Product News

  The Fluke 985 Particle Counter is a rugged, highly accurate meter that measures airborne particles to troubleshoot and monitor indoor air quality (IAQ). The 985 is ideal for HVAC and IAQ professionals to verify clean room classifications and conduct HVAC filter testing and IAQ commissioning and investigations in hospitals, labs and other sensitive environments. The Fluke 985 Particle Counter features: * six particle size channels with a range of 0.3 µm Ð 10 µm, assuring accurate measurements * rugged, ultra-lightweight, ergonomic design for easy single-hand operation * in-device storage of 10,000 records for easy access to historical data * ten hours of standard-use battery life to last a full workday. The 985 has a large 8.89 centimetre (3.5 inch) QVGC colour display with backlight and intuitive icons plus a large font option for easy navigation and viewing. It features configurable settings for the display, sample methods and sample size alarm. Data can be presented in traditional tabular or as a trend graph and exported to a USB memory stick or directly to a PC via a USB or Ethernet cable. The meter meets ISO 21501, JIS B9921 and CE standards. The 985 comes with a cradle for charging and USB and Ethernet communications, ENET CAT5E cable, USB-A to MINI-B cable, 12 VDC power supply, zero count inlet-filter, filter adapter, sample inlet protective cap, hard case, getting started manual and user manual CD.    

The inherent difficulty with applying a metal skin to a steel frame, whether it be skinning to a vehicle or changing the cladding of a building, is the method of application. The traditional methods have been either pop riveting or welding, both of which leave unsightly heads or distortion from heat. More and more often manufacturers and architects are turning to structural adhesives for a solution to this problem. Permabond have a wide variety of adhesives to replace permanent fixing. Their most popular is a two part, non-mixing adhesive that is applied one part to each surface. It will remain inert until the surfaces are brought together giving a handling strength in 2 to 4 minutes and a strength three times that of epoxy. The on part life of the components prior to bringing together can be up to 2 hours. Another product that has found favour with a number of manufacturers is PermabondÕs single part, heat cured epoxy. This has been used in many instances where heat is an issue, usually with the need to powder coat the finished article. The adhesive is applied to one of the surfaces then lightly clamped in place while baked to cure the adhesive. After the adhesive is cured, the finished product can be powder coated and the joint will easily withstand the temperatures involved in the process. More traditional two part epoxies are a specialty of Permabond, from the more well-known 5-minute epoxy to adhesives that will withstand 140 ¡C continuously and some that are flexible once cured. The epoxies tend to be packed in 1:1 ratio cartridges for easy application with a dispensing gun and mixer nozzles. nextSTEP Tel Homersham Ltd 0800 659 888 or 03 358 8309  

Johnson and Allen’s provide, for the first time, a fully self contained AC Field output; offering an excellent “skin effect” which out-performs existing DC portable units in defect detection. The Jay-Pac or Jaysn-Pac utilises the all new AC-Eazy powerbelt. The AC-Eazy powerbelt can be ordered alone if you have an existing 110volt electromagnet, or as the complete kit with the preferred Jay or Jayson yokes. The system uses a high powered lightweight Lithium battery (only 1.250kg) to power the custom-built design of wave form generator. The AC-Eazy powerbelt is made of thick, high quality leather, and also comes as standard with Aerosol holsters and a holder for the electromagnet giving both hands free. Extra aerosol holders and a leather accessory case can also be added. The system can power a “Jay” or the slightly lighter weight and longer reach “Jayson” electromagnets for a full day of typical inspection.

