage, and sometimes a conveyor belt.


   



   
       
           
                Injection molding processing is a manufacturing process that is commonly used to create plastic components. Its ability to produce thousands of complex parts quickly makes it the perfect process for the mass production of plastic components. Essentially, the process involves the injection of plastic at high speed and pressure into a mold, which is clamped under pressure and cooled to form the final part.
           
       
   


   
        By melting thermoplastic and injecting it into an aluminum mold at high speed and pressure, manufacturers can create multiple complex parts at once. When the parameters of the process are controlled correctly, there’s also little need for finishing and processing the manufactured part, making it more cost-effective and efficient.

Why Choose PP Woven Sacks for Bulk Packaging?

    Packaging fulfills the diverse role of protecting products, preventing spoilage, contamination, extending shelf life, ensuring safe storage thereby helping to make them readily available to consumers. PP woven sack is the best choice for bulk packaging.


    PP Woven sacks are worldwide material of choice for bulk packaging of edible commodities for domestic use and exports.



   



    1. PP woven sacks have more advantages than Jute or Paper.


    PP woven sacks / FIBC, Jute, Paper bags/boxes are the most widely used packaging systems for Bulk Commodities. Cement, fertilizer and most of the chemicals are already packed woven sacks while Foodgrains and sugar use both woven sacks and jute bags.


    Plastics are the material of choice because of the inherent advantages of functional performance and cost benefits. Relative merits with respect to functional requirements for bulk packaging using these three prime packaging materials are summarized below.


   



    2. Printing effect of PP woven sacks has improved.


    The function of packaging is to protect it and keep it in ideal form for sales. The appearance of a product is very important regarding its marketing efforts. Packaging has the potential to break or make the success of a product. Protection, attraction, promotion, and differentiation are all categories in that packaging helps enhance a product.


    Attraction from the printing effect is very important for packaging because it is what catches the consumer's eye. What colors, designs, and material used is well thought out by marketers. Product packaging has the ability to catch a consumer's eye and based simply on what they see of the packaging make a decision to choose your product over one they normally buy. Promotion on product packaging influences consumer decisions as well. Packaging is what differentiates your colour printing laminated woven bag from the rest. It has the ability to sell your product, thus resulting in great marketing efforts.


   



    3. Case study: PP woven sacks vs. Paper bags in pet food packaging


    A majority of pet owners have experienced the convenience of buying pet food in bulk: it means fewer trips to the store and in most cases significant cost savings. But for many people, these benefits are quickly forgotten when they go to lift a bag of pet food, only to have the bag rip and spill all over the floor, while still at the retail location, or even later when they have already purchased the item and transported it home.


   



    The changes have happened so gradually that most consumers have not even noticed, but a tremendous amount of plastics have crept onto supermarket shelves. Shoppers are tossing a lot of plastic food packaging bags into their carts that did not exist when they were kids. Cucumbers sleeved in polyethylene film are now ubiquitous in the produce department, as are sliced fruits in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) containers and chopped, ready-to-eat salads in polypropylene bags. People do not have to make their own guacamole or hummus anymore—it comes already prepared in convenient polypropylene tubs.


   



    Plastic is ubiquitous. They are the lifeline of food packaging, despite facing protests from environmentalists. Love it or hate it, it is true that no packaging is as flexible, affordable and attractive as plastic. Again, it is important to choose the food packaging bags. Here are some types of plastic and how they go with your food products:


    Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE or PET) (Code: 1): Lightweight plastic and has great impact-resistant properties. It is safe and easy to recycle. PETE is a popular packaging option for beverages, oil, water, salad dressing, and jam/jelly.


   



    By learning how to make a gift packing bag from wrapping paper, you can design it however you like. This is also perfect for those awkwardly shaped gifts, that no one really knows how to wrap, without making a bit of a mess! With this tutorial, you can use any size of wrapping paper, as long as it is big enough to hold the gift. Surprise your nearest and dearest with a present, presented in its very own personalized gift bag. To take things up a notch, design your own wrapping paper first.

BELT TENSIONER KITS

    Tensioner Bearings And Kits contain high-quality bearings, pulleys and a sweep, which are all manufactured to guarantee a long service life. If possible, the belts are made of HSN (highly saturated nitrile) because this performs better in the high-temperature areas of today’s engines.


    The belt systems of modern vehicles undergo various stress factors e.g. high operating temperatures and a large number of revolutions per minute, high horsepower loads, and narrow pulleys, which are used to save space under the bonnet.


