月: 2023年1月

What Is Image Editing Software?

Image editing software is software used to edit images, illustrations, and photographs.

There are two types of images: bitmap images and vector images. Bitmap images are composed of a collection of pixels (dots) and are primarily suited for realistic representations, such as photographs and illustrations. Vector images, on the other hand, are graphic data expressed in mathematical formulas and are suitable for simple designs such as logos and illustrations because the quality of the image does not deteriorate when scaled up or down.

Image editing software offers a wide variety of editing functions. For example, with bitmap images, it is possible to crop, correct color tones, add effects, and erase backgrounds. Vector images, on the other hand, allow you to transform and duplicate shapes, change colors and lines, and add text.

In addition, many image editing software programs allow you to edit each part or area of an image using a feature called layers. Generally, Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator are used for professional purposes, while free online tools such as GIMP, Paint.net, and Canva are used for personal use and minor editing. Recently, many image editing applications for smartphones are also available for easy editing.

Uses of Image Editing Software

Image editing software is used for a variety of purposes, including processing, modifying, and designing digital images. Common uses include the following:

1. Photo Correction and Processing

For example, color correction, brightness and darkness adjustment, red-eye correction, noise removal, and many other corrections can be made. It is also possible to add effects to photos and crop them.

2. Website and Advertisement Creation

It is used for various design tasks, such as creating illustrations and logos, banner advertisements, and processing photos of products. Recently, it is also increasingly been used for SNS and blogs.

Image editing software is also useful for processing photos taken with smartphones and creating images to add to Instagram stories.

3. Education and Research Fields

Image editing software may be used to analyze CT scan images in medical research.

In general, image editing software is widely used in a variety of fields.

Principles of Image Editing Software

An image consists of pixels with RGB color information, where RGB stands for Red (red), Green (green), and Blue (blue). Each color component is represented in the range 0-255 in most processing systems, and the color is determined by the combination of values.

Editing an image is a matter of using various algorithms to alter these pixels. To give an example, histogram transformation is a method of processing contrast correction, brightness correction, and color correction by transforming the luminance values of an image.

A histogram is a graph that shows the distribution of luminance values in an image. Images with low contrast tend to have a histogram concentrated within a certain range.

To correct the contrast of such an image, it is necessary to broaden the histogram. An evenly distributed histogram of an image can be used to correct contrast and is also used for brightness correction.

How to Select Image Editing Software

1. Target Image Format

The software you choose depends on whether you want to edit bitmap or vector images. 

2. Features Included in the Software

Image editing software offers a wide variety of features, but it is important to select the features that best suit your purpose. For example, if the purpose is to enhance a photo, you will need features such as color correction, tone correction, sharpening, and retouching.

Some software specializes in portrait photography, removing unwanted objects, cropping, etc. In the case of specialized software, operation is easy to understand, so even beginners can quickly master the software. 

3. Online/Offline

Online services that can be used from a browser do not require much in the way of PC specifications. However, offline software requires relatively high PC specifications.

What Is Free-Machining Steel?

Free-machining steel is a steel alloy that includes additives such as sulfur, lead, phosphorus, and manganese. These additions are made to enhance machinability and facilitate cutting during machining operations using machining centers and lathes.

By improving machinability, free-cutting steel is widely used for continuous unmanned machining and high-speed machining using NC machine tools. It is an indispensable material for increasing the efficiency of parts production.

Free-machining steel is denoted by SUM, and numbers such as SUM21 and SUM22 indicate the carbon content, with the number depending on whether it is a low-carbon steel or a medium-carbon steel.

Uses of Free-Machining Steel

Free-machining steel is often used as a material for bolts and nuts produced in large quantities because of its good cutting performance and continuous high-speed machining.

In the automotive field, free-machining steel is used for engine crankshafts, connecting rods, and hydraulic parts, and free-machining steel is also widely used for the shafts of printers.

Free-machining steel is also used for parts of home appliances such as digital cameras, DVD players, and televisions, as well as air conditioners, gas appliances, and other devices that are indispensable in our daily lives.

