New Pre-Spaced, Pre-Aligned and Ready-to-Apply Peel & Stick Letters and Numbers Available from Visual Workplace
BYRON CENTER, MI – Visual Workplace, Inc. introduces Peel and Stick Letters and Numbers. These 
self-adhesive letters, numbers and punctuation characters are printed on durable, clear 3.0 mil vinyl that makes alignment easy and provides five+ years of life, even in outdoor applications. They come in Gothic font and are available in 1 inch, 2 inch and 3 inch sizes in red, white or black, with custom sizes and colors available upon request. They can be purchased per character or in kits, adhere to any smooth surface, and when they have outlived their intended use they provide simple heat and peel removal.
Understanding the Deep Draw Process – Part 3
As we continue forward in understanding the deep draw process, let’s look at the different stations that we can have in the press and their functions. As mentioned previously, the first station is the blanking station. The blank is pierced out of the metal strip and then forced down to the transfer slide which moves the blank to the next station. The second station is called the cupping station. This is where the blank is first reduced. The reduction of the blank should not be any more than 45% of the blanks diameter which will avoid any tearing of the material. Following the second station or cupping station are a series of deep drawing stations. Depending on the press it is common to have up to 12 to 15 stations to form a finished part.
Understanding the Deep Draw Process – Part 2
Continuing from last week’s post, the blank for the part to be drawn is removed from the strip and moved into the transfer slide. The transfer slide carries the blank to the first draw operation or station. At this station the blank is drawn to its first shape. The transfer slide then returns to its original position and is now ready to accept the next blank.
Understanding the Deep Draw Process – Part 1
When a part is being designed for the deep draw process considerations must be given to the following:
- The overall size and shape of the part
- The function that the part will perform
- The strength requirements of the part
- The environment that the part will be in
In order to utilize the deep drawn stamping process to the above requirements a selection of the following must occur:
- What type of material?
- What are the tolerances required?
- How will the tooling be designed?
- Are there any secondary operations required?
- What type of finish will the part have?
The type of machine (press) that is being used will also have an effect on the part as eyelet machines begin with a strip of material that is fed into the first station which is the blank station. The size of the blank that can be produced in that first station will impact the minimum and maximum size of the finished part that can be produced.
Accurate Forming LLC | Ph: (973) 827-7155 | Em: sales@accform.com
Original Article Posted April 23, 2012 Deep Draw Fundamentals: Part 1
Lack of national policy hobbles US manufacturing-study
Feb 23 (Reuters) – Lack of a public policy on manufacturing is the main obstacle to a vibrant factory sector in the United States, according to a study which also dismissed the notion that high wages are frustrating growth.
The study by the Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institution comes amid a push by both politicians and business groups to put factories at the center of the economy.
But these efforts could fall flat without a framework similar to that in countries like Germany and Canada where factory job losses have been minimal.
“There is lack of political will to do anything about it and that has been true for a long period of time,” said Howard Wial, an economist and fellow at Brookings. “We let manufacturing shed jobs and we let offshoring happen to a much greater degree than almost any other advanced country.” read more
Seamlessly Convert a CT Signal to a Standard 4-20mA Output with New CTC Signal Converters from NK Technologies
Provides simple solution for monitoring current in applications where one-piece sensors are impractical or impossible to install
SAN JOSE, CA – NK Technologies introduces CTC Series Signal Converters. With the CTC series users can utilize an existing standard 5 amp secondary CT or low voltage (0.333 VAC) ProteCT™ current transformer with non-contact ranges as low as 0-5 amps over a conductor to produce a standard 4-20mA two-wire, loop-powered signal. With DIN rail mounting and a 24 VDC loop-powered supply, the CTC series provides simple snap-in installation that requires no calibration because the primary current transformer ratio provides the scaling required without any installer intervention.
“The CTC makes life easier for users who need to monitor current in applications where it is impossible to install a one-piece sensor,” says Philip Gregory, President, NK Technologies. “And because the sensor output is industry standard, two and one piece solutions can be mixed in the same controller cabinet.”