    All of our belt tensioner kits display the following functional characteristics: high load transmission capacities, optimized vibration and sound insulation, robust construction, resistance against cracks and wear and tear, high flexibility, working temperature range between - 40° C and +120° C, and a long belt service life. Our belt tensioner kits for belt drives and all accessories are made in accordance with the most up-to-date technology.


    Our long-standing partnership with our manufacturers guarantees the highest quality and optimum performance from every single piece of tension equipment in our range.


    The deflection pulley is firmly fitted and makes sure the belt closes around the driven pulley correctly. If the belt is driving more than one unit to facilitate auxiliary drive systems, belt tension rollers are used along the entire length in order to guide the belt and ensure constant tension. The profile of these rollers is often characterized by one or more V-shaped ribs. The belt tension unit guarantees that the belt is correctly tensed and guided. The tension can be adjusted upon assembly using an eccentric or a spring which operates on the clamping plate.


   



    A wheel bearing is a crucial part of the wheel assembly that connects the wheel and the axle. It is a set of steel balls (ball bearings) or tapers (tapered bearings), held together by a metal ring. It enables the wheel to rotate smoothly with a minimum of friction. Wheel Bearings And Kits are safety-critical components designed to sustain radial and axial loads caused by gravitation, acceleration, braking and cornering forces, so they need to be replaced when they stop working properly.


    Wheel bearing kit has an average lifespan of 136,000 to 160,000 km (approximately 85,000 to 100,000 miles). This is only a rule of thumb though, the actual lifespan of a wheel bearing depends on the quality of the wheel bearing and the operating conditions.


    Despite the fact that modern wheel suspension bearings and parts are easier to install than previous generations, correct installation, the usage of appropriate tools and respecting the specified torque values are still essential for maximum performance, durability and safety. Therefore, we recommend having your wheel bearings fitted by a professional mechanic that has the skills and the tools to do the job. 


   



    C.V. joints and parts form a vital link between your transmission and your wheels. All front-wheel vehicles contain four CV joints, one at either end of each of the driveshafts running from your transmission to your wheels. Four-wheel drive vehicles also commonly contain CV joints that perform an identical function for the rear wheels.


    A C.V. joint kit ensures that torque from your transmission reaches the wheels at a constant speed, regardless of the position of the wheels. In other words, CV joints must maintain constant rotating force during turns, while also accounting for the natural up and down movement of your suspension.


    Two common types of CV joints exist ball joints and tripod joints. Most cars use a combination of the two joint types. The outer joint, which connects the driveshaft to the wheel, uses a ball joint. The inner joints, which connect the driveshaft to the transmission, usually use tripod joints.


   



    If you’re driving a vehicle with a manual transmission, then you need to operate the clutch and know how it works. In layman's terms, the clutch is the link between the wheels and the engine of your vehicle. It gives you the ability to disengage the engine when you step down on the clutch pedal. This will cause the vehicle to roll and turn no matter what speed you’re going. You will typically want to disengage the clutch when you stop and need to make a turn. The engine will continue to turn, even though the wheels have stopped. When you go to drive again, you will engage the clutch and give engine power back to the wheels.


    The clutch release bearing is what makes the whole clutch process work. It is responsible for allowing the clutch to engage the engine and disengage the engine. The clutch bearings and parts ride on the clutch spring and connect the gearbox release mechanism to the pressure plate. After you press down on the clutch pedal, the clutch release bearing causes the pressure plate to engage the clutch disc. If you take your foot off the clutch pedal, the pressure plate disengages the clutch disc.

What Is Investment Casting And How Does It Work?

    Factors such as design requirements, cost, and feasibility to manufacture dictate which casting process is most suitable to manufacture a product. Investment casting produces precise components while minimizing material waste, energy, and subsequent machining. It can also ensure the production of very intricate parts. This makes the investment casting process quite useful to design engineers.


    The goal is to understand what is meant by investment casting. So, What exactly is the investment in investment casting? The term invested historically carries the meaning of clothed or surrounded.  Investment casting employs a shell made of ceramic, plaster, or plastic that is formed around a wax pattern. The wax pattern is melted and removed in a furnace and metal is poured into the shell to create the casting.


    Investment casting provides consistent and repetitive close tolerances along with intricate passages and contours. Many of these configurations are impossible to produce. For example, where machine tools cannot reach. Achieving net-shape or near-net-shape cast components can dramatically reduce post-cast processing costs.


    Investment casting is a good alternative to weldments or fabricating. Many components can be combined into a single casting. The more that are combined, the better the manufacturing efficiency. Converting multi-piece components to a single investment casting typically delivers more dimensional accuracy and reduced part complexity.


