Article
September 11, 2007
Structural adhesives form strong bond with signage
Sign-makers have long sought a way to improve durability and aesthetics and reduce the labor-intensive steps associated with welding, taping, and fastening. Today's adhesives can structurally bond metals to plastics with unique design, production, and cost benefits. Structural adhesives are... Read more...
Article
August 8, 2007
Ask for help
Simply stated, ask. According to a recent Purchasing Magazine survey, buyers say they expect their distributor suppliers to provide them with the lowest prices and highest service levels. Separately, distributors say buyers do press them to provide more information, especially on pricing... Read more...
Article
May 8, 2007
Arc Welding 101 - Paint tank troubles
I am building a 400-gallon paint tank and I'm having trouble with leaks when using gas metal arc welding (GMAW). I'm using a welding machine running on 440. My best results come when running hot 19.5 on the heat and about 21/2 on wire speed. I am using a trimix gas and 0.035-inch 308 wire.... Read more...
Article
May 8, 2007
Arc Welding 101
I am building a 400-gallon paint tank and I'm having trouble with leaks when using gas metal arc welding (GMAW). I'm using a welding machine running on 440. My best results come when running hot 19.5 on the heat and about 21/2 on wire speed. I am using a trimix gas and 0.035-inch 308 wire.... Read more...
Article
August 8, 2006
A breath of fresh air
Ten years ago laser cutting offered a distinctive advantage to those who invested in the technology. For the most part, successful laser cutting required gas, optics, and patience. The decade has brought many changes to laser cutting, including higher power levels and faster drive... Read more...
Article
January 10, 2006
Cutting to the chase - Integrating secondary operations
Many tube cutoff machines have evolved to integrate end forming and bending capabilities that normally are considered secondary operations. Considering the tube industry's need to reduce costs to stay competitive, the concept of integrating more operations may sound appealing. An inline system... Read more...
Article
March 8, 2005
Measuring wall thickness in seamless tube, cast-iron pipe
Controlling the wall thickness during the manufacture of seamless steel tubes and cast-iron pipe is critical in meeting specifications and minimizing scrap. Ultrasonic measurements typically are performed on tube or pipe at room temperature, many hours after forming is complete.... Read more...
Article
March 8, 2005
Managing rotary-draw tube bending
Most information published about tube bending relates to a specific aspect of the process, such as tooling, control and equipment features, or component technology. This type of information is valuable for keeping tube fabricators up-to-date on what's available and is useful in selecting... Read more...
Article
March 8, 2005
Anchor's a way down the road to improvement
Anchor Fabrication has a reputation for the ability to form long and awkward parts. A 1,200-ton, 52-ft. Pacific press brake in the Precision Division assists in reducing downtime and material handling costs because the parts no longer have to be shipped across the street for forming.... Read more...
Article
March 8, 2005
A good start makes a difference
Fig. 1 shows elevation of the entrance guide affects the sectional curvature. Fig. 2 shows an Edge Bent Down Model. In a roll forming line, the entrance guide serves to guide the metal strip into the roll former at the optimum angle and elevation. To achieve the correct feeding... Read more...
Article
March 8, 2005
Advanced lubricants improve high-strength steel forming
Advanced or ultrahigh-strength steel (AHSS or UHSS) use in more than 60 percent of structural automotive stampings has changed the rules when it comes to tooling surface, heat and friction control, robotic automation, and paint pretreatment. With yield strengths now reaching production... Read more...
Article
October 12, 2004
Optimizing consumable life in mechanized plasma cutting
Manufacturers of mechanized plasma cutting systems are focused on developing new technologies to meet three key market needs: Improved cut quality and consistency Increased cutting speeds and material thickness capabilities Increased consumable life Together, these three focus... Read more...
Article
September 14, 2004
Not your average museum—a metal art mecca
Editors Note: Bob Nichols, author of The Fire of Creation , a reader favorite on thefabricator.com, recently toured the National Ornamental Metal Museum in Memphis, Tenn. The following account of that tour display only a few of the many items on display at this amazing facility.... Read more...
