The relatively new concept of validation likely will be used more and more by customers and certifying agencies to ascertain that all conceivable means were used to guarantee that a manufactured product indeed meets all requirements, including hidden characteristics not readily verifiable. This article gives an overview of typical applications.

Typically, compressed air or nitrogen circulates in the plenum to ensure that water, dirt, dust, smoke, haze, and solid particulate matter are absent so that the mirrors in a laser resonator do not become cloudy. In recent years, membrane air dryer systems that provide drying and removal of particulate matter have been developed for flushing the beam path.

The death knell is sounding for vocational programs throughout the U.S. Readers who responded "Yes, vocational programs have been cut" to thefabricator.com's recent question regarding the status of vocational programs where they live outnumbered those responding "No, vocational programs are intact" three to one.

Welding to repair damaged components in broken equipment involves three stages, each of which must be performed meticulously to ensure that the machinery runs properly and the repair lasts a reasonable length of time. What are these stages, and what equipment do you need to complete them?

Thinking about adding metal stamping to your capabilities? Read this primer about the materials and equipment, including the different types of stamping presses, and view images of stamped parts, which can be both highly functional and aesthetically pleasing.