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Aluminum Tapes

What Is an Aluminum Tape?

Aluminum Tapes

Aluminum tape, crafted from rolled aluminum foil, features an adhesive backing for versatile applications. Its resistance to heat, moisture, and weathering, alongside excellent durability, makes it a preferred choice for sealing, joining, and repair tasks across various industries.

Common Uses

  • Sealing air conditioning ducts for enhanced heat and moisture resistance.
  • Protecting heat-insulating materials and pipes from temperature extremes.
  • Securing components near heat sources and aiding in heat dissipation.
  • Waterproofing and outdoor repair activities, ensuring longevity and effectiveness.

Key Features

  • Resistance to Deterioration: Superior longevity compared to other adhesive tapes, with minimal susceptibility to environmental damage.
  • Elasticity: Flexible enough for application on curved and uneven surfaces, ensuring tight seals.
  • Thermal Properties: Excellent at reflecting and dissipating heat, suitable for various temperature ranges.
  • Moisture Resistance: Effective in humid conditions, ideal for insulation.

Varieties

  • Aluminum Foil Tape: Commonly used for duct sealing and heat reflection, available with or without release paper.
  • Aluminum Glass Cloth Tape: Combines aluminum foil with glass cloth for enhanced heat resistance, ideal for fire prevention applications.
  • Aluminum Kraft Tape: A fusion of aluminum foil and high-quality paper, offering strong adhesion and easy application for insulation and sealing tasks.
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Adjustable Reamers

What Is an Adjustable Reamer?

Adjustable reamers are cutting tools used for the purpose of finishing holes drilled with a drill, etc., to a predetermined size or shape to achieve even higher precision.

The unit is counted in pcs. The shank diameter and adjustment range are set in detail depending on the size, and some of the small ones include a small number of blades.

This is essential for machining holes in pipes, seat tubes, etc., where delicate inner diameter adjustment is easily attainable.

After measuring the location and size to be used, the appropriate one for the application should be selected for use.

Uses of Adjustable Reamers

Adjustable reamers are capable of drilling holes with a much higher degree of completion than other tools.

They can be used for machining metal products around us, such as motorcycles, automobiles, and other large metal products.

It can also be used for various repairs, making it a very useful tool.

Principles of Adjustable Reamers

Adjustable reamers are a type of drill blade that can be quickly adjusted in terms of blade diameter and tooth profile dimensions.

Adjustable reamers should always be used in right-hand rotation, and care should be taken to prevent chips and debris from getting into the groove when replacing the blade.

Adjustable reamer nuts should be tightened firmly to prevent loosening of the blade, and the reamer take-up allowance should normally be adjusted between Φ0.05 mm and Φ0.15 mm.

To ensure the accuracy of the adjustable reamer, all blades should be replaced with new blades (replacement blades) in cases where even one adjustable reamer blade is missing or severely worn.

Adjustable reamer cutting blades are often straight blades, but in cases where the hole itself has a keyway or oil groove, or where the hole is deep, twisted blades are suitable for general use.

Before using an adjustable reamer blade, it is important to have some understanding of the hardness and material of the object to be drilled, and how it responds to vibration caused by the operation of the reamer itself.

Some materials may be affected by the vibrations caused by the adjustable reamer itself, so you should refrain from drilling at high power.

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Ultraviolet (UV) Dryers

What Is an Ultraviolet (UV) Dryer?

Ultraviolet (UV) Dryers

Ultraviolet (UV) dryers utilize UV light to rapidly dry inks, adhesives, and coatings on various materials. This method offers significant advantages over traditional drying techniques, including faster processing times and energy savings, making it ideal for heat-sensitive products. However, the use of UV light necessitates strict safety precautions to protect workers.

Applications

UV dryers are essential in industries such as printing, where they speed up ink drying, wood processing for varnish curing, and automotive manufacturing for durable finishes on parts and bodies.

How It Works

UV dryers catalyze a photochemical reaction that transforms liquid coatings into solids upon exposure to specific UV wavelengths. This process, known as UV curing, is efficient and requires selecting the right lamp type and material combination for optimal results.

Components

A typical UV dryer consists of a UV light source, a chamber to house the drying process, and a cooling system to manage the heat generated by the UV lamps, ensuring the dryer’s continuous operation without overheating.

