Best Characteristics of Carbon Steel Pipe Fittings

Before choosing which type of metal to use for an industrial project, the first thing that you should consider is the magnitude and scale of the task, what type of liquid or gas the pipes will be carrying and the longevity of structure. Once that has been established, you can then answer questions to what type of metal to use for the piping.

For example, due to its strength and versatility, steel is one of the most popular materials used for pipe and pipe fittings. Even better, different material, like carbon or chrome, can be added to steel to obtain a specific desired effect. Here are a few reasons why it may be beneficial to invest in carbon steel pipe fittings and valves for your next commercial project.

1. Super Strength

Because of its strength and durability, steel has been one of the most commonly used materials for industrial piping and other types of construction. However, with the addition of carbon to the already strong metal, it has the ability to turn into a much stronger product. By undergoing heat treatment, the strength can be increased without altering the shape – and the more carbon added to the metal, the more durable it can become. This has made carbon steel pipe fittings, valves and pipes some of the most durable industrial piping products available. For companies interested in increasing the strength of their pipes, carbon pipe suppliers can offer the necessary supplies.

2. Morphing Power

With just the right amount of carbon added to the steel, it’s easier to get the exact level of durability necessary for each unique project. For example, mild carbon steel is one of the most popular options because it’s cost efficient for large-scale projects. Medium carbon steel is more often used in the construction of automobiles because it’s more resistant to eroding elements. The higher the level of carbon, the stronger the steel becomes. This means that carbon steel products with the highest levels of carbon are mostly used in the production of wires. Once the carbon level exceeds 1.0 percent, it can only be used in very specific industrial projects. With so many different types of carbon steel to choose from, it can get confusing. Carbon pipe suppliers can help you determine which is best for your project.

3. Endurance

Endurance is a good word to describe carbon steel pipe fittings because they can endure environmental change and last for years. Great for household usage, carbon steel pipes are great for home sprinkler systems and can carry water, oil, steam and even flammable gasses. Because they are resistant to rust, that means much less cleaning for the homeowner and longevity for the pipes. Other uses for carbon steel pipes include shipbuilding, industrial construction and electric-power plants.

General Safety Tips To Stay Safe While Installing An Electrical Panel

Electrical panels have the core function to provide a constant supply of energy to all the sub circuits and it is essential to keep the safety notes at the time you install the device as to avoid any electrical hazard later. Thus, before you go to install the device, it is important to go through these points and ensure the proper safety of the whole system.

Tips To Stay Safe While Installing The Electrical Panel:-

Avoid Water – The water and electricity can never be together at the application, despite the fact electricity is generated from water. It is important to be on the safe side than curing the pain later. While you install the system, remember to keep it high enough from the reach of water. The equipment and circuit should have distance from the water as it increases the conductivity of electrical current.
Prevent Shocks – Apart from keeping the equipment away from the water, you should also pay attention to the bare wires. Uncovered wires are the main cause of electric current as if you touch the end by mistake. You can cover these ends with a cap so the insulator eliminates the direct contact with the copper and prevents getting a shock.
Check For Live Wires – Energized wires are the dangerous to death and checking for such wires regularly while working is better to save yourself from the hazards. Never assume that electrical equipment is uncharged even when left isolated for a long time. While installing the panel, check twice for any energized wires as to avoid the problems and to ensure there is no current running through them.
Overload Protection – The main reason of blasting of the panel is over loading and avoiding this point helps you to prevent the damages as well as danger to life. At the time, you install the panel for your industry, calculate the voltage requirement, and add a 25% surplus in that so you can be prepared for the next installations and you will not end up installing the device over again for every additional equipment.
Equipment Reliability – The electrical panel is designed to provide constant supply of power from the main circuits to the sub circuits. It necessary to maintain a good ratio of voltage supply with the basic requirements, therefore, always you should always remember to keep an eye on the ideal ratio to avoid any problems. If anytime you feel the panel tingly feeling, disconnect it as sooner as possible and stop using that at the time.

What Are Step Up And Step Down Transformers?

An Industrial Transformer is the most influential device that is used to transform electrical energy from one device to another with the help of mutual induction. For this purpose, you will not require a direct electrical connection between the two and the operation of mutual induction is carried between two windings of the device. It is available in the huge range to serve the industries with the complete requirements. The range includes Control, Auto, Three Phase, Step Down, Step Up, Isolation, Rectifier, and Special Purpose Transformers among various others. Each variant has different working but all of them provide a constant supply of power at last.

