TechArchive

Original article date: May 1999 Alan Quinn explains how MCP Equipment’s advanced computerised vacuum casting machines can save time and money alongside rapid prototyping facilities. Those who use rapid prototyping techniques such as stereolithography face a cost dilemma when they need to produce the original prototype in numbers for technical evaluation and market testing. It [...]

Original article date: October 1999 I have decamped to ‘down under’ for a while, and I’m therefore conducting a big teleworking experiment. Is it possible to work with nothing but a laptop and modem for contact with the world? I intend to find out. The two quite separate challenges of being 12,000 miles from the [...]

Original article date: April 2000 Are you getting the best performance and lifespan out of your belt drive? We offer a few installation tips Although comparatively old in principle, today’s belt drive is an extremely efficient method of transferring power between prime mover and machinery. Ongoing refinements of materials and processes have meant ever higher [...]

Original article date: October 1998 Three-phase induction moors can be braked mechanically or electrically. This article from Siemens describes the methods available for electrical braking. All methods of electrical braking are based on the retarding force exerted on a conductor moving in as magnetic field and carrying induced current. There is no reliance on friction [...]

Original article date: September 1998 Finally the Government has confirmed the long-awaited expectation that it would introduce a ban on the import supply and use of all asbestos-containing products. The sealing industry expects a ban on asbestos to be in force by the end of 1998 or early in 1999. So what now? Comprehensive ranges [...]

Original article date: October 2000 …if you’re about to specify a format for the file to store the values of a set of parameters, you’d be wise to specify XML… There’s a lot of excitement about XML at the moment. There’s a lot of rubbish spoken about it too. So I thought it best to [...]

Original article date: January 2000 The SD250 battery disconnection switch combines a 250A DC manual disconnect switch and a coil-operated contactor in a single unit. Alan Quinn takes a closer look. Modern battery-powered electric vehicles are inherently very reliable and safe, but even when sophisticated electronic controllers are used, you want to have a means [...]

Original article date: November 1999 As regulars will know, I have decamped to ‘down under’ for a while, and I’m trying to continue with my design work in the UK from the other side of the world. So far, so good, but as telephone and postal contact with UK suppliers is difficult, I’m really putting [...]

Original article date: July 2000 Problems in hydraulic systems arising from abrasive and adhesive wear can be solved by PVD hard coatings, says Dr ANDREW BLOYCE of Balzers Providing high power density, compact dimensions and outstanding controllability, hydraulic systems support a wide range of industrial applications. But the performance of hydraulic systems is often compromised [...]

Original article date: October 1998 Norgren has produced an objective detailed and useful gide for OEMs and end users to explain the different types of pneumatic actuator and specify the right kind of actuator for each specific job. For many applications cylinders can be allowed to run at their own natural maximum speed. This results [...]