Types of UV Dryers

Different lamp types are employed in UV dryers, affecting their application and efficiency:

  • Mercury Lamps: Traditional, efficient, and suitable for broad applications but require careful disposal due to mercury content.
  • Metal Halide Lamps: Offer a broader UV spectrum and improved efficiency, commonly used in printing and coating applications.
  • LED Lamps: Feature high energy efficiency, a specific wavelength focus, and long lifespan, perfect for targeted curing processes.
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PVC Tubing

What Is PVC Tubing?

PVC Tubing

PVC tubing is plastic tubing made primarily from polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Since polyvinyl chloride is a resin material with good electrical insulation properties, PVC tubing is used as a protective material for the insulation of various electronic devices.

Handling electric power is dangerous to the human body in an environment where people are likely to come into contact with it. Protecting wires and terminals with PVC tubing can reduce the risk of electric shock caused by unintentional contact and tracking reduction, which can occur when dust accumulates and ignites.

Uses of PVC Tubing

PVC tubing is made of polyvinyl chloride resin, which has a withstand voltage of 50 kV/mm or higher, nearly twice that of rubber or polyethylene. For this reason, PVC tubing is used in all kinds of electronic equipment as a protective material to prevent electric shock and short circuits.

PVC heat-shrinkable tubing, which shrinks when heated, has also been developed for use in wiring protection. By heating the tube after passing the wiring inside, the tube adheres to the wiring and can easily form a protective coating.

PVC resin also has excellent mechanical strength, including tear strength, chemical resistance, water resistance, and flame resistance, so it has a proven track record in the transportation of flammable liquids and chemicals.

Features of PVC Tubing

PVC resin is a plastic used so universally that it is called one of the four major general-purpose plastics, along with polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene. It is composed of molecular chains of carbon, hydrogen, and chlorine, and is classified as an amorphous resin among general-purpose plastics.

PVC resin can be processed by various methods, including injection molding, vacuum molding, and blow molding, and PVC tubing is mainly produced by extrusion molding. Being an amorphous resin, the volume reduction due to crystallization is small, and products with stable dimensions can be obtained.

In addition, PVC resin is miscible with many substances, so it can exhibit a variety of properties by adding additives. For example, PVC pipe is a lightweight, rigid pipe used for housing, etc., but like flexible PVC tubing, it is made of PVC resin.

While it has many advantages, such as electrical insulation and chemical resistance as described above, PVC resin is heat sensitive and softens at about 85°C, making it unsuitable for use in environments where high temperatures are encountered during use. For bass, cold-resistant PVC tubing has been developed, which can be used in environments as low as -40°C without cracking or tearing.

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Flat Panel Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) Controllers

What Is a Flat Panel Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) Controller?

The flat panel liquid crystal display (LCD) controller is responsible for converting input video signals into a data format that can be displayed on an LCD panel. It is also responsible for outputting the data based on instructions from the CPU that control the system.

Based on instructions from the system control CPU, the LCD controller writes drawing data to the built-in or external image memory. At the same time, it reads the display data stored in the image memory and outputs it to the LCD panel.

The presence of the Flat panel liquid crystal display (LCD) controller reduces the load on the system control CPU for the drawing process.

Uses of the Flat Panel Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) Controllers

LCD panels range in size from LCDs for mobile terminals to LCD monitors and LCD panels integrated with PCs.

One example of how a flat panel liquid crystal display (LCD) controller reduces the load on the system control CPU for drawing processing is the display of camera images.

In general, flat panel liquid crystal display (LCD) controllers can capture camera images without burdening the CPU, process the data to match the display resolution (number of display pixels) of the LCD panel, and independently display the images on the LCD panel.

Some controllers also support HDMI output as an interface for connecting to peripheral devices, outputting video signals from the HDMI terminal to peripheral devices at the same time as display output to the LCD panel.

Principle of Flat Panel Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) Controllers

A flat panel liquid crystal display (LCD) controller communicates with the system control CPU via an interface such as I2C bus or SPI bus and outputs data to the LCD panel based on the instructions from the CPU.

As mentioned above, based on the input video signals, etc., the LCD controller converts them and outputs R, G, and B signals to the LCD panel. In this process, video signals are output in synchronization with HSYNC and VSYNC signals, which are synchronization signals used to determine the horizontal and vertical display positions.