Principle of Free-Machining Steel

Free-machining steel is classified into low-carbon free-machining steel and medium-carbon free-machining steel according to their carbon content and has different characteristics.

Low-carbon free-machining steel is described as “SUM21-SUM22” and represents free-machining steel with a carbon content of 0.13% or less. Low-carbon free-machining steel is characterized by its emphasis on machinability rather than strength and is used for parts that do not require much strength.

Medium-carbon free-machining steel, described as “SUM31-SUM43”, is stronger than low-carbon free-machining steel and has hardness equivalent to widely used steel materials such as “S35C,” “SS400”. It is quenched for tempering, and since the added sulfur accelerates deterioration, more manganese is added to prevent deterioration.

A small amount of sulfur added to free-machining steel (0.16-0.23%) is added because too much sulfur is harmful to the human body, and higher sulfur content results in properties such as slightly inferior toughness and ductility in the rolling direction.

• What Is Bag Opening Machinery?

Bag-opening machinery is used to open sealed bags. They are often used to store the extracted contents in silos or as a pre-process for feeding components into production lines.

Bag opening machinery can be used in a wide variety of bags, including paper bags, plastic bags, polyethylene laminated bags, PP cloth bags, single-layered bags, and multi-layered bags.

Bag-opening machinery saves labor by using machines to open bags that were previously opened manually. They also help to prevent contamination of the contents with dust and other contaminants.

The efficient collection and disposal of used bags is another reason for the introduction of bag-opening machinery.

Uses of Bag Opening Machinery

Bag-opening machinery is used in the construction and civil engineering fields to open bags for ready-mixed concrete, secondary concrete products, drive mix, and additives.

Bag-opening machinery is also used in the food industry to open bags of raw materials, and in the agricultural, dairy, and fishery industries to open bags for feed additives delivered to production sites.

In heavy industry, bag-opening machinery is also used for cement, lime, processed mineral products, and various additives.

Bag-opening machinery is manufactured to meet the needs of these various fields and types of packaging.

Features of Bag Opening Machinery

Bag-opening machinery is used in a series of processes, including conveying the bags to be opened, feeding the bags into the bag-opening machinery, opening the bags and dispensing the contents, and discharging and processing empty bags.

Bag-opening machinery includes bags of various materials as well as large-volume bags called flexible container packs, and machines have been manufactured that automate the entire process from loading to final processing with a view to full automation.

The cutter used to cut the bags, which is the main process of bag opening machinery, is selected to best suit the application.

In addition, bag opening machinery for powders and granules is manufactured with various innovations, such as “blowing out” using high-pressure air or “beating” using nozzles, so that as little of the contents as possible remain in the bag when the contents are discharged.

Furthermore, some bag-opening machinery is structurally designed to shield the contents from the surrounding environment to prevent dust and foreign matter from getting mixed in.

Others are designed to facilitate the collection of bags after the contents have been discharged.

What Is a Magnifying Glass?

A magnifying glass is an optical device designed to enlarge the appearance of objects through one or more lenses. Traditionally used to observe small details, magnifying glasses have evolved from simple glass lenses to include modern plastic lenses, enhancing their utility and accessibility.

Uses of Magnifying Glasses

Magnifying glasses are instrumental across various fields, aiding in reading, inspection, medical examination, jewelry appraisal, and precision work. They’re particularly beneficial for individuals with low vision, offering enhanced visibility for everyday tasks and specialized work.

Principle of Magnifying Glasses

The primary mechanism of a magnifying glass involves convex or Fresnel lenses. Convex lenses focus light to a point, creating an enlarged virtual image of an object placed within the focal length. Fresnel lenses, on the other hand, offer a thinner, lightweight alternative, albeit with some compromise in image quality due to diffraction.

Other Information on Magnifying Glasses

Magnifying glasses today are not limited to traditional handheld models but also include eyeglass-type magnifiers for hands-free use. The advent of plastic lenses has made magnifying glasses lighter and more durable. As objects of interest become increasingly smaller, magnifying glasses have become indispensable tools for individuals across various professions and hobbies.

What Is a Dry Heat Sterilizer?