Article
July 13, 2004
Pushing plate processing productivity
An infinite-rotation compound-skew-axis manipulator with a plasma torch allows automated contour bevel cutting of mild steel, stainless steel, and aluminum. Maximizing productivity. Making more with less. You hear about it almost every day. Productivity improvements are what saved... Read more...
Article
July 13, 2004
Getting more punch life
Augur Metal Products, a custom fabricator in Independence Ken., performs a variety of processes for manufacturers. While the company's capabilities include shearing, cutting, forming, welding, and finishing, chief among them is sheet metal punching. One of its processes involves punching... Read more...
Article
June 8, 2004
Selecting a shielding gas for joining stainless steel
The use of stainless steel has grown significantly over the past decade in North America. As its use has grown, so has the number of different consumables required to join it. Because stainless steels are used in applications that are different from carbon steels, it follows that their... Read more...
Article
June 8, 2004
Plasma pleases plenty
In case you missed it, check out this excerpt from the article "National research programs explore plate welding for shipbuilding" in the March 2004 issue of The FABRICATOR®: One project objective is to introduce laser cutting technology—which is already being used to cut sheet... Read more...
Article
June 8, 2004
Advanced lubricant technology for high-strength steel
Figure 1 As if the recent rise in steel prices weren't enough, now automotive stamping suppliers are faced with the difficult task of getting high-strength steel (HSS) to form parts with tooling designed for mild steel. In an effort to reduce vehicle weight and improve gas mileage,... Read more...
Article
May 4, 2004
Pursuing a plate-cutting saw
Metal Cutting Service's custom-made saw has a built-in laser that aids setup. The nature of the company's business shifted substantially during the 1990s. To adjust to the changes, Viel recognized that the company would need to research, specify, and purchase a new saw. He also... Read more...
Article
April 6, 2004
A most excellent fabricator
One recent afternoon Don Begneaud was on the phone with his contractor trying to drive home a point. "I don't want to drill shafts. I don't want to hear that we have to drill shafts," he said. It was an indication to the visiting reporter that, despite his friendly demeanor, Begneaud... Read more...
Article
April 6, 2004
Article
April 6, 2004
Titanium—You can weld it!
"Titanium need not be all that hard to weld!" The American Welding Society (AWS) 1 said it, and I agree. Well-done titanium welds look like frozen mercury: shiny and reflective. A couple of basic factors make titanium different from other metals. These unique characteristics, and a lack... Read more...
Article
March 25, 2004
Competing in the global arena
Less than 40 seconds to go. The home team is down by 2 points. Tension grows as the clock counts down. The players and referees dart back and forth, and the action never slows. This isn't some staid, gentlemanly game like chess or golf. This is a full-contact sport, a sport in which the... Read more...
Article
March 11, 2004
Article
February 26, 2004
Metal Art Takes on the Fireplace
Figure 1 After tracing the fireplace screen pattern on 12-gauge mild steel plate, Jim Truett performed his intricate cuts with an air plasma cutter. Truett knows his way around a welding power source and its allied tools, consumables and equipment. His job mandates it. But it's... Read more...
Article
February 12, 2004
Gaining from friction and formability data
Figure 1 Business owners now are paying closer attention to forming lubricants. Why? Because new data has linked lubricants to an important driver of business profits—steel efficiency. With metal representing close to half of a company's total operating cost and manufacturing... Read more...
Article
February 12, 2004
Laser cell system gives job shop the home field advantage
Photo courtesy of Lund Industries Inc., Wheeling, Ill. No stranger to the economic fluctuations in the industry, the 50-employee company has weathered the heavy volume demands in the economic boom of the late '90s as well as the current intense global tournament that has forced U.S.... Read more...
Article
February 12, 2004
Selecting a stamping die pressure system, Part II
Selecting a stamping die's pressure system can be a critical decision. Many questions must be answered to determine what type of pressure system best suits your application. This article is Part II of a two-part series that focuses on the different systems available, as well as the advantages... Read more...