LCD panels, which are the display destination, are available in various numbers of display pixels.

Typical display pixel counts for TVs are as follows: 720 x 480 pixels (480P) for SD broadcasts, 1280 x 720 (720P) for HD broadcasts, and 1920 x 1080 (1080P) for full HD broadcasts.

In addition, there is 4K broadcasting (3840 x 2160, also called 2160P), which has four times the number of pixels of Full HD broadcasting, and the latest domestic broadcasting standard is 8K broadcasting (7680 x 4320), which has 16 times the number of pixels of Full HD broadcasting.

Although the scale of each of these TV LCD panels differs, all of them use Flat panel liquid crystal display (LCD) controllers to control the displayed image.

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Distributed Numerical Control (DNC) Systems

What Is a Distributed Numerical Control (DNC) System?

A distributed numerical control (DNC) system is an online direct numerical control system for various NC machine tools.

When numerical control of NC machine tools (mostly CNC machine tools) is performed, numerical data is exchanged via floppy disk (FD) or USB.

A distributed numerical control (DNC) system allows you to operate NC machine tools directly from your computer without using FD or USB through a network connection.

By establishing an online environment via LAN, multiple NC machine tools can be operated and managed centrally.

Uses of Distributed Numerical Control (DNC) Systems

Uses of distributed numerical control (DNC) systems are to operate multiple NC machine tools from a computer by connecting various NC machine tools to a network, and to exchange information between computers and NC machine tools.

Distributed numerical control (DNC) systems enable the exchange of large volumes of data, long-hour scheduled operation, and unmanned operation, which were not possible with conventional CNC machine tools.

In addition to transferring information from the computer to the NC machine tool, the DNC system can also acquire various data from the NC machine tool and transfer it to the computer.

Based on the data fed back from the NC machine tool to the computer, the operating status of the NC machine tool can be managed.

Principle of Distributed Numerical Control (DNC) Systems

With conventional CNC machine tools, numerical data is sent from the computer to the NC machine tool via FD or USB, or directly from the computer attached to the NC machine tool.

However, the method via FD or USB has the disadvantage that the amount of data that can be sent is limited and the data transfer is time-consuming.

In addition, when a human operator inputs numerical values directly from the computer attached to the NC machine tool, they may sometimes input the values incorrectly.

To solve the above drawbacks, the distributed numerical control (DNC) system networks the computer and NC machine tool and transfers numerical data directly from the computer to the NC machine tool.

Cables used for the network include LAN cables and optical cables.

Computers for information viewing, CAD/CAM, displays, and NC machine tools can be connected via a network.

To connect NC machine tools, the network (LAN cable) and NC machine tools (RS-232C cable) are connected via a special conversion adapter.

Information can also be wirelessly transferred from the information viewing computer to a cell phone in order to check the operating status of the NC machine tool at a distance from the computer.

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CNC Routers

What Is a CNC Router?

A CNC router (Computer Numerical Control Router) is a router (power tool for processing wood, plastic, etc.) that is numerically controlled by a computer.

Conventional NC routers also performs numerical control, but paper tape or punch cards were used to input numerical data.

With the spread of computers, computers are now being used to generate numerical data, and CNC routers have appeared.

CNC routers have made it possible to repeat the same procedure or process complex shapes.

Today, the terms NC router and CNC router are almost synonymous.

Uses of CNC Routers

CNC routers are used to process wood, plastic, and other materials using a computerized, numerically controlled router.

For example, a CNC router is suitable for the production of tools, prototypes, etc.

When making prototypes, it is often the case that several prototypes are made under different conditions, so a CNC router can reduce the time required to make a prototype by changing the numerical conditions in detail.

CNC routers can perform not only 2D processing but also 3D processing such as drilling, hollowing, and pocketing.

Principle of CNC Routers

Since human-driven routers had limitations in processing accuracy, a router was developed to increase processing accuracy through numerical control. This is the NC router.

However, early NC routers used paper tape to transfer numerical data, which made numerical data transfer time-consuming.

With the spread of computers, computers were also used to transfer numerical data to NC routers. This is the CNC router.

When using a CNC router, the material to be processed (wood, plastic material, etc.) is placed on a table, and the material is processed by computer operation.

Numerical data to be input into the computer are position coordinates (x, y, z) (z for 3D machining) and travel distance. For typical shapes (such as circles), the computer automatically calculates the travel information by inputting information such as radius.

