Enclosure Materials, Engineering Blog, Paperless Operation, Save Trees,

How Can You Save the Environment by Converting to Paperless Operation?

Posted on by Elmer Daniels

With today’s development in our technology, companies are going into going green to save the environment. And this movement has been rampant even across the consumer sector. In line with this, there are hybrid vehicles, recycling bins on almost every corner of every where, and the solar technology has started to rise up. There are several steps that we can do as a society to make sure that we will be able to preserve our planet for ourselves and the future generations to come.

In line with this, we have already talked about certain ways on how companies can move towards the green movement or agenda in their offices. Businesses have been slowly but carefully converting their office procedures into much environmental friendly processes. Not only that this can help them in saving up environment resources but this can also save companies a lot of time.

One of these steps in converting to a green movement in businesses is to totally eliminate using paper in their processes or workload. There are several opportunities that comes with this and companies can save a lot of potential costs too. For example, companies can no longer print the orders that are already being emailed. From the order entry system, this system allows businesses to have a copy of the entered order right in front of their screens. By implementing this strategy, this can save us from printing and verifying the orders by hand.

The other paperless choice is to change the route of the fax machine and printed pages, and directly print things to a PDF document. While the majority of the consumers are able to send their orders to businesses, there are few customers who still prefer to send files via fax machine. But they can now do so without using the paper or toner. The PDFs can be automatically emailed directly to the business email addresses and order entry department can be automatically be inputted. In line with this, the office employees are now required to check the fax machine orders every now and then. But they don’t have to maintain and think about paper and toner cartridges.

In addition to this, the custom job filing system has also been in the green makeover. The complete information is now stored in an online storage program, which in return it contributes to the CSRs review of the product specifications, pricing, and previous orders. Even the drawings that are coming right from the computer stations.

Which can only mean that the customer does not have to sit and hold or wait while we get a printed version of the information that they need from a filing cabinet. They do not have to wait for the company’s callback whenever they ask for a certain file. With the recent development in technologies, company can now call the information needed.

Strength, Engineering Blog, Enclosure Materials

What is the Type of Strength in Maintaining Solidarity?

Posted on by Elmer Daniels

Last year, we just went to several weddings and most of them are located in out-of-towns. That will also mean that travel is included when we attend our friends’ weddings. However, the packing for an out-of-town wedding is very hard. Being more than just a regular vacation, you have to bring your wedding clothes in addition to your vacation clothes. And in most of the girls, that packing means there will be several or many pairs of stockings.

Invariably, any girl has the possibility to rip one pair of stockings when they get it out from its packaging. If one is very coordinated and graceful (not to mention careful) like me, you will eventually bump into something and you can get a run of your stockings even before the first dance happen. And do not get me started on the inconvenience of the wooden chairs or benches with their hole-inducing splinters.

For people who does not know, once you get a run for your stocking it cannot be used again and it is totally over. Somehow once the stockings are in its complete form when it is in its tightly knit piece, and they can support each other. However, wen there is a breach, the entire stockings cannot be used.

When it comes to the silicone rubber, there has the same propensity that can hold the bond together. The strength of the majority of the VM boot material can help us keep the VM series of the plastic electronics enclosure. It can also help the companies to be safe from scratches, dents, or other nicks that are being caused by dropping and other mishaps. Even if the material is very strong to withstand this kind of enclosure damage, it should retain the flexibility and soft silky exterior.

In addition to this however, we have had several people who are asking about the machining process of the silicone rubber boots. This also comes back around the to the principle in stockings. While the material is durable, strong, and very supportive while it is intact, once a hole or cut is already seen on the entire structure of the stockings can become more susceptible to shredding, tearing, or even mutilation.

The silicone material in boots can help them in maintaining their shape but the integrity can become totally compromised and it can have a risk of damage that can be further increase.

If you want to discuss any options for customization or if you have any questions in mind, the companies are free to explore with you what are the several options that are available for them. With all other products, the customization can create any undesired consequences and companies are more than willing to advise you of other options.

