Author: Serkadis

Optimum performance for threading tools

When working with feed rate per rotation, a JEL® JSF synchro tapping chuck provides optimum compensation for the backlash which occurs during reversing.

In the mode known as “rigid tapping”, modern CNC machines allow thread tapping without a compensating chuck. The backlash of the spindle, which occurs during reversing, causes stress to one side of the threading tool, thread cutting tap or form tap. This results in re-duced tool life and quality impairment in the surface of the thread.

To compensate for this, the product programme of the thread cutting specialists will in future offer users two variants of the new JEL® JSF synchro tapping chuck, with HSK-A63 and straight shank connec-tion. The HSK-A63 model is available in two sizes: M4 – M14 for square drive collet size ER20, and M4 – M20 for size ER32. To bridge over projecting edges, there is another variant available with HSK-A63 connection, A=160 mm for thread dimensions M4 -M12. To enable them to be adapted to all other machine connections via a Whistle Notch or Weldon tool holder, the JEL® JSF synchro tapping chuck are also available with a straight shank. Like the tapping chuck with HSK-A63, these are also available in 2 sizes. M4 – M12 for collet ER20 and M4 – M20 for ER32. A common feature for all variants is that they can all be used with internal coolant supply or MQL 1 channel system. Until now, it was always necessary to use two different chucks.

The new JEL® JSF synchro tapping chucks meet the requirements for achieving optimum performance from the thread cutting tap or form tap used.

Fast, Heavy Duty, and Self Repairing for High Traffic Areas

Albany Door Systems’ self repairing UltraFast™ high speed door is a work-horse.

It was designed specifically for high traffic, heavy duty, industrial and commercial applications. The door can be applied in either interior or exterior applications where moderate wind and/or negative pressure are a problem.

When fork-truck traffic is high, maintenance is a concern and safety concerns are at a premium, UltraFast™ is the solution.

Diversified industrial manufacturer Eaton Corporation today announced the introduction of a new high-flow, proportional pressure relief valve with integrated control electronics. It is a genuine ‘plug-and-play’ unit with industry standard 7-pin connector hook-up.

The new valve designated KBCG5-3, complements Eaton’s known KB proportional valve series by extending flow capability up 40 litre/ min whilst offering all the same features and functions of the range.

“This new valve is designed to help extend the flow rate options within our KB series and thereby broaden the scope of potential applications,” said Colin Cooper, Product Manager Industrial Controls – EMEA. “It has all the features offered by the other units in the range plus an on-board pre-programmed amplifier to ensure maximum consistency of functionality.”

Features offered by the new KBCG5-3 valve and common to all units in the KB range as standard include: on-board digital electronics with ramp adjustment; IP65/67 environmental protection; choice of voltage and current command supply; five different pressure settings; hysteresis and linearity stability; and electrical power down ‘failsafe’ protection.

In addition to these features, the KBCG5-3’s integral amplifier is pre-programmed with preset pressure ratings to help ensure consistent pressure gain settings and valve-to-valve performance repeatability.

Options include voltage or current command supply and an external valve enable function.

For more information: [email protected]

Parker Hannifin, the global leader in motion and control technologies, has launched a new family of revolutionary AC drives that allow energy efficient permanent magnet motors to be used in a wide range of pump, fan and compressor applications. Designated the AC650S Series, the new drives eliminate the need to run permanent magnet motors with closed loop speed sensors, enabling them to be used as replacements for induction motors, helping manufacturers improve both performance and profitability.
Now, by using innovative algorithm control based on motor voltage and current output, the new AC650S Drive enables standard permanent magnet motors to be used in closed loop applications, without the need for additional sensors. Engineers can therefore benefit from the energy savings that can be achieved from brushless motor such as Parker’s NX and ATEX EX Series, with savings of up to 12% for a 0.75kW system being possible; similarly, engineers have the opportunity to design more compact control systems, which can be as small as 25% the size of a conventional induction motor assembly.
The AC650S family of drives is available in three frame sizes, covering single and three phase applications, from .25kW to 7.5kW and output frequencies from 0 to 500Hz. Parker also provides full technical and applications support through its global network of manufacturing and customer service centres.

New EZ-SCREEN LP from Banner Engineering combines robust performance with low cost.

A compact, low-cost Type 4 Safety Light Curtain has been introduced by Banner Engineering. The new EZ-SCREEN LP (Low Profile) provides continuous protection for the entire length of the screen, with no dead zones. Its two-piece design (emitter and receiver) with integrated controls eliminates the need for a separate controller.

