月: 2023年3月

What Is a Crack Scale?

A crack scale, as its name suggests, is a specialized ruler designed for measuring cracks in reinforced concrete (RC) structures, concrete walls, eaves, and similar structures. The guideline for repairs and seismic reinforcement in structures typically considers a crack width of 0.5 cm or more as significant, necessitating the use of a crack scale to assess repair needs.

Combined with devices like pen scales, ultrasonic diagnostic measuring instruments, and CT scans, crack scales help in verifying the degree of aging and allow for more detailed measurement and diagnosis.

Uses of Crack Scale

Applications of crack scales include measuring shrinkage cracks caused by mortar shrinkage in painted walls, hairline cracks due to coating deterioration, and structural cracks resulting from uneven settlement of structures.

In large RC structures such as water storage tanks, the pH of concrete can deviate due to moisture and ionic gradients. Regular inspections using crack scales are vital for monitoring concrete aging and preventing potential collapses.

Principle of Crack Scales

Crack scales are available in materials like plastic, stainless steel, and aluminum. They can be found at most DIY stores and are reasonably priced, starting at around three dollars.

These scales have distinctive measuring graduations, with line widths ranging from 0.05 to 2 mm printed in sequence. Commonly 4 to 6 inches long, they are small enough to fit in a work clothes pocket. Metal scales often feature a central watermark hole.

The standard measurement for crack width varies depending on the structure. For example, a 1 cm crack in mortar may not require immediate repair, but a 3 mm crack in a condominium or a 0.3 mm crack in a water tank may necessitate prompt attention. Crack scales are thus invaluable for frequent, on-the-spot measurements.

What Is Welding Gear?

Welding gear comprises a range of protective equipment worn to ensure safe operation during welding. In arc welding, for instance, protecting the body from sparks, intense light, and electric shock is essential. Appropriate clothing is vital to prevent accidents and injuries.

Essential protective equipment for arc welding includes welding masks, safety hats, light shielding glasses, dust masks, arm covers, front covers, leather protective gloves for welding, safety shoes, and foot covers.

Uses of Welding Gear

Welding gear is used for various applications, including:

• Protective surfaces for welding, safeguarding the operator’s eyes from harmful rays and protecting the face and head from spatter.
• Dust masks to prevent inhalation of fumes and dust particles during arc welding.
• Front coverings, made from flame-resistant materials, such as leather, to work safely amid welding sparks.
• Leather protective gloves for welding, ideal due to their flame resistance and heat-transfer prevention.

Principles of Welding Gear

Welding protective equipment includes goggles available in helmet and hand shield forms, with helmet types further divided into headgear and safety cap styles. They protect the eyes from ultraviolet rays, and intense light, and the face, head, and throat from flying arcs and spatter.

These protective surfaces are typically equipped with shields made of acrylic or polycarbonate, materials chosen for their impact resistance, heat resistance, and chemical resistance. It’s important to select a shield that suits the specific requirements of the welding job.

Criteria for selecting protective shields for welding include ensuring clear vision for the wearer and the ability to freely replace the shield. Also, it’s crucial that the welding surface effectively prevents any light leakage during the welding process.

What Is a Tie Gun?

Tie guns, designed to tightly bind items such as parcels, magazines, newspaper packaging, and wiring, use plastic ties or bands. Manual binding may result in gaps or insufficient tightness, which tie guns address with a retightening lever. Due to their one-handed operation, tie guns are efficient for a range of tasks from household bundling to electrical wiring work.

Uses for Tie Guns

Compact and versatile, tie guns are utilized in various settings, including homes, industry, and academia. They are employed to seal bags containing agricultural products, foods, and other items, and to bundle packages securely.

At electrical work sites, tie guns facilitate easy bundling of wires. While thin wires can be tied manually, tie guns are particularly useful for thicker wires, often used in construction. They are also handy for repairing damaged netting efficiently.

Principle of Tie Guns

Tie guns work by attaching a band to the machine and temporarily tying it around the object. Pulling a lever tightens the band by gradually feeding it out, increasing the binding strength. Bands are commonly made from PET (polyester) and PP (polypropylene), featuring fine bumps on their surface to prevent slippage.

