The seal in any connector is critical to the reliable long-term function of the connector. Seals that wear or degrade quickly need to be changed frequently, adding to the cost of the connector. Several factors contribute to how the seals perform in the connector, including material, size, seal style, sealing surface and loads applied on the seal.
The demands placed on electronic leak testers can be summed up in four words: high, low, little and large. These systems need to have high sensitivity and low incidents of false positives or worse, missed leaks. They need to find little leaks, and must find these small leaks in large-as well as small-parts.
Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) is the language of communicating dimensional information on a product part print or process drawing. Manufacturers find it valuable to precisely communicate functional product characteristics, manufacturing process controls and gaging measurement plans.
The primary reason for installing and operating coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) on the shop floor is to keep process quality under control, preventing the production of defective parts.
After measuring holes for 90 years, air gages remain a powerful metrology tool. Air gages use compressed air to measure changes in pressure or flow rates. Such tests can determine attributes and measure distances between precision orifices and the workpiece. Air gaging offers sufficient magnification and reliability to measure small tolerances.
It just doesn't add up. There is no way that the layoffs at Ford Motor Co., General Motors Corp. or DaimlerChrysler are not going to negatively affect the economy. U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao recently said these losses would have no effect on our economy. Others agree with her.
Suzanne de Lemos-Williams, senior mechanical engineer, and her colleagues at Instron Corp. (Norwood, MA) are accustomed to challenging assignments. De Lemos-Williams and the rest of Instron's 12-person Custom Engineering (CE) department take on assignments that call for integrating the company's advanced materials testing equipment for demanding customer application requirements.
The aerospace industry wasn't the first to develop its own ISO 9001-based standards, but it may take the prize for implementing the most rigorous process for accreditation and certification to its QMS standards. The process is designed to meet the needs of stakeholders around the world. It depends on a level of oversight crucial to an industry where safety and reliability are essential.
Will a company fail because of a lack of a robust quality system? Has it happened already? I recently had this question posed to me by a reader who was conducting research.