Article
January 29, 2004
Article
January 29, 2004
Respirator selection as a business decision
Several factors can help employers select a respirator that meets the required level of protection while having a positive business impact. Using this approach, employers can make choosing a respirator a business decision that can increase productivity, decrease injuries, and decrease... Read more...
Article
January 29, 2004
Managing environmental risk in tube, pipe production
Editor's Note: This article is adapted from a presentation made at the TPJ Symposium, March 16-18, 2003, Scottsdale, Ariz. The U.S. Congress and the states have created a complex scheme of environmental rules and regulations with which tube and pipe producers must comply.... Read more...
Article
January 13, 2004
Producing side-impact profiles
Euro-NCAP, which stands for European New Car Assessment Program, was introduced in 1997 by five European governments, together with the European Commission. The results of this program are followed closely by the general public, so much so that hardly any automobile producer would risk... Read more...
Article
January 13, 2004
Beating 'world' pricing
This Finn-Power Express Bending Cell, which automates complex bending and reduces tedious and costly work stages, has last bend negative capability and fully automatic operations cycles—from loading the sheet to unloading the bent parts. "I have a precision sheet metal shop and... Read more...
Article
January 13, 2004
Hydroforming heats up
Hydroforming at Higher Temperatures The majority of hydroforming knowledge is based on steel. Steel's characteristics make it a favorable choice for many products, and steel has been the dominant material in many industries, especially automotive, for decades. Lately, though, hydroformers are... Read more...
Article
January 13, 2004
One system does not fit all
Breathing is something that many of us take for granted. Most don't give it a second thought—you inhale, you exhale. That's about it. But recently, and not just in manufacturing, the trend has been for employers to install better ventilation systems and provide better air... Read more...
Article
January 13, 2004
Structural tube on campus
A Sculptor and an Architect Carpenter specializes in large-scale public installations, including architectural sculptures and infrastructural items. He studied architectural glass art under artists in England and Germany, and this experience is reflected in his use of glass and light,... Read more...
Article
December 11, 2003
Selecting a stamping die pressure system, Part I
Selecting the stamping die's pressure system can be a critical decision. Many questions must be answered to determine what type of pressure system best suits your application. Controlling Factors 1. Pressure requirements Simple conventional metal cutting dies, such as those used in blanking... Read more...
Article
December 11, 2003
Welding's effect on strengthening steel
As I mentioned in the September/ October issue, welding can severely influence strengthened or hardened metals, depending on the hardening technique used. Hardening Techniques and Welding Effects Work- or strain-hardened metals exposed to the intense localized heat of welding tend to... Read more...
Article
December 11, 2003
Getting the best results in gas-shielded FCAW
The demand for flux cored arc welding (FCAW) has grown significantly over the past 10 years. Manufacturers who weld carbon, stainless, low-alloy, and high-alloy steel are turning to this process primarily because: It has a high deposition rate. It can be used to weld in all positions... Read more...
Article
December 11, 2003
Folding technology makes sweeping changes
In particular, sheet metal was used extensively for roofing and building cladding. These applications were well-suited to the swing bending machine's geometry, and the modern metal folding industry was born. A number of German manufacturers began adding powered backgauges with... Read more...
Article
November 20, 2003
The history of welding according to Marty
OK, so this guy back in ancient times got into a fight with another guy. He got punched in the eye and fell backward, hitting his head on a fallen tree branch. He thought to himself, "That fist hurt, but that dang tree limb hurt worse." (This was the first time the expression "dang" was... Read more...
Article
November 20, 2003
Handling appliance steel
As appliance manufacturers strive to reduce costs and streamline production processes, additional pressure is placed on coil processing to produce high-quality, surface-sensitive materials. These materials include pre-painted steel products and decorative metals such as stainless steel,... Read more...
Article
November 20, 2003
Improving bending operations
The company works with materials from 3 to 25 millimeters and produces parts that range from pallet size to 15,000-pound weldments measuring 8 by 12 by 3 feet. Part runs are low to moderate, from five to 500 pieces. The company classifies its parts as moderately complex with tight... Read more...