In some applications, such as monitoring a high voltage system, using a two-piece solution consisting of a current transformer and separate signal converter works better than using a one-piece sensor. A two-piece solution is also a better choice when the system is supplied with bus bars, making installation of a standard NK Technologies one piece current sensor over the conductor extremely difficult or even impossible.
“In a two-piece solution the secondary of a standard 5 amp current transformer is connected to the input terminals of the CTC device, the CTC secondary is connected to a nominal 24 volt DC supply and then to the PLC or panel meter input. The converter then produces 4mA when there is no current through the primary CT, and 20 mA when the CT has full range current present,” explains Mr. Gregory.
Test and evaluation units are available to OEMs at no cost.
Visit the Engineering Resources section of NK Technologies website for access to numerous application notes, and technology white paper on current sensing technology.
ABOUT NK TECHNOLOGIES
Founded in 1982, NK Technologies designed the first the low-cost solid-state current sensing technology that underlies the industry today.
Today NK Technologies is a leading provider of current sensing, ground fault detection and power monitoring products to the industrial and factory automation markets, with a product portfolio that includes more than 1300 models to satisfy a wide range of specific application needs. As the needs of these markets change, NK Technologies is well-positioned to respond with sophisticated new product designs and improved product functionality necessary to meet those applications.
NK Technologies, 3511 Charter Park Drive, San Jose, CA 95136; 800.959.4014; fax: 408.871.7515 sales@nktechnologies.com; www.nktechnologies.com.
Easily Monitor DC Current with New DT Series Current Transducers
Large aperture design makes it easy to seamlessly monitor any circuit up to 1200 amps
SAN JOSE, CA – NK Technologies introduces DT Series Large Aperture Current Transducers. The DT series combines a hall effect sensor and signal conditioner into a single package for use in DC current applications up to 1200 amps. Factory calibrated ranges simplify operation and eliminate zero and span pots. Industry standard 4-20mA, 0-5VDC or 0-10VDC outputs are magnetically isolated from the input to provide maximum safety, and eliminate insertion losses. Internal power regulation delivers reliable operation and helps keep installation costs low, even in applications with unregulated power. A DIN-rail mount enclosure makes installation easy.
“DT series current transducers provide design and process engineers with a rich source of equipment information,” says Philip Gregory, President, NK Technologies. “They are economical and reliable tools for monitoring equipment status, detecting process variations and enabling corrective action to be taken before a failure occurs, and ensuring personnel safety.”
The ability to monitor any circuit up to 1200 amps makes DT series large aperture current transducers ideally suited for any number of applications, including:
- Monitoring load and charging currents, and verifying operation, of battery banks
- Measuring traction power or auxiliary loads in transportation applications
- Monitoring DC powered motors in cranes, saws, sorters and positioning equipment
- Measuring the current produced or consumed, and detecting mechanical problems before a failure occurs, in wind and solar power generation applications
Test and evaluation units are available to OEMs at no cost.
Visit the Engineering Resources section of NK Technologies website for access to numerous application notes, and technology white paper on current sensing technology.
ABOUT NK TECHNOLOGIES
Founded in 1982, NK Technologies designed the first the low-cost solid-state current sensing technology that underlies the industry today.
Today NK Technologies is a leading provider of current sensing, ground fault detection and power monitoring products to the industrial and factory automation markets, with a product portfolio that includes more than 1300 models to satisfy a wide range of specific application needs. As the needs of these markets change, NK Technologies is well-positioned to respond with sophisticated new product designs and improved product functionality necessary to meet those applications.
NK Technologies, 3511 Charter Park Drive, San Jose, CA 95136; 800.959.4014; fax: 408.871.7522; sales@nktechnologies.com; www.nktechnologies.com.
EN ISO 13849 Machine Safety: Are You Prepared for the New Standard?
