月: 2023年7月

What Is a Relay Connector?

Relay connectors are connectors used to relay devices.

Connectors are devices that serve as interfaces for connecting external devices and components in electronic equipment, and are used to connect and disconnect connected devices safely. Among relay connectors, there is an extensive lineup with different specifications for external connections, internal connections, and for automotive and industrial equipment, depending on the application.

Uses of Relay Connectors

Relay connectors are used to safely connect and disconnect devices when relaying.

Most relay connectors for external connections have excellent operability, such as one-touch locking. Relay connectors for internal connections are used for relaying on boards, etc., and are designed to save space and prevent misconnections due to the use of many relay connectors.

Waterproof relay connectors have a spring structure in the contact area and make contact only when the connector fit is completely locked. If the connector fit is incomplete, the repulsive force of the spring will separate the connectors so that they cannot make contact.

Automotive relay connectors have high-performance specifications that are resistant to high voltage and heat and have passed the test conditions corresponding to the standards of the automobiles in which they will be installed.

Principle of Relay Connectors

Connectors generally have a paired structure, with the plug and receptacle portions combined into a single unit which serves to connect and disconnect the connector.

The construction of a connector consists of a contact where both the plug and receptacle are made of an electrically-conductive material, a plastic insulator with insulating properties, and an outer shell that protects the insulator.

The contacts are made of a highly-conductive copper alloy. The plug has a pin contact without a spring, and the receptacle has a socket contact with a spring that is inserted and fitted into the pin contact. The plug is inserted into the receptacle, and the spring in the contact allows a firm connection between the two.

What Is a Milling Vise?

Milling Vise is a machining jig to fix a workpiece to a milling machine.

Milling means cutting process, and in Japan it is used to mean the same thing as milling machine. Milling Vise is a jig used for cutting process with a milling machine.

It has a handle and is designed to be durable, sturdy, and highly accurate. The vise part can rotate 360° in either direction. The high rigidity of the vise allows the workpiece to be secured with a strong clamping force even when strong force is applied, contributing to more efficient machining operations.

Applications of Milling Vises

Milling Vises are mainly installed on milling machines for rough machining of materials. There are various types. Precision vises are jigs with high accuracy in squareness and parallelism of each part.

The 2-D vise can freely adjust angles in two directions, while the 3-D vise can freely adjust angles in three directions.

In addition, there are some that can be fixed more firmly using hydraulic pressure and others that can be used for a variety of objects with a large opening of the mouth.

Principle of Milling Vise

Milling Vises are specialized for machines that perform cutting operations with milling machines. It has a main body and a movable part, and the movable part can be moved by a handle.

In cutting operations, the object to be machined is placed between the movable part of the Milling Vise and the main body, the movable part is moved by screws or handles to reduce the gap, and the object is secured by tightening the movable part strongly. The device not only strongly secures the object to be processed, but is also extremely durable.

This is because the Milling Vise is subjected to impact at the same time during the cutting process after the object is secured. They are designed to be strong and solid in every part against heat and shock.

Types of Milling Vises

The main types of Milling Vises are as follows

1. Precision Milling Vises

Each part is sturdy and durable, and these vises have high parallelism and squareness accuracy. Mounted on a milling machine, they are mainly used for rough machining. The object is fastened using a screw.

Vises with lift-off prevention function are available. The object is fastened not horizontally but in the direction of the lower base to securely fix it to the base and prevent it from lifting.

The upper vise part can be rotated 360° to the left and right. The super open type, which has a very large mouth opening, is also one of the precision Milling Vises.

2. hydraulic Milling Vises

Hydraulic Milling Vises use hydraulic pressure to push the mouthpiece. Strong tightening is possible even with light force. There are various types such as those with lift-off prevention function, those with a rotating stand, and super open type.

3. sign vice

Sign vises are vises that can be inclined to the base. The tilt angle is about 45°.

4. 2-D and 3-D Milling Vises

2D vises are equipped with a tilt angle function and a 360° rotating stand. They are used for complex cutting, polishing, and engraving processes, etc., as they can be freely set to the part to be machined.