Electronics Enclosure, engineering blog, Non-conventional enclosure parts

How to add A Unusual or Non-Conventional Parts or Accessories to Your Electronics Enclosure?

Posted on by Elmer Daniels

We discovered that our TV stand would not work in the living room. Yesterday, we had spent the day scrubbing his apartment so the car was full of cleaning supplies such as vacuum, mop, and garbage cans. Since we passed a furniture store we decided to stop and just check out what was available.

Finding the perfect stand at a great price, we knew we had to make the purchase immediately. However, there would not be room in the vehicle. Our sales assistant helped us come up with a non-conventional method to pack all of the items in the car and we made it home in record time.

Another area non-conventional items or methods are common is in electronics. There are many standard components such as printed circuit boards, wires and connectors, and plastic enclosures to hold it all together. Once a customer asked how to attach a swivel to his enclosure.

He was inventing a product that could be worn on a cord around a person’s neck. In order for the product to work correctly, it had to be able to rotate on a specific axis, which is where the swivel came in.

This is not a very common issues that is usually being encountered. Even though, there are wide variety of electronics enclosure product line. This line is versatile enough to be able to accommodate even the most non-conventional items under electronics equipment.

The companies would only need to machine or put a round hole on the enclosure. At the location where the two pieces should come together. Especially when the product is being finally screwed together. This will now allow some of the parts to slide better unto the grooves on the swivel. And it can also secure the swivel properly while maintaining the maneuverability around the axis.

Plastic Enclosures that are Made with Belt Clip

Posted on by Elmer Daniels

While watching UP one afternoon, I was amazed by the innocence and ingenuity young Ellie showed at the beginning of the movie. Even if she is not totally involved in driving and steering the ship, she made a positive impact on her husband that she left him with wonderful mark. Including this is the fact that she taught her husband how to do the nifty and tricky system of ropes and pulleys which was used later on in the movie.

This scene has made me think a lot about how my grandparents were about during their generation, and how they have made up for the lack of technology before? Were they able to figure out how things can work without the help of today’s innovations?

With this in mind, I am amazed by how everything was offered in a silver platter because today’s innovations has enabled us to at least figure out how things should work out and we don’t have to invest time and energy in discovering things.

This is the reason why there are people who takes pleasure in working in a manufacturing field. A group of people can be composed of designers and engineers that makes things possible and brings difference to the lives of other people. Their ideas are being utilized for the betterment of the society. They are the group of people with new ideas and options for improvements. Engineers can take ideas together with available materials to make things and engineering projects happen. Whether it is theft retrieval systems, cars running on bio-fuel and cancer research, they can just follow their ideas and they will be able to create products that can bring positive changes on the world.

Even if the project fails, they will still add ideas to the things that does not work and it opens up to new options available.

This is the same case with other enclosure manufacturing companies. Their design engineers are continuously working on the products that will be released. Even with a wide variety of over 1400 styles and options, they are always open to expanding their current product line.

One of the options of the end users is to make a request about the way their enclosures should be worn – for instance, attached to a belt. There are enclosure series that are made handheld and they have optional rubber silicon boot for easier attachment. These molds are directly attached to the belt loop. This gives provisions for the enclosure to be worn on any kind of way that belts attach together – tool belt, clothing, shoulder strap, etc. The belt loop is being improved and reinforced to give protection to the boot from further damage and tearing that can be caused by continued use. Companies continue to come up with different use and innovations to make enclosures improved and better than before.

engineering blog, System Integrator

How System Integrator Delivers Value in Today’s Technology

Posted on by Elmer Daniels

The one great function of system integrators is they are in the industry to help companies solve automation problems. This happens by integrators giving the time, talent, and technology that is crucial to converting a plan into a completed company project. Once a manufacturing plant is prepared to make its operations bigger, the production systems should also upgrade its processes. However, the main question that should be answered is wherein the part of the expansion a system integrator can help?