What Is a Link Cable?

Link cables facilitate the connection between two computers, enabling them to link with each other. Utilizing the USB ports on two computers, link cables are functional as long as USB ports are available.

Link cables are particularly useful for transferring data between two computers, simplifying tasks like data backup by enabling drag-and-drop functionality with a mouse.

Uses of Link Cables

Link cables primarily connect two computers. When connected, the computers can share a single monitor, allowing the use of one mouse across both devices. Cursor movement and data transfer, including file dragging and dropping, can seamlessly transition from one computer monitor to the other.

Principle of Link Cables

Link cables connect two computers, requiring only one keyboard and mouse, thereby freeing up workspace and facilitating data exchange. This setup also simplifies the process of backing up important data. Files and data can be conveniently copied, pasted, or dragged and dropped between connected devices, turning an unused computer into a data storage device without the need for an external hard disk.

Not limited to computer-to-computer connections, link cables can also connect computers to tablets, as long as they have USB ports. They are generally compatible with both Mac and Windows operating systems, allowing for connections between Windows devices, as well as between Mac and Windows devices.

Drivers for link cables are typically built into the cable itself, allowing for automatic installation upon connection to a PC’s USB port.

What Is a Printer Cable?

Printer cables facilitate the connection between a printer and a PC. Besides USB cables, LAN cables are also used for connecting printers to hubs for network printing.

Apart from LAN cable connections, printer cables typically establish a one-to-one connection between a PC and a printer.

Usage of Printer Cables

When selecting a cable, it’s important to check the interface compatibility between the PC and the printer. Printer cables, typically used in wired connections, can also connect multiple PCs and printers to a hub via LAN for network printing.

Wireless LAN or Bluetooth connections do not require a printer cable.

Principle of Printer Cables

For most home-use printers, the prevalent interface is USB Type-B for the printer and USB Type-A for the PC, requiring a USB A to USB B connector. Professional or older standard printers may need a parallel port (IEEE1284) or RS232C connection. In such cases, cables like USB A to IEEE1284 or USB A to RS232C are necessary, especially for newer or notebook PCs with limited interfaces.

For network printers shared by multiple PCs, LAN cables connected through a hub are used, and the printer must support LAN connections.

Current Printer Cable Types

Printer cables vary depending on the connection method:

• Parallel Port Cable: Historically used in early home PCs, these cables are connected to the PC’s parallel port. Now largely replaced by USB, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, they are still found in industrial printers for compatibility.
• USB Cables for Printers: The most common type for wired connections, typically using USB 2.0, though USB 3.0 cables are also available.
• Serial Port Cable: Previously used for PCs and older Apple products, these cables have been largely replaced by modern connection methods.

Additionally, printer cables with USB on one side and Lightning or USB Type-C terminals on the other are increasingly used for smartphone connections.

Future Printer Cables

Printer cables as dedicated connection lines are becoming less common. The shift towards universal USB cables, LAN cables connected to routers, and wireless connections like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are becoming the norm, signaling a future where wired printer cables in average households may become obsolete.

What Are Wire Cutters?

Wire cutters, tools designed for cutting relatively soft materials like resin, have specialized applications. Specialized for cutting plastic, wire cutters cannot effectively cut hard metal wires, such as piano wire, without risking damage due to their thinner blades compared to ordinary nippers. Nevertheless, certain models can handle thin metal wires made from softer metals like copper, aluminum, and brass.

Uses of Wire Cutters

Wire cutters are commonly used for cutting and deburring plastic products and for tasks such as cleanly cutting bundling bands without much force. Their design enables flat-edge cutting, reducing the likelihood of burrs and ensuring clean cuts that minimize injury risk. Some models feature a catching function to hold onto cut edges, preventing residual chips from causing damage to machinery or precision instruments.

Due to their ability to fit into narrow spaces, wire cutters are often employed for intricate tasks like cutting plastic model parts or support materials for 3D printers. Models designed for plastic models often feature particularly fine and thin cutting edges. The inclusion of a return spring in some models aids work efficiency by reducing hand fatigue.

