月: 2023年7月

What Is a Compact Scale?

A compact scale is a small, compact weighing instrument.

It is a type of electromagnetic weighing instrument that displays the weighed value digitally, and is also called a force-balance weighing instrument. In general, scales with relatively high accuracy (electromagnetic or tuning-fork type) are called “electronic balances” while scales with relatively low accuracy (load cell type), such as scales, are called “electronic scales.”

The difference between a “balance” and a “weighing instrument” is precision. A “balance” is used to weigh relatively light objects, while a “weighing instrument” is used to measure relatively heavy objects.

Uses of Compact Scales

Compact scales are used in the agriculture, food and beverage, education, and precious metals industries.
Compact scales are used in various industries such as agriculture, food and beverage, education, and precious metals.

Specific examples of use are as follows:

• Weighing of fertilizers and pesticides.
• Weighing of foodstuffs and seasonings.
• Experiments and cooking practice.
• Weighing precious metals.

Principle of Compact Scales

Weighing is performed using the force-balance method, which utilizes the principle of leverage and electromagnetic force. When an object is placed on the upper plate and weighed, electromagnetic force is generated in the force coil (a circular permanent magnet inside the coil to generate electromagnetic force) to balance it.

By measuring the amount of electricity generated, the weight of the object is calculated and displayed on the digital panel.

Characteristics of Compact Scale

Because compact scales are small, they are light and portable. Some are small enough to fit in a pocket, making them useful for carrying around and using.

There are also relatively inexpensive products with excellent designs that are used as interior products. Disadvantages include the fact that the digital display may be difficult to see when weighing objects on the scale due to its compact shape, and the battery-powered type cannot be used without the batteries that come with it.

The characteristics of compact scales vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, so it is important to purchase the product that best suits your intended use.

How to Select a Compact Scale

Since features such as maximum weight and minimum display unit vary from product to product, it is necessary to select the appropriate compact scale according to the location and purpose of use.

1. Maximum Weight

Maximum weight refers to the upper limit of the weight that can be measured, and the maximum weight that can be measured differs depending on the product. For general household use, a scale that can weigh 1 to 2 kg is sufficient, but for weighing heavy containers, a scale that can weigh 3 kg or more is necessary.

It is important to consider what you will be measuring in your daily life and select a product suitable for that purpose.

2. Minimum Display Unit

The minimum weight that can be weighed on a compact scale varies depending on the product, which is generally divided into 0.1g, 0.5g, and 1g units.

When measuring lightweight items such as ingredients for confectioneries or medicines, it is necessary to select a product that can weigh in 0.1g increments.

3. Zero Setting

Zero setting, also known as the “tare” function, is a function that displays “og” when something is placed on the scale.

When the zero setting is made with a container on the scale, 0 g is displayed with the object being weighed, allowing only the object to be weighed to be measured. This makes it possible to measure only the weighted object, and also makes it easy to add additional weighing.

4. Ease of Maintenance

Ease of maintenance is another important aspect of a compact scale. If the scale is made of stainless steel or tempered glass, it can be easily wiped clean when dirty. Some products have a removable top plate that can be washed, and various other features are available to keep the scales clean.

5. Ease of Storage

When not in use, some compact scales can be stacked in a special case, while others can be hung on a hook. By considering storage options when purchasing a compact scale, you can make effective use of your workspace.

6. Waterproof Function

If the product has a waterproof function, it can be washed with water in case of contamination, thus ensuring hygienic use.

7. Optional Functions

Another attractive feature of compact scales is that they offer a variety of optional functions. There are products with an auto power-off function that automatically turns off the power, a counting function that counts the number of identical items, and so on. When purchasing a scale, it is important to know what functions you need for your work.

What Is a Gas-Filling Machine?

A gas-filling machine is a packaging machine that fills a sealed container with gas.

They can also be used for vacuum packaging and cooking applications without adding gas. A wide lineup of machines is available, from small to large, depending on the size of the packaged product. They are designed to reduce gas consumption while increasing efficiency by increasing the gas displacement rate.

Uses of Gas-Filling Machines

Gas-filling machines are used for packaging food, medical equipment, etc. Filling sealed containers with inert gases such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide prevents oxidation and preserves the freshness of food. In the context of medical instruments, it is used for packaging syringes and syringes to prevent dust and impurities from adhering to them. Because of the sterility it can provide, vacuum packaging is used when hygiene is paramount.

Inert gases are stable gases that do not affect other substances. Nitrogen and carbon dioxide are the most common. Since these gases are originally present in the air, they are characterized by their high safety.

