Basic knowledge

Heavy-Duty Anchors Types/Properties and Installation

Heavy-duty anchors are a specialized form of metal anchors. Their load capacity is almost unlimited in the interaction of the employed system and the compatible substrate. Heavy-duty anchors with enormous load capacity are used in industrial environments, such as machine construction. The following article provides information on the different types of heavy-duty anchors, their uses and fastening methods.

10 Minutes read

Profile Rail Guides - Selection Tool for Linear Guides

Selecting the right profile rail guide has a lasting impact on the performance and longevity of machines and equipment. But how do you find the right system among a wide range of options? Check out our blog to see what criteria really matter, from load types and accuracy requirements to environmental and installation conditions. We will show you a structured approach to help you make informed decisions and to optimize the performance of your applications over the long term.

9 Minutes read

Drill Bushings - Benefits/Types/Application/Overview of Standards

Drill bushings are an important part of machining workpieces. They are used to guide the boring tool safely and precisely, thus ensuring an exact bore. This article details the benefits, types, applications, and standard overviews of drill bushings.

8 Minutes read

Linear shafts: shaft ends and mounting options for linear shafts

The fastening mechanisms for linear shafts or guide shafts in mechanical systems require careful planning. Different shaft ends permit different mounting options. This article provides an overview of available shaft ends and answers the question of which shaft holders or shaft support options are available and where they are appropriate. As part of this, we also take a detailed look at the fixed and floating bearing types for shafts.

12 Minutes read

Types and Applications of Set Collars and Clamping Rings

Set collars and clamping rings are important components in mechanical engineering. Their function is to secure machine components in a specific position on a shaft or axis. This article introduces different versions, selection criteria, and fields of applications.

6 Minutes read

Tensile strength classes of stainless steel screws and nuts

The tensile strength of steel and stainless steel is a critical parameter when it comes to the load-bearing capacity and safety of threaded joints. It is made up of two key parameters for steel screws based on which the tensile strength and the yield strength can be easily determined. But starting at a certain size, stainless steel screws and stainless steel nuts are marked with a letter-number combination (e.g. A4-80). The letter-number combination arranged in front of the hyphen assigns the screw so marked to a material group and steel group and thus provides information on the basic material properties of the screw. The number 80 to the right of the hyphen indicates the strength class. This article shows how to use the strength class of stainless steel bolts to determine their limits of use and provide an overview of the load-bearing capacity of typical strength classes.

8 Minutes read

Pneumatic circuits and pneumatic circuit diagrams - fundamentals of fluid engineering

This article covers the fundamentals of pneumatics, pneumatic circuits and pneumatic circuit diagrams. Pneumatics is an area of fluid engineering that deals with compressed air and its application in various systems. Pneumatic control technology is used in many industries and sectors, such as material handling, robotics, or transportation.

12 Minutes read

Tutorial: Coefficients of expansion of materials - Materials sciences theory

The coefficients of expansion of materials play a crucial role in materials science. Coefficients of expansion describe how the dimensions of a material change under the influence of temperature fluctuations. This article provides a comprehensive introduction to the topic, including the basics of thermal expansion, influencing factors, and various measurement methods. We also compare typical expansion coefficients of material classes and explain their uses in various industries. Lastly, we address thermal stresses and ways to prevent damage from temperature differences in materials.

11 Minutes read

Calculating the center of mass - with examples

Calculating the center of mass is an important step in many tasks in mechanical engineering and in the design of machines and components. The center of mass indicates where the weight of a body is concentrated and thus permits determining the forces and moments in the system. This article explores the basics of calculating the center of mass and provides some real-world examples.

7 Minutes read

Spring design calculations

Springs are mechanical components that can store and deliver tension energy generated by the work used to tension, elongate or compress the spring in the form of deformation or tension energy. They are used in many applications and can be found in small electronic components as well as in large industrial machines. To ensure that a spring performs its function, it must be correctly designed. For this purpose, parameters such as the spring constant and the spring travel are calculated.