To help companies answer this question, the Control System Integrators Association (CSIA) a body formed for independent, professional service providers that utilize hardware, software, and communications products are ready to give the clients within a specific industry the best options for systems integration. This includes control and information systems. With this in mind, this body dictates that the system integrators create the design and implements complicated systems for the end-users of the process in different industries. Such as manufacturing, process plants, and other industrial facilities.

Siemens Digital Factory

The Siemens Digital Factory is popular with their engineering capabilities and information technologies that help businesses automate their manufacturing processes. This covers all types of businesses from the plant floor to the corporation and enterprise level. The automation processes enable the company owners and manufacturers to have cost-efficient ways and practical energy use. In return, this helps in the increase in production while decreasing the harmful effects on the environment.

There are articles that discuss different system integrators. There is one case study that involves water and wastewater treatment plants. In this study, there is a PLC involved. The project involves the replacement of the PLCs or programmable logic controllers. There is also converting protocols, upgrading supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system both hardware and software. The second case involves PLC consolidation and the upgrade of SCADA software. With this in mind, both projects are really successful.

Another case study shows how the users of the systems such as insurance companies, system manufacturers, different government offices. These companies and offices can identify their need for a process safety system. This system should be designed, operated, and well maintained over its life cycle. In the article, they list the set of key codes and different standards that are very well applicable to the different process of other industries and they give different perspectives about the fulfillment of legacy systems.

control system, control system with style, engineering blog

How to Have Control System with Style?

Posted on by Elmer Daniels

When a design engineer would like to implement and design a control system with an integration project, he/she should start with a set of goals or specifications. These goals should determine the preferences of the end-user and this should be communicated efficiently to ensure that final output satisfies the expectations of all stakeholders in a company. This gives a good start for any design engineer when specifications are carefully developed and implemented. It ensures the highest success probability of the project and it makes sure that in the long haul, the control system can be maintained and operates efficiently.

When designing a new control system, the easiest one to develop are the hard-side specifications. Why? Because there are many resources available for this one. Pre-built sections for controllers and software packages in a control system are in the resources of Construction Specifications Institute (CSI). Once an engineer cannot find the detail that he/she desires, other control system hardware and software sellers can also provide detailed sections about hard-side specifications. Once the users are looking for bids from several seller or vendors of this system, the specifications the company would like to have must be carefully developed and consider so that these can be met by several bidders. Sometimes you can find an electrical enclosure manufacturer that offers built-in or customized server rack cabinets that can install the control system you design. Some control system needs to be in the low temperature or cold environment, so you might need some rack server with air conditioner systems to cool down your controller.

The real challenge comes when a company or a user would like to set the specifications on the soft-side of controls. To guide them in the decision-making process, they should start with a few basic questions:

What design should be considered for the screen?

How is the controller is going to be used by the maintenance or engineering personnel?

The structure of tags and operating pump colors are hardly addressed in the specifications. These are the elements which determine the UI (user interface) of the control system.

Once these guidelines are answered, the next step of action is to start the layout with a style guide. Style guides have been existing for a very long time in other fields. There is The Associated Press Stylebook, MLA Handbook for research papers, and in marketing field where fonts, colors, and logos for branding are also guided & monitored across all social media platforms. In this scenario, the style guide is also appropriate and applicable.

With this in mind, there is no limit what elements and considerations should be added in a control system style guide. However, the following are six areas where there should be standardization of style and these elements has proven to have the most return on investment:

1. Color

Like the usual traffic lights, red signifies stop and green means go. With this in mind, mechanical systems and electrical systems also apply the same principles. The main goal of color coding is to keep the operators and personnel safe in company operations. The color does not only signify coding but it should be well implemented in the company processes.

To start the process of deciding which colors to use for guidelines, determine the list of colors used in a facility where the control system will be used. Look for painted process pipes, pilot lights, control panels, stack lights, etc. The colors used should be familiar with the personnel for more efficient use of the control guide and better operations.