Principle of Wire Cutters

Wire cutters are characterized by their sharpness and reduced likelihood of causing burrs and whitening. Their sharpness is due to thin blades that apply greater pressure, enhancing cutting ability. However, caution is advised when cutting hard materials, as thin blades are more susceptible to damage. Larger wire cutters exert more force and are better suited for cutting thicker or harder plastics.

To prevent burrs and whitening, wire cutters are designed with sharper blades than general nippers. The flat front blade of wire cutters contrasts with the angled front blades of general nippers, which tend to leave burrs. Whitening, caused by stretched resin, is minimized in wire cutters due to their thin, sharp blades reducing material load.

Types of Wire Cutters

Wire cutters come in various types:

• Round Blade Type: Features a gentle R shape to prevent burrs.
• Straight Blade Type: Has a flat front blade for flat cutting surfaces and ease of use in tight spaces.
• Single-Blade Type: Includes a single sharp edge, reducing burrs and providing a smoother finish.
• Slanted Blade Type: The angled tip allows cutting without interference from surrounding objects.
• End-Blade Type (Bite Cut Type): Ideal for cutting in deep U-shaped areas where normal blades can’t reach.

What Are Needle Files?

Needle files, small in size, are used for precision processing and are typically sold in sets featuring various shapes. While an ordinary file suffices for many tasks, needle files are indispensable for more specialized work such as jewelry engraving.

They are also essential for hobbyists focused on detailed work in plastic models and are widely popular among such enthusiasts.

Usage of Needle Files

Needle files are utilized for fine detailing and precision work. They are used by both professional craftsmen and the general public in activities like accessory making, diorama creation, and precision modeling.

During accessory making, when metal is shaped and cut, needle files are used to remove burrs and make fine adjustments. Plastic models, help in removing protrusions left after cutting.

Principle of Needle Files

Needle files, long and thin in shape, come in various forms. The most versatile is the flat type, suitable for deburring on flat surfaces and reaching small holes. The cylindrical round type is also popular for enlarging holes and making fine adjustments in gaps between parts. Other types include rectangular files for groove processing and specialized shapes like oval and back-tip for precise polishing.

Difference Between Needle Files and Ironworking Files

While there’s no strict distinction, needle files are generally used for fine processing of plastic models and metal decorations, whereas ironworker’s files are for general metal processing.

Coarseness of Needle Files

Needle files have coarseness levels ranging from coarse to oil, with oil being the finest. They are often described in terms of coarseness rather than the number, unlike paper files (sandpaper).

How to Cut the Grain of Needle Files

Needle files feature various types of grits like single grain, duplex, wave, onigome, and shari-me, each suited for different purposes. Single grain is used for the fine metal finishing, duplex for cutting and chip evacuation, wave for paint removal, onigome for rough grinding, and shari-me for a balance between compound and onigome grains.

How to Select Needle Files

When choosing needle files, consider two main aspects for ease of use:

• Choose a Type With a Handle: Handle-less types are available, but those with handles, preferably non-slip and of moderate thickness, are more practical.
• Start With a Flat Type: For beginners, the flat type is the best starting point, with other shapes added as needed.

What Are Precision Pliers?

Precision pliers, also known as micro nippers, are specialized tools designed for cutting wires and pins in fine work, such as in electronics and model building. These pliers feature thin blades and are compact and lightweight, making them ideal for use in tight spaces.

Uses of Precision Pliers

Precision pliers are indispensable for tasks requiring precision, such as cutting leads on circuit boards, trimming plastic parts, or working with jewelry. They are favored in fields like electronics, hobby crafts, and DIY projects for their ability to make clean cuts in small or delicate items.

Principle of Precision Pliers

Operating on the principle of leverage, precision pliers allow for significant force to be applied with minimal effort, enabling the cutting of tough materials. Their design ensures a large shearing force at the blade while requiring less force at the grip.

