XYZ hydraulic surface grinder bought by MHV

MHV Products has bought a surface grinder from XYZ Machine Tools to fulfil its requirement for a relatively large table on a compact machine.

The order that prompted the installation of the XYZ 1224 hydraulic surface grinder involved the machining of 2in-thick steel plates 700mm long by 300mm wide.

XYZ surface grinder has useful larger table

Machining had to be extremely accurate in terms of final thickness and parallelism as the plates were intended for machines that punch the centre holes in 'master' CDs.

However, they were too big to grind on the company's existing surface grinder.

The initial solution involved outsourcing the surface-grinding operation, but this resulted in turnaround times of anything up to three weeks.

The alternative was to invest in a surface grinder with a larger table, although with only a limited demand for surface grinding, Kevin Hibbert, director and owner of MHV Products, opted for a manual machine rather than one equipped with a digital readout or CNC system.

The XYZ 1224 fitted the bill, especially as it has a footprint of 3550 x 2550mm and is supplied as standard with a permanent or electromagnetic chuck, dust extraction and flood coolant, as well as power rise and fall to the wheelhead.

Available options include automatic incremental downfeed, overhead wheel dresser and digital readout.

http://www.manufacturingtalk.com/news/xyz/xyz247.html

Software upgrade eases hydraulic design

Hydraulic and electrical designs are integrated through a combined design platform that has the flexibility to customise views to select only essential electrical design information.

Zuken has released the 2008 version of the dedicated fluid design module of the E3.series environment.

The new version makes the design of hydraulics and pneumatics a more cohesive part of the design process.

Hydraulics design engineers benefit from the best of both the individual and collective approaches to design.

Hydraulic and electrical designs are integrated through a combined design platform that has the flexibility to customise views to select only essential electrical design information, eliminating the unnecessary burden of irrelevant electrical complexity within the design view.

In addition, both hydraulics and electrical designers can now work within E3.series simultaneously, enabling them to work more collaboratively while improving quality and reducing development cycles.

Now fully integrated with electrical systems, the customised platform provides hydraulics engineers with a dedicated design environment complete with the ability to define their own symbols, such as tubes and hoses.

Hydraulic and pneumatic sheets are on display in the project tree and likewise, specific components appear in the components trees.

Customised views allow all users to select the level of detail of either the hydraulic or electrical data in the design view they are working on.

This is powered by the E3.enterprise edition, which enables concurrent design in a multiuser environment.

In the 2008 version, many of the advancements also have a direct advantage for the E3.fluid user.

It has improved functionality for quickly managing product variants and options and the ability to embed any file for improved project management.
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news/zuk/zuk107.html

BASF Expands Line with Biodegradable Hydraulic Fluid

BASF Corporation is expanding its portfolio of low toxicity and biodegradable hydraulic fluids with the introduction of Plurasafe H2O-K hydraulic fluid, a new product designed for equipment used in marine and water-sensitive applications.

"High heat and pressure can cause many types of equipment to leak hydraulic fluids into the environment," said Rebecca Hollis, business manager of performance chemicals for BASF in North America. "This is especially true in marine applications, including boats and dock operations, where hydraulic leaks can affect oceans, lakes, rivers and streams."

Plurasafe H2O-K fluid is a proprietary product that is designed to protect the entire hydraulic system against wear and corrosion damage. This unique formulation has low aquatic toxicity and is readily biodegradable.

Applications for Plurasafe H2O-K hydraulic fluid can include recreational and commercial boat hydraulic systems, marine and commercial dock operations, industrial and commercial truck hydraulic systems, carwash systems, environmentally sensitive hydraulic systems, and industrial machinery.

http://www.machinerylubrication.com/article_detail.asp?articleid=1900

Hydraulic fluid leaked into river from hospital elevator

A spill at UT Medical Center sent up to 85 gallons of elevator hydraulic fluid into the Tennessee River.

The spill happened Saturday. Hydraulic fluid leaked from an elevator shaft into a drain, which empties straight into the river.

UT Medical Center said it found out about the spill late Monday morning, when a company on contract to repair the elevator notified the hospital.

The company called 911 Monday, said it was a non-emergency call, and notified the Knoxville Fire Department of the spill.

UT said, of the 110 gallons that leaked out, 25 gallons were pumped and recovered.

The drain from the elevator shaft runs straight to the river. UT Medical Center said the elevator and its housing were built to the existing codes in the mid 1980s.

UT Medical Center said it is working diligently on further cleanup efforts, and its hazardous response contractor expects full containment by Tuesday morning.