Among the variants of the wide range, Step Down and Step Up transformers work alike their names i.e. step down has the core function of regulating the high voltage and provide low voltage to the devices as per their requirements and step up does just opposite of this. Both devices have same construction and design but the different lies in their working. The working of both can be switched easily, such that any of them can work as step up or step down transformer. This depends on the energy flow direction. Let’s understand the difference between the both deeply.

Step Down Transformers –

It has the power to convert the high voltage output into the low current, as there are multiple devices that demand for a certain amount of power.
The device has two windings as other variants i.e. primary and secondary, the secondary winding has the fewer turns as the primary one. This means primary side has lower current value than the secondary side.
The potential difference between the voltage requirement and output is stepped down with the help of the device for the greater efficiency.
The step down transformers are designed to provide low voltage value and are suitable for different electronic equipment. For example, the daily used battery charges have the set up of the transformer as it demands for low power supply.

Step Up Transformers –

The iron core has primary winding with less turns and the secondary one has around 10 times more turns, which helps to provide high voltage current as per the requirement.
The input of the voltage is actually lower than its output so the device is employed for the stepping up the input and provides the required output with the constant supply of the same.
The device is used widely in the various electronics as well as electrical applications, which require voltage boosting for the better operation.

3D Printing: The Materials Used for 3D Printing

3D printing was developed back in the early 80s but it has seen much growth since the past 10 years. It has now become one of the biggest growth areas in the tech industry and is revolutionising manufacturing covering every industry possible. The 3D printing business is now multi-billion dollar industry and is likely to continue growing at an exponential rate.

3D printing is quite a simple process conceptually, the printers work by printing the chosen material in layers on top of each other, with each layer setting prior to the next pass of the printer.

3D printers have been used to print all sorts of materials from cheap and normal materials to things you would expect to read in a sci-fi book.

For the consumer market, plastics are used exclusively as the materials are cheap to buy, but more importantly, the technology required to print plastic is relatively simple and low cost.

Low-cost 3D printers using plastic tend to use Fused filament fabrication (FFF). This is basically a process where a cord of plastic is heated up to become pliable then fed through the machine layering the plastic. The machines generally use one of the following plastics

PLA (Polylactic Acid) – PLA is probably the easiest material to work with when you first start 3D printing. It is an environmentally friendly material that is very safe to use, as it is a biodegradable thermoplastic that has been derived from renewable resources such as corn starch and sugar canes. This is a similar plastic that is used in compostable bags which safely bio degrade compared to more traditional plastics used in Poly Bags.

ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) – ABS is considered to be the second easiest material to work with when you start 3D printing. It’s very safe and strong and widely used for things like car bumpers, and Lego (the kid’s toy).

PVA (Polyvinyl Alcohol Plastic) – PVA plastic which is quite different to PVA Glue (please don’t try putting PVA Glue into your 3D Printer, it definitely won’t work). The popular MakerBot Replicator 2 printers use PVA plastic.

Plastics are used extensively on all levels from consumer to businesses prototyping new products. However, in the business market, there is a huge demand for metal 3D printing. Some printers can use powdered material that is then heated to create a solid. This method is typically Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) and this particular technique is why we don’t see consumer metal 3D printing. DMLS requires a huge amount of heat and giant expensive printers to sinter the material together, and while 3D printing a metal object might be expensive compared to mass production, it is incredibly cost efficient for complex and expensive projects. A good example of DMLS based 3D printing is GE Aviation using it to produce 35,000 fuel injectors for its LEAP jet engine.

Using boring materials such as metal is almost archaic in the world of 3D printing now; some companies now do 3D bioprinting which is the process of creating cell patterns in a confined space using 3D printing technologies, where cell function and viability are preserved within the printed construct. These 3D bioprinters have the capacity to print skin tissue, heart tissue, and blood vessels among other basic tissues that could be suitable for surgical therapy and transplantation.

Your Essential Commercial Dehumidifier Maintenance Checklist

Working in any industry, fine margins are what makes and breaks your product and, often, humidity control products are what defines those margins. Whether you’re operating an office in a warm climate, shepherding drugs through manufacturing or packing meat for sale, effective humidity control is absolutely essential.