A dry heat sterilizer is a device that uses heated dry air to kill microorganisms attached to various instruments.

Dry air of 100°C or higher is generated in an electric oven, and instruments are sterilized by exposing them to the air for a certain period.

Sterilization conditions (temperature and time) are set in consideration of the heat resistance of the target bacteria. The instruments themselves must also be highly heat resistant.

Either the batch or continuous method described below is used to expose the instruments to dry air.

When handling a large variety of instruments, the batch method is used to perform the sterilization process for each instrument.

Uses of Dry Heat Sterilizers

Dry heat sterilizers are often used for glassware, ointments, and powders that require sterilization.

For example, if microorganisms are introduced into a cell culture medium, they may multiply due to the nutrients contained in the medium.

As a result, the cell culture cannot be promoted as originally intended, so it is necessary to prevent the contamination of microorganisms from outside in advance.

Therefore, it is important to sterilize glassware, scalpels, tweezers, etc., that come in contact with the culture medium using dry heat sterilizers.

Principle of Dry Heat Sterilizers

Dry heat sterilization is a technique that uses heated dry air to thermally kill microorganisms attached to various instruments.

It can be used on glass, metal, and textiles with relatively high heat resistance.

A similar method is high-pressure steam sterilization using high-pressure saturated steam. However, dry heat sterilization can be used for instruments that should not be exposed to steam.

Typical sterilization conditions using dry heat sterilizers are 160°C for 90 minutes or 145°C for 45 minutes.

Dry heat sterilizers can be batch or continuous, depending on the heating method.

In the batch type, non-heated products are heat-treated in a single container, whereas in the continuous type, products to be heated are placed on a conveyor belt or similar device and heated in a furnace.

The batch method is less efficient because the product is removed after heat treatment, resulting in lower furnace temperatures. However, since multiple sterilizations can be performed under different conditions, this method is suitable for processing a large variety of products.

On the other hand, the continuous type is suitable for heat treatment of a large quantity of a small variety of products.

What Is a Winch?

A winch is a mechanical device designed for hoisting or hauling, utilizing a rope or cable wound around a drum. It’s primarily used to move heavy objects with precision and ease, significantly surpassing the manual handling weight limits defined by labor standards.

Applications of Winches

Winches find applications in various sectors, from construction and transportation of goods to specific uses in industrial settings and vehicles. Their versatility allows for both vertical lifting and horizontal pulling, adapting to complex tasks such as maneuvering objects through stairs or confined spaces.

Types of Winches

• Manual Winch: Operated by hand, featuring components like wires, reducers, and handles, suitable for applications where electrical power is not available or desired.
• Electric Winch: Powered by a motor, offering ease of use and efficiency for heavier loads, with operations controlled remotely.

Principle of Winches

The functionality of a winch is governed by basic physics, calculating the force and power needed to move a load along a slope. This includes considerations for friction, slope angle, and the mechanical efficiency of the winch system.

Structure of Winches

• Normal Type: Commonly used for overhead cranes, offering a balance between hook height and structural clearance.
• Low Head Type: Similar to the normal type but allows for a higher hook position, optimizing vertical space.
• Double Rail Type: Designed for dual-track cranes, suitable for mid to heavy loads but restricts simultaneous operation of main and auxiliary winches.
• Electric Chain Winch: Ideal for lighter, less frequent lifting tasks, providing slower hoisting speeds compared to wire rope counterparts.

Choosing the right winch involves understanding the specific requirements of your application, including load capacity, operation type (manual or electric), and the physical constraints of the environment where it will be used.

What Is a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Connector?

PCB connectors are essential components used to electrically connect and disconnect conductors, facilitating the integration of PCBs with electronic components, other devices, or boards. They can be male or female and are defined by the EIAJ standard as mechanical components designed for connection and disconnection purposes.

Applications of PCB Connectors

PCB connectors serve a broad range of applications, from linking PCs to memory cards, facilitating IC socket connections, to harnessing connections in various sectors including information technology, automotive, and industrial machinery.