Article
November 6, 2003
Meeting ISO 14001 requirements
First published in 1996, ISO 14001 specifies the actual requirements for an environmental management system. It applies to those environmental aspects an organization can control. Achieving ISO 14001 requires documented improvement. First, you must document your current environmental conditions... Read more...
Article
November 6, 2003
Choosing the right oxyfuel gas and supply system
Photo courtesy of Weldstar Inc. Cutting In oxyfuel cutting, an oxygen jet, not the preheat flame, performs the cutting. The oxygen jet oxidizes the material and expels the heated material from the kerf. The purpose of the preheat flame is to heat the material to the ignition... Read more...
Article
October 23, 2003
Pinpointing future laser welding markets
While some laser welding equipment manufacturers are thriving right now, others still fight a battle as old as the technology itself—gaining acceptance for equipment that carries a hefty initial price tag (albeit one that can save money over time). Consequently laser welding... Read more...
Article
October 23, 2003
March for manufacturing
Yes, the issue is on the radar screen. People are talking about it. E-mails are racing around the Internet. Letters are being written. Industry associations are working hard to educate, raise awareness, and get attention. The Metals Service Center Institute (MSCI) organized a Town Hall... Read more...
Article
October 23, 2003
Using a gel-type tube lube
As one manufacturer of automotive exhaust assemblies recently discovered, selecting the most appropriate lubricant for a tube bending operation can have a dramatic impact on part quality, workplace cleanliness, and economic efficiency. Although the liquid lubricant it was using was reliable and... Read more...
Article
October 23, 2003
Blast Cleaning Equipment: What you need to know before buying
Many options are available that can achieve the necessary prefinish requirements of any part. Of those options, blast cleaning can be an efficient and economical choice. Blast cleaning requires no chemicals and does not remove any surface metal in its process. Some facts however, should be... Read more...
Article
October 9, 2003
Using finite element analysis to roll-form tubes
Figure 1 Roll forming causes yield stress, flow stress, and hardness variations in material properties around a tube's circumference. These variations may lead to premature bursting or excessive thinning in hydroformed parts. This makes it necessary to determine the effect roll forming... Read more...
Article
October 9, 2003
Investing in lubricants
Raw materials and overhead account for 75 percent (see Figure 1) of an average metal forming company's total operating cost. Improving these two areas can make the biggest impact on your bottom line. But what if you've optimized your material costs by paying the lowest price for your... Read more...
Article
October 9, 2003
Making steels stronger
As we get into modifying a steel's strength and hardness, keep a couple things in mind. First, don't confuse hardness with hardenability. A steel's maximum hardness is a function of its carbon content: more carbon, more hardness. Hardenability, on the other hand, refers to the amount of... Read more...
Article
October 9, 2003
Controlling bend angles
Spring-back Analysis All metal has a certain amount of spring-back. Spring-back, also known as elastic recovery, is the tendency for the metal to want to return to its original flat blank shape after being bent. To fully understand why metal springs back, we first must understand that metal,... Read more...
Article
October 9, 2003
Combating plate corrosion
According to a recent study sponsored by the U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)1, with support from NACE International—The Corrosion Society, corrosion-related direct costs such as prevention methods and infrastructure repair and replacement make up 3.1 percent of the gross... Read more...
Article
October 9, 2003
Predicting springback in air bending, straight flanging
Editor's Note: This column was prepared by the staff of the Engineering Research Center for Net Shape Manufacturing (ERC/ NSM), The Ohio State University, Professor Taylan Altan, director. Air bending and straight flanging are the most prevalent types of bending in sheet metal forming.... Read more...
Article
October 9, 2003
Band sawing bundled shapes
While band saw users bundle stock to cut more pieces per shift, they lose 40 to 50 percent of their sawing efficiency cutting the air between workpieces. Blade life also is reduced as much as 25 percent when cutting rectangular steel tube, pipe, and other bundled shapes. However,... Read more...
