TechArchive

Original article date: November 1999 Alan Quinn reports on a compression spring gauging system which is now available off the shelf for the first time Previously only available through Cadar’s bespoke gauging service, the company’s spring compression gauge is now available as a standard product for the first time. Although primarily designed to measure car [...]

Original article date: May 1998 Disc springs made from polymers are an innovative new addition to the Igus product range. Polysorb disc springs are very space efficient and especially suited for a wide range of manufacturing industries where product designs necessitate a short spring length. Design benefits and advantages claimed for these non-magnetic springs include [...]

Original article date: February 1998 The IP ratings for enclosures are well documented. But what is the IK Code for mechanical impact? Alan Quinn went to find out. The IP Code defined in the standard BS EN 60529:1992 degrees of protection provided by enclosures (IP Code) provides a means of specifying the ability of an [...]

Original article date: May 1999 The ultimate reliability of bearings depends not only upon the quality of the bearing itself but also the manner in which it is installed. Ball bearings are the most commonly used of all rolling bearings with the single row radial ball being the most widely used. Self-aligning ball bearings usually [...]

This article was originally written in the period 1995-2000 Bryan Harris, Managing Director of Harris Springs, looks at the case for improved spring specifications and design. Any engineering component can easily become the weak spot in an assembly if it is incorrectly specified. Bearings, for instance, have to be specified against a knowledge of working [...]

Original article date: July 2000 Automotive engineers concentrate on developing efficient engines. MILES DADSON, HBM UK’s automotive engineering specialist, discloses some unexpected areas of development In order to reduce the fuel consumption of car engines, engineers within the automotive industry are trying reduce friction in the cylinder head. Valve gear is of particular interest to [...]

This article was originally written in the period 1995-2000 This guidance from Sarel is aimed at users of electrical switchboards, but it is equally applicable to the housing for any major item of electronic equipment. Miniaturisation of components, the widespread use of electronics and the appearance of new power electronic base products make temperature management [...]

This article was originally written in the period 1995-2000 Many difficult measuring problems can be solved by using balls of known size and accuracy. Alan Quinn looks at the latest from Spheric Engineering. Think of where precision balls may be used and you generally come up with ball bearings. Which is quite reasonable, even though [...]

Original article date: May 1998 Early composite springs foundered on manufacturing costs. But can they make a comeback. Dr RAYNER MAYER of Sciotech thinks they can. The sprung suspension is vital to the ease of ride and safety of road vehicles yet the design of the spring has changed remarkably little over the years. Traditionally [...]

Original article date: May 2000 With their dated technology, even the best speakers are the weak link in any Hi-Fi system. But here’s a digital alternative! If the company 1…Limited has its way, there is going to be a revolution in loudspeakers in the next few years. Conventional loudspeakers are the weakest link between recording [...]