Low profile locking tools

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Excerpt: The company that created a way to connect mechanics hand tools together with automatic-locking, LINK Tools, introduces a 100% made in America Black Knight tool line. These were developed in response to a request for low profile locking tools on behalf of the U.S. military. Because they are slim …

Bolting services company earns ISO 17025 Accreditation

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Excerpt: Aztec Bolting Services announces the completion of A2LA Accreditation as an ISO/IEC 17025:2005 Calibration Laboratory. The company understands the necessity of more stringent testing and certification processes for today’s requirements.  Despite the intricate and costly undertaking, Aztec Bolting …

Welder brings simpler operation to large welding wire diameter on thick materials

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Excerpt: The recent high amperage Flextec 650 multi-process welder from Lincoln Electric delivers up to 815 amps of welding power. Its FLEXible TEChnology lets welders use a variety of processes – stick, Touch Start TIG (DC), MIG, flux-cored CV submerged arc and arc gouging – on numerous applications …

How to design an optimum hinge

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Excerpt: The design guide and whitepaper for hinges comes from Spirol International Corp. and describes two primary hinges. One, a free fit hinge, has little to no friction or drag when the latch or handle rotates. Hinge components are “free” to rotate independent of one another. The second, a friction f …

Software assists designing with composites

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Excerpt:   Fibersim software version 2012 reduces risk throughout the wind energy, aerospace, and automotive industries by optimizing design and manufacture of innovative, durable, and lightweight composite structures. The software, developed by Vistagy, was acquired by Siemens on December, 2011. …

Thin-film coating protects wind-turbine blades

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Excerpt: An advanced “thin-film” HSP-7401 Polyurethane Primer and AUE-50000 Series Polyurethane Topcoat are available for wind-turbine blades. The coating uses a thinner to reduce labor, material use, and weight while providing unparalleled adhesion, erosion resistance, and flexibility protection propert …

73-m blades on this offshore baby

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Excerpt: LM Wind Power’s 73.5-m blades became the first of such size to be installed when Alstom inaugurated the largest offshore wind turbine in the world on March 19 at Carnet in the Loire-Atlantique region of France. The impressive composite structures have been developed specifically for Alstom’s …

Next-gen yaw drive smaller, lighter than conventional

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Excerpt: The 712T4U yaw control, a multistage planetary gearmotor, is for wind turbines from 1.5 to 3.5 MW, onshore and offshore applications. Its advantages are smaller dimensions with the same performance (20% height reduction vs. current units) and weight 8% less than current designs. The drives boasts an …

Understanding costs for large wind-turbine drivetrains

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Excerpt: After identifying cost drivers for wind-turbine equipment, engineering teams and designers can focus their talents on controlling them. By:  Dr. John Coultate, R&D and Consultancy Dept. Leader, Romax Technology Ltd, UK, www.romaxtech.com Wind-turbine manufacturers offer a variety …

Shape-shifting blades promise more efficient turbines

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Excerpt: A set of three blades with active surfaces and sensors will allow writing controls that tailor blade shape to wind conditions, and ideally capture more energy than conventional designs. By:  Christian Fritz, Senior Product Manager for Advance Machine Control at National Instruments, www.Ni.co …