Principle of PCB Connectors

The connectors operate on simple yet effective principles of electrical connectivity, with specific considerations for board-to-harness and board-to-board connections. They emphasize the importance of contact reliability, especially when managing the stress and alignment accuracy between connected boards.

Types of PCB Connectors

• 1-Piece Type: Directly soldered to the PCB for a singular connection.
• 2-Piece Type: Comprising a socket and plug, offering flexibility in connections between wires and printed circuit boards.

Structure of PCB Connectors

PCB connectors typically consist of housing made from insulating resin and contacts (terminals) designed for electronic connections. The housing encloses the terminals and ensures user safety during manual handling.

How to Choose a PCB Connector

Selection criteria include the type of connection (Board to Wire, Board to Board, I/O, or Shorting Connector), each tailored for specific electrical signal exchanges, design flexibility, device interconnectivity, or circuit shorting applications. Considerations for choosing the right PCB connector involve understanding the electrical and mechanical requirements of the application.

What Is a Spherical Plain Bearing?

A spherical plain bearing has a spherical contact between the inner and outer rings. Unlike rolling bearings, spherical plain bearings have no rolling elements, so they are plain bearings with surface contact. There are various types of spherical plain bearing, which can be broadly classified into oilless and non-lubricated types according to the type of sliding surface.

Because of the spherical contact, a spherical plain bearing is capable of self-aligning, and because of their structure, they can carry axial loads in both radial and axial directions simultaneously.

Uses of Spherical Plain Bearings

Because of their surface contact and the absence of rolling elements, spherical plain bearings can support large loads and are used mainly in situations where heavy loads are applied at low speeds. On the other hand, because of the surface contact, they are rarely used in high-speed rotating environments, even when heat generation is suppressed by lubrication, etc.

Because they are often used in the rod ends of cylinders, some manufacturers offer a lineup of bearings with rod ends or with rod ends and bearings in one piece.

Principle of Spherical Plain Bearings

Spherical plain bearings hold the shaft by bringing the inner and outer rings into contact with spherical plain bearings. The spherical surface sliding on the contact surface holds the shaft without causing friction, but care must be taken because uneven wear may occur due to lack of maintenance or depending on the conditions of use.

Spherical plain bearings can be classified into two types based on their structure: lubricated and non-lubricated. Oil-lubricated types do not have a groove to incorporate the inner ring, so there is no place to receive a concentrated load, and thus the load carrying capacity can be increased. In contrast, the oilless type does not run out of oil and thus has excellent high-speed rotation and wear resistance.

In addition, spherical plain bearings require dimensional tolerances to be specified for the inner and outer rings during assembly and for the shaft and housing during mounting. Therefore, if the load is applied non-uniformly due to the wrong selection of dimensional tolerances, it can cause bearing deformation and wear, resulting in vibration and shortening the life of the bearing.

What Is a Collaborative Robot?

Collaborative Robots are robots that allow humans and robots to work in the same work area.

Conventional robots are mainly industrial robots that perform assembly and transportation at manufacturing sites for automobiles, for example, but they are installed in dedicated automation lines, and human access is limited to maintenance.

While such dedicated automation lines can dramatically improve productivity compared to manual operations, they tend to require a large initial investment, including design, and are less flexible compared to manual operations in case of minor problems or changes in production items.

In this situation, deregulation in 2013 made it possible to introduce Collaborative Robots, which work side-by-side with humans. Collaborative Robots can work in the same work area as humans without safety barriers, thus helping to alleviate labor shortages. Compared to conventional dedicated automation lines, the initial investment can be reduced and additional robots can be introduced without stopping the operation of the line, making it easier for small and medium-sized companies to adopt these robots.

Currently, cooperative robots are used in a variety of manufacturing sites, including food, automobiles, and electronic components, and catering robots have also been developed and are increasingly seen in our daily lives.

Uses of Collaborative Robots

Collaborative Robots are relatively small and can perform detailed work in a small workspace. Since they are generally equipped with cameras and image processing capabilities, they are used in a wide range of industries.