The 3D vise is a 360° rotary stand with a stand that can be tilted up to 45° to the left and right, and up to 90° to the top and bottom.

How to Select a Milling Vise　　　

1. size of the object

When selecting a vise, it is important to consider the size of the mouthpiece to be sandwiched between the object. Consider whether the mouth opening, mouth width, and mouth depth of the vise are suitable for the object.

If the width of the workpiece is larger than the width of the mouth, the overhang will cause chattering vibration, resulting in reduced machinability. If the height of the workpiece is much higher than the depth of the mouth, chattering vibration will occur at a point far from the mouth, resulting in a loss of machining accuracy.

2. Matching with the machine tool

The type of machine tool and the direction of machining can affect the accuracy of machining. For example, there are vertical and horizontal types of machine tools, and good results are obtained when the fixing direction of the vise is aligned with the machining direction of the machine.

Other Information on Milling Vises

Standards of Milling Vises

The accuracy of Milling Vises is specified in the TES2201 standard of the Japan Machine Tool Builders’ Association (JMTBA). The standard defines the parallelism and squareness of each part.

What Are Hot Tweezers?

Hot tweezers are repair tools with a tweezer-like tip.

Hot tweezers are a type of soldering tool that can directly grab components. They can be used with lead-free solder and have a remote switch design with the power supply attached to the main unit, increasing safety and saving power. Since they can be powered from an electrical outlet, they can be used anywhere an outlet is available. They also have features such as resistance to heat, abrasion, and erosion by alkalis and acids, and solder does not adhere to the heating component. Some tweezers are designed to prevent static electricity in the tweezer tips and some are designed to be barrier-free, allowing use regardless of the user’s dominant hand.

Uses of Hot Tweezers

Hot tweezers are suitable for working with pinpoint accuracy on high-density components such as SMD-dense circuit boards because they can directly transmit the sensation of the hand to the work as tweezers do.

Since substrate chips are typically soldered onto boards, they must be de-soldered before removal. With hot tweezers, in which the heater and tweezer portions are integrated, the solder can be melted while grabbing the chip component with the tweezers, allowing the chip to be removed without damaging the board.

Principle of Hot Tweezers

Hot tweezers consist of a station that includes the power supply and other essential components, a power switch, a heating unit on the main body, and tweezers for performing the work. By adopting a constant power control system, heat can be supplied in seconds.

What Is a Pencil Grinder?

A pencil grinder is an electric pneumatic grinding tool.

Also called a micro grinder, it is a handheld tool featuring a pen-shaped tip for performing grinding work. Since pneumatic grinding uses pneumatic pressure, the grinder is connected to a hose tube and can be connected to various attachments based on processing needs.

Pencil grinders are suitable for extremely fine machining operations. For example, they are very useful for grinding the surface of fine parts. They are also suitable for processing hard materials and can be used not only for grinding but also for cutting and polishing operations.

Additionally, they can be used for a variety of machining operations because of the wide variety of tools to which they can be attached. Tools such as grinding wheels, abrasives, and cutters can be mounted. Being easy-to-use, versatile electric pneumatic tools capable of fine processing work, pencil grinders are used in a variety of industrial fields.

Uses of Pencil Grinders

Pencil grinders are used for mold machining, deburring, rust removal finishing and correction, polishing and chamfering, engraving, and patterning. Because they are hand-held, pencil grinders are suitable for detailed processing work and can handle complex shapes.

The high-speed rotation prevents unevenness in grinding and allows for high-precision finishing. For this reason, they are widely used as one of the indispensable tools in the metalworking field.

In operations such as deburring and rust removal, the tool contributes to the improvement of product quality because it can finish the machined area smoothly. Furthermore, in polishing and chamfering operations, the high-speed rotation makes it possible to finish the work quickly. Engraving and patterning operations can be performed to the finest detail with extremely high precision.

Principle of Pencil Grinders

Pencil grinders are connected to a power source, which rotates the tool at high-speed to perform grinding and cutting operations.