    This robot can be used to handle inserts and pre-fabricated parts in hybrid applications. Seletec Plastics has been using injection moulding machines from Engel since the 1980s, with the focus switching to automation in its new projects. A Viper 40, the anniversary edition robot, was delivered to the Pinzgau region as part of a complete package that included a duo 650 injection moulding machine. “With pressure continuing to build on costs, those of us in Western Europe can no longer afford to work without automation”, says Gerald Rauch, head of sales and development at Seletec. “Automation guarantees stable processes, which raises productivity and enhances our production quality. “The new large-scale machine will be used to make technical parts for a wide range of application fields, including housing components with metal threads. “When several inserts are placed into a mould at once, the speed of the robot is what counts”, stresses Rauch. “We also look for fast cycle times and maximum precision in our handling operations.” Minimal cycle times, precise movements The Viper robot is the ideal machine for these requirements thanks to its innovative software packages: vibration control, mass identification and efficiency control. Software packages eliminate the structure-borne vibration of the robots – even with longer axis dimensions – and optimise their movement and dynamic values. This ensures high tracking and positional accuracy and minimises cycle times. The Viper robot also adjusts its movements to the respective manipulation weight and avoids unnecessary wait times outside of the machine. Since Engel supplies both injection moulding machines and robots from a single source, full integration of the two control environments is guaranteed. ÒOperating the robot is simplicity itself’, says Rauch. From product development to series production Seletec – a Klepsch Group company – has its roots in metalworking. The company […]

For many years the flooring industry has turned to Permabond for specialist and cost effective solutions in the manufacture of their products. Permabond has a specially formulated high purity cyanoacrylate which can be used to bond a wide range of substrates that may be difficult to bond with general purpose ÒSupergluesÓ. This makes it particularly suitable for bonding natural rubber, butyl rubber and EPDM.   It is ideal for bonding rubber matting sections together and edges onto matting and provides a long lasting, durable high strength bond. Permabond also has a general purpose cyanoacrylate which has successfully been used for bonding carpet strips onto aluminium entrance mats and carpet squares to moulded plastic entrance mats in heavy wear and tear areas, preventing the carpet pieces from lifting up and helping to avoid trip hazards. For more specialised applications, a high-strength structural acrylic adhesive, which is a two part non-mix product, is used for bonding aluminium stair nosings. It can also be used for bonding blind bumps onto ceramic tiles in public buildings. All these Permabond products are rapid curing and easy to use for a quick and easy production process. Products are solvent free and have excellent chemical and temperature resistance. nextSTEP Contact Homersham Ltd Tel: 0800 659 888 or 03 358 8309  

The Viper robot will be used to handle inserts and pre-fabricated parts in hybrid applications at Seletec Plastics in the Austrian town of Uttendorf. Seletec has been using injection moulding machines from Engel since the 1980s, with the focus switching to automation in its new projects. A Viper 40, the anniversary edition robot, was delivered to the Pinzgau region as part of a complete package that included a duo 650 injection moulding machine. “With pressure continuing to build on costs, those of us in Western Europe can no longer afford to work without automation”, says Gerald Rauch, head of sales and development at Seletec. “Automation guarantees stable processes, which raises productivity and enhances our production quality.” The new large-scale machine will be used to make technical parts for a wide range of application fields, including housing components with metal threads. “When several inserts are placed into a mould at once, the speed of the robot is what counts”, stresses Rauch. “We also look for fast cycle times and maximum precision in our handling operations.” Minimal cycle times, precise movements: The Viper robot is the ideal machine for these requirements thanks to its innovative software packages: vibration control, mass identification and efficiency control. The software packages eliminate the structure-borne vibration of the robots – even with longer axis dimensions – and optimise their movement and dynamic values. This ensures high tracking and positional accuracy and minimises cycle times. The Viper robot also adjusts its movements to the respective manipulation weight and avoids unnecessary wait times outside of the machine. Since Engel supplies both injection moulding machines and robots from a single source, full integration of the two control environments is guaranteed. “Operating the robot is simplicity itself”, says Rauch. From product development to series production Seletec – a Klepsch Group company […]