When machining complex shapes, it is also possible to design the machining data in advance using CAD/CAM (Computer Aided Design/Computer Aided Manufacturing) and pass the data to the CNC router to process the material.

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ATX Power Supplies

What Is an ATX Power Supply?

ATX Power SuppliesAn ATX power supply is a power supply unit or power supply for computers with ATX specifications.

Abbreviated as PSU, ATX is an acronym for “Advanced Technology eXtended,” a PC standard introduced by Intel Corporation of the United States in 1995 and now widely used in desktop computers. 

The ATX power supply takes a commercial power source (AC) and converts it into a DC power source. The converted DC power is supplied to the CPU, motherboard, and other computer components. The ATX power supply is also responsible for overcurrent protection and noise suppression.

Uses of ATX Power Supplies

An ATX power supply is mainly used as a power supply for personal computers. They are especially used in desktop PCs, which range from full-tower to mini-tower PCs. The role of an ATX power supply inside a PC is to supply power to internal devices and bus-powered peripherals.

Since the total power consumption varies depending on the PC’s parts configuration and specifications, an ATX power supply with a power supply capacity that exceeds the calculated power requirements is selected. It is desirable to select a power supply with a generous power supply capacity depending on the usage environment and application.

Principle of ATX Power Supplies

An ATX power supply consists of an enclosure, switching power supply circuit, heat sink, and cooling fan.

1. Housing

An ATX power supply has a metal plate or perforated metal enclosure, one side of which is supposed to be exposed to the outside. The exposed side has an input socket for the commercial power supply, and a power feed wire consisting of control signal lines is attached to the inside of the computer. Generally, a socket for connecting a power cable is attached to the end of the power supply cable.

2. Switching Power Supply Circuit

Switching power circuits are components that convert AC (alternating current) to DC (direct current) used in commercial power supplies and provide a stable supply. It mainly consists of a rectifier and a smoothing capacitor. The rectifier performs the AC/DC conversion and the smoothing capacitor stabilizes the waveform. Since the rectifier generates heat during operation, a cooling mechanism is required.

3. Heat Sink

A heat sink is a cooling component made of aluminum. They help disperse and dissipate the heat generated by the rectifier in the power circuit. It occupies a large volume inside the chassis.

4. Cooling Fan

The cooling fan is a component that blows cool air into the heat sink to cool it. One or two cooling fans are provided on either side of the enclosure, blowing air from the exposed side of the enclosure. Since warm air rises, it is usually blown in from the side of the chassis and blown out from the top.

Other Information About ATX Power Supply

1. Pin Assignment of ATX Power Supply

An ATX power supply has a standard for outputs called pin assignments. This standard defines the pin assignments of wiring connectors in detail and is applied to various cables, such as motherboard cables and SATA cables.

Each pin has a different output voltage, and output voltages of 5V and 12V are widely used. Each pin is color-coded according to its output voltage: 3.3V is orange, 5V is red, etc. Care must be taken when connecting the wrong pin to a device, as doing so may cause a malfunction.

For safety reasons, ATX power supplies are designed to be connected to the motherboard and not output electricity to each pin unless authorized by the motherboard. PS_ON is used for testing ATX power supply.

2. Size of ATX Power Supplies

The size of an ATX power supply is defined by the standard. The most commonly used power supply size is 150 mm wide and 86 mm high. The depth of ATX power supplies is not specified, so various sizes are available, but 155mm and 158mm are the most common ATX power supply depths.

ATX power supplies also include SFX power supplies, which are standardized to accommodate smaller chassis. SFX power supplies are candidates for use with small PC chassis. However, SFX power supplies have a smaller output capacity than ATX power supplies, so care must be taken when using high-performance graphics boards, etc.

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High Pressure Pumps

What Is a High Pressure Pump?

A high pressure pump is a type of pump that operates using differential pressure and is designed for high-pressure suction and discharge.

There is no universally defined threshold for what constitutes “high pressure” in terms of specific pressure values.

Depending on the manufacturer, the term “ultra-high pressure pump” may refer to models with a performance of 1,000 MPa or higher, while other manufacturers use the same term for models with a performance of around 300 MPa.

Similarly, a pump capable of achieving a high head (the height to which fluid can be pumped) is sometimes referred to as a high pressure pump.