Investing in high quality commercial dehumidifier is one thing, but it’s equally as important to conduct regular maintenance to ensure that your dehumidifiers are working at peak capacity. Any drop off in dehumidification can prove incredibly damaging, especially in manufacturing.

Whilst we’d always recommend hiring professional dehumidification maintenance teams to handle such jobs, there are a few quick things you can do to ensure that your commercial dehumidifier keeps humming along between scheduled maintenance checks. Join us as we share them below:

#1 – Inspect the filter

The filter is one of the most important aspects of any dehumidifier, and prolonged use inevitably means build-ups of dirt and dusk which can constrain the flow of air through your dehumidifier. This, in turn, can affect the efficacy of your system.
Luckily, you can vacuum many commercial systems’ filters to remove the debris, but every three or so times you should fully replace the filter.

#2 – Clean the coils

Much like your filter, the coils in your unit can become dirty, reducing the ability of your system to stay cool, and therefore lowering performance. Simply vacuum out the coils monthly to clear away dust, but be careful to ensure the nozzle of your vacuum cleaner doesn’t come into contact with the sensitive fins.

#3 – Inspect the power cable

In commercial and industrial environments, the chances of damaging wiring and cabling goes up dramatically, and it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that you’ve damaged the power cable leading to your unit.

Inspect the cable closely and look for cuts, fraying or any other type of wear or damage and replace the cord if needed.

#4 – Check for obstructions in the drain hose and blower wheel

Check these components for any debris which might be blocking flow. You’ll find that the drain hose is easily detached, and can be cleaned simply too, with a comprehensive scrub recommended. Complete this task once a month to ensure your dehumidifier is working at optimal performance.

Of course, whilst these are some of the major issues that dehumidifiers encounter, such large and complex machines can sometimes break down for other reasons. As is always the case, regular maintenance results in lower running costs than repair or replacement, so don’t let your maintenance slip.

Three Huge Reasons Humidity Control Is So Important in Industrial Environments

When it comes to industrial environments, there’s no doubt within the industry that maintaining effective control of humidity is essential. It’s a key part of the operation of countless factories across the globe and can make the difference between success and failure in many areas of industrial production.

But why is that the case? After all, humidity has been a constant for as long as there’s been air and plenty of things have been produced in that time, right?

That may be true, but it doesn’t tell the whole story – a story of increasingly complex manufacturing and industrial processes that benefit greatly from tight humidity control. Here’s three huge reasons why industrial environments now live or die by their humidity control.

Staff health and wellbeing

You only need to spend a day outside on a humid day to know that high levels of RH (relative humidity) can have a debilitating effect on your ability to function properly. However, it’s low RH which industrial businesses are keen to avoid.

Low RH can lead to dry and itchy eyes and cause the respiratory system to dry out, leading to dehydration in staff. Additionally, it causes a dramatically increased spread rate of pathogens like the influenza virus, which survives best in low RH environments.

On top of these issues, low RH has been linked to conditions like Sick Building Syndrome and the intensity of chemical pollution, caused by gases from materials used inside industrial buildings.

Taken together, these issues lead to a poor working environment for staff, and can even violate health and safety guidelines within certain nations.

Building maintenance

When water in the air interacts with cold surfaces, it creates condensation. Within industrial premises, which typically feature large amounts of exposed metalwork and very little by way of traditional insulation, this water can have a devastating effect on the health of your building.

By allowing condensation to develop, you encourage the build-up of both rust and mildew on surfaces which can in turn affect both the structural integrity and air quality of your building.

Product output

Industrial manufacturing businesses survive by what they output. Whether that’s car parts of pre-fab buildings, what a business outputs determines its success.

Humidity plays a crucial role in ensuring that products are manufactured to the highest possible standards by eliminating the role that high RH plays in spoilage. Consider, for a moment, that cardboard remains by far the most common material for packaging products of all kinds.

Cardboard, however, is extremely susceptible to high RH environments, absorbing the moisture in the air freely. That damp cardboard is extremely prone to failure and can develop mildew and become structurally weakened, causing damage and spoilage to products.

As such, it’s essential that not only do industrial businesses utilise dehumidification solutions, but that they utilise dehumidifier maintenance services too.

