April 1, 2005
Articles
Using gussets and other stiffeners correctly
By Omer W. Blodgett, Sc.D., P.E. Gussets are triangular stiffeners or brackets added to members that intersect at roughly right angles. For some designs,...
Creating competitive businesses
Shops have numerous resources for help with their pressing business concerns. Richard Harris, consulting editor Versatile and easy-toprogram robots such...
Let's get happy
Irecently read that Prime Minister Tony Blair announced plans to create a "well-being index" for Great Britain. Slated to go into effect around the end...
Isolating unwanted vibration
Shops can save money by planning for vibration control. Leslie Gordon, associate editor Larger machines typically require their frame or bed being attached...
Industry and Welding
The topic of an April 1935 column by William Feather was the benefits of having a trade and owning your own home. Feather, who the editors described as...
All mirrors, no smoke
Lasers equipped with dual-focus lenses and advanced shielding gases help fab shops cope with rapid growth while boosting quality. Charles Caristan, Elisabeth...
3-D laser cutting system
Rapido 3-D laser cutting system features an automatic focal position control (FPC) that manages the laser's focal position according to the application...
Benchtop welding systems
Miyachi's new MH series of integrated welding systems for benchtop use feature new heads. Two modules, with heavy "C" frames that prevent electrode deflection,...
Compact right angle grinder
Milwaukee's 6 in. right angle grinder, the 6160-20, weighs 6.6 lb. and measures 12 5 /8 long, making it suitable for cutting and grinding in tight places....
Countertop displays for holemakers
Hougen's new Point of Purchase, countertop displays for its 12,000-Series Rotabroach Annular Cutters have polished metal bases and clear plastic covers....
Dual voltage MIG power source
Millermatic DVIs (dual voltage input) combine a MIG power source, wire feeder, and gun all-in-one unit, which connects to both 115 V and 230 V power receptacles....
Flashlight and driver
Metabo's new Power Grip flashlight goes with its cordless Power Grip palm-sized, 4.8 V cordless driver. The flashlight has a 5.2-V halogen light bulb...
Fume and dust collectors
Farr's GS4P Gold Series Package fume and dust collectors are fully assembled and prewired with fans, controls, filters, and automatic reverse-pulse cleaning...
Handheld vacuum tungsten grinder
The handheld Sharpie DXV vacuum tungsten grinder has an adjustable grind-angle/taper-collet assembly and a built-in dust collector for dust-free electrode...
Protective dome for electrode boxes
The Fast 'N Easy Dura-Dome 500 is a clear, plastic dome the company reports installs easily on 21-in.-square boxes of welding electrodes, protecting the...
Sweeping, cleaning, or painting
For sweeping, cleaning, or painting, Anderson offers brooms and cleaning and painting brushes. The flaggedtipped brooms pick up particles ranging from...
High-temperature ceramic paper easily cut
Cotronics' ceramic paper, which has a melting point of 2,500 F, is well-suited for linings, insulation, and repairs. The paper is easily cut with ordinary...
Welding generator
The Miller XMT 350 VS inverter provides constant voltage and current for applications needing a multiprocessor inverter, but not remote control. Its four-position...
Lasers outputs 5 to 10 W
GSI's new Spectron SLD6000 series of solid state lasers output 5 to 10 W. The lasers use conduction-cooled diode bars, which according to the company,...
Mini-grinder and power tool
Weiler says its new mini-grinder and air-tool/drill power-tool-accessory kits combine the company's most popular grinding, cleaning, finishing, and deburring...
Power source/wire feeder
Lincoln now offers its CV-305 industrial power source and LF-72 wire feeder in a Ready-Pak package. The unit is well-suited for high volume production...
Precision adjustable shims
Microshim is a precision adjustable shim for positioning large machinery, leveling grinding equipment, adjusting roll assemblies, and leveling extruders...
Control system for oxyfuel cutting
According to MG Systems, its Omniflow automatic gas-control systems let even novice operators obtain excellent oxyfuel cutting performance. After the...
Sandpaper for many applications
Bosch's new Professional Sandpaper line includes belts, discs, detail, and sheets color-coded for different applications, which according to the company,...
Single laser source produces multiple beams
With PRC Laser's Dual Beam Laser series, multiple beam outputs generate from a single laser source. The individual beam outputs are controlled independently...
Surface and profile grinder
The Planomat 408 HP is a universal surface and profile grinding system. It has 31.5 15.75-in. (800 400 mm) grinding range and a table clamping area of...
Welding-end prep tool
The Millhog Dictator Hydraulic I.D. Clamping Tool from Esco Tool is a new, hydraulic version of its I.D. clamping, welding-end prep tool. For in-the-field...
Wheels for right angle grinders
Rex-Cut Alpha-Green Type 27 cut-off wheels are for standard right angle grinders. The 4, 4 1 /2, 5, 6, and 7-in. sizes are 0.04 in. thick with 46 grit...
Retrofits boost welding precision and control
Aerospace shops get precise and consistent welds by switching to high-frequency inverter-based resistance welding power supplies. Aaron Siggins, plant...
Carbon-steel wire bridges poor fitups
The tubular Excel Arc 71 is a gas-shielded, flux-cored, carbon-steel wire well-suited for bridging on poor fitups. It tackles general-purpose fabrication...
Flap disc grinds and blends welds
J. Walter claims fast, uniform material removal and long flap-disc life with its Enduro-Flex, which grinds and blends welds. The discs are available with...
Folded sorbents for easy clean-ups
3M reports each 5 in. 50 ft roll of its M-FL550DD absorbent absorbs 10.5 gallon of cutting oil, coolant, aqueous or petroleum-based liquid, and other...
Hardfacing wire eliminates cracks
Postalloy 2828 FCO is a self-shielded, flux-cored wire that deposits a martensitic alloy with a high volume of finely dispersed titanium carbides (TiC)....
Headwear protects head, neck, and ears
A flame-resistent hatliner, the Spark-guard 600R is claimed to provide maximum protection for the head, neck, and ears with a comfortable fit. It also...
Powerful polisher
The 7-in PE12-175 polisher from Metabo provides 124 in.-lb torque, variable speed, and has a 1,200 W motor for good overload capacity. The unit lets operators...