Uses of High Pressure Pumps

High pressure pumps find applications in various fields, including boiler feed pumps (BFP) in power generation, descaling pumps in the manufacturing process of washing machines, refrigerators, and automobiles, and desalination technology (converting seawater into drinking water in regions with severe water shortages, such as the Middle East). These pumps are also utilized in a wide range of applications, including desalination technology.

High pressure pumps are also integral to high-pressure washers, enabling powerful cleaning and stripping using minimal water, a method often referred to as “jet cleaning.”

Principle of High Pressure Pumps

High pressure pumps typically include centrifugal pumps, which are categorized as non-volumetric pumps.

The pressure-generating capacity of centrifugal pumps varies with different types, such as volute pumps, turbine pumps, and multistage volute pumps, and the principles underlying these types are discussed below.

A centrifugal pump consists of an impeller housed within a casing, with a motor used to rotate the impeller. As the liquid is drawn in from the axis of rotation to which the impeller is attached, the rotation of the impeller creates a pressure difference between the center and the periphery. When liquid is drawn in from the low-pressure center, centrifugal force propels it outward in the direction perpendicular to the shaft (centrifugal direction). The pressure is further increased within the vortex chamber (volute) inside the casing, ultimately being pumped out through the discharge port.

In the case of turbine pumps, fixed non-rotating blades called guide vanes are positioned around the periphery of the rotating impeller. These guide vanes guide the speed of the liquid exiting the impeller, gradually decelerating it as it passes through them. This process converts the kinetic energy into pressure energy, which is then used for discharge, resulting in high-pressure liquid delivery.

In multistage centrifugal pumps, rotating blades and casings are stacked on a single shaft, allowing for incremental increases in the head at each stage, ultimately achieving even higher pressure delivery.

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High Voltage Generators

What Is a High Voltage Generator?

A high voltage generator is a device that converts low voltage AC current received from the power company into high voltage AC or DC current.

The electricity itself transmitted from the power company is high voltage, such as 6.6kV or 33kV, but is converted to low voltage, such as 200V or 400V, for safety reasons at the end of actual use of the electricity.
When using equipment that requires high voltage for operation or conducting tests using high voltage, it is necessary to convert from such low voltage to high voltage.

There are several types of high voltage generators for different applications, each with different voltage characteristics and ranges.
The lineup varies from manufacturer to manufacturer but includes DC high voltage stabilized power supplies, withstand voltage testing/insulation breakdown devices, impulse voltage generators, high voltage pulse generators, and high voltage testing devices.

Uses of High Voltage Generators

Uses of high voltage generators vary according to the characteristics of the device, but

  • Coating of various parts such as car frames and construction materials using DC high voltage
  • Withstand voltage, dielectric breakdown, and impulse testing of electric wires and other industrial electrical equipment
  • Surface treatment of metals, plastics, and other materials by repeatedly generating high voltages
  • Sewage treatment using underwater plasma
  • Lightning strike and lightning surge tests by generating simulated lightning
  • High-voltage practical training and evaluation testing at technical high schools, universities, and other qualifying schools

The following is a list of examples.

Principles of High Voltage Generators

High voltage generators use electronic circuits with an amplification function, called amplification circuits, to convert low voltage to high voltage.
An amplifier circuit is an electronic circuit that produces an output signal of greater energy than the input signal and consists of a capacitor and components such as resistors and diodes.
A typical example is the Cockcroft-Walton circuit.

Cockcroft-Walton circuits are used when a relatively low-current, high-voltage power supply is required, and can create voltages as high as several 10 V to several million V.
The circuit is made up of a capacitor and a rectifier (either a bipolar vacuum tube or a semiconductor diode), and voltage amplification circuits made up of these components are stacked in a ladder-like fashion.
Because the circuit components are simple, they are lightweight and inexpensive compared to transformers.

In an amplifier circuit, when a voltage is applied, a capacitor upstream is charged to a maximum peak value of the input value.
The downstream pole plate then has a potential equal to the sum of this capacitor and the voltage of the power supply.
Because of the rectifier, no current flows through the reverse bias, and as current flows through the forward bias to the next capacitor, the next capacitor is charged to its potential.
By repeating this process, the capacitors are charged in sequence and the potential gradually increases.
Discharging in series in this state produces a high voltage output.