Principle of Gas-Filling Machines

The air in a pack containing food, medicine, etc. is removed to create a vacuum, and then the pack is filled with inert gas or other gases to seal it. When vacuum-packing, gas is not added.

What Is a Plug Anchor?

Plug anchors are used to facilitate screw installation.

A hole is drilled in the base material and the plug is inserted. A screw can then be easily fixed by simply hammering it into the plug anchor. They can be attached to various base materials such as blocks, concrete, and hollow walls, and can be easily removed with a screwdriver.

Usage of Plug Anchors

Plug anchors are used to install screws in base materials. Since they adhere to hard materials, they are useful for concrete. They can also be used for other base materials such as hollow walls and ALC. Applications include the installation of shade trees and interior underlayment, saddle installation of wiring and plumbing, and the installation of lighting fixtures.

Structure of Plug Anchors

Plug anchors consist of a cylinder made of nylon or other material and metal screws. When using a plug anchor, drill a hole in the base metal and clean up any dust. After inserting the plug anchor firmly, drive the screw into it using a hammer or similar tool. The gap between the screw and the base metal will be filled by the screw, and the plug will stick to the base metal.

When screws are driven into concrete, the base material itself may crumble or become brittle, making installation difficult. By utilizing a plug anchor, the ground contact area of the base material is expanded to facilitate attachment.

What Is an Edge Sensor?

An edge sensor is a device that measures the position, gap, and width of the edge of an object by illuminating the object with light or other means.

They can accurately measure not only equipment parts but also transparent objects such as films, sheets, and glass. When the object to be measured is large, multiple edge sensors are used.

Uses of Edge Sensors

Edge sensors mainly have two applications: edge surface measurement and gap or width measurement. In edge surface measurement, light is shone over a fixed area including the edge of the object. Measurement is made by detecting the distance between the edge of the object and the optical axis within the measurement range. In gap and width measurements, light is shone onto the object to measure its width or gap. It can be used to check for deformation in the external shape of parts or equipment, or to check the diameter of a hole punched by a press.

Principle of Edge Sensors

Edge sensors use the physical principle of light. They consist of a light source, a light source lens, a light-receiving lens, and a light-receiving element. Light from the light source lens is projected onto the object, and the projected light is received by the light-receiving element. When light strikes the object, the position of the light entering the light-receiving element changes. By measuring the amount of this change, it is possible to measure edges, etc.

What Is an Easy-Laser?

The Easy-Laser is a device that uses a laser to perform centering and leveling measurements.

It measures shaft misalignment by irradiating a laser beam onto the rotary axes of connected rotating equipment. Adjustments can be made while checking the parallelism and perpendicularity of equipment and parts. Misalignment in the connection of rotating shafts can distort the shafts and load on the equipment, resulting in malfunctions. Using an Easy-Laser to measure and check the shafts will prolong the life of the equipment. It also improves the efficiency of maintenance and inspection work, thereby reducing costs.

Highly-accurate measurements can be easily performed without the need for experienced and knowledgeable craftsmen.

Uses of the Easy-Laser

The Easy-Laser is widely used in machine tools for shaft centering, checking and adjusting parallelism and horizontality, etc. It is also used to adjust rotating equipment with chains, roll equipment, gas and steam turbines, etc. Shaft centering is the process of adjusting the rotational axes of two machines connected by a shaft so that they are on the same line during operation. For rotating equipment, it is important to correct any misalignment of the rotation axis.

Principle of Easy-Laser

Easy-Laser utilizes the principle of laser light, in which light does not diffuse but travels straight ahead and illuminates a single point. There is a laser transmitter that emits a laser beam and a laser receiver that detects the position of the emitted laser, and a bracket is provided for stable installation of the two. The system also consists of software for displaying the measured values as data and handling them on the terminal.

What Is an Electromagnetic Flowmeter?

An electromagnetic flowmeter is a measuring instrument that can be used in areas where there is a flow of water to correctly measure the velocity of the flow.

Compared to the conventional propeller type, which uses the rotation of a propeller attached to the measuring machine to make measurements, the electromagnetic flowmeter reduces the risk of failure and is easier to handle. It can also handle a wide range of flow velocities, from very fine water flow to high-speed water flow.

An electromagnetic flowmeter consists of a sensor, a tail, and a weight, and the shape of each section prevents the flow from being disturbed, thus enabling correct measurement of flow velocity values.

Uses of Electromagnetic Flowmeters

The electromagnetic flowmeter is used in rivers, lakes, waterways, dams, and other places where water flow occurs to accurately measure the velocity of the water flow.

By using current velocity systems to correctly measure the speed of water flow, we can survey rivers and ocean currents to help design bridges and other structures and to prevent flood damage.

