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What Is a Light Source?

Light source is a general term for anything that emits light. Light sources include the sun, flames, lightning, etc., but generally refers to artificial light sources intentionally created by humans, which emit light produced by electrical or chemical energy conversion.

Classification of Artificial Light Sources by Emission Principle

Artificial light sources include combustion light sources such as candles and gas lamps, but those in general use today are light sources that utilize electrical energy. These light sources can be classified according to their luminescence principle: incandescent lamps and halogen lamps, which use a filament as a luminescent substance; discharge lamps, which use gas discharge; and light-emitting diode (LED) lamps, which use electroluminescence, a phenomenon that occurs when strong energy is applied to a substance.

Discharge lamps are further classified according to the pressure of the discharged gas, with low-pressure discharge lamps such as fluorescent lamps and high-pressure discharge lamps such as metal halide lamps represented by electrodeless lamps, sodium lamps, and xenon lamps.

Among light sources that use the principles of gas discharge or electroluminescence, light that has a uniform direction and phase is called laser light, and light that resonates in pulsed resonance is called pulsed laser light. Laser light sources and laser modules that generate these are utilized as tools such as line lasers, rotating lasers, easy lasers, and point lasers, mainly at construction sites and on factory production lines.

Classification of Artificial Light Sources by Wavelength Range of Light

Artificial light sources are also classified according to the wavelength range of the light they generate. Light sources that emit light with wavelengths longer than the visible light wavelength range (approximately 380 nm to 780 nm) are called infrared light sources, while light sources that emit light with shorter wavelengths are called ultraviolet light sources (UV light sources). When classified by wavelength range and the above-mentioned classification by emission principle, artificial light sources can be further subdivided.

There are also laser light sources that emit light at specific wavelengths and wavelength ranges, such as green lasers and fiber lasers.

What Is a Glove?

Gloves are protective equipment worn to protect the hands.

There are two types of gloves: those worn for protection against cold and those worn for disaster prevention to protect against injury, shock, and other hazards.

Types of Gloves

The materials and shapes of gloves vary greatly depending on the purpose of use. For example, gloves for protection against cold are made of woolen yarn or synthetic resin with a brushed lining to increase heat retention. Gloves for disaster prevention use are made of leather, which is impervious to blades, or vinyl, which is impervious to water and chemicals.

1. For Protection Against Cold

Gloves for protection against cold are often made of woolen or brushed materials to keep body heat generated by the hands from escaping. Most gloves are designed to wrap the palm of the hand and fingers, but there are also fingerless style gloves.

2. For Heat And Fire Resistance

Flame-retardant fibers and cowhide are often used. To increase heat resistance, many are thicker and less workable. Because they are used in situations where sparks fly, such as in fire prevention activities, welding, and metal cutting, they are designed to cover from the wrist to mid-arm.

3. For Medical Use

Gloves used in the medical field are made of rubber to fit the hand and stretch freely. They are very thin because of the need to perform high-precision work. Since they come in contact with the human body, they are kept sterilized and disposable after use. 

4. For Water, Oil, And Chemical Resistance

Water-, oil-, and chemical-resistant gloves are used for work in watery areas or when handling chemicals. They are made of nylon, vinyl, rubber, and other materials, and come in a wide variety of shapes, from those that completely cover the mid-arm to those that cover the wrist, as well as thicker and thinner gloves.

Most Commonly Used Gloves

There are many types of gloves, but one type of glove that is used in a wide variety of situations is the military glove, also known as tactical gloves.

The material used is often woven cotton or synthetic fiber. Some gloves are equipped with non-slip fingers and palms for improved workability. Recently, smartphone-compatible gloves have also been developed.

What Is a Generator?

A generator is a device that produces a phenomenon or object. Although different types of generators produce different things, the term generator generally refers to a device that supplies electrical power.

The types of generators and generators in the industrial field vary widely. The following examples are divided into two categories: those used primarily for inspection and evaluation of components, products, and equipment, and those used for other purposes.

Types of Generators and Generators

Signal generators, which output a variety of electrical signals, are devices that serve as a signal source for operating the circuit under test in electronic measurements.

They can generate a variety of electrical waves with different amplitudes, frequencies, phases, rise and fall times, pulse widths, etc. Mixed signal generators are broadly classified into mixed signal generators and logic signal generators. Mixed signal generators are classified into arbitrary waveform/function generators, which are versatile and cost-effective, and arbitrary waveform generators, which are high-performance and can output any waveform.