Top Tips to Choose the Best Connectors

From smart phones to sophisticated machineries that manufacture them, you can find an electrical connector in many forms. If you are an electrical industrialist or purchase engineer, it is essential to have some key factors in mind before making your final choice.

Here are a few essential aspects to check while choosing a connector:

Power

Power of the connector is a determining factor. The market offers a wide range of connectors with different power-ratings. Identify your requirement and choose the one that meets the purpose.

A low power variant may not give you the expected efficiency and on the other hand, a high power connector can even damage the entire system.

Density

The density of a connector is yet another influential factor in the present day. The higher the connector density, the more compact your machine design will be. This is especially important in case of complex machineries. In order to keep it solid at the same time give exceptional performances, it is essential to choose a high-density connector.

Temperature Resistance

Another important feature that adds to the quality of a connector is its capacity to withstand high temperatures. Most of these connectors are used in intricate machineries and they undergo immense heat exposure during their functioning. High-end connectors are often passed through multiple levels of testing to ensure its temperature resistance.

Speed

The transmission speeds of connectors are quite significant for their overall performance. Many of the latest connectors ensure to meet high transmission speeds. ExaMAX High Speed Backplane Connectors are one of the best you can get in the market these days.

Mating Features

The mating features of any connector play an important role in determining its performance, quality and durability. Before you choose your connector, ensure that you scout through specifications to analyze its mating features. The angle of mating, the number of mating cycles, etc. will be clearly mentioned in the specifications, which help to find the one matching your requirements. Mating cycles are especially important for connectors that are mated and unmated frequently. For a USB connector the mating cycles will be in thousands where as for a board to board connector will have a lesser mating cycle.

The easiest way to decide on a connector is often to choose the best brands. The connectors manufactured by prominent brands will have all major certifications, which makes it trustworthy. In that case, you will not have to compromise in terms of quality and safety.

3 Basic Types of Electrical Connectors

Any electrical equipment will have different types of electrical connectors within. Each connector comes in different shapes, sizes, and materials. Function is another key factor that classifies the connectors.

From connecting a wire to a board to joining key elements on a PCB, connectors play diverse roles and serve many applications. Despite their simple design, they connect and bring power/signals to the system. Key factors that determine the quality of a good connector is its reliability, signal integrity, speed performance, power rating durability, and ease of assembly.

Connector manufacturers offer an extensive array of tried and tested product solutions.

There a few common connectors which are worth the mention:

8P8C Connector

8P8C connector, where 8P8C stands for “eight positions, eight conductors” have eight positions, with corresponding conductors in the mating socket assigned to each. It is basically a modular connector and was primarily used in telephone wire applications. Today, they serve many applications and functions like being used to interface Ethernet jacks.

The 8P8C connectors have a male plug and a corresponding female socket connection. It carries eight contacts and when they get aligned with the corresponding eight conductors within the sockets, electrical signals get transmitted. Apart from Ethernet and telephone wires, they are also used in computer applications and other communication cables.

Generally, most modular connectors are technically named after the number of positions and conductors. They include sizes like -4-,-6-, 8-, and -10-. For instance, a 10P8C will have ten positions with eight conductors.

D-Subminiature Connectors

D-subminiature is much similar to 8P8C, as they are used in computer and play a critical function on modems. Though the name states “subminiature”, these are larger than most modern computer connectors. The connector has a D-shaped metal component that defines its shape and protects it. It also consists of two or more rows of pins with varying numbers in the male connector and a similar set of receiving ends in the female part. The male connector with a pin is called a plug whereas the receiving part that houses the contacts that connect these pins is called a socket. This connection is established to transmit electrical signals. This variant has the capability to provide protection against electromagnetic interference, commonly known as EMI.

USB Connectors

USB or Universal Serial Bus is a very common type of connector. They are small interfaces used to attach multiple devices to a computer. You can see at least two USB ports in any standard laptop that support external USB connectors and cables, while desktops have up to 4 USB ports in general. USB connectors gained much popularity and recognition, as it can be connected and disconnected easily while the device is still working. This contributed to its widespread use in computer applications that constantly require plugging and unplugging external devices, especially for transferring data.

There are many variants for USB connectors that suit both high-speed and low-speed connections like USB 1.0, USB 2.0, and USB 3.0. While USB 1.0 models generally connect keyboards and mice, USB 2.0 offer higher speed connections for these devices.