The curtain is designed for easy mounting and reliable operation on machinery used in a wide range of industries including automotive, electronics and semiconductor, materials handling and metalworking.

Screens are available in safety yellow, brushed anodized aluminum for a more aesthetic appearance where yellow is not required, and a nickel plated ESD (electrostatic discharge) safe housing for semiconductor applications. Units are available with 14 mm resolution for finger detection or 25 mm resolution for hand detection. Protection heights range from 270 to 1810 mm with detection range up to 7 m and response times are 8 to 43 ms.

The 28 x 26 mm housing profile fits on small machines with minimal protrusion. Brackets for end or side mounting are included, with rotating fasteners for fine alignment. Additional mounting hardware to accommodate almost any machine configuration is available. Cascading units to guard multiple sides with no overlap will be introduced soon.

Setup is easy without a PC, using DIP switches and a seven-segment LED display and a bar graph indicator showing diagnostic information. Contiguous beams can be blanked for situations where part of the machine would block the curtain.
EZ-SCREEN LP is certified to Type 4, Category 4 PLe and SIL 3. Is also exceeds OSHA/ANSI Control Reliability requirements.

Banner Engineering is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of vision sensors, photoelectric and ultrasonic sensors, fiber optic assemblies, indicator lights, machine guarding systems, precision measurement and inspection systems and wireless network products. The company provides local application support worldwide.

Portable Buildings
Designed to deter thieves and vandals our portable buildings are manufactured from 1.6mm steel and either finished to standard or corporate colour.

Internal finishes comprise either decorative vinyl faced plasterboard, melamine faced chipboard or 4mm EBG2001 polyester faced wallboards complete with fully welded vinyl floor covering & plastic skirting boards.

Standard sizes for portable buildings range from 8ft [2.4m] to 40ft [12.2m] in length and 8ft [2.4m] to 12ft [3.6m] in width.

All portable buildings have High Security 8-Point Multi-Locking System doors as standard.

Modular Buildings
The Quantum Range is an innovative range of modular buildings with the added approved design of being able to stack 3 high

All our modular buildings are manufactured from 1.6mm steel with a choice of flat or corrugated side walls and also a choice of external colours.

In addition, all our modular buildings are built to last with both the underside & inside painted prior to lining out.

All modular buildings include High Security Locking System doors as standard.

Internal finishes comprise either decorative vinyl faced plasterboard, melamine faced chipboard or 4mm EBG2001 polyester faced wallboards. Floors are covered in heavy duty polyflor with plastic skirting boards.

Mobile Classrooms
Mobile Classrooms are a popular choice for many schools & colleges providing flexible space at an affordable cost.

All our mobile classrooms are manufactured from 1.6mm steel with a choice of flat or corrugated side walls and also a choice of external colours.

All mobile classrooms include High Security Locking System doors as standard.

Internal finishes comprise either decorative vinyl faced plasterboard, melamine faced chipboard or 4mm EBG2001 polyester faced wallboards. Floors are covered in heavy duty polyflor with plastic skirting boards.

The 3/4 axis all-in-one stepper driver “Slider SFX” is now available in a new version. The changes at a glance:
– Optional 4th axis now as a plug-on module
– max. relay current 10A
– Enhanced noise suppression on clock inputs
– Relay 2 can be switched automaticaly depending on the level of the PWM signal for the 0-10V analogue output

N100 is an useful tool for machine manufacturers, maintenance technicians, end users and any other person requiring to measure vibration and check its frequency.
Vibration monitoring in the assembly line with downloading of the data on a PC and integration in the control system are just some of the applications of the ergonomic instrument.
User-friendly and rapid action are the great advantages of N100.
With N100 it is possible to measure the overall level of vibration (ISO10816-3) and perform synchronous measurements (1xRPM), through the optional photocell.
The quick-acting connectors allow rapid and efficient connection to the sensor while the mini USB port allows data transfer to a PC.

Hyundai today revealed a rendering of its upcoming i-flow concept that will debut at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show next month. Hyundai says that the new concept sedan “previews the look of its new D-segment contender.”

“Styled at the company’s European design headquarters in Rüsselsheim, Germany, i-flow is expected to attract much attention, thanks to its striking appearance – the latest product of the company’s evocative new form language, ‘fluidic sculpture,’ Hyundai said in a statement. “The name i-flow reflects the exceptionally aerodynamic shape and the flowing lines of the concept car’s eye-catching styling, and retains the ‘i’ prefix of Hyundai’s established nomenclature.”