Pencil grinders are mainly powered by air pressure, so they are used by connecting a tube directly to an air compressor or the like. The tool consists of a pen-shaped body and a tip to which the tool can be attached. The part to be gripped by the hand is made of rubber or other material to prevent slipping and enhance the gripping effect.

Since the tool operates under high speed rotation, it is less prone to uneven sharpening and can be finished with a high degree of precision.

Types of Pencil Grinders

There are three main types of pencil grinders: air pencil grinders, electric pencil grinders, and battery-powered pencil grinders. Depending on the application, the appropriate pencil grinder must be selected.

1. Air Pencil Grinder

Pencil grinders operate by air pressure, and are rotated by supplying air from an air compressor or similar device. They are compact, lightweight, and capable of delicate processing, and are used in a wide range of fields such as mold processing, jewelry making, and dental work.

2. Electric Pencil Grinder

These pencil grinders operate using a power source and are structured like an electric drill. Compared to air pencil grinders, electric pencil grinders produce less vibration and more stable rotation. They have high processing capacity and can be used for processing and correcting automotive parts, model making, and other applications.

3. Battery-Powered Pencil Grinder

These pencil grinders operate on a rechargeable battery and have a structure similar to an electric pencil grinder. Since they do not require a power cord, they are suitable for moving around the work site or for outdoor work. They can be used in mold making, crafts, DIY work, etc.

What Is a Free Vise?

A free vise is a vise that can be adjusted to the size of the workpiece.

A vise is a work tool that can clamp an object from both sides with strong force. A vise has a limited opening at the mouth for clamping and cannot handle large objects. A free vise can be freely adjusted to fit the worktable, allowing for the fastening of large objects that cannot be accommodated with a regular vise. Free vises are often sold in sets of two to prevent deformation and damage.

Uses of Free Vises

Free vises are used in various fields in the metalworking and construction industries. They are used to secure objects during cutting, grinding, and welding.

The main unit is set up on a workbench or the like according to the size of the object. The main unit is then tightened with bolts to secure the object. Some products have a keyway machined into the bottom of the main unit and can use a step key for positioning. A step key is a fixture used to fix an object to be machined during machining.

Other Information on Free Vises

Pull-Down Vises

Strongly clamping an object with vertical (sideways) force may cause the object to lift off the workpiece. Some free vise products use a mechanism called “pull-down” to prevent lifting. This is a mechanism by which the main body of the product applies downward pressure to an object diagonally rather than straight down. Free vise products that use this mechanism are sometimes specifically referred to as pull-down vises.

What Is a Power Clamp?

A power clamp, also known as a clamping tool, is a work tool used in tightening operations.

Power clamps apply greater force compared to ordinary clamps. They are not stationary, but can be hand-held, so strong pressure can be applied manually. By eliminating the need to use one’s hands to hold things together, the risk of injury or accident is reduced.

Uses of Power Clamps

Power clamps are widely used in a variety of fields, including factories and woodworking, carpentry, maintenance, and the repair of automobiles, agricultural equipment, and machine tools. They are used for holding objects together by simple operation of the handle attached to the clamp. They improve the efficiency of fastening work, bonding, and temporary joining.

Principle of Power Clamps

An object is clamped with increasing pressure applied with a lever or the like until adequately secured. When removing the clamp, the pressure is released by operating the lever.

Like a vise, the clamp is secured by pressure, but the difference is whether it is fixed to the workbench or not. A fixed vise clamps only the object to be clamped. A power clamp, on the other hand, clamps both the object and the worktable, allowing the operator to work with both objects secured in place.

Other Information About Power Clamps

Types of Power Clamps

The width of some clamps can be adjusted by moving the slide arm up and down, while others are spring-loaded and can apply strong pressure. There are also L-shape, F-shape, C-shape, and other shapes designed to clamp objects with great dexterity.

What Is a Vacuum Gun?

A vacuum gun is a power tool for drying and cleaning.

It uses compressed air to suction dust such as debris generated during work. Since it has a cylindrical shape with no protrusions, it is resistant to clogging and can generate powerful suction. It is highly convenient because it can be held and worked with one hand.