Logic signal generators include pulse pattern generators and data timing generators, both of which are used for digital testing of telecommunications and other equipment.

Electricity generating devices include current generators and voltage generators used for testing equipment, in addition to engine generators that supply electricity for outdoor work. Current and voltage generators can control current and voltage with high precision and are used for testing and characterization of semiconductor devices, electronic components, and large-scale electrical equipment.

Other generators/voltage generators mainly used as test equipment include audio generators (low-frequency oscillators), noise generators, and traffic generators.

Types of Generators and Generators

There are many types of generators and generators used for applications other than testing equipment.

Examples include steam generators (water vapor generators, gas generators) and hydrogen generators used in food and industrial production lines, as well as fine bubble, nanobubble, ozone, and ion generators used in hospitals and factories for sanitation and wastewater purification treatment.

What Is a Valve?

Valves are devices that control the flow of fluids. They are used in a wide variety of places, from factories to homes, to control a wide range of fluids.

The main roles of valves is to flow, stop, and adjust the flow rate of fluids.

Types of Valves

There are various types of valves depending on the pressure, fluid, environment, and method of use.

1. Gate Valve

As the name suggests, gate valves are designed to flow and stop fluids by means of a partition plate inside the valve. Since the fluid flows in a straight line, there is little pressure loss, but since it is used in a completely closed and open position, it is installed in places where flow control is not required. Examples include gas valves.

2. Globe Valves

Globe valves are named as such because the valve body is round and ball-shaped. Valves can partition the fluid in a direction parallel to the flow direction and stop the fluid to flow, stop, and adjust the flow rate. Although there is a high pressure drop because the fluid does not flow straight, it is possible to adjust the amount of fluid flow. An example is a single faucet.

3. Check Valves

As the name implies, check valves stop fluid from flowing backward. There are various methods of controlling fluid flow, such as the lift type, swing type, ball type, and blower type. These valves are installed in places where equipment failure or accidents are expected due to backflow. Examples include discharge pipes of water supply facilities.

4. Automatic Valves

As the name implies, automatic valves do not require human operation, but are operated by electricity, air, or hydraulic pressure. There are mainly electric valves and solenoid valves for electric drive, mechanical valves for pneumatic drive, and hydraulic solenoid valves for hydraulic drive. Valves are used in dangerous places where people cannot go, in manpower-saving facilities, and in valves that control large capacities. They are used in power plants, chemical plants, etc.

How to Select Valves

Valves come in a variety of types and materials, so it is important to select the appropriate valve for your application when installing one.

1. Pressure

Check to see if the maximum working pressure of the system is appropriate and if the valve can cope with problems such as pipe blockage or sudden valve operation. 

2. Fluid

Valves and materials are selected according to the corrosiveness, viscosity, and condition of the fluid to be used.

3. Environment

Valves and materials should be selected according to the environment in which they will be used. For example, open-air, hazardous area, underwater, etc.

What Are Meter Measuring Instruments?

A meter measuring instrument is a device that measures and displays force, speed, temperature, quantity, etc.

Types of Measuring Instruments

The following is a list of some of the most common types of measuring instruments:

1. Pressure Gauge

This is an instrument to measure the pressure of a fluid or the pressure enclosed in a tank. Since pressure is an important item related to work force, pressure gauges are installed in all types of equipment.

2. Velocimeter

Velocimeters measure the speed at which objects move. It is installed in many vehicles such as automobiles and trains. They are also used in professional baseball games to measure the speed of a pitcher’s throw.

3. Thermometer

A thermometer is a device that measures the temperature of objects, water, air, etc. Thermometers are also installed in equipment that requires temperature control, such as washing machines.

4. Flowmeter

A flowmeter is a device that measures the amount of fluid that flows. For example, in an air blowing process where dirt is blown off with the force of air, a flowmeter is installed to confirm that the specified amount of air is being discharged.

Analog and Digital Measuring Instruments

Measuring instruments can be broadly classified into analog and digital measuring instruments (hereafter: analog meters and digital meters). The differences and the advantages and disadvantages of each are described below.

The main difference between analog and digital meters is whether they require a power supply or not. Analog meters do not require a power supply, while digital meters do. There is also a difference in the way the measured value is displayed. Analog meters use a needle to point to a numerical value, while digital meters display the measured value as a number.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Analog Meters

The advantage of analog meters is that they do not require a power supply and are easy to install. Also, since the daily inspection uses a needle to indicate numerical values, it can be completed by color-coding the range of standard values and confirming that the needle is within the range, allowing for instantaneous judgment of good or bad.

