MD_Fluid Power Monthly_: Look no further for great fluid power knowledge

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The latest information on hydraulic and pneumatic motion control.

October 5, 2011

Look no further for great fluid power knowledge

It's hard to believe it's October already; the air has already turned brisk and I'm already starting to see red leaves bursting from the trees.

For the past few years at Hydraulics & Pneumatics, October has seen the return of our Fluid Power Conference & Expo, and this year, we're glad to say we're bringing it back again on October 25-26, this time even better than ever! We'll feature two special keynote speakers to open both conference days—Parker Hannifin's John Treharn will open the conference with a discussion about the rebirth of our mature industry. Day two will be led by CFC Solar's Bob Sheaf, who will address energy efficient systems. One-hour courses will run the gamut from basic to advanced, such as "Tips and Tricks for Designing Circuits," "Troubleshooting and Circuit Analysis" and "Electrohydraulic Controls."

Day one will conclude with a social cocktail hour for both attendees and exhibitors to mingle and continue their discussions, and as always, breakfast and lunch are provided. We hope you'll join us at this great event, so register now! I look forward to meeting you there.

If you can't join us, you can always rely on our enewsletters and website to continue to provide you with the technical knowledge you seek, so read on and I hope you enjoy this month's Fluid Power Monthly!

-Mary C. Gannon

Articles

Non-contact transporter handles delicate objects

Handling delicate items can be difficult in processing and material handling operations. Grippers can leave pressure marks while vacuum handling systems attract dirt. And destroying objects such as cookies, plastics, paper, and electronic parts is not unheard of with both these types of material transfer. To meet required productivity demands, a NCT (non-contact transport) system from Bosch Rexroth is a viable option for these difficult handling tasks.
Read the article now.

Hydraulic Replacement Seals Available from ExpresSeal®

ExpresSeal® can replace your existing hydraulic or pneumatic seal with near replicas or replacements of the original manufacturer seal. Our experience with various industries gives you the solution you need fast. ExpresSeal® can deliver your seal using popular materials such as Polyurethane, Buna, EPDM, Viton, HNBR, Teflon, filled-Teflon, Silicone and engineered plastics (special compounds are available).

www.ExpresSeal.com

To catch a thief

Using only barrier type filters to remove solid contamination can allow very small shards of ferrous metal to pass through filter media and attack pumps, valves, cylinders, and other critical components used on Caterpillar's heavy equipment. That is why Whayne Supply Co., Louisville, Ky., the largest Caterpillar dealer in North America, turned to Magnom’s Core Technology as a potential solution to ongoing premature system wear and costs associated with frequent maintenance and repairs caused by contaminated fluids. Using magnets and specially formed steel plates, Magnom’s technology was able to remove sub-micron and larger sized contaminants from hydraulic fluid and give Whayne’s machines a longer operating life.
Read the article now.

Web Exclusive: In-house hydraulic cylinder honing improves efficiency and reduces costs
You know the old saying, "If you want it done right, do it yourself." Air Hydro Power, a Louisville, Ky.-based repair business, knows this first-hand. The company, which relied on hand-machining or outsourcing of cylinder honing, purchased a Sunnen HTA horizontal tube hone machine to repair and recondition its own hydraulic cylinders. The result: it regained control of job turnaround time, saved thousands of dollars in outsourcing costs, increased worker safety, and managed to salvage damage cylinders.
Read the article now.

New Pilot Operated Check Valves

Pneumadyne's new Pilot Operated Check Valves are ideal for reliably holding an actuator position in a variety of applications. These rugged valves feature ¼ and 1/8 NPT output ports which mount directly on a cylinder, minimizing space requirements and easing installation. The input port swivels to accommodate valve alignment and contains a ¼ push-in or 1/8 NPT (F) connection to speed tubing installation. With a maximum operating pressure of 150 psi, these valves provide flow rates up to 22 scfm at 100 psi.

www.pneumadyne.com

Web guest column: Fluid Power Tips, Issue 7: Troubleshooting: No relation to skeet shooting

In this month's edition of Fluid Power Tips, columnist Josh Cosford provides an overview of hydraulic systems number one problem and how basic physics and math can be used to help diagnose and troubleshoot hydraulic systems.
Read the article now.