Article
September 25, 2003
Choosing a GMAW machine for occasional aluminum welding
I want to buy a small gas metal arc welding (GMAW) machine, preferably one that runs from 120-V input power. Most of my welding will be steel, but I would like to weld aluminum occasionally. Can these machines really weld aluminum? I've heard a lot of different opinions. Some companies claim... Read more...
Article
September 25, 2003
How important is roll forming lubrication compatibility?
Plant Environment Let's begin with the plant environment. Environmental guidelines mandate safe handling and disposal of lubricants. You must determine if the various lubricants you are using are hazardous, requiring special controls and perhaps, a licensed waste hauler for proper... Read more...
Article
September 25, 2003
Making the most of hydroforming
Figure 1 To help ensure successful part development, it is necessary to establish a multitask project team. Designers, hydroforming technologists, and material specialists should be involved in the component stage. To achieve possible economic benefits from this process, it is... Read more...
Article
September 25, 2003
Pour me a mandrel
A low-melting-point alloy is heated and poured into a length of tube. To reduce weight and cost for all types of products, design engineers often specify tubes and pipes with thinner walls instead of the previously used heavier-walled tubes and pipes. Shorter tube or pipe lengths also... Read more...
Article
September 25, 2003
The wrinkle-wiper for tube bends
Figure 1 Here's a quick quiz for you to take: What "wipes" the wrinkles from the bend in a tube and is one of the five pieces of tooling in a die set? If you guessed wiper die, you're right. A piece of tooling used to keep the inside bend of a tube from wrinkling, a wiper die... Read more...
Article
September 25, 2003
Stamping 101
Figure 1 The Catalyst To make the facility a reality, in 2000 Mike Chester, president and co-owner of Buhrke Industries, a Tier 1 and Tier 2 automotive stamper, donated 1,750 square feet of space in one of Buhrke's buildings. Once a location was established, many Chicago-area... Read more...
Article
September 25, 2003
Protecting yourself from gases and fumes
Protecting yourself from fumes and gases often means overcoming objections. Some welders mistakenly argue that running a fan to blow smoke away eliminates risk. Others avoid using protective equipment because it's uncomfortable or takes too long to set up. Worse, your workplace might not... Read more...
Article
September 25, 2003
Roll formers look for a win
Many systems enable users to download a DXF drawing directly into the roll forming line's computer. Not everyone can be the New York Yankees, or even the roll forming version—especially in today's economic climate. It would be nice, though. The Bronx Bombers have used a fat wallet... Read more...
Article
September 25, 2003
Getting a handle on work-related hand injuries
Of the 3.6 million work-related injuries treated annually in emergency rooms across the U.S., hands and fingers are the most commonly treated body parts, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 90 percent of all acute injuries in the workplace are... Read more...
Article
August 28, 2003
Die geometry for embossing and stretching
Embossing usually refers to the stretching of metal into a shallow depression. Unlike drawing, embossing entails little or no inward metal flow. Some automobile hoods and parts are made using a stretching operation, while others use a combination of drawing and stretching (see Figure 1 ).... Read more...
Article
August 28, 2003
Article
August 28, 2003
Washington women weld at the 'Y'
It's a drizzly, blustery Pacific Northwest morning in November with the gray light of dawn coming up behind the Cascade Mountain Range. Crew Leader Cheryl Boxx, clad in Carhartts®, squares her hard hat in place and begins checking scaffolds, rigging, welding equipment, and her... Read more...
Article
August 28, 2003
Considering thermal processes for dissimilar metals
This joint has dual characteristics—a brazed joint on the steel side and a welded joint on the aluminum side. A reliable method of joining the two most commonly used metals, steel and aluminum, would make it possible to make these joints in several applications. On one hand,... Read more...
Article
August 14, 2003
Toolmaker tricks
This article focuses on a few tricks of the tooling trade that have been used for years. It is very important for toolmakers, troubleshooters, and technicians to make rational data based decisions regarding permanent corrective action. These tricks are intended solely for data gathering purposes... Read more...
