Whether it’s run by humans or by robots, it can be said without argument that the assembly line method is by far the most widely used in manufacturing. The assembly line, created and patented by Ransom Olds in 1901, is an arrangement of machines, tools, and workers in which a product is assembled by having…
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You can trace the roots of reverse engineering, common in software development, to older industries such as manufacturing. The process involves deconstructing a finished product to determine how the parts fit together and machine functions as a whole. This in-depth approach can teach us a great deal about maintenance. Systematic view Reverse engineering follows a…
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One of the earliest manufactured metals, cast iron has a long and varied history. Used for everything from plowshares to cookware, cast iron was an early manufactured metal because of its relatively low melting point. Cast iron makes a good manufacturing material not only because of its low melting point, but for its fluidity, castability,…
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With plenty of facilities needing machinery to handle daily workloads, the temptation to invest in brand new machinery that will work seamlessly can be high. Who doesn’t love the look, feel and functionality of something new? There are, however, plenty of reasons purchasing and maintaining used or refurbished machinery is cost effective in more ways than…
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From small-scale electronics to larger manufacturing industries, people are taking note of the environmental and financial burdens of electronics waste. A growing repair culture draws further attention to these issues as insiders work toward widespread support for those who prioritize repair and reuse over filling landfills with expensive — and often perfectly good — electronics….
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Through talking with many maintenance supervisors and technicians throughout the years it seems like many of them dread the summer months. I thought the main reason for this was just due to having to work in facilities that reached well over 120° F in hottest months of the year. While that might be the case for…
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Most manufacturers recommend regular equipment maintenance — not only to guard against catastrophic failures but also to keep equipment running ideally throughout its lifespan. Some simple maintenance operations include lubricating moving parts, inspecting machinery, and cleaning it all regularly. While many manufacturers schedule machine maintenance to prevent failure, some — under certain situations — operate on a “run-to-failure” maintenance…
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Offshoring manufacturing jobs reached a peak in the 1980s and 90s. At the time, inexpensive labor was manufacturers’ prime motivation to move production out of the United States and into countries such as Malaysia, Mexico, and Taiwan. Proponents suggested Americans should innovate while those in other countries should focus on production. Supporters of NAFTA and other free trade…
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Where precise control of a hydraulic system is needed, there are usually one or more electro-hydraulic servo valves in use. There are many on the market these days with countless varieties engineered for many different applications. Servo valves are typically used to control hydraulic actuators and motors. Due to their relatively high complexity, many small…
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“Think before you install” should be the motto of every maintenance department in the manufacturing world. It only makes sense to take into account every possible installation failure when installing any type of equipment. Whether it’s your first time or you have maintained production lines for many years it is always important to know what…
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