Other applications include the aquaculture industry and research on organisms living in rivers and oceans.

Principle of Electromagnetic Flowmeters

The electromagnetic flowmeter uses the principle of Faraday’s electromagnetic induction to measure the velocity of water currents.

Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction states that “when an electric conductor moves across a magnetic field, a voltage is generated in that conductor and an electric current flows through it.”

Water flowing through the earth’s magnetic field generates an electric current due to electromagnetic induction.

Therefore, an electromagnetic flowmeter is placed in water, such as in a river or ocean, to form a magnetic field. When water flows through the magnetic field as an electric conductor, electromagnetic induction on the fluid causes an electromotive force to be generated.

Since the electromotive force and the velocity of the water flow are in a proportional relationship, the velocity can be measured from the potential difference.

An electromagnetic flowmeter is generally affected by the presence of high-voltage lines, or by noise from picking up small magnetic fields created by stones or debris containing metals on the river bottom.

However, by narrowing the range of magnetic fields produced by electromagnetic current velocity systems and making them more concentrated and powerful, these can be prevented, thus reducing the disturbance of the values being measured.

What Is a Micro Drill Bit?

Micro drill bits are very thin drill bits.

They are mainly used for fine processing of electronic parts, medical devices, jewelry, etc. Since extremely high precision is required, they are made of materials with high hardness and resistance to wear such as cemented carbide.

Micro drill bits also require very careful handling to avoid breaking or chipping of the cutting edge, since the cutting force is weak due to its very thin and sharp cutting edge. Appropriate machining conditions and coolant usage should be selected depending on the material used.

Applications of Micro Drill Bits

1. Semiconductor Manufacturing

Drilling of lead frames, drilling of amorphous silicon, drilling of capacitors, drilling of chip resistors, and drilling of electrolytic capacitors are some examples. Lead frames are metal frames used in semiconductor packages to secure semiconductor chips and connect them to external circuits.

2. Mechatronics

Examples include the drilling of small gears, gear tooth profile machining, drilling of micromirrors, and drilling of motor shafts. A micromirror is a very small mirror, which can detect optical signals and control the angle of reflection by using microscopic specular reflection.

3. Medical Device Manufacturing

Examples include the drilling of joints, needles, and catheters.

4. Automobile and Aircraft Parts Manufacturing

Examples include the drilling of cylinder blocks, drilling of turbine blades, and drilling of rotary encoders. A cylinder block is one of the main parts of an engine, which contains a cylinder with a moving piston inside and important parts such as a combustion chamber and valve mechanisms.

5. Jewelry Manufacturing

Jewelry manufacturing includes the drilling of holes for jewelry, the manufacture of gears for watches, and the processing of jewelry.

6. Optoelectronics

This includes the manufacture of LEDs, optical fiber, and optical lenses.

7. Electronics Component Manufacturing

Drilling of circuit boards, machining of lead frames, machining of connectors, etc.

Types of Micro Drill Bits

Micro drill bits can be classified by diameter, cutting edge shape (center-cut, 2-blade, 3-blade, etc.), number of blades, and material. Material classifications include the following:

1. Cemented Carbide

Cemented carbide is an alloy with main components such as tungsten carbide, and has very high hardness and wear resistance. Cemented carbide is generally used for the cutting edges of Micro drill bits. Micro drill bits made of cemented carbide are very precise and high-cutting components.

2. High-Speed Steel

High-speed steel is a material composed of iron and alloying elements such as molybdenum, chromium, and vanadium, and has excellent heat and wear resistance. HSS Micro drill bits have lower machining accuracy than cemented carbide, but it is relatively inexpensive and suitable for mass production.

3. Other Materials

Micro drill bits are sometimes made of other materials such as ceramics, polycrystalline diamond (PCD), and polycrystalline diamond (PCBN). These materials have very high hardness and heat resistance, and can provide superior machining performance compared to cemented carbide and HSS.

HSS is an abbreviation for high-speed steel, a type of steel mainly used for metalworking tools and cutting tools.

Principle of Micro Drill Bits

Micro drill bits drill holes through the following processes:

1. Chip Generation

When a micro drill bit contacts a material, the cutting edge rotates while cutting away the material. The removed material is generated as chips.

2. Chip Ejection

Chips are ejected through the spiral grooves of the micro drill bit. These spiral grooves provide space for chip collection.

3. Hole Formation

A hole is gradually formed as the micro drill bit rotates to cut the material and ejects the chips. Hole shape and machining accuracy can be adjusted by adjusting the cutting speed and feed rate.