Industrial Processes And Emerging Technologies

Technology has been playing an incredible role in transforming the way industrial processes are performed. Whether it is a machine-to-machine communication or augmented reality, technology has been helping industries in every possible way to streamline and automate their work. Emerging technologies, like 3D printing, robots, algorithms, etc., have the power to completely transform the existing manufacturing processes. Or, in other words, modern technology has the potential to make our lives better. A rapid increase in the level of sophistication in technology has a strong impact on the workforce.

Robotics

Robots are being increasingly used to perform all sorts of industrial tasks. The developed parts of the world have witnessed a sharp rise in the demand for automated machines and equipment. Approximately, there are more than 2 million robots in use and the number is expected to rise quickly in coming years. Japan is leading the list of countries with the most number of robots. Recent years have witnessed a major decrease in the costs of automation and robotics.

Additive manufacturing

Additive manufacturing or 3D printing is an emerging technology that enables industries to manufacture three-dimensional objects. It is a process of building complex products by adding ultrathin layers of materials one by one. Currently, only selected items are being created out of a single material, for instance, medical implants and plastic prototypes. Comparing 3D industrial technology with that of traditional, additive manufacturing enables industries to manufacture new shapes without worrying about manufacturing limitations.

Autonomous technology

Autonomous technology, such as unmanned cars, is stretching the possibility of producing highly sophisticated industrial machines capable of performing the unthinkable. It has a great potential in making industrial processes seamlessly smooth with hardly any human intervention. Autonomous robots have already been deployed by a number of industries worldwide to perform quality control and inspection related tasks.

Augmented reality

Augmented reality is about the augmentation of the elements of physical world. By using handheld sensors, people can simulate various situations or, in other words, augmented reality enables us to create an illusion of reality. This technology can help engineers build incredible industrial solutions. One of the practical applications of this technology is the training of military recruits where they are tested with various virtual situations.

Conclusively speaking, new technologies are enabling engineers to develop intelligent machines that can perform multiple industrial tasks with great precision and speed. Companies need to invest in automation technology in order to maintain competitiveness and meet growing demand for innovation and modernity.

New Technologies: A Solution to Improve Profitable Growth

The quick pace of technological advancements explains clearly why manufacturers focus on getting innovative products to market. An insatiable drive for innovation creates a strain on companies and make them look constantly for new techniques to manufacture products. Taking this into account, how can you profitably satisfy your customers and grow your business? The following discussion will help you understand how you can achieve profitable growth when incorporating new technologies into your new and existing products.

Your customers always want to gain an edge from the latest technological updates no matter your customers are individuals or businesses. As a manufacturer, the only solution you have is to add new methods of production as efficiently and as quickly as possible and ensure on-time delivery. Innovative and modern manufacturing techniques can be associated with lighter materials, energy-efficient designs, faster processors, more efficient software or hardware features, etc.

A robust product lifecycle management system will enable you to integrate manufacturing processes, supply chain, and procurement. It will eventually lead to an increase in the efficiency of your business. Fundamentally, innovation means implementing something new to your business. It could be associated with:

  • Adding value to existing products and services in order to gain a competitive edge
  • Developing improved products and services to meet emerging consumer needs and requirements
  • Improving or replacing traditional business processes to materialize higher productivity and efficiency
  • Extending the functionality and quality of existing products

Before you invest in any technology, carry out a careful assessment to determine which industry-specific solutions are best suited to your business. From accounting and supply chain management to human resource and enterprise resource planning, you can find readily available and affordable manufacturing solutions. Every business has its own unique strengths and weaknesses. You need custom engineering and management solutions to meet your unique requirements.In order to achieve sustainable growth, a business must carefully examine its sense of purpose and make sure the organization serves it well. An inspiring purpose is all about:

  • Non-stop, pragmatic innovation
  • A consistent and constant sense of focus
  • Automation is the single most significant factor that can help manufacturers meet their production and growth objectives. Automated machines, industrial robots, intelligent sensors and control systems, advanced quality control (QC) systems are few examples of innovative manufacturing techniques.If you want to build a scalable business, you have to understand how critical it is to build and implement efficient machines capable of operating intelligently and independently. The right technology can dramatically improve how you manage your business. Consult a reputable manufacturing and engineering solution provider in order to eliminate complexities and inefficiencies from your production system and achieve profitable growth.