   



    CNC machining is a manufacturing process that utilizes computerized controls to operate and manipulate machine and cutting tools to shape stock material—e.g., metal, plastic, wood, foam, composite, etc.—into custom parts and designs. While the CNC machining process offers various capabilities and operations, the fundamental principles of the process remain largely the same throughout all of them.


   



    Metal stamping is a cold-forming process that makes use of dies and stamping presses to transform sheet metal into different shapes. Pieces of flat sheet metal, typically referred to as blanks, are fed into a sheet metal stamping press that uses a tool and dies surface to form the metal into a new shape. Production facilities and metal fabricators offering stamping services will place the material to be stamped between die sections, where the use of pressure will shape and shear the material into the desired final shape for the product or component.


   



    Forging is a metal working process that manipulates, shapes, deforms, and compresses metal to achieve the desired form, configuration, or appearance outlined by a metal processing design or diagram. Depending on the type of metal and the requirements of the design, the forging process can be completed using either hot or cold forging processes.


   



    Is there any reason to specify powder metallurgy over traditional machining beyond that is how we have always done it? The answer is a definite yes -- and for more reasons than just the low cost.


    With conventional manufacturing, you melt it, you roll it, you cast, if you machine it. A lot of steps, and a lot of scrap metal at the end.


    Using powder metal reduces waste considerably and therefore can be called an environmentally friendly manufacturing process. Sounds like an oxymoron, but it is really true!


    Leftover metal from machining is minimized. There are no metal chips to throw out. When you look closely, it is apparent that powder metallurgy is truly a green process. In fact, a study by Ford Motor Co. a few years ago showed that the PM process is 15% more energy-efficient than traditional machining.


    Naturally machining from a solid workpiece is sometimes a requirement. But with many projects, you can avoid secondary machining entirely by using the powder metal process.

Desiccant or compressor dehumidifier?

    DESICCANT DEHUMIDIFIERS



    While a compressor dehumidifier has a compressor and a cold surface that it utilizes to yank the moisture from the damp air, the desiccant dehumidifier works more like a sponge or silica gel, simply absorbing the moisture from the humid air via a desiccant wheel. The wheel is regenerated by an inbuilt internal heater that allows the process to go on and on.


    The desiccant dehumidifiers are generally quieter and more compact in design and are thus preferred by many customers. Below are some of the pros and cons of using a desiccant dehumidifier.



    ADVANTAGES OF DESICCANT DEHUMIDIFIERS


    They work well in both cold and warm climates: Unlike the compressor dehumidifiers that are really built for a warm ambient temperature, the moisture absorber boxes will maintain a superior standard of performance in both warm and cold ambient temperatures. This is because while the compressor dehumidifiers work on a condensation principle that requires a temperature gradient between the atmosphere and a condensation surface, the desiccant dehumidifiers utilize an adsorption principle where the water molecules adhere onto a surface to form a thin film of moisture on the dehumidifier material. This makes them highly effective as dehumidifiers in spaces with high humidity at low temperatures. As a result, with the moisture absorber refill, you do not have to grapple with the 15°C cut-off room temperature for optimal performance that is required for the compressor dehumidifiers.


   



    Little packets of silica gel are found in all sorts of products because silica gel is a desiccant -- it adsorbs and holds water vapor. In leather products and foods like pepperoni, the lack of moisture can limit the growth of mold and reduce spoilage. In electronics, it prevents condensation, which might damage the electronics. If a bottle of vitamins contained any moisture vapor and were cooled rapidly, the condensing moisture would ruin the pills. You will find little silica gel packets in anything that would be affected by excess moisture or condensation.


    Silica gel desiccant canister is nearly harmless, which is why you find it in food products. Silica, or silicon dioxide (SiO2), is the same material found in quartz. The gel form contains millions of tiny pores that can adsorb and hold moisture. Silica gel is essentially porous sand.


    Silica gel can adsorb about 40 percent of its weight in moisture and can take the relative humidity in a closed container down to about 40 percent. Once saturated, you can drive the moisture off and reuse silica gel by heating it above 300 degrees F (150 C).


   



    Refrigerator deodorizers help to reduce bacteria growth and therefore reduce smells and extend the life of food. Adding more toxins to your fridge will only create an additional growth area, so opt for deodorizers made of non-toxic ingredients.