Other Information on Micro Drill Bits

1. Machining Accuracy

Micro drill bits can achieve extremely high machining accuracy by using very hard materials such as cemented carbide and diamond. A wide variety of materials can be processed, from metals such as iron and stainless steel to non-metallic materials such as ceramics and glass.

The cemented carbides and diamonds used in micro drill bits are extremely hard and resistant to wear and deformation, so they can maintain high machining accuracy for a long period of time.

Cemented carbide and diamond are materials with extremely high thermal conductivity. Therefore, heat at the cutting edge is efficiently dissipated, minimizing thermal effects during machining and preventing transformation and deterioration of the work material. In addition, its high corrosion resistance makes it less susceptible to chemical attack and rust, thus maintaining the quality of the workpiece. 

2. Rigidity

Because micro drill bits are very thin, if the rigidity is low, the cutting edge may bend or vibrate, resulting in reduced machining accuracy. However, the rigidity of micro drill bits can be improved by using high-hardness materials such as cemented carbide or ceramics.

3. Compatible Materials

Micro drill bits can be used with several materials such as cemented carbide, high-speed steel, ceramics, PCD, and PCBN.

4. Use of Cutting Fluid

Micro drill bits are very thin, so the heat generated during cutting is concentrated on the cutting edge and may cause wear and deformation of the cutting edge. Cutting fluid has cooling and lubricating effects, and is also effective in removing cutting dust and cleaning surfaces.

What Is a Motherboard?

Motherboards are printed circuit boards used in PCs, also called system boards or mainboards, and are the central boards needed in a PC. When you build a PC, you attach various necessary components to the motherboard to add functionality.

Motherboards connect most parts that make up a PC: the CPU, memory, graphics board, mouse, and keyboard. Motherboards also contain a chipset and BIOS program that controls the basic functions of the PC.

Uses of Motherboards

Motherboards are key components in the controller of a personal computer or any device that needs to be controlled or displayed for analysis.

Motherboards enable the development of controllers and the assembly of personal computers that meet requirements in a relatively short time and at a low cost since they provide the following:

• CPU sockets that can accommodate various grades of CPUs.
• Memory sockets that can accommodate various memory capacities.
• Provision of standard external interfaces such as USB 2.0 and 3.0, RS232C, and LAN.
• Slots for expansion to add boards with various functions.

Motherboards allow for product development with only software development and minimal hardware development.

Principle of Motherboards

Motherboards interface between the main parts of a computer and allow them to exchange data with each other. Typical parts that are interfaced by Motherboards are:

• CPU Socket
  The socket where the CPU is installed.
• Memory Socket
  Sockets where memory is installed, and there are several types according to memory standards. Specifically, there are connectors for storage and optical drive connections (e.g., Serial ATA, SATA connectors) and expansion slots (e.g., PCI slots, PCI Express slots).
• Power Connectors
  These connectors are used to supply power to the motherboards.
• IO Port
  These are the connection points for various input/output cables (LAN cables, USB connectors, etc.). (LAN cable, USB connector, HDMI, D-Sub connector, etc.)

Motherboards also contain a BIOS program that performs initialization and basic control for each part before the OS is started. Motherboards integrate and manage each part through the interface and BIOS program.

Types of Motherboards

Motherboards are available in a wide variety of products for different applications. The appropriate Motherboards should be selected according to your specifications and budget.

• Supported CPUs
  Major CPU manufacturers include Intel and AMD, and sockets differ depending on the manufacturer. Even within the same manufacturer, there may be differences in the generation of the CPU.
• Supported Memory
  DDR3/DDR4/DDR5 are the memory standards currently in circulation, and different motherboards are compatible with each.
• I/O Ports
  I/O ports include USB 2.0, USB 3.0, RS232C, LAN, etc. The number and types of I/O ports available vary depending on Motherboards.
• Motherboard Size
  Motherboards are available in a variety of sizes.

Other Information on Motherboards

Types of Motherboards Sizes

Motherboards come in several standardized sizes. Typical sizes include the following standards

• ATX
  Measuring 244 x 305 mm, it is widely used in desktop PCs.
• Micro-ATX
  Measuring 244 x 244 mm, it is used in space-saving PCs.

The following three sizes are used in small devices such as embedded devices.

1. Mini-ITX: 170 x 170 mm
2. Nano-ITX: 120 x 120 mm
3. Pico-ITX: 100 x 70mm

Size is also referred to as form factor. It is important to check the form factor when confirming the size in the manufacturer’s catalog or specification sheet.

What Is a Multiplexer?

Multiplexers are switching devices that selectively route multiple input signals to a single output signal.