Outside the issue of machine defects that could render a piece of equipment unsafe to operate, the ultimate responsibility for machine safety has historically rested with the end user. That responsibility is now shifting to machinery OEMs and goes into effect on January 1, 2012, when machine builders and integrators must use EN ISO 13849-1:2008 to prove presumption of conformity with the Machinery Directive. On that date, previously used machine safety standards EN 954-1:1996 and EN ISO 13849-1:1999 may no longer be used for this purpose. read more
Standards Update from Omron STI, Fremont, CA – August 2, 2011 – Effective January 1, 2012, machine builders and integrators must use EN ISO 13849-1:2008 to prove presumption of conformity with the Machinery Directive. On January 1, 2012, EN 954-1:1996 and EN ISO 13849-1:1999 may no longer be used for this purpose. Omron STI has resources available to help machine builders and integrators successfully make the transition.
“ISO 13849-1 is the most important standard for regulating the basic principles and performance required of a safety control system for machines and devices. The 2006 revision to this standard are causing major changes to the fundamentals of safety system design, and machine builders and integrators will need to be using this standard as the baseline to prove conformity with the machinery directive by January 1, 2012,” says Frank Webster, Vice President Standards Development, Omron STI. Webster is a member of Working Groups for Machine Safety in IEC/TC44 and ISO/TC199 and is the Convener of IEC/TC44/WG10 developing a new set of standards for Vision Based Protective Devices.
Machine builders and integrators need not tackle this transition on their own; they can contact Omron STI’s expert sales and integration teams to discuss their application needs, or visit http://www.sti.com/sistemadata/index.htm for additional information including immediate access to:
- Future Safety Design – a substantive 28 page paper that delivers background on the revised standard, its implications and how to effectively implement it
- Link to the SISTEMA Safety Integrity Software tool that helps evaluate machine applications
- Link to the Omron SISTEMA libraries
- Link to information on reasons not to use EN 954-1
Background
In considering safety protection and measures to reduce machine risks, it has long been common practice to evaluate levels of risk reduction and the performance of a safety-related parts of control system in terms of Categories as specified in the international standard ISO 13849-1:1999 (based on the European standard EN 954-1). The latest version of ISO 13849-1:2006 combines the straightforward deterministic features of EN 954-1’s Categories with IEC 62061’s probabilistic and systematic design consideration (a reliability model). This means that the revised version of ISO 13849-1 selects the architecture models in IEC 62061 that match the definitions of the Categories, and applies reliability models. This version can be called a functional safety standard in its simplified version.
“The question is whether or not this is a correct concept considering that every machine can fail at some future time. The components comprising the safety control system will also deteriorate and can fail at some future time, so it is important to figure out the mode in which the system will encounter a failure at such times,” explains Webster.
When a machine experiences a failure that causes the expected safety function to fail, if the failure is not detected it is equal to non-performance of safety functions. But definitions only based upon deterministic theory cannot cover such time related elements.
About Omron STI
Omron Scientific Technologies, Inc. is a North American provider of automation safeguarding products and services. Omron STI safety products and integration services are used to protect workers around machinery, automated equipment and industrial robots in a wide variety of applications and markets, including semiconductor, automotive, medical, electronics manufacturing, packaging and consumer markets.
Omron Scientific Technologies Inc., 6550 Dumbarton Circle, Fremont, CA 94555; 1-800-479-3658; (510) 608-3400; fax: (510) 744-1442; sales@sti.com; www.sti.com.
What Americans Think of Labor Unions
Recent labor battles in states around the U.S. have brought the role of public-sector unions in a 21st-century workforce sharply into focus. How have Americans’ attitudes about unions shifted over the years?
The nation’s latest political controversy recently came to a head when legislation was introduced in Wisconsin as a budget-saving measure but considered by many as a sweeping anti-union bill. To close the state’s $3.6 billion budget gap, the proposed changes would eliminate the ability for most public-sector unions to negotiate better health and pension plans, though they could still negotiate on salary.
The main point of contention among all the uproar is the proposed stripping of state and local public workers’ collective bargaining rights, in effect busting public-employee unions.