Some vacuum guns are marketed as blower vacuum guns, which combine a vacuum gun and a blower gun in a single unit and can be used for blowing by changing the direction of the nozzle. Since the nozzle cannot be used alone, it must be used with a high-pressure air hose or air compressor. Nozzle shapes include brushed nozzles, crevice nozzles, and straight suction nozzles. By changing the nozzle according to the environment and application, you can work efficiently.

Uses of Vacuum Guns

Vacuum guns are used for cleaning work in various fields because of their powerful suction. Vacuum guns are suitable for cleaning very fine matter such as chips, dust, fibers, wood chips, etc., because it gets sucked with the surrounding air. Blown air can also facilitate drying or cooling.

Other Information About Vacuum Guns

How a Vacuum Gun Works

A nozzle is attached in the direction of suction to compress air as it flows into the interior. When compressed air is injected, a large amount of external air is sucked inside, creating powerful suction.

What Is a Nanoimprint Machine?

A nanoimprint machine is a device that performs nanoimprinting to form ultrafine circuit patterns.

It is mainly used for creating ultra-fine circuit patterns for semiconductors.

Uses of Nanoimprint Machines

Nanoimprint machines are used to create ultra-fine circuit patterns for semiconductors and other devices. Nanoimprint machines make it possible to easily mass-produce minute patterns, making it possible to create microcircuits, which used to be difficult and costly.

In addition to the semiconductor field, nanoimprinting is also used in fields such as biotechnology and displays. They are also being used for research and development purposes at universities, research institutes, and other research institutions, as well as to create prototypes that meet the conditions and specifications of production sites.

Principle of Nanoimprint Machines

A nanoimprint machine is a device that realizes nanoimprint technology. The nanoimprint machine consists of a substrate coated with glass or resin, a mounting base, and a mold with an ultrafine pattern installed opposite the mounting base.

The essential components are the pressing mechanism, which presses the mold onto the substrate, and the curing mechanism, which cures the glass or resin. In other words, the mold is pressed against the molten glass or resin on the substrate to transfer the shape of the mold.

The glass or resin to which the shape of the mold has been transferred is hardened by the curing method to form a glass or resin layer with an ultra-fine pattern on the substrate. Furthermore, nanoimprint machines are generally large and space-consuming, but nanoimprint machines that are compact enough to be carried around are now available.

Other Information on Nanoimprint Machines

1. Nanoimprint Technology

Nanoimprint technology is a technology that transfers a shape to glass or resin by pressing a mold with an ultra-micro pattern engraved by microfabrication onto the glass or resin. This technology enables the mass production of identical parts with ultra-micro patterns in a short time.

2. Differences in Curing Methods Depending on the Type of Resin

There are two types of resins used for the resin layer on the substrate of nanoimprint machines: “thermoplastic resin” and “light-curable resin.” Thermoplastic resins melt when heated to a high temperature and cure again when cooled.

On the other hand, “light-curable resins” are resins that cure by light exposure, and UV-curable resins are typical examples. Therefore, nanoimprint machines can be used for curing either by cooling or by exposure to light such as ultraviolet light.

Some nanoimprint machines have one or both of these methods.

3. Resin Supply Method

In nanoimprint machines, most of the resin layers on the substrate to be nanoimprinted are formed by uniformly applying resin onto the substrate. With this method, there are concerns about problems such as sweet edges of the pattern depending on the pattern shape and resin curing speed when forming a pattern.

What is being implemented is a method that applies inkjet printer technology to the supply of resin on the substrate. That is, using inkjet printer technology, the optimum amount of molten resin is jetted out and applied only to the area corresponding to the pattern shape on the substrate to form a resin layer.

At this time, the optimum supply volume of molten resin is determined and incorporated into the equipment, taking into consideration the appropriate amount of resin for the pattern, the speed at which the resin flows into the pattern, the curing speed, and other factors.