Article
August 14, 2003
Article
July 24, 2003
Using inverter technology
Those familiar with inverters usually know they offer size, weight, and portability advantages. They also can improve reliability by overcoming primary power fluctuations, also known as dirty power. Question: Does the weight of the plasma cutter matter? Answer: Yes, because labor... Read more...
Article
July 24, 2003
Tier 1 supplier builds four-stage competitive strategy
F & P Manufacturing Inc., a Tier 1 automotive supplier, is no stranger to competitive and financial pressures. Unrelenting competitive pressures come from the many other Tier 1 suppliers looking for opportunities to increase their slice of the automotive pie. Financial pressures come from... Read more...
Article
July 24, 2003
Improving blank edge conditions
Blanking—like piercing, parting, notching, and trimming—basically is a shearing process. Sheet metal that is sheared undergoes a predictable process and yields a predictable cross-sectional profile. Typically during shearing, as the punch initially engages the sheet metal, it... Read more...
Article
July 24, 2003
Which wire do you require?
Many fabricators overlook the efficiencies they can gain by changing a wire or process. In fact, when you ask fabricators why they're using a particular electrode, some respond with "That's the way it's always been done here," even though another way might yield significant improvement.... Read more...
Article
July 10, 2003
Article
July 10, 2003
Hot spots for U.S. metal fabricated exports
Canada is a virtual U.S. export paradise. It is, by far, the leading importer of U.S. exports in the categories reviewed by The FABRICATOR® staff. In some cases, Canada outspent the second-place export purchaser, Mexico, by 10 to 1. Some surprising newcomers have been added to... Read more...
Article
July 10, 2003
Article
June 26, 2003
Phases, structures, and the influences of temperature
But phase changes can take place in many metals while still in the solid state. These phase changes are directly related to temperature and take place in the metal's crystalline structure. And while temperature is what controls these transformations, stress, cooling rate, and alloy or chemical... Read more...
Article
June 26, 2003
Tooling tricks of the trade
Just make it work!" they scream. "I don't care how Just make it work!" As a tooling professional (whether you are a tool- and diemaker, engineer, press operator, or any other member of the team responsible for operating and maintaining that die), you quickly find that "making it work" is... Read more...
Article
June 26, 2003
Press brakes: the quest for a happy ending
Cast: Press brake manufacturers and users. Genre: Suspense/Drama/Horror. Plot: Our hero, Press Brake Professional, fights a life-and-death struggle with the forces of Foreign Competition and his nefarious gang of cohorts—Tiny Orders, Slow Economy, and Skilled Labor Shortage. With... Read more...
Article
June 26, 2003
Taking an integrated build approach to stamping tool tryout
North American tool buyers are pushing to lower tool costs by: Seeking foreign suppliers with low-cost structures resulting from low labor costs and government subsidies. Aggressively advancing math-based tools, particularly in engineering, to improve design quality and reduce die rework.... Read more...
Article
June 26, 2003
Managers are not necessarily leaders
There are business leaders and there are business managers. And while some leaders are managers and some managers are leaders, many times leaders and managers are very different animals. All too often we fail to recognize these differences in our businesses' day-to-day operations.
Many U.S.... Read more...
Article
June 12, 2003
Dealing with internal pressure in free hydraulic bulging
Finite element analysis (FEA) is a numerical process that treats a single item, such as a metal tube, as a large number of small, individual components, or finite elements. It performs calculations on each of the elements and uses the result to predict the deformation behavior... Read more...
Article
June 12, 2003
Stretching metal's forming limits with HSP lubricants
The trend in metal stamping is to use more and more aluminum and other lightweight materials, such as advanced high strength steel (AHSS). The need for technology to help improve metal flow of these materials in deep-drawing applications also is increasing. In many cases, a stamper's original... Read more...
Article
June 12, 2003
Dieless NC forming
Figure 1 The principles of dieless forming are demonstrated on a three-axis CNC machine. Source Amino Corp. Editor's Note: This column was prepared by the staff of the Engineering Research Center for Net Shape Manufacturing (ERC/ NSM), The Ohio State University, Professor Taylan... Read more...