Of course green technologies will be a part of the game. The i-flow features new technologies from chemical company BASF, ranging from innovative lightweight materials to solar cells, to assist in reducing weight and improving energy efficiency.

Hyundai i-flow Concept (Rendering):

– By: Omar Rana

Gustafson Guthrie Nichol, a premier landscape architecture firm, is working on the new 12-acre headquarters campus of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the world’s largest private foundation. According to the firm, the foundation’s value of “local roots, global misson” has been incorporated into the site design. “The overall campus design concept features upper office buildings with outward ‘world reaching’ arms resting on podium buildings and landscape features that restore a native Seattle character and align with the neighborhood’s street grid.” 

Gustafson Guthrie Nichol will provide campus master planning, as well as the design and development of streetscapes, green roofs, and extensive plantings featuring native and non-invasive, drought-tolerant plants. The site design will also incorporate outdoor work spaces that “direct rainwater from paved surfaces into a million-gallon rainwater cistern.”

According to the Gates Foundation, the site was designed with nine principles in mind:

For Our Neighbors:

• The development will fit with the size and scale of the surrounding environment.
• The design will be inspiring and creative and fit within the neighborhood.
• The campus will be secure in a low-profile way.
• The edges of the campus must be well-defined and landscaped.
• The design will integrate sustainable materials and methods.

For Our Employees:

• The design must create a sense of place that reflects the foundation’s work in health and learning.
• The buildings will be connected in a campus-like setting designed to facilitate interaction, collaboration, and learning.
• The campus design will include open green spaces.
• The design will provide access to natural light for all.

Most recently, the landscape architecture firm organized the planting of a massive Big Leaf Maple in a key spot on the campus. “This specimen has a trunk diameter of almost 8 inches and weighs approximately 10,000 pounds, so a large crane will be used to move the tree into place.” Indeed, the campus is filled with trees: “Of the 135 trees planned for the campus, 63 additional Big Leaf Maples and 43 other Vine Maples will be planted on seven acres during Phase I of what will eventually be a 12-acre campus. Raywood Ashes make up the remainder of the total.”

Gustafson Guthrie Nichol is collaborating with architect NBBJ. Teufel is the landscape contractor, and Sellen is the general contractor. Construction will be completed in spring of 2011.

Learn more about the Gates Foundation campus design and overall sustainability plans.

Image credit: Gustafson Guthrie Nichol

A mens Olympic luger from the former Soviet republic of Georgia died after crashing today during training on a track that is the worlds fastest and has raised safety concerns among competitors.

Nodar Kumaritashvili lost control of his sled near the finish, went over the track wall and struck an unpadded steel pole near the finish line at Whistler Sliding Center, near Vancouver, British Columbia.

An Olympic official told The Associated Press that the International Olympic Committee received confirmation of Kumaritashvilis death.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the 21-year-old lugers family hadnt been notified yet.

The death cast a shocking pall over the Olympics just hours before the Vancouver Games were to open.

Rescue workers were at his side within seconds; chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation started less than one minute after the crash, and he was quickly airlifted to a trauma center in Whistler.

Kumaritashvili struck the inside wall of the track on the final turn. His body immediately went airborne and cleared the ice-coated concrete wall along the left side of the sliding surface. His sled remained in the track, and it appeared his helmet visor skidded down the ice.

Its a very rare situation, three-time Olympic champion and German coach Georg Hackl said. But theres some things that you cant do anything about.

It was unclear how fast Kumaritashvili was going, although many sliders have exceeded 90 mph on this course. The track is considered the worlds fastest and several Olympians recently questioned its safety. More than a dozen athletes have crashed during Olympic training.

At the finish area, not far from the crash scene, athletes, coaches and officials solemnly awaited word on Kumaritashvili.

Ive never seen anything like that, said Shiva Keshavan, a four-time Olympian from India. Im afraid its bad.

Training was suspended indefinitely, International Luge Federation members were called for a briefing and team captains from each nation were asked to attend a meeting.

Kumaritashvili competed in five World Cup races this season, finishing 44th in the world standings.

Distributed via Chicago Press Release Services

A woman was denied bond Friday after being charged with aggravated battery for allegedly fracturing the skull of a 9-month-old girl she was babysitting last month on the Southwest Side.

Abigail Cihak, 24, of 11059 S. Hoyne Ave. was charged late Thursday with aggravated battery to a child, according to police.