4. Nanoimprint Machines and Lithography

Among semiconductor manufacturing equipment, equipment using lithography is well-suited for creating ultra-fine patterns. With this equipment, light is applied according to the pattern on the resin layer uniformly applied on the substrate. In other words, the system cures only the areas exposed to the light to create a pattern, and the pattern is completed by developing and removing the unwanted areas.

In this method, light exposure is performed by reduced projection exposure according to the circuit pattern. This reduced projection exposure is controlled by a lens system, but the problem is that the lens system is difficult to control and the equipment is large.

With nanoimprint machines, however, the mold with the ultrafine circuit pattern is pressed against the resin layer and exposed to light all at once, eliminating the need to control the lens system. This enables the manufacture of semiconductors with ultra-fine circuit patterns with a very simple operation, and expectations for nanoimprint machines are growing.

What Is a Spray Coater?

A spray coater is a piece of equipment that sprays various types of liquids onto objects such as cloth or electronic substrates.

Once the object is put in place, the spray nozzle moves at a constant speed to spray the liquid evenly. They are used in a wide range of fields and have various applications depending on the size and the liquid used. There are different spray methods, including air, ultrasonic, and electrostatic. The size of the particles to be sprayed can be varied by changing the nozzle shape at the tip, so the nozzle shape must be selected according to the application.

Uses of Spray Coaters

Spray coaters are used for a variety of applications, including industrial products such as semiconductors and clothing products.

Spray coaters are used for coating semiconductors and other electronic devices, touch panels, solar cells, etc. In the clothing industry, spray coaters are used for pre-treatment of fabrics. In the clothing industry, they are used to pre-treat fabrics. By spraying the pre-treatment agent evenly onto the fabric surface, ink bleeding is prevented and adherence is enhanced.

Principle of Spray Coaters

A liquid is atomized and sprayed from a nozzle. The atomizing principle differs depending on the method.

Electrostatic Method

High-voltage voltage is applied to the liquid inside the nozzle to charge the liquid and atomize it using static electricity.

Pneumatic Method

By applying high pressure to the liquid inside the nozzle with compressed air, resistance is generated and splits the liquid into atomized particles.

Ultrasonic Method

Liquid is dipped into the tip of a nozzle with an atomizing surface and spread evenly over the surface of the nozzle by ultrasonic vibration. The liquid spreads while vibrating, and when the ultrasonic waves exceed the surface tension, the liquid is atomized and sprayed. The advantage is that there is no unnecessary dispersal, resulting in minimal loss of fluid.

What Is a Sampling Device?

Sampling devices are devices used to extract raw materials such as liquids and gases, as well as manufactured products.

There are various types of sampling devices, including gas analyzers and liquid analyzers, as well as specialized sampling devices such as coal sampling devices. There are also devices such as bioreactors that automatically perform sampling that would normally require a lot of man-hours.

Uses of Sampling Devices

Sampling is used to investigate whether raw materials and products meet specifications and whether there are any biases in the manufacturing process. They are also used to investigate the composition of water in storage tanks for water purification facilities and culture tanks for bio-research, and in a wide range of other fields, including industry, medicine, and the food industry.

Coal sampling devices analyze components and water content to control quality. Based on the analysis information, we investigate whether the terms of the contract are violated. Other uses include the preparation of customs application documents for imports and the analysis of combustion efficiency. Proper sampling can be expected to reduce import costs and carbon dioxide emissions.

In the pharmaceutical and bio-related fields, some samples must be kept away from air and moisture or materials that are highly toxic. Automated sampling devices are used to ensure that reactions are not affected and that samples can be reliably prepared in these special environments.

Other Information on Sampling Devices

Advantages of Sampling Devices

When preparing a sample, it is important to create a sample that accurately represents the entire source from which it was taken to prevent biased results. When samples are extracted by hand, there is a risk of collecting samples from only a portion of the process or only those with good workmanship due to preconceived notions or assumptions. To extract a reliable sample, the process and conditions must all be the same, and the sampling procedure must be the same each time.

The use of the instrument allows for the setting of conditions and processes through programming. The same procedures and the same operations are performed each time, so highly reliable samples can be extracted.