The Knoxville Fire Department said the fluid was in the river and gone, preventing cleanup of what was already in the water.

http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=77463&catid=2

Latham Marine Develops New Hydraulic Lift System

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - (Business Wire) Latham Marine, a company that built its reputation with its hydraulic steering system and top-quality parts for the performance boat segment, is further expanding its line with a new hydraulic lift system. The lift will debut at the Miami International Boat Show, February 12-16, 2009 at the company’s new booth, # H80, at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

While Latham Marine has manufactured patented hydraulic lifts for Thunderbird (Formula) Marine for over five years, the new system was created for another customer’s 47’ sport yacht under development. The lift’s 4-bar linkage system with a port-less ram is unique, as it encloses all the hoses and fittings within the cylinder, making it corrosion- resistant and minimizing the chances of a hydraulic fluid leak. The stainless steel system is machined and built in-house to Latham’s standards for strength.

Bob Latham, president of the company, has specialized in engineering problem-solving systems for over 35 years and brought his intuitive talents to the new lift project. He and his team devised a weight-specific, integral mechanical lock that secures the cylinder in the “up” position; the lock provides back-up security and strength as boat owners seek to safely and smoothly move watercraft and dinghies aboard onto swim platforms.

“We saw other systems on the market as flawed,” said Latham. “Our commitment is to ‘over-engineer’ to make sure that our parts and systems work impeccably. We ensure that we exceed our customers’ expectations.”

In addition to the lift, Latham Marine will display its aluminum sea pump (debuted last year in brass), to accommodate smaller, lighter boats. The sea pump is important in avoiding engine over-heating and Latham’s self-priming pump was a popular addition to the company’s extensive line of OEM and after-market parts.

Latham Marine hand-crafts and machines all its parts in its Fort Lauderdale factory, where quality control and customer service are priorities. “I build every part as if it was going on my boat,” he states.

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/latham-marine-develops-new-hydraulic-lift-system,703529.shtml

ESCO Hydraulic Coupler

ESCO Corporation's new TwinLock™ Hydraulic Coupler can pick up a full range of OEM buckets within a machine's weight class.

The new coupler is designed for improved performance and safety. It has a cast body for performance and increased life over fabricated couplers. The design includes two key locking features that increase safety. The front latch acts as the first locking mechanism and is visible to the machine operator. The second locking mechanism is two gravity-operated mechanical locks that secure the attachment in the event that hydraulic pressure is lost.

Other benefits: The Coupler can be operated directly from the machine's cab without need for the operator to manually insert a pin; front latch serves as a backup locking mechanism and a visual indicator when the hydraulic cylinder has retracted; front retaining jaw catches the front pin in the event the hook is not fully engaged on the attachment pin, ensuring attachment retention; cast couplers are available for 7- to 40-ton excavators, with increased strength and less weight at the end of the stick than with fabricated couplers.

http://www.acppubs.com/article/CA6625085.html?industryid=48553

Hydraulic Boat Lifts

Among a variety of technologically advanced and mechanically upgraded boatlifts, hydraulic boatlifts deserve special mention. In the search for protection that's tough on waves - but easy on the environment and community aesthetics - many have found a solution in floating wave attenuators.

Most hydraulic boatlifts are standard with non-corrosive stainless steel bolts, stainless cable and brass nuts, giving you many years of service while maintaining a clean appearance. Thick urethane sheaves are used to maximize cable life and to ensure lasting performance under heavy use. Most of the hydraulic vertical lifts offer rigid diagonal V-bracing on both sides, giving uncompromised strength on demand when your boat is raised to maximum height. There are a number of companies who offer a variety of hydraulic boats ready to give these pleasures and advantages. Certain characteristics and features of hydraulic should be highlighted:

The hydraulic cylinder is enclosed in a beam assembly. Stainless bolts, pins, and brass nuts are used on all lifts and accessories to provide years of reliable service. The hydraulic pump, motor, and battery are enclosed in a poly box that can be locked to protect your investment.

The hydraulic lift comes standard with a two-button remote for raising and lowering the lift. Additional remotes are available and are easy to program to each specific unit.

No matter which kind of hydraulic boatlift you choose, see if you can get a one-year warranty, or an even longer one if possible. That way, if it ever breaks down, you won't end up throwing away even more money than you spent in the first place. A boatlift is meant to save you money on repairing your boat; it should never become an ongoing expense unto itself.

Boat Lifts provides detailed information on boat lifts, used boat lifts, floating boat lifts, boat lift motors and more. Boat Lifts is affiliated with Boat Docks.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Max_Bellamy