What You Need To Know About Ultrasonic Welding

Ultrasonic welding is a common way for goods manufacturers to fuse pieces together and is usually used to weld plastics and metal, it can also be used with pieces that are different materials. This method was developed in the 1960s for use on rigid plastics and is now used to assemble electronics, electric motors and much more.

How Does It Work?

In this type of welding, the pieces you want to fuse together are held in place under pressure and subjected to subsonic vibrations which cause localized melting of the materials, when they have solidified again the pieces are joined together with a weld. Manufacturers use a press to apply pressure and set the pieces in a nest to help direct the sound waves to the join spot as well as an ultrasonic stack to produce the vibrations. The equipment for this type of welding includes Branson ultrasonic converters, boosters and power generators which can be used for welding, liquid processing and lab equipment depending on the configuration.

What Is It Used On?

Ultrasonic welding is most effective on thinner materials and can be channeled into incredibly small spaces, so it is often used in computer and electrical applications such as capacitors and diodes. You can also use this method to weld automotive instrument panels, product packaging and medical equipment. Since ultrasonic welding is relatively easy to automate and does not introduce contaminants into the weld, it is a favorite method to produce medical pipettes, arterial filters and dialysis tubes.

The development of ultrasonic welding has made manufacturing and packaging items made of various plastics and thin metals more efficient and it can be used in several industries. This welding type harnesses subsonic vibrations to melt and fuse pieces together which are too small or complex for other welding methods and is well suited to automation and cleanroom applications.…

Carry Your Own Multimedia Studio in Your Pocket

Modern technology makes it possible to carry an entire suite of audio visual products around in your pocket. What once required thousands of dollars of equipment is now available in today’s smartphones and apps. With these digital devices, you can make movies, take photos, create music, and share multimedia presentations for business and pleasure.

Make Videos

Most smartphone cameras produce high definition video that can reach professional quality. Many YouTubers, bloggers, professional communicators, and other video makers now use smartphones as their primary camera since they are inexpensive and easy to carry. Smartphone apps are also available for doing in-camera video editing and sharing.

Take Photos

As with video, smartphones are ideal for taking photos. It’s been said that the best camera is the one you have with you when you need it, and smartphone cameras are almost always with you. They give you the ability to grab shots you might otherwise not have been able to get. Smartphones are so common that people pay little attention to them when being photographed.

Smartphone apps also allow you to edit photos and create slide shows with music and graphics.

Create Music

Whether you’re preparing a podcast, creating a video soundtrack, recording your own original music, or just arranging a playlist of your favorite songs, smartphone apps can do it all. Many apps have the ability to record multiple tracks to give you professional quality recordings.

Put It All Together

Smartphones and their apps can be used with other stand-alone audio-visual equipment to create a variety of multimedia presentations, often using wireless technology. Media management apps can take care of the organization of all types of media clips and files.

Smartphones provide everything a multimedia creator needs. It also includes other functions that can prove invaluable, such as calculators, calendars, translators, and even a phone.…

What You Need To Know About Metal Alloys in Construction

Much of the metal that is used in the construction industry is not one pure metal, but rather is a metal alloy. Because alloys present potential safety concerns as well as many structural benefits, it is vital to have some basic knowledge so that you can use them well.

Safety First

If you read no farther, it is essential to understand the safety implications of using metal alloys for construction projects. Namely, not all alloys are made properly or are suitable to bear heavy loads. A good way to determine whether a particular metal allow is of sufficient quality is to use a portable hardness testing tool. There are also other ways of measuring the strength of a metal alloy, such as a tensile test.

What Is an Alloy?

Backing up a bit, a metal alloy is the result of the combination of at least two different metals. For example, the bonding material known as solder consists of tin and lead. Stainless steel and brass are also alloys. One of the advantages of using alloys instead of pure metals is that alloys often have qualities that reflect each of its component metals. This means that builders can harness the best characteristics of multiple materials and combine them.

Steel

Steel is the alloy that builders will be the most familiar with. There are many different types of steel alloys, each containing carbon steel and at least one additional metal with specific benefits. For example, chromium can combine with carbon steel to make an alloy that is exceptionally durable. Steel can be mixed with other metals in different proportions, giving rise to different qualities and sometimes different risks in each alloy.

Because metal alloys are so ubiquitous in the construction industry and many other fields, it is prudent to understand some of their basic qualities. This will allow you to get the greatest benefit out of the metals you use in your line of work without encountering safety or structural issues.…

Important Things To Know About Bench Multimeters

Whether you are looking to purchase a new multimeter or get more out of the one you already have, there are several important things you should know. This is especially true if you are dealing with a bench multimeter. Here are some of the most important things that you need to know.

Bench vs. Handheld Testers

The main types of multimeters are bench and handheld testers. Bench testers tend to provide higher accuracy, better resolution, sophisticated programming options, and advanced functions, so they tend to be more popular.

Digits

A common question about these devices concerns digits and half-digits since this is one of the first things you need to learn about multimeters. The easiest way to find out what a half digit means on your machine is to look at the chart on the front panel next to the machine’s model number. If this is worn down, you can check online tables.

Visualization

Think about how you want to see your measurements. There are several different ways multimeters can display data. A lot of people enjoy a traditional numeral display. However, some offer charts and histograms. Others will give you numerals and the option to transport the information to a spreadsheet on a computer and view it through a different graph or chart option. If your workspace is crowded, you could benefit from a multimeter that clearly displays the information, so it is easy to identify.

Auto Calibration

If you look at a datasheet produced by one of these devices, you will notice that it is most accurate immediately after being calibrated. Over time, the accuracy will worsen. When other factors, such as temperature changes, are added, you can have problems. For instance, your data can be skewed. Therefore, it is recommended that you consider a machine with auto-calibration or one that provides statistics for how your data will have been impacted over time.

By understanding this information, you can get the most out of your multimeter. If you are purchasing your first one, you will have a better idea of what to look for. Remember to look for these features to find and use your machine perfectly.…