The disadvantages of analog meters are that it takes time to read the value indicated by the needle when reading an accurate value, and if the needle is between the scales, the measured value may vary for some people. Also, even if an abnormal value is indicated, the abnormality cannot be detected until the measuring instrument is visually inspected.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Digital Meters

The advantage of digital meters is that since most of the devices emit signals, when an abnormality is detected, an abnormality can be immediately confirmed by sending an abnormality signal to the facility and sounding an alarm. In addition, since the measured values are displayed numerically, accurate values can be read instantly.

The disadvantage of a digital meter is that it is impossible to judge whether a measured value is normal or abnormal unless a reference value is displayed nearby. They also require a power supply, which requires wiring, and may need to be programmed to convert abnormal signals into alarms.

What Is a Fitting?

Fittings are methods of joining members of a structure, such as buildings or machinery, or their joints. 

It is a generic term for structures used to join parts and components of various sizes of pipes, machines, and buildings, and exists in a variety of materials, shapes, and names, depending on its use.

Types of Fittings

Fittings can be broadly divided into those used for equipment piping in all fields and those used for connecting rotating parts in the field of mechanical engineering.

Piping fittings include couplings, ferrules, and nipples that make straight connections between pipes, elbows and vents that change the direction of fluid flow, crosses and cheeses that create mergers and branches, increasers and sockets that change pipe size or length, and caps and plugs that seal the ends of pipes.

In addition to welded fittings, there is a wide variety of connection styles, including threaded, flanged, and pinched fittings. Even basic malleable iron fittings can be classified into white, black, and resin-coated fittings, depending on the surface treatment and type. Other widely used materials include corrosion-resistant stainless steel fittings, brass fittings, bronze fittings, plastic fittings, and PVC fittings.

In the field of mechanical engineering, fittings, couplings, and joints are used to connect rotating bodies, such as a drive shaft and a driven shaft, to transmit mechanical power and absorb mounting errors and vibration.

Fittings are used when the axes of the two shafts to be connected are coincident, deflection shaft couplings are used when the axes are difficult to align or to mitigate vibration and shock, and oldham couplings are used when the two shafts are not parallel to each other .

Fittings such as rotary joints and swivel joints, which form a flow path for water, air, oil, etc. between a pipe and a rotating shaft, are also called rotary joints.

Fittings Dimensions

The outside diameter dimensions of piping fittings are expressed in terms of nominal diameter. There are two types of nominal diameters: A, which is a millimeter dimension, and B, which is an inch dimension, but both are not the same as the inner or outer diameter.

Materials of Fittings

This section describes the materials used in the major types of fittings.

1. Black Fittings

Fittings used for general piping are often made of malleable cast iron (cast iron that can be deformed by heat to some extent) and are suitable for use with many fluids such as water, oil, steam, and air.

2. White Fittings

Unlike black fittings, white fittings have a plated surface (hot-dip zinc) and are used for cooling water, industrial water, etc., in addition to the fluids for which black fittings can be used.

3. Stainless Steel Fittings

Fittings made of stainless steel, which, as the name suggests, has excellent resistance to rust and corrosion, are used for piping in sites where hazardous substances are handled (general chemical facilities, nuclear power plants, flue gas desulfurization equipment, hydrogen sulfide and chloride).

4. Brass Fittings

Fittings made of brass (an alloy of copper and zinc) and used in familiar applications such as toilet water pipes and flushing pipes.

What Are Storage Products?

Storage products are storage used to hold items, liquids, etc. Types of storage products include containers, tanks, and trays, as well as racks, cabinets, and other shelving and equipment used for transportation and storage.

Types of Containers and Tanks

Containers range from small containers used in homes and offices, to small to large containers used in factories and at work sites in agriculture, forestry, and fishing, to very large containers used for cargo transport. Although the dimensions and strength of cargo shipping containers are defined by international standards, other containers come in a wide variety of sizes, materials, and shapes.

In addition to plastic containers made of polypropylene and other plastics, metal aluminum containers, anodized aluminum containers, and steel containers, a wide variety of materials are used, including conductive containers made of plastic mixed with conductive materials. There are many variations in shape, including mesh containers with mesh sides, nesting containers that can be stacked to save storage space, buckle containers with lids, and bottle containers for storing bottles.