7 Minutes read

Selecting magnets

Magnets are of great significance in industrial applications. They are used in a variety of applications, from electric motors to sensors and actuators. However, selecting the right magnet for a specific application requires a deep understanding of the magnetic properties, materials and design features.

12 Minutes read

Processing limits and accuracy standards for sheet metal parts

Sheet metal parts are used in our everyday life and in industry in a wide range of applications. In order for these manufactured sheet metal parts to be used interoperably, they must comply with certain accuracy standards and machining limits. These refer to specific parameters and tolerances with respect to width, length, thickness and geometric tolerances. The specifications must be taken into account when manufacturing sheet metal parts. The following examines various standards and limits in detail.

8 Minutes read

Plain bearings - Cost savings with cost efficient products

Industrial value chains are increasingly focused on manufacturing and maintenance costs. Maintenance costs represent a large portion of the ongoing operating costs of a system. High-quality and maintenance-friendly components help to keep these costs as low as possible while ensuring the required quality. However, planning and design does not always have to rely on the most expensive component. Using ABC analysis, products and components can be classified as ABC parts based on their value share and their importance in the value chain. The most cost-efficient articles are the so-called C articles or C-parts. These have a small share of value, but are required in large numbers. These parts have great potential to reduce costs. It’s worth taking a closer look. For many applications, cost-efficient items are a good alternative to expensive items. However, a low price does not have to mean a loss in quality; the application range of cost-efficient items may only be limited, for example, by the often lower precision. This article will show you how to use C-parts such as plain bearings in a cost-efficient manner, and how to select them purposefully, while at the same time ensuring quality.

10 Minutes read

Ball bearings – Load distribution for rolling bearings

Ball bearings and other rolling bearings are installed in numerous machines. The installed bearings transfer the radial or axial forces that occur to the machine housing and thus permit the use of various moving components. The forces that occur and the resulting load in the bearing must already be determined during the design process. The load distribution in the bearing and the matching contact point geometry is crucial for the expected service life, function and efficiency of the bearing. In this article, we will look at the load exerted on a rolling bearing and how contact surface geometry affects load distribution in the rolling bearing.

10 Minutes read

Pipe Fittings – Types and applications

Pipe fittings are used to securely connect pipes, tubes, and hoses. They are used in pneumatics as well as in hydraulics and other fluid-carrying systems. However, suitable fittings and adapters are also available for pipes under vacuum. As an important component of these systems, it is essential that pipe fittings reliably and securely connect the components to be connected and permanently prevent liquids or gases from entering or exiting. This article introduces different types of pipe fittings and their ideal uses, and will help you choose the best pipe fitting for your application

10 Minutes read

Specialty plastics for practitioners – Properties, resistance and application examples

Specialty plastics are used when applications place high demands on the material or special properties are required. They frequently have insulating properties and their high resistance to water and chemicals makes them a reliable, low-maintenance material. It is then no wonder that specialty plastics are used in many technical fields and also in fasteners such as screws and nuts. The following article provides an overview of various specialty plastics and their applications.

12 Minutes read

Neodymium magnets: Special features, production and uses

Neodymium magnets are the strongest permanent magnets available and can produce very strong magnetic fields in the smallest of spaces. This property allows them to be integrated into a variety of devices and applications even when space is limited.

What makes neodymium magnets so strong, what applications are available, how they are made, and what to consider when using them is discussed in this article.

9 Minutes read

Understanding rotary shafts, axes, and motor shafts: A guideline

Rotary shafts are an essential element of modern mechanical engineering. Rotary shafts transfer rotary motion. They can be manufactured from different materials, which are selected specifically to match the application. The materials include stainless steel, corrosion-resistant steel, and steel.

5 Minutes read

Linear motion components - Things worth knowing about guides, screw drives and more

These include linear motors, linear actuators, linear axes, and other components that allow linear motion. Linear motors are specially designed motors that generate linear motion. They generate forces to move loads along a linear track.

10 Minutes read