Structure of Precision Pliers

Consisting of a cutting edge, grip, and often a return spring, these pliers come in double-edged or single-edged blade types. The design choice affects the cutting action and the appearance of the cut.

How to Select Precision Pliers

When choosing precision pliers, consider the size, blade shape, presence of a spring, and grip type. These factors determine the pliers’ suitability for specific tasks and user comfort during operation.

What Are Cutting Pliers?

Cutting pliers, also known as diagonal cutters, are tools designed for cutting wires and small pins in areas that are difficult to reach with standard pliers. Their blades are angled, allowing for precise cuts without damaging the surrounding area.

Uses of Cutting Pliers

These pliers are versatile, supporting tasks ranging from electrical work to model building. They excel in cutting copper, iron wires, tie wraps, and even overhanging solder, making them indispensable for professionals and hobbyists alike.

Principle of Cutting Pliers

The angled design of cutting pliers provides leverage and precision, enabling clean cuts close to surfaces. This unique geometry, combined with the leverage principle, allows for efficient cutting of various materials with minimal effort.

Structure of Cutting Pliers

Typically comprising a cutting edge, grip, and sometimes a return spring, cutting pliers are available in single or double-edged configurations. The choice depends on the specific requirements of the task at hand.

How to Select Cutting Pliers

Selection criteria include size, material, and grip type. Sizes range from compact for precision work to larger options for heavy-duty applications. Materials like stainless steel and chrome-vanadium steel offer durability and corrosion resistance, while grip choices enhance comfort and safety during use.

What Is a Hammer Drill?

Hammer drills are tools designed for tasks like removing wall tiles and drilling holes in concrete. Being capable of destroying concrete, these drills are powerful devices frequently seen at construction sites.

A hammer drill operates by applying a vertical impact force, gradually breaking through hard concrete areas.

Uses of Hammer Drills

Primarily used for breaking concrete and other structures, hammer drills are essential for tasks like “patching.” They are also employed for drilling large holes in concrete where vibration drills are insufficient and preparing surfaces for plugs and anchors.

Available in both rechargeable and corded versions, rechargeable hammer drills have limited power durations and are suitable for smaller tasks like drilling in concrete walls. Corded types, utilizing 100 V voltage, are preferred for uninterrupted power supply and are more user-friendly.

Principle of Hammer Drills

The effectiveness of a hammer drill lies in its tip, the chisel, which directly contacts and destroys the concrete. The chisel’s tip must be sharp and made of very hard special steel material to ensure effective hammering.

When using a hammer drill for pre-drilled holes, it’s crucial to use drill bits specifically designed for hammer drills.

As drilling or pre-drilling generates dust and concrete fragments, safety measures like masks, safety glasses, work gloves, and earplugs are essential.

How to Use a Hammer Drill

Hammer drills can be operated in rotary-only mode, blow-only mode, or a combination of both. In rotary mode, it functions like a normal electric drill, suitable for hard materials like concrete and mortar, but not for metal or wood.

When equipped with an earth auger drill, it can drill holes in the ground. Hammer drills are preferred over pistol-type electric drills for drilling large holes due to their stability and dual-hand operation.

For hauling, attach a dedicated tip fitting to perform patching work on concrete and tiles. Various tip fittings are available for different applications.

With a shovel attachment, hammer drills can dig into hard soil that is challenging to shovel by hand, useful for large-area and deep digging tasks.

For surface roughing of concrete, an attached shovel can create an uneven surface to enhance bonding between concrete and coatings or waterproofing materials.

When equipped with a core drill, hammer drills are capable of core drilling to create circular holes in concrete.

Other Information on Hammer Drills

Hammer drill bits come in three mounting standards: Hexagonal Shaft, SDS Plus Shaft, and SDS-MAX Shaft, each with specific applications and not interchangeable. Hexagonal shafts are suitable for medium to large drilling and are often used in high-power models. SDS-MAX and SDS-Plus shafts, developed by Bosch, are used for small to large drilling, offering less power loss. SDS-MAX shafts are robust and suitable for medium to large drilling.

All shanks come in various diameter sizes, so it’s important to check the shank type and diameter before purchasing.