In particular, until now, parts have been manually inserted and supplied to the line with their orientation, position, etc. set, but with the acquisition of image processing capability, robots are now able to determine the color, shape, orientation, etc. of large numbers of parts, pick them, and supply them to the next process, making a significant contribution to productivity improvement.

Principle of Collaborative Robot

Collaborative Robots are more flexible than conventional industrial robots, with 5-axis and 6-axis joints, and are capable of high-speed, high-precision work. Equipped with cameras and sensors, they can recognize not only objects but also the surrounding environment through image processing. Some models are equipped with buttons attached to the arm to control the robot’s movement instructions.

In addition, safety measures are taken to ensure that they work cooperatively in the same work area as humans. Many Collaborative Robots are rounded in shape to prevent injury to humans, and most of them have sensors that detect and stop operation when touched by a human.

Some robots are equipped with LED lights on the robot arm, for example, to indicate the robot’s status so that the operator can check the robot’s operation. Although the robots are designed with safety in mind, it is necessary to ensure safety through risk assessments by the companies that introduce the robots themselves.

Other Information on Collaborative Robots

When introducing a robot, whether it is an industrial robot or a Collaborative Robot, teaching is required to define the work operation and set the robot’s control system. There are several teaching methods as follows. 1.

1. Off-Line Teaching

Off-line teaching involves creating a program and installing it on the robot. Although a program can be created if a PC is available, it is not created while checking the actual operation and environment, and there is a possibility of programming errors, making it more difficult to program complex movements and cases where multiple robots work simultaneously. In response to this, the digital twin technology is being applied to reproduce realistic motions.

2. Online Teaching

Online teaching is a method of constructing a program based on the robot’s operation history while operating the remote control at the actual site. Since various cases are assumed and implemented on the actual site, it is necessary to stop operation during this time.

3. Direct Teaching

In direct teaching, a person directly moves the robot by hand to make the robot learn the operation. The robot arm has a built-in force sensor, torque sensor, or servo motor capable of torque detection. This method automatically calculates the externally applied force, speed, and angle of rotation to compose a program, and is often used in Collaborative Robots in particular. 

4. Teaching Using AI

In recent years, technologies have been developed that utilize AI to automatically create programs by providing only work targets, making it possible to create work programs easily and in a short time.

What Is Ferroelectric Random Access Memory (FRAM)?

Ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM) is a non-volatile semiconductor memory that utilizes the polarization properties of ferroelectric capacitors to store data. Unlike volatile SRAM and DRAM, FRAM retains data when power is off, combining the advantages of high-speed operation, low power consumption, and endurance to frequent rewrites.

Applications of FRAM

FRAM’s unique attributes make it ideal for various applications, including IC cards, RF tags, smart meters, drive recorders, medical monitors, POS systems, counters, and industrial robots. Its integration into microcontrollers promises enhanced performance and efficiency over traditional memory solutions.

Principle of FRAM

FRAM operates on the principle of altering the polarization direction within a ferroelectric capacitor to represent data. This process involves a multi-step sequence of applying voltage to write and read data, supported by a layered cell structure for efficient operation.

Writing and Reading Data

Data writing in FRAM is achieved by polarizing the ferroelectric capacitor through applied voltage, with the direction of residual polarization indicating the stored data. Reading data involves sensing the charge transfer caused by polarization reversal, necessitating a subsequent rewrite to maintain data integrity.

Structure of FRAM

The fundamental FRAM cell, known as the 1T1C type, mirrors the DRAM configuration but employs ferroelectric capacitors for data storage. This structure necessitates additional components like plate lines for proper operation and data retention.

Considerations in FRAM Technology

• Plate Lines: Essential for reading data, plate lines activate the ferroelectric capacitor to facilitate polarization readout.
• FET-Type FRAM: An alternative design using ferroelectric materials in the FET gate insulating film, aiming to reduce cell area but with shorter data retention times.
• Remnant Polarization: The basis for data storage in FRAM, relying on the persistent polarization of ferroelectric materials even after the electric field is removed.

FRAM’s technological advancements, including its non-volatile nature, energy efficiency, and rapid operation, position it as a promising alternative in the memory landscape, especially for applications demanding durability and frequent data updates.