    Look at the lifespan of your deodorizer. If you are someone who is good at remembering when it is time to change out your deodorizer, one with a shorter lifespan could work for you. If you are often away from home for extended periods or need something for your rental property, choose a deodorizer that does not need to be frequently changed.


   



    Air purifying bags, as their name suggests, are bags that purify the air. The bag contains activated minerals such as bamboo charcoal to filter the air in its space. It does this by absorbing the chemicals, toxins, and odor and it gives off a fresh scent. However, a bamboo charcoal air purifying bag does not work like aerosol sprays that make the air smell good. In fact, it does not even give off a distinct smell. If your room smells better after you placed the air purifying bag, then that is the smell of clean air.


   



    All products can benefit from adding the packets to your production system. Whether storing or shipping, Silica-Gel Desiccant Packets are an affordable and efficient way to guarantee longer life for products.  The benefits of silica gel desiccant packets go beyond protecting the product during transport to your customers. Customers can continue to use the silica gel desiccant packets for personal use.  Here are some examples of reusing silica gel desiccant packets.

a brief history of blood collection systems and devices
    Before the modern vacuum tube, blood collection tubes and other devices were difficult and imprecise. Etched lines in borosilicate glass tubes reflected the amount of blood the phlebotomist needed to collect.


    Using a disposable venous blood collection needle, the phlebotomist would puncture a vein and direct the blood into the glass tube that contained ETDA or citrate as additives to prevent blood coagulation. Black rubber stoppers were used to seal the tubes for transportation to the laboratory.


   



    Sanitation was also an issue because tubes and syringes were washed between patients. A grinding wheel was used to resharpen multi-sample pen type needles, and they were sterilized between uses.


    Ensured that additives were used in the correct proportion for the amount of blood collected. The vacuum tubes used in venipuncture made blood draws safer and easier, and their results more accurate. Regulatory agencies such as the FDA, ISO, and CLSI now enforce guidelines that ensure that blood collection systems are consistent in both design and manufacture.


   



    Has been an advancement in collecting blood using disposable non-vacuum blood collection tubes, ushering microsampling into the mainstream. With DBS sampling, a small prick of blood is dropped onto an absorbent card made of filter paper. After the card absorbs the blood and dries sufficiently, it can be transported much more easily than glass tubes filled with blood samples. The innovation of DBS cards means that a very tiny sample of blood can provide accurate test results, a boon for patients and technical staff alike.


   



    In all settings in which specimens are collected and prepared for testing, laboratory and health care personnel should follow current recommended sterile techniques, including precautions regarding the use of needles and other sterile equipment.  Treat all biological material as material that is potentially hazardous as well as contaminated virus specimen collection tube supplies. For all those who are involved in specimen collection and preparation, the responsibility to adhere to current recommendations designed to maintain the safety of both patients and health care workers does not end when the patient is dismissed.


   



    Although most approved saliva collection methods use specialized tubes and buffers to stabilize RNA and viral inactivation, researchers have found that this expensive method may not always be needed. Our disposable saliva collection kit is designed to provide a widely available, cost-effective solution for raw saliva collection to simplify saliva-based detection, which is essential for epidemiological research on a global scale. The easy-to-use self-collection kit helps clean saliva transfer, reduces the risk of cross-contamination when paired with liquid handling procedures, and is seamlessly integrated into the downstream automated workflows of viral RNA extraction and direct PCR for high-throughput monitoring and testing.


   



    The Ministry of Health has recently approved the use of do-it-yourself, self-test COVID-19 antigen rapid test kit (colloidal gold) that can be purchased at pharmacies. Designed to be self-administered, these tests will allow more frequent testing for greater peace of mind, should individuals wish to be tested more often. Anyone who tests positive using a self-test kit should immediately approach a SASH clinic for a confirmatory test, and self-isolate while awaiting results.


   



    Wearing a disposable face mask in public places has become the norm in most countries, as the world continues fighting to keep the Covid-19 pandemic at bay.


    Experts now estimate that each month, 129 billion face masks and 65 billion gloves are used and disposed of globally. With a surgical mask weighing roughly 3.5g, that would equate to 451,500 tonnes of masks a month and, when placed next to one another, cover an area roughly three times the size of Singapore.


    Conservationists and non-governmental organisations are increasingly concerned that a lot of the plastic waste, especially pandemic-related waste, is ending up in landfills, waterways and oceans, adding to the millions of tonnes of plastic waste already dumped into the world's oceans every year.


   



    We are engaged in the development, production and supply of disposable infusion sets used in insulin infusion therapy, including the popular flexible cannula devices currently used with insulin pumps.