Multiplexers in digital circuits allow digital signals (bits) to pass through selectively, aggregating data into a single channel. Multiplexers in analog circuits, on the other hand, selectively pass analog signals (voltages or currents) through them, thus consolidating information from diverse signal sources into a single channel.

Thus, multiplexers can be a powerful tool for increasing the efficiency and sophistication of circuit design.

Applications of Multiplexers

Multiplexers are widely used in many digital and analog circuit design applications. Multiplexers, especially in digital ICs, are used in a variety of systems as the key component in digital circuits for selecting and switching data.

1. Data Selection Circuit

Multiplexers select one of multiple data inputs for output. For this reason, it is used as a data selector to select data to be transferred between the CPU and memory, etc. Since necessary data can be selected by addressing, multiplexers play an important function in data transfer circuits. 

2. Analog-To-Digital Conversion Circuit

Multiplexers are used to select analog inputs in AD converters that convert analog inputs to digital data.

3. Communication Equipment

Multiplexers are used in wired and wireless communications equipment to combine multiple channels of data into a single transmission line. Multiplexers provide time-division multiplexing of data and improve transmission efficiency.

4. Measurement and Control Systems

Multiplexers are used to aggregate multiple channels of data from sensors and other devices. Multiplexers simplify the measurement system.

Principle of Multiplexers

Multiplexers are used for both digital and analog measurements, but the basic mechanism is the same.

1. Digital Multiplexers

Digital multiplexers are devices that selectively connect multiple digital inputs to a single digital output. It acts like a digital switch. There are multiple input lines, each with a corresponding control signal.

The control signal allows any input line to be connected to an output line. The selection of the input line is done by a control signal with a binary value (0 or 1). For example, in 2-input Multiplexers, a 1-bit control signal can be used to select which input is connected to the output. If the control signal is 0, the first input is selected; if the control signal is 1, the second input is selected.

2. Analog Multiplexers

Analog multiplexers select one of several analog inputs for analog output. The main internal components are an analog switch and an address decoder.

The address decoder takes a digital address as input that specifies the input channel to be selected. Based on this address signal, the address decoder generates a control signal for the corresponding analog switch. The analog switch uses this control signal to output the specified analog input in analog form.

Thus, analog multiplexers can also select any analog input by digital addressing. Because of their ability to switch analog signals at high speed, they are utilized in communication equipment.

How to Select Multiplexers

When selecting multiplexers, the following points should be considered

1. Intended Use

Multiplexers are available in analog, digital, and high-frequency types, depending on the application. It is important to select a type that matches the application and required characteristics.

2. Number of Inputs and Outputs

The number of inputs and outputs of multiplexers should be selected according to the scale of the system. The larger the number of inputs, the larger the system configuration.

3. Speed Performance

The switching speed of multiplexers may be especially important in some applications. For applications that require high-speed switching, check the speed characteristics. 

4. Operating Frequency Range

For analog multiplexers, the frequency range over which they can operate determines their performance. It is necessary to confirm that the frequency range is compatible with the frequency band used. 

5. Power Consumption

The power consumption of multiplexers is another aspect to check specifications. Selecting a low-power device can contribute to system power savings.

What Are Roller Conveyors?

A roller conveyor is a device that moves heavy loads by sliding tubular rollers fixed at right angles to the rails.

Normally, a great deal of force is required to lift a load when transporting it. But with roller conveyors, the load can be moved simply by rolling the rollers, which has the advantage of reducing the time required to transport numerous items.

Uses of Roller Conveyors

Roller Conveyors are mainly used in factories and other places where large quantities of goods are produced at once, as well as in logistics institutions. The ability to transport goods at a constant speed can significantly reduce man-hours in conveying operations.

Since the rotating force of the rollers propels the load, the friction applied is reduced by about 10% compared to moving the load at a standstill. In addition, the conveyor is safer than conveyors that use people or machines, making it a necessary piece of equipment to ensure factory safety.

Principle of Roller Conveyors

Roller conveyors are available in two types: free conveyors and driven conveyors, the most significant difference between the two being whether they rely on a motor to apply the force required to transport the load.

A free conveyor is one in which the rollers are rotated by gravity, like a roller slide, and the load is transported by the rotational force. They do not use electric power and can be mounted inexpensively.

On the other hand, a driven conveyor uses a motor to rotate the rollers, which in turn uses the motive force as propulsion to transport the load. Both types of roller conveyors can move loads stably. But they are designed to move tubular objects by sliding over them at a fixed distance, so they are not suitable for transporting small objects that might fall between the gaps between the rollers.

Rollers used in roller conveyors are made of various materials, such as steel, aluminum, and plastic, and are used according to the weight of the load to be transported.