 Sensitive surface touch panels In the cockpit simulation at Fakuma trade fair stand, Engel demonstrated how cars will be even more user-friendly than smartphones in future, thanks to the simple elements of touch, feel and interactivity. Capacitive electronics will be replacing buttons and switches in the cockpit of the future. “This trend not only gives interior designers a new level of freedom; it also reduces the costs of the producing functional elements,” says Franz Fureder, Head of Engel Automotive. “We are already talking to various OEMs and automotive companies. In four to five years the first vehicles will be equipped with this technology.” Centre consoles with a sensitive surface were manufactured at the Engel trade fair stand on an Engel duo 350 injection moulding machine with a rotating platen and combination mould in stack technology. For this purpose a capacitive touchskin film was backmoulded and the component upper part was flow-coated with polyurethane by the Engel clearmelt method. Two Engel viper 20 and viper 40 type linear robots took care of component and part handling enabling the ready-for-installation functional components to be manufactured in one work step.  Clear-Melt technology Scratch-proof, high quality surfaces combined with 3D effects visibly impress, hanks to Engels’s innovative clearmelt method. Decor parts with these characteristics can now be produced in a time-saving, economic and highly productive manner. Sliding table technology floods a thermoplastic carrier with transparent polyurethane. Compared to legacy methods, the required level of scratch resilience and 3D effect is achieved with thin coatings using the clearmelt approach. Compared with coating systems, this means substantial material, time and emission savings. Time consuming and expensive multiple coating techniques, which also produce a high level of rejects, are incapable of producing an attractive 3D effect below a coating thickness of 0.5 mm. In contrast to this, […]

  Delcam demonstrated the 2012 version of Delcam for SolidWorks, its integrated CAM system for SolidWorks, at SolidWorks World in San Diego this month. This latest release includes programming of wire EDM for the first time, alongside the comprehensive options for the programming of turning, mill-turn, drilling and two- through five-axis milling. Other enhancements include target-part comparison, the ability to compare a model of the desired final shape with the shape achieved by the programmed toolpaths, and multiple-instance programming, the programming of multiple SolidWorks components in one operation, either in the same orientation or in different orientations. Fully-automated de-burring and chamfering has also been added to give faster programming of these finishing operations on 2- or 2.5-axis parts. The ability to incorporate chamfers, even when they are not shown in the original SolidWorks model, duplicates functionality previously available in Delcam’s feature-based CAM system, FeatureCAM. Delcam for SolidWorks 2012 also incorporates enhancements from the 2012 release of FeatureCAM, including improvements in the use of stock models and new options in the tooling database. Stock models allow the user to visualise the material remaining after each operation. This makes it easier to eliminate air cutting and so generate more efficient toolpaths with reduced machining times. The models also simplify the selection of the most appropriate tool sizes for rest-roughing and finishing operations. The tooling database is a key part of the automation in Delcam for SolidWorks as it allows the optimum operating conditions to be associated with each tool. In most companies, the database is developed by the most experienced user. It then ensures that even inexperienced operators use safe and efficient cutting parameters. Delcam for SolidWorks, which has been awarded Certified Gold Product status by Dassault Systmes SolidWorks Corp, combines the benefits associated with DelcamÕs PowerMILL and FeatureCAM CAM systems. It […]

Robyn Robertson of Regional Business Partner Waikato and Matamata tentmaker Lindsay Tasker.   A Matamata tentmaker’s dream of helping the world with his humanitarian housing is closer to reality thanks to Regional Business Partner (RBP) Waikato. LTL Covers owner Lindsay Tasker has developed SeekaShelter tent prototype to use as emergency housing in the wake of natural disasters. Born of LTL’s successful Calf-Chalet shelter product, Lindsay and his wife and business partner Ellen are working with RBP towards distributing the housing product to governments around the globe. The Tasker’s SeekaShelter product is a 3m by 3.6m half-round tent assembled using a patented flexible join system and light-weight steel-based framing covered with double-skinned polyethylene. The quickly-assembled shelter system has been tested in 120km winds and can house up to eight people. “The next step in the journey is to have it tested by international aid agencies like the Red Cross. Regional Business Partner is helping me get it to that stage,” Lindsay said “RBP has helped me give my business vision a solid foundation. It has equipped me with the things I need to work towards to take the business to the next level.” RBP provides government-funded business support throughout Waikato and is managed by Opportunity Hamilton and Waikato Innovation Park. The free service is available throughout the region. Lindsay’s goal is for global governments to stockpile the tents = about 70 per shipping container = to use in the wake of natural disaster. “This business is about much more than making money. As a Christian it is important for me to work towards making the world a better place and that is my vision,” he said. “Finding out about the support available, like RBP and James and Wells patent attorneys has been invaluable.” Lindsay bought the Kaitaia-based tent business after a […]