The expiration of U.S. Patent 5.819,799, held by the Lee Company of Westbrook, CT has opened the doors to competition in the manufacture of high-speed solenoid-operated microfluidic valves. These microfluidic valves are used in a wide range of industrial, medical and research applications. One such application is inkjet valves for large character drop-on-demand (DOD) printing. Sinotech has manufactured microfluidic valves, including inkjet valves, for decades. Now, with the expiration of the Lee Company patent, Sinotech is able to offer microfluidic valves and inkjet valves at less than one half the cost of Lee valves. Chemical Compatibility One of the biggest…
Shaft Material Selection – More Testing May be Needed
Shafts are a key component in most rotating equipment. Considering the best material for your electric motor shaft. There are several considerations: Cost and Material Deficiencies. Most Common Shaft Material Most motor manufacturers use SAE 1045 in either cold-rolled (CRS) or hot-rolled steel (HRS). Forged or normalized, C1045 is a medium carbon, medium tensile steel. This steel shows good strength, toughness and wear resistance. Axles, bolts, forged connecting rods, crankshafts, torsion bars, light gears, guide rods etc use Other materials include sulfurized SAE 1117, SAE 1137, SAE 1144, hot-rolled SAE 1035, and cold-rolled SAE 1018. A ground stock of any…
BLDC Motor Manufacturers Increase Energy Grid Efficiency
With environmental, economic, geopolitical and environmental concerns making headlines, the concept of energy efficiency is gaining broad support across the globe. Efficiency is often associated with how the end user consumes energy, but it also has to do with how energy is generated and distributed. As BLDC motor manufacturers have their devices installed in products that operate on direct current (DC), the use of direct currents from DC sources avoids energy losses related to converting DC power to AC power and then back to DC power. With motors accounting for up to half of the planet’s energy consumption, brushless DC…
Need for Investment Casting Increases for Medical Applications
Custom investment casting is used in many medical products that aid in the increasing quality of care patients receive, time spent in recovery, and the prevention of complications. The science is responsible for some of the greatest achievements in modern medicine, including knee and hip replacements. A recent study about knee and hip arthroplasties found that 7.2 million Americans have an implant. It’s estimated that between 2005 and 2013, the number of total knee replacements in the U.S. will increase by 600 percent. Hip replacements will increase by about 200 percent over the same period. Investment casting manufacturers have an…
Investment Casting & Tractor Trailers – The Importance of Couplings
More than 70 percent of the freight tonnage moved throughout the United States goes on trucks. Without these vehicles and others that rely on fifth-wheel couplings, the economy would come to a standstill. As the trucking industry grows by 3.4 percent annually through 2023, steel investment casting will remain a vital manufacturing process that keeps tractor units safely linked to semi-trailers. What are Fifth-Wheel Couplings? Made using investment casting techniques, fifth-wheel couplings serve as the link between semi-trailers and tractor units, leading trailers, dollies or tow trucks. They join two pieces of rotating equipment while allowing some degree of end…
BLDC Motors take LiDar Drones to New Heights
The face of modern surveying is changing. In addition to using satellites and traditional surveying equipment such as retroreflectors and optical levels, specialists use remote sensing and UAV technologies to scan the Earth’s surface. One of these technologies is Light Detection and Ranging, or LiDar. Specialists perform the sensing method remotely to examine the planet’s surface using light pulses. The instrument contains a scanner, laser and a special GPS receiver. Rather than use an airplane or helicopter, scientists are taking advantage of drone technologies imbedded with BLDC motors to keep the aircraft aloft and powered to keep costs significantly lower….
Investment Casting & Heavy-Duty Truck Parts: What Should You Know?
Each year, heavy-duty commercial vehicles move more than 9.2 billion tons of goods across the nation. The irreplaceable trucking industry is vital to the economy, and custom investment castings keep it moving. By understanding investment casting for truck parts, you’ll gain a better understanding of how not all aftermarket parts are created equally and what to look for in an investment casting manufacturer. What is Investment Casting? Investment casting is a time-proven metal-forming technique used for more than 5,000 years. The technique involves making a wax pattern to create a three-dimensional mold, or investment. Specialists then melt the wax and…
Specifying & Ordering Custom Metal Investment Castings: A Guide
Investment casting is a great way to create affordable, high-quality parts for sensitive applications. When determining the need for custom investment casting or before requesting a quote, it is paramount to take into account the details a manufacturer needs to know and factors that affect costs and turnaround times. By being aware of these details in advance, you’ll be better equipped to set your project up for success. Considerations When Ordering Custom Investment Castings Preliminary Design Take advantage of the full casting process and minimize costs by including details such as: Minimum section thickness: The desired rigidity and strength for…
Surge in Truck Demand Requires Expert Investment Castings
After a slump, orders for semi-trucks in the U.S. are rebounding. The increase in sales is a good indicator of the American economy gaining strength. With truck utilization hovering at around 99 percent, transportation companies are purchasing new vehicles to maintain delivery rates. Many companies that make engines and parts are also experiencing a boost in demand. Custom investment casting will be critical to help keep up with this demand and remain competitive. Factors Driving Growth After the 2007 to 2010 economic crisis, the global truck market stabilized in 2013. Forecasters expect growth between 2014 and 2020 to average at…
Brushless DC Motor (BLDC) Industry Continues Growth Through 2020
The brushless DC motor industry is hot and expected to get hotter into 2020. Many manufacturers prefer BLDC motors for a variety of applications because of their greater efficiency, lower maintenance and high torque. Since their inception, the motors have experienced remarkable growth. Brushless DC motor manufacturers can look forward to a compound annual growth rate, or CAGR, of nearly 13 percent, which will bring the industry $49.28 billion (USD) by 2021. Top Revenue-Generating End-User Segments in the Global Brushless DC Motor Market Automotive Driving the growth of custom BLDC motors is the evolving electric vehicle industry, which has been…