Cihak was ordered held without bond Friday and will appear for a preliminary hearing Feb. 18, according to the Cook County Circuit Court Clerk’s office.

Police said Cihak was responsible for injuring a 9-month-old girl she was babysitting. The child suffered a skull fracture on Jan. 26 at a residence in the 10800 block of South Talman Avenue, according to police. It was not immediately known how the injury occurred.

The child, who also suffered bleeding on the brain, was transported to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn in an unspecified condition, police said.

Calumet Area detectives are investigating.

Read the original article from FOX Chicago News.

Distributed via Chicago Press Release Services

The sentencing of convicted killer Mark Downs has been pushed back once again as defense attorneys work on filing post-trial motions alleging mistakes by the public defender during his 2009 murder trial.

Downs, 33, of Aurora, was convicted by a Kane County jury last year of firing the shots that killed Nico Contreras, 6, while he was sleeping at his grandmother’s house on the near East Side of Aurora in 1996.

Downs was indicted in the boy’s murder in 2007, more than a decade after Nico was killed.

He was scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 2, 2009. He faces up to 100 years in prison.

Prior to his sentencing, however, Downs made claims that his public defender, David Kliment, failed to properly question witnesses and denied Downs’ request to switch to a bench trial shortly after his jury trial began.

On Thursday, Downs appeared before Judge Timothy Sheldon.

His attorneys asked the judge to deny a request to have Downs held in Kane County until his next court date so he could receive medical treatment for his back in a Joliet prison.

Sheldon agreed to Down’s request. He will return to Joliet to await a Feb. 24 court date.

Read the original article from FOX Chicago News.

Distributed via Chicago Press Release Services

Article Tags: Doug L. Hoffman

Click source to read FULL report by Doug L. Hoffman

Source: theresilientearth.com

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Several businesses were evacuated after utility crews ruptured a gas line Friday afternoon on a Far South Side street, prompting a HazMat response.

A Level II HazMat was called for a natural gas leak at 580 E. 115th St. about 2:30 p.m. after crews struck a gas line, Fire Media Affairs Chief Kevin MacGregor said.

The incident happened on the street but prompted the evacuation of several nearby businesses, including a Sherwin Williams store and McDonald’s restaurant, MacGregor said. Some people had already self-evacuated before fire crews responded, while others were assisted out of the buildings.

There were no reports of injuries and the scene was secured about 3 p.m., MacGregor said.

Read the original article from FOX Chicago News.

Distributed via Chicago Press Release Services

Filed under: Motorsports, Europe

Tanner Foust has about the most solid “car guy” curriculum vitae there is. Drift king, stuntman, rally champ, X Games legend, TV star, momentary Top Gear USA host, two-time U.S. representative for the International Race of Champions and of most important/impressive, Autoblog Podcaster. Well friends, let’s go ahead and add Rallycross participant to Tanner’s already padded resume.

When/Where/Why? Foust will be competing in the 2010 European Rallycross Championship as the sole American representative. Tanner will be traveling to Europe for the first four races before returning to the United States and bringing the races with him. For those unfamiliar with the discipline, rallycross is similar to rally racing, only the cars are typically 50 percent more powerful (600 horsepower as opposed to 400 hp) and the quick stages consist of dirt, jumps and tarmac. Tanner will of course be driving the same 600 hp devil of a Ford Fiesta he took to a bronze medal at last year’s X Games.

Says Foust, “I’ve been watching European-style Rally Cross for years. I love the combination of dirt, pavement, jumps and door-to-door action – it’s like a real-life videogame. I’m really excited to be on the leading edge of this discipline as it grows in the U.S. It’s been popular in Europe for years – the fans here are going to love it.” We’re fully in agreement with Tanner on that last bit. When it comes to Rallycross, there’s very little not to love. Press release after the jump.

[Source: Hype Circle]

Continue reading Tanner Foust Moving To European Rallycross Championship for 2010

Tanner Foust Moving To European Rallycross Championship for 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Feb 2010 17:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In case you missed it, mortgages sold off 0.75% yesterday.  Super-premium Freddie Mac mortgages did, anyway.  The 6.0%-6.5% coupons declined sharply, while the par coupon (4.5%) was mostly unchanged.  The premium price decline was triggered by Freddie’s buy-back announcement.  Freddie, rather than wait until loans default and then buy them back, will buy back all loans that are 120 days down.  Freddie will buy those loans at a price of 100, which isn’t so good if you own a Freddie PC trading at a price of 106.