Containers are often box-shaped, but there are also bag-shaped types such as flexible container bags.

In addition to containers, tanks, drums, bottles, and cylinders are used to transport and store liquids, powders, and gases. Tanks include air tanks, oil tanks, and chemical tanks, and the appropriate one should be selected depending on the contents.

Types of Storage Racks and Storage Units

There are many types of storage racks, and bins, including container racks and nesting racks used for container storage, pipe racks, bar racks, panel racks, and cycle racks, according to the shape and nature of the stored items.

Storage of pharmaceuticals, pesticides, industrial chemicals, and certain alcohols, paints, and solvents are required to be stored in dedicated storage facilities and must be handled in accordance with various laws and regulations.

What Is a Connector?

A connector is an electronic component that connects power and electrical signals.

Connectors are used in all kinds of electronic devices, from everyday items such as smartphones and PCs to satellites. Because each product has its own specifications, a wide variety of varieties exist.

FA equipment such as AC servos, NC (numerical control) devices, and inverters, as well as their built-in ICs, have become more sophisticated as a result of technological advances, and the role of connecting these components and modules must also become more sophisticated. This is where connectors play an important role.

Connectors help save a great deal of time and labor when connecting wiring by simply plugging them in directly by hand, without the use of tools. Recently, due to the increase in the amount of information handled by devices, multi-pole connectors with hundreds of connector pins are being made. The pin sense is about 1 mm, and there are various types of pin arrangements, including staggered as well as linear.

Connector Structure

Generally, a connector has a two-piece construction, with the side that plugs in being called the plug and the side that accepts being called the receptacle. Wiring can be easily connected and disconnected by simply pulling out and inserting these pairs.

Plugs and receptacles consist of a component called a contact that conducts electricity, a component called an insulator made of plastic that protects the contact and serves as insulation between contacts, and an outer shell component called a shell that protects the insulator.

The contact, which is the main part of the connector, is made of highly conductive copper or other alloys. Usually, the plug side consists of pin contacts with no spring characteristics and the receptacle side consists of socket contacts with spring characteristics. The spring characteristics of the contacts allow a crimp connection to be made and power and electrical signals to be connected.

Connector Types

There are four types of connectors, categorized by the destination.

1. Board to board with wire: Board to Wire (B to W)
2. Board-to-board connector without wires: Board to Board (B to B)
3. Connecting devices with connectors: INPUT / OUTPUT (I / O)
4. Other cases: IC sockets, short-circuit connectors, etc.

There are a wide variety of connector standards and products, including those that define the connector itself, those for which communication standards have also standardized the connector, those for which connectors have been commercialized to meet communication standards, and communication standards that use connector standards. Some of the well-known standards are introduced below.

1. Connector Standards

• DIN 41612 Standard
  The DIN standard is a standard of the German Industrial Association. The DIN 41612 standard is well-known for connectors, which are generally called DIN connectors and are used to connect boards together.
• MIL-C-83503 Standard
  The MIL standard is a U.S. military standard. The MIL-C-83503 standard is well-known for connectors, which are flat cable connectors commonly referred to as MIL connectors.
• IEC 61076-4-101 Standard
  The IEC standard is a worldwide standard. This standard is for 2mm pitch HM connectors.
• USB Standard
  This standard defines the Universal Serial Bus communication, but also standardizes the connector itself, which is used to connect a PC to peripheral devices.

2. Communication Standards

• VME Bus Standard
  The Versa Module Eurocard Bus standard is a rack system communication standard that uses DIN41612 connectors.
• Compact PCI Standard
  The Compact PCI standard is a standard for 3U or 6U Eurocard-based industrial computers, using HM connectors per the IEC 61076-4-101 standard.
• RS-232C Standard
  Recommended Standard 232 version C is a standardized standard by the EIA. This standard is widely used to connect peripheral devices such as modems and printers to COM ports. 25-pole and 9-pole D-sub connectors are commonly used for terminals.

Shape of Connector

A connector consists of a direct contact part called a contact and a housing, which is a case component that surrounds the contact.

There are a large number of products, and some companies use their own planned specifications. Each connector manufacturer has devised ways to improve the performance and reliability of their connectors. In particular, ingenuity is required with regard to the contact resistance of pins.