New Products

Biodegradable hydraulic fluid
EnviroLogic 115 from Terresolve Technologies is an ISO 15 grade readily biodegradable hydraulic fluid that is based on unique biodegradable, low-temperature base oil technologies and is a direct replacement for synthetic-based arctic hydraulic fluids. It is designed to withstand temperatures from –60° to 200°F. If spilled or leaked it will break down in 28 days into natural components of carbon dioxide and water. It is non-conductive and designed for use in equipment that may be operating near high voltage, which provides safety to the machinery and its crew members. The fluid also offers high anti-wear performance, water separation, corrosion and rust protection as well as low foaming and air release characteristics.
Learn more from Terresolve Technologies

Pneumatic actuators
Airpel Plus high-performance, low-friction air cylinder actuators from Airpot Corp. can control ultra-precise movements, including high speeds and extremely short travel distances. The inert qualities and tight tolerances of the borosilicate glass and graphite materials smoothly move, hold, or press accurately and with high repeatability. They feature the same piston configuration as the frictionless Airpel-AB Air Bearing Actuators. Maximum friction levels are approximately 0.5% of load. They operate in temperatures from –55° to 150°C. Models are currently available in four standard configurations as single acting extension models with identical metric sizes, threads, mounts, and strokes as the Airpel- AB. Bore diameter choices of 9, 16, 24 and 32 mm are offered. Double acting configurations are not standard but available for customization.
Learn more from Airpot Corp.

Power take-off
The 870 Series P.T.O. from Parker Hannifin's Chelsea division features a compact housing that helps eliminate clearance issues. Two assembly arrangements maximize installation possibilities. High capacity bearings and gear designs provide torque ratings up to 670 lb-ft. It features a 10-bolt mounting pattern that will fit on most automatic transmissions and six shift options, four of which are integrated into the housing. Electronic Overspeed Control (E.O.C.) is also available to protect driven equipment. Features include eight internal gear ratios and direct mount pump flange options with wet spline design that provides increased P.T.O. and pump shaft life.
Learn more from Parker Hannifin

News from MD

New white papers from HP and Intel:

Realistic User Productivity Comparisons for Upgrade Decision Making

AutoCAD® users can appreciate the rock-solid dependable performance they demand from HP and Intel® processor-based workstations. The Intel® Core™ and Xeon® processor-based workstation portfolio includes a wide range of machines that fit multiple user segments, from entry, mobile, essential, and digital workbench users.

Return on Innovation: Making Individuals More Productive

The value proposition for equipping technical and creative professionals has drastically changed. The unprecedented combination of economic pressure and technological advancement has rewritten the rules of how to do more with less. Teams may forego new hires or do the same work with fewer staff, yet they can avail themselves to new tools and techniques. The challenge then becomes how to equip these valuable and fewer number of professionals to be more productive and innovative.

Click here to register and download

Machine Design's WORLD'S SMARTEST DESIGN ENGINEER
The 2nd season has begun! Players from across the globe are still competing for fun, education, prizes and the ultimate bragging rights. Thanks to our sponsors for their support of the exciting online opportunity for engineers! Play Now!

Altech Corp.
Bimba Manufacturing Co.
Maxon Motors
R+W America
Simrit
Smalley Steel Ring

Also, please download our first World's Smartest Design Engineer Study Guide, provided by Maxon Precision Motors, Inc. Brush up on motion control basics and learn more to help you excel at the game.

Constant Pressure: A New Approach to Hydraulic System Design
Sponsored by: Gates Corporation
Date: Oct 20th, 2011
Time: 2:00pm ET/11:00am PT

Join Tim Deans of Gates Corporation as he discusses how to achieve significant cost savings with hybrid hydraulic hoses and outlines a new take on system design – the constant pressure approach. Selecting the right hose for fit, form, function and cost effectiveness is more important than ever and, thanks to industry advancements, not as challenging as it might seem.

The constant pressure approach to pressure ratings makes it easy to select hoses that meet system requirements based on pressure and temperature. Engineers designing subsystems can select one hose type for an entire circuit and benefit from cost savings and simplicity. Factors such as weight, reduced force to bend, high temperature compatibility or tight space constraints dictate when to utilize a hybrid hose.

Learn more and register today!

ARCHIVED WEBCASTS AVAILABLE FOR FREE VIEWING
Click Here for a list of archived Machine Design webcasts.