Featured Articles - IQS Newsroom https://blog.iqsdirectory.com Your source for industry news articles on industrial products and manufacturers Wed, 17 Sep 2014 13:47:36 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.4 https://blog.iqsdirectory.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/cropped-favicon-gear-icon-32x32.png Featured Articles - IQS Newsroom https://blog.iqsdirectory.com 32 32 4 Shapes Made through Metal Spinning https://blog.iqsdirectory.com/spin-forming-4/ Wed, 17 Sep 2014 13:47:36 +0000 https://blog.iqsdirectory.com/?p=18357 Spin forming is the process of creating shaped metal pieces, usually rounded in shape, on a lathe or with other metal spinning tools. Spun metal has surprising strength and can be made into a variety of shapes. Although many factories use molds, rollers, or presses to create metal objects, many factories still use the process of spin forming aluminum. Spun aluminum pieces have the strength of the original metal plus additional strength provided by the shaping process. Spinning aluminum is a low-tech manufacturing option that still produces superior results over more high-tech solutions, which is one of the reasons why it is still so prevalent today. Many metal spinning factories create similar pieces, some of which can include:

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]]> Spin forming is the process of creating shaped metal pieces, usually rounded in shape, on a lathe or with other metal spinning tools. Spun metal has surprising strength and can be made into a variety of shapes. Although many factories use molds, rollers, or presses to create metal objects, many factories still use the process of spin forming aluminum. Spun aluminum pieces have the strength of the original metal plus additional strength provided by the shaping process. Spinