By installing pneumatic seals and pneumatic cylinder seals in your machinery, more control is gained over the system and thus your process runs smoothly and efficiently. Pneumatic Tips helps you stay up to date on the latest pneumatic seals and pneumatic cylinder seals news.
Heavy Duty Switches For Hydraulic & Pneumatic Systems
AMS Calibration has released the NOSHOK 400 series of heavy duty mechanical pressure switches.
Designed for use across a range of applications such as hydraulic and pneumatic systems, pumps and compressors and in power generation, the switches provide a stable switching point setting.
The 400 series switch converts pneumatic and hydraulic pressure into switching functions and is designed for applications that require accuracy under high loads.
The switching point is fully adjustable through an adjustment knob with the adjustment range, and includes a locking mechanism.
AMS Calibration’s switch is SPDT, and can be normally open (N.O.) or normally closed (N.C.) depending on the wiring.
The 400 Series Switch is fitted with DIN EN 175301-803 Form A connectors for fast and easy installation.
It is also available with an LED indicator on the plug for visual monitoring of the switch status, or an M12 x 1 (4-pin) electrical connection.
The switch features a repeatability of ±2% of full scale, 360° rotatable male connections, high loadability (shock 30g, vibration 10 g) and Hirschmann (DIN EN 175301-803 Form A) with optional 36″ cable.
Elastomer Ensures Smooth Operation
October 13, 2009 by Pneumatics Editor
Filed under Seals
Endoscopic surgical instrument insertion and retraction through a seal must feel smooth and easy. The more the material “grabs” and adheres to the shaft of the instrument, the more force it will take to manipulate the instrument (not something you want to experience even if you are under anesthesia). A new process, known as F-treat, promises to reduce friction and deliver a permanent low coefficient of friction surface that will not dissipate with wear. Unlike topical modifications that can be washed or worn away, F-treat is a modification of a compound so that if abrasion or wear occurs, a low friction surface will always be present.
Surgeons report that medical devices such as endoscopes with the F-treated seals respond better to their touch than non-treated elastomer seals. Medical product designers claim custom F-treated seals improve nasal and liposuction canula.
Laboratory studies of a broad range of elastomer materials show the reduction of coefficient of friction of F-treated molded components. Since the modification occurs as a reaction with the polymer, the most dramatic improvement is seen with low hardness, polymer-rich elastomers such as a 55 Shore A compound.
Minnesota Rubber and Plastics
www.mnrubber.com
::Design World::
Elektrotechniek a Showcase for BalContact™ Technology
September 30, 2009 by Pneumatics Editor
Filed under Featured, Seals
The biggest attraction at the Elektrotechniek exhibition running this week in Utrecht, Netherlands may turn out to be one of the smallest and simplest products: an electrical contact fashioned from a spring.
The BalContact™, an electrically conductive component that employs precision-engineered canted-coil™ spring technology, is being showcased at Elektrotechniek 2009 by U.S-based manufacturer Bal Seal Engineering, Inc. And according to the company, interest in the simple, versatile Bal Contact is expected to be high among engineers and manufacturers who are seeking a simple, flexible solution to high, mid and low current conducting challenges.
“When we demonstrate how the Bal Contact performs, people immediately recognize it as a solution they can apply quickly and easily,” said Josien Suntjens, a Bal Seal Territory Manager working at Elektrotechniek this week. “They’re consistently impressed with its elegance and simplicity, and they like the fact that it can help them lower manufacturing costs and simplify maintenance.”
According to Suntjens, the Bal Contact is available in a wide variety of wire sizes, coil heights and materials. Its spring is designed to maintain a nearly constant force over a
broad range of working deflections, compensating for large mating tolerances and
temperature changes without significant deviation from its initial force. Each coil in the Bal
Contact works independently, maintaining contact with the mating surface and ensuring
maximum conductivity, Suntjens said.
According to Bal Seal, typical applications for the Bal Contact include busbar connections, gas-insulated switchgear contacts, circuit breakers and industrial fuse boxes. In some environments, the Bal Contact can also be used for EMI shielding/grounding purposes.
Elektrotechniek attendees can learn more about the Bal Contact and other conducting, connecting, sealing and shielding solutions by visiting Bal Seal Engineering’s exhibit in Hall 09BV, Stand B060. A photorealistic animation of the Bal Contact at work in three different gas-insulated switchgear applications can be viewed at http://mediaroom.balseal.com/vod2
Bal Seal Engineering, Inc.
Elektrotechniek
www.elektrotechniek-online.nl
::Design World::
New Materials from Trelleborg for Hygienic-design Couplings
August 22, 2009 by Pneumatics Editor
Filed under Seals
Trelleborg Sealing Solutions materials for its new range of static seals for hygienic-design couplings are proven in tests to give outstanding performance. In particular, a newly developed FKM gives unrivalled results for a Fluorocarbon sealing material. Volume swell in all CIP media was minimal and in some virtually zero, indicating that the compound will give long-term sealing integrity for gaskets and O-Rings in pipe couplings
The materials engineered by Trelleborg Sealing Solutions for its new range of static seals for hygienic-design couplings have undergone extensive testing in commonly used Cleaning-In-Process (CIP) media. The tests prove that the materials are well-suited to these applications. In particular, Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) E7502 and Fluorocarbon (FKM) V8T41 gave best-in-class results for their material types, with V8T41 demonstrating exceptional performance for a fluorocarbon sealing material.
“These results enable Trelleborg Sealing Solutions to give qualified advice and to recommend the optimum material for specific customer applications,” says Steven Farnsworth, Food, Beverage and Pharmaceutical Segment Manager for Trelleborg Sealing Solutions Americas. “Based on our tests we are confident that our new range of static seals for hygienic-design couplings in recommended materials will give long-term sealing integrity. This will contribute to a lower meantime between planned maintenance and overall reduced production costs for users.”
The three materials recommended for hygienic-design couplings, EPDM E7502 and FKMs V8605 and V8T41, underwent various tests, one of which was immersion in 21 commonly used CIP fluids. Along with four other characteristics, the sealing materials were measured for volume swell, a critical determinant of suitability for use in hygienic-design grooves. In all cases but one the volume change of the materials was well below ten percent, the percentage of volume swell that is deemed allowable in such applications. In fact, in most CIP media the change was less than five percent, the percentage of volume swell that is deemed perfectly acceptable in such applications.
The FKM V8T41 gave the best overall performance and one which is exceptional for a Fluorocarbon sealing material. In the demanding conditions created by a combination of a two percent solution of acidic acid, citric acid and formic acid at +140°F/+60°C volume swell of V8T41 was well below five percent. In a one percent concentration of acidic CIP media with oxygen at +104°F /+40°C, virtually no swell was recorded. In addition, the material is also suitable for hot water and steam applications up to +338°F/+170°C.
Trelleborg
www.trelleborg.com
::Design World::
High Current Connectors from Solid Sealing Technology
August 20, 2009 by Pneumatics Editor
Filed under Seals
Watervliet, NY – Solid Sealing Technology introduces two new series of high current connector solutions. These connectors are rated for currents from 69 to 250 amps and incorporate SST’s ceramic to metal sealing technology for use in ultra high vacuum, pressure, cryogenics, and gas/plasma processing applications. Both series provide an ideal solution for high current applications which maximize ratings, safety, and the connection interface.
Conductors are silver plated copper on the airside in order to reduce contact resistance and range in diameters of .142 inches to .375 inches. Pin densities include single to 4 pin configurations.
Airside plugs are included with all assemblies and include crimp style contacts for wire/ cable installation. Standard assembly installations include weldable, ISO quick flanges or conflate flanges.
Solid Sealing Technology
::Design World::
Custom Fabricated O-rings
August 20, 2009 by Pneumatics Editor
Filed under Seals
Sutton, MA – Specialty Products, Inc. introduces custom fabricated O-rings made from specialty materials for use in a wide range of pumps, valves, compressors, and devices used in medical instruments and other critical sealing applications.
Interstate’s Specialty O-Rings can be made from perfluoroelastomer (PTFE), Viton®, neoprene, nitrile, EPDM, solid and cellular urethane or silicone, and santoprene. Designed to match specific application requirements, they can be spliced, vulcanized, and supplied in sizes from 1/32” to 48” I.D. with 1/16” to 1/4” cross sections, depending upon material and construction.
Material selection for Interstate’s Specialty O-Rings depends upon customer requirements with regard to fluid compatibility, temperature and different- tial pressure-, abrasion- and tear resistance, configuration, service conditions, installation considerations, and other factors. They are available in hardness from supersoft to 90 Durometer.
Interstate Specialty Products, Inc.
www.interstatesp.com
::Design World::
Explosive Decompression Resistant Materials for Oil & Gas Industry
August 11, 2009 by Pneumatics Editor
Filed under Seals
When gas or gas mixtures contact elastomer surfaces (such as those found in seals) they can be absorbed under pressure. At high pressure, absorbed gas is in a compressed state. When external pressure is reduced, either rapidly or over a relatively short period of time, the compressed gas rapidly expands within the elastomer, which can lead to cracks in the material. These cracks propagate internally, which can cause void formations to appear on the elastomer surface that significantly reduce seal integrity.
The XploR™ range of advanced elastomers includes compounds in HNBR, FKM and Isolast® Perfluoroelastomer (FFKM), each of which demonstrates best-in-class Explosive Decompression Resistance (EDR) for its material type. In independent tests, materials within the XploR™ range were able to satisfy both the NORSOK M-710 sour service and Rapid Gas Decompression (RGD) test conditions. The XploR™ range is available in all standard international O-Ring sizes and cross sections, along with custom-engineered versions and specially designed seal profiles.
Trelleborg Sealing Solutions
www.trelleborg.com
::Design World::
TCP/IP-compatible Servo Drives from Baldor Electric Co.
July 29, 2009 by Pneumatics Editor
Filed under Seals
Erie, MI - TCP/IP-compatible servo drives from Baldor Electric Co. have simplified the construction of an innovative automotive component tester.
Baldor’s MotiFlex servo drive can be networked using TCP/IP or the deterministic Ethernet-compatible Powerlink protocol.
Developed by a leading builder of structural and custom test equipment, Dynamic Testing & Equipment (DTE), the new machine fully automates the accelerated life testing of the flexible boot seals used to protect ball joints in automobile steering assemblies. The use of programmable AC servos – instead of conventional hydraulic actuators – provides an unprecedented level of control flexibility, enabling test parameters such as joint articulation angles to be varied on the fly.
Capable of testing up to six boot seals simultaneously, testing regimes can include continuous articulation of the ball joints, hot and cold brine sprays, elevated humidity levels and air temperature cycling from -25 to +80 degrees Celsius.
DTE’s boot seal testing machine uses two Baldor Ethernet TCP/IP controlled servos
DTE’s boot seal testing machine employs two motorized movement axes – one vertical and one horizontal – each driven by a Baldor MotiFlex e100 3-phase servo drive and servomotor fitted with a multi-turn absolute encoder. The precise feedback signals enable both axes to be programmed to absolute zero, facilitating optimal positioning of the machine’s tooling for parts loading and unloading, and ensuring ease of start-up.
The servo drives are connected via industry-standard Ethernet to the test machine’s host computer, which runs National Instruments’ LabVIEW software, and are controlled via TCP/IP using the built-in ActiveX commands in Baldor’s Mint programming language.
Baldor was able to supply servomotor 3D CAD files to DTE, for use with SolidWorks’ 3D CAD software.
According to DTE machine designer Glenn Siddens, “We were looking for servo manufacturers who could support ActiveX. Baldor was also able to supply 3D CAD files for the motors. As we use SolidWorks’ 3D CAD software for much of our design work, the availability of these files was a major time-saving advantage. What’s more, Baldor has proved to be extremely supportive. As well as helping us with ActiveX/LabVIEW integration, applications specialists from the company visited our facility on several occasions to help set up and fine-tune the servo systems.”
Designed primarily for automotive component manufacturers, DTE’s boot seal testing machine can be used to influence component design, or to demonstrate conformance with end customers’ performance standards.
Dynamic Testing & Equipment (DTE)
www.dynamic-testing.com
Baldor Electric Co.
www.baldormotion.com
::Design World::
Simrit Insight
July 20, 2009 by Pneumatics Editor
Filed under Seals
Simrit Insight customer magazine covers all of Simrit’s latest product developments, application case studies and current news within the organization to help our customers stay up-to-date.
This issue of focuses on technological advancements Simrit’s materials experts have
been working on, from nano technology for improved seal performance to new FKM compounds
for truly harsh environments. The articles highlight various applications that require
innovative seal design and creative problem solving at both the customer and supplier levels.
Download the catalog here>>>
Simrit
www.simritna.com
::Design World::
Sensor Ensures Proper Package Sealing
July 15, 2009 by Pneumatics Editor
Filed under Seals
When sealing packages, the standard practice is to measure temperature, time output, and air pressure input. But not force (lb-F) output. This practice can be a cause for concern because under or over-pressure during the sealing process can affect the look and function of the packaging.
Atlas Vac addressed this issue with its patented Force Sensing option for its tray sealers. The sensors indicate precisely what forces are exerted by the sealing platen during packaging. For medical and pharmaceutical products, this information is important as it lets the packager reduce the validation time required and ensures that the packaging will perform as desired, with the proper aesthetics.
Traditional measurement methods measure the airflow input to the pneumatic components to determine the pressure output that may result. The Force Sensing option uses a load cell built into the sealer to measure the precise pressure being applied.
The option lets you dial-in the force in lb-F for your application, so that there are no surprises when packages leave the clean room. Achieving the desired sealing platen pressure the first time reduces validation time, and can reduce the waste of making pressure changes during a packaging run, and also reduces overall costs.
Atlas Vac Machine
www.atlasvac.com
::Design World::
