Prevent Egg Belt Fouling, and more..

'Reshoring' Gets a Presidential Boost The Obama Administration's recent emphasis on bringing manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. dovetails well with the nonprofit Reshoring Initiative®. Keystone of the group's effort is a complimentary Total Cost of Ownership Estimator™ tool which can demonstrate that, if sourcing calculations are driven mainly by price alone, they do not provided a realistic result — and can be off by 30%. The estimator's model combines a user's unique data, such as overhead, balance sheet, and corporate strategy (i.e. all cost and risk factors) and then accounts for freight rates and import duties, resulting in total cost for more objective decision making. For more on this subject, subscribe to GlobalSpec's e-Newsletter, DirectU2 The world of Engineering Management.   Efficient and Reliable — MC Fork Plugs Multi-Contact USA KEB Permanent Magnet Servo Motor Brake KEB America, Inc. Multi-Contact fork plugs are designed for direct connection to copper or aluminum bus bars. Our standard GSRfork connectors are suitable for applications in non-corrosive environments indoors or protected outdoor installations. Cut from section rods, silver-plated, and fitted with an MC Multilam, they are particularly energy-efficient, dependable, and long-lasting. The KEB Combiperm P1 brakes use powerful rare earth magnets to engage a zero backlash armature plate for fast, accurate stopping. To release the brake, an electric coil is positioned to oppose the rare earth magnet allowing the armature to separate. Standard brakes available with torque range from 0.4-145 Nm. Reduce Maintenance and Energy Costs Unique Technologies Associates Young Powertech Hydraulic Planetary Drives  Young Powertech Inc. This dry graphite lubricant can make most bearings spin-free! The bearings never need re-lubrication and will not drip oil or grease. Acceptable temperatures are from -150 F to +660 F. More about Unique Technologies Associates. Available in a variety of motor connections and output option, this series of planetary speed reducersfrom Young Powertech, Inc. will prove very flexible. When coupled with orbital motors, radial piston, and axial piston motors, we can deliver a superior package at a lower cost.

Gears & Gearbox Assemblies . . . Learn More CVT Controlled Flywheel May Offer Fuel Savings UK-based research is investigating the efficacy of coupling a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with a flywheel for kinetic energy (regenerative braking) recovery. Using a flywheel for mechanical energy storage reduces the number of energy conversions for a claimed higher overall efficiency and smoother transfer of power back to the wheels. A videofrom Volvo demonstrates one design approach. Take Care Mounting Gear Heads   Mounting a gearhead to a motor sounds simple — and it is. But some basic common sense practices are needed to keep the assembly up and running. You'll find some of them in this instructional gearbox mounting video, courtesy of Wittenstein. Step-by-step visual instructions stress easily achieved cleanliness and component alignment. Belts, Pulleys, Chains & Sprockets . . . Learn More App Keeps Drive Belts Cranking The complimentary PT Toolkit™ from Gates is a mobile device application that consolidates common belt drive power transmission calculations for quick access. Included are energy savings, center-distance and tension calculators, and a conversions tool. The app works on- and off-line, with results for the latter emailed to a desired address when a connection is restored. Egg Belts Ramp Up for Easter Production Right now you're probably asking yourself, with Easter ahead, how will all those eggs get to market? Well, conveyor belting to transfer eggs from hen houses into the supply chain should have anti-static properties/treatments to prevent charge buildup in cages and repel dust particles. Belts can be pre-stretched using heat and tension to reduce stretching in operation.   Lubrication Challenges Impacting Wear Life Diamond Chain Company The C-Flex Bearing Solution C-Flex Bearing Co., Inc. Regular lubrication will extend roller chain wear life, but for applications in which regular lubrication is impractical or impossible, Diamond's Duralube®is the solution. Featuring a bushing and roller combination lubricated under vacuum, Duralube provides supplemental lubrication in between regularly scheduled maintenance. C-Flex bearings are based uponproven design concepts used for years in a wide variety of applications. Our design utilizes crossed springs made to exacting tolerances of high-strength corrosion resistant steel, capsuled in a cylindrical housing, to provide angular travel up to +/-30°, without the use of lubricants. Brakes, Clutches & Couplings. . . Learn More Dual Clutches Enable Quick Reversing Drive Force Control Industries' high-speed reversing drive uses Posidyne® twin clutches for rapid reversing without stopping and accelerating a motor. The dual clutches rotate in opposite directions. Reversing in a model with two opposite-rotating motors is handled by the Posidyne unit by activating the proper clutch and brake. A single motor version uses a jack shaft/gear set to spin clutches in opposite directions. CV Joint Design Uses Curved Levers An honorable mention among the latest winners of NASA Tech Briefs' Create the Future Design Contest is a fixed-type constant velocity (CV) joint. The design features several pairs of spherically curved levers and a "stabilizing mechanism." The latter rotationally fixes each end of the lever so the movement of one lever in a pair is mirrored by the other, as depicted in engineering drawings and videos. Design & Analysis . . . Learn More Hybrid Construction Vehicles Under Test Out West The California Air Resources Board is sponsoring a program to evaluate environmental and energy benefits of hybrid powertrain construction equipment under real-world conditions. A Caterpillar D7E bulldozer and a Komatsu excavator, starring in this video, are the hybrids being compared to their non-hybrid versions. Contractors can apply to participate in using the equipment and be eligible for incentive grants. If you find this subject interesting, subscribe to the GlobalSpec e-Newsletter, DirectU2 The world of Construction Tools & Equipment. Hydraulic Transmission Makes a Slick 'Chopper' Hydradyne Hydraulics has built theHydra-Ride, a diesel-powered, hydraulics-driven motorcycle to showcase the company's expertise. A Bondioli & Pavesi variable-displacement axial-piston pump feeds an SAI Hydraulics radial-piston motor, selected for its high-starting torque and high-speed, along with capability to 5,000 psi and 800 rpm. The hydrostatic drive serves as a continuously variable transmission.   New D810 Master Catalog: Bigger Than Ever!  Designatronics, Inc. Precision Gears for Manufacturing Berg W.M., Inc. Request your SDP/SI's 2012 D810 today — it will be the only components catalog you will need: featuring over 86,000 components including an entirely new section of industrial quality leveling foot mounts... Also, view QTC's extensive line of belts/pulleys, gearheads, gears — including Metric Gears, Spur, Worm, Rack and Pinion, belts/pulleys, bevel, and more… WM Berg manufactures several styles of gears. Some of the styles include: spur, internal spur, helical, miter/bevel, anti-backlash, worm and worm wheel, racks and gearing assemblies. Our gears are available in several different pitches, hub designs, and materials. Find out more about all of our Precision Components.