For example, gold plating on copper alloy pins can reduce contact resistance to 20 to 35 mΩ or less. The higher the performance of the devices used, the closer the electrical resistance of connectors must be to zero. They play an important role in supporting the foundations of industry.

What Is a Sealing Device?

Sealing devices are materials and components that seal imperfect surfaces between materials to prevent liquids, gases, powders, and other objects from leaking outside or flowing inside.

It is commonly referred to as a seal, sealant, sealing material, etc. Sealing devices can be broadly divided into those used in mechanical engineering and those used in civil engineering and construction.

Types of Sealing Devices (Mechanical Engineering)

Typical sealing devices used in mechanical engineering are packings and gaskets.

Packings used on moving surfaces are called dynamic seals, while gaskets used on stationary surfaces are called fixed seals. Packings are classified into two types: contact type, in which the sealing surfaces make direct contact, and non-contact type, in which the sealing surfaces face each other across a gap without contact.

Contact-type gaskets include oil seals, mechanical seals, lip packings (U-packings, V-packings, etc.), squeeze packings (O-rings, D-rings, X-rings, etc.), etc. Non-contact-type gaskets include magnetic fluid seals and labyrinth seals.

Gaskets are broadly classified into metal gaskets and non-metal gaskets such as paper gaskets, silicone gaskets, and rubber gaskets. Each has different elasticity, chemical resistance, and heat resistance, so the appropriate one must be selected according to the type of fluid to be sealed, pressure, and temperature.

In addition, there are gaskets and packings specialized for specific applications, such as dust seals used to prevent dust from entering from the outside.

Types of Sealing Devices (Civil Engineering and Construction)

Sealing devices in the civil engineering and construction fields are used to make buildings and exterior walls airtight, waterproof, and durable. The main types of sealing devices and equipment are tapes, such as butyl tape and waterproofing tape, and pastes called caulking materials and sealants.

Caulking materials come in a variety of materials, including acrylic, urethane, and silicone, and are filled using specialized caulking guns.

What Is a Camera?

A camera is an electrical device that uses a lens and photosensitive materials to take and store pictures. Cameras built into products such as smartphones are sometimes called camera modules.

Camera Mechanism

A camera is mainly composed of three elements: lens, photosensitive material, and shutter.

1. Lens

A lens is a component made of glass or plastic that refracts light. Focus is adjusted by moving part or the entire lens back and forth. Today, most cameras are equipped with an autofocus function that automatically focuses the camera. Compact digital cameras use the contrast detection method, which adjusts the lens to a high-contrast position.

On the other hand, SLR digital cameras use the phase detection method, in which incoming light is divided into two parts and the images formed are compared to adjust the focus.

The latest technology is image recognition autofocus, which detects and focuses on a person’s face.

2. Photosensitive Materials

In a film camera, the chemical coating on the surface of the film changes when it is exposed to light (photosensitized), and the film is developed through a chemical process. In contrast, the digital cameras commonly used today use an imaging element (image sensor) instead of film. The light received by the photodiode is converted into electric current and voltage, and stored as digital data in each unit called a pixel. There are several types of image sensors, such as CMOS sensors and CCD sensors, classified according to their circuit structure. 

3. Shutter

The shutter is a component that regulates the time and timing of light exposure to photosensitive materials. The lens shutter used in compact cameras is placed inside the lens and is quickly opened and closed by a spring. SLR cameras use a focal plane shutter that is placed just in front of the photosensitive material. The shutter speed indicates the time the shutter is open (exposed).

Types of Cameras

Cameras can be divided into two main categories: digital and film.
There are also other types of cameras as follows:

1. Single-lens Reflex Camera

SLR cameras are cameras that allow the photographer to view the image directly through a viewfinder by reflecting it in a mirror, etc. The ability to shoot and view with a single lens is what gives them the name SLR, from the word reflex (reflection). SLR cameras have been used as the upper end of the mainstream. Lenses of this SLR cameras are interchangeable. 

2. Mirrorless SLR

This is a digital camera with a small LCD inside the viewfinder that displays real-time digital data. Compared to SLR cameras, mirrorless cameras have the advantage of being compact. The time lag and price have been improved, and they are now replacing SLR cameras in the mainstream. Lenses of mirrorless SLR cameras are interchangeable.

3. Compact Camera

Compact cameras are small cameras in which the lens and camera are integrated into a single unit.

4. Instant Camera

Instant cameras are film cameras that can be developed immediately after shooting.