Article
June 12, 2003
Found art
Arnold's first job out of college was with the New Arts Foundry fabricating bronze statues. However, he quickly grew tired of following someone else's blueprints. A year later he landed a commission to design and fabricate 150 feet of ornamental iron railing for a private residence. After... Read more...
Article
June 12, 2003
Understanding weld discontinuities
A welder's primary concern in any kind of work is ensuring his weld is sound. For this reason, it's important for an inspector examining the weld to be able to spot a variety of weld discontinuities, including: Porosity. Incomplete fusion. Incomplete joint penetration. Unacceptable... Read more...
Article
June 12, 2003
Designing high-strength steel stamped parts for formability
The problems associated with forming high-strength steel often are created during the design stage, when products are designed in such a way that they cannot be manufactured using conventional stamping methods. Or the product requires numerous or special offline operations, such as annealing or... Read more...
Article
May 29, 2003
Handling the rush
Photo courtesy of Hanna Steel Corp., Fairfield, Ala.
Think delicate: an antique vase, velvet gloves, the sweet sound of string music.
Then imagine a typical stamping operation: bam-bam, metal on metal, all day long.
OK, now put those two together. Voil—you've... Read more...
Article
May 29, 2003
Predicting the service life of galvanized steel
Zinc, which has been used to hot-dip-galvanize steel for 250 years, provides 50 to 75 years of corrosion protection in many environments. Empirical data collected about hot-dip galvanized (HDG) steel field performance from 1940 to 1980—in environments ranging from industrial to... Read more...
Article
May 29, 2003
Batter up! Turning an aluminum tube into a baseball bat
Although wooden bats still are the only type used in professional baseball, aluminum bats are used extensively in nonprofessional baseball and softball leagues. In fact, nearly 95 percent of all baseball bats used in the U.S. are made of aluminum. Hillerich & Bradsby Co. (H&B),... Read more...
Article
May 29, 2003
Article
May 15, 2003
Finding the best splice for your light-duty conveyor
In most light-duty conveyor systems, one of the key factors in obtaining conveyor uptime is achieving the optimal splice. Reviewing the available alternatives in light of the realities of your conveyor system will suggest which type might serve your needs best. Belting designed for... Read more...
Article
May 15, 2003
Reviving the past
When he looked at the outside of his building, Bellingham, Wash., YMCA Director Dave Harding realized he faced a challenge. The original Bellingham, Wash., YMCA building. The YMCA's main downtown facility was located in an early-1900s, four-story building. In recent years the interior... Read more...
Article
May 15, 2003
Riding on the cusp of something great
The sculptures' pieces seem only incidentally connected, barely touching, much less literally supporting and balancing each other. They appear more like glittering ornaments dangling from a mobile than weighty metal structures connected by fate and strong welds. Ironically, Robb said he... Read more...
Article
April 24, 2003
The structure of metal
As you think about molten metal, keep a couple of points in mind. First, heat flows to cold-always. And that becomes more understandable when you consider that warm atoms are moving faster than cold atoms. And those fast-moving atoms are bumping into other atoms, causing them to move quickly.... Read more...
Article
April 24, 2003
Applying and handling die lubricants
Effective application of die lubricants typically is overlooked in many stamping facilities. Many companies try to get by with applying as little lubricant as possible, just so they don't have to deal with the mess. However, metal stampers need to move away from thinking of in-die... Read more...
Article
April 24, 2003
Welding cold-rolled steel to cast iron
Dear Elmer: Is there a way to weld 1018 cold-rolled steel to cast iron? If so, how? James Owings Mills, Md. Dear James: You can weld 1018 low-carbon steel to cast iron using shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) and a nickel-based ENiFe electrode. Clean the surfaces before you start.... Read more...
Article
April 10, 2003
Mixed Metals Reactions
Why, you may ask, would anyone want to start an uncontrolled chemical reaction that is really hard to stop? Well, our shop did not want to, but we did anyway, and I hope you learn from my lesson. Actually, they are lessons (plural) because we repeated the disaster twice, although with some... Read more...