Accordingly, the pressure for originators to repurchase loans will grow.  The more loans that the agencies buy back, the more loans will get pushed back. “Because taxpayers are involved, we are being very vigilant,” said Maria Brewster who oversees Fannie’s repurchase team (famously quoted in the Wall Street Journal).  “No taxpayer should have to pay for a business decision that caused a bad loan to be sold to Fannie Mae.” 

Unfortunately, there are plenty of loans to buy back:  “4.8 million people have not paid their mortgages in at least three months,” reports Ted Jadlos, senior managing director at LPS Applied Analytics.  “And the pool of problems is growing far faster than any of the solutions.  Modifications are not providing enough relief.”

Granted, price action in the 6.0%-6.5% coupons doesn’t affect new originations all that much, but Freddie’s announcement begs the larger question of private investor confidence in mortgage-backed securities.  One argument is that more regulatory uncertainty is bad for investor confidence.  Another is that the sooner bad loans are bought out of pools, the better for investors.  Let’s hope the latter argument brings confidence and private bidders in to the market.

We’re going to need all the confidence we can get.  Chairman Bernanke made clear, in notes from his snow-postponed testimony this week, that the Fed will stop purchasing MBS at the end of March.  He even mentioned the possibility of – gasp! – selling mortgage securities.  Evidently, the Fed will begin with reverse repos, followed by raising rates in a “smooth and timely way.”

I have been at this game for a while, and can’t remember markets ever reacting in a “smooth and timely way.”  Wells Fargo may have the same opinion:  They recently increased (dramatically) the fees they charge for long-term interest rate locks.

Fortunately, origination volume has crept up from the anemic December-January pace.  The volume comeback has been inconsistent – better in Midwestern geography, better from retail purchase shops, worse where price matters more.  Originations margins are down and servicing bids are up in this slow volume market. 

At least interest rates are low (TED spreads and the VIX seem too low).  Problems with the PIGS in Europe are keeping global rates down.  Germany is grumbling about the other “G” (Greece); the Germans are not having the best luck.  They just lost their most cherished title, that of the world’s leading exporter, to China, and their population is shrinking.  Germany’s population recently shrank below 82 million for the first time since 1995.  To slow credit expansion (we can’t relate) China raised their bank reserve requirements, a strategy that our own Fed might employ someday.  China requires about 5% more bank capital than we do.

I don’t think Washington has seen a snow job like this since that last stimulus package. – Jay Leno

Thanks for your business, and have a good week.  – Tom Millon

About Capital Markets Cooperative
Capital Markets Cooperative (CMC) provides mortgage bankers with the economies of scale and the expertise to reduce risk and maximize profit in the secondary market. Regarded as the premiere secondary marketing specialist in the industry, CMC has worked with financial institutions nationwide to break traditional barriers in capital markets and take performance and profits to the next level. To date, CMC executives have managed more than $500 billion of mortgage volume.   For more information about Capital Markets Cooperative, visit www.capmkts.org or call 904.543.0052 or e-mail [email protected].

After Google announced plans to no longer censor content in China, we wondered if they would do the same in other countries, like Australia, which was pushing for much greater censorship online. So it’s nice to see that Google is pushing back in Australia and telling the government that it will not voluntarily censor YouTube videos based on Australia’s classification. YouTube already has rules in place to block certain types of videos, but it feels that Australia’s rules go too far in blocking what could just be political speech that the government disagrees with. What’s really amazing (and worrisome, if you’re Australian) is that the government referred to the rather oppressive censorship of the internet done in China and Thailand as good examples of how Google should censor the internet in Australia.

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Article Tags: Richard North

Prof Peter Liss, acting director of the University of East Anglia’s Climatic Research Unit (CRU), claims sceptics are endangering the lives of generations to come by making unsupported claims. Critics of the science behind man-made global warming theories are playing “Russian roulette with the planet”.

“The evidence is hugely for there being substantial climate change due to man’s activities and if you want to argue against that case you have to produce some evidence,” he said.

Er … excuse me. The IPCC is making unsupported claims. We are pointing that out, all in the context of a demonstrably political process where science, quite clearly, has gone off the rails.

But this is the modern “post science” norm, it would appear. With the benefit of millions of pounds of taxpayers’ cash, these people make their assertions, and sceptics, from their own resources, are supposed to prove them wrong.

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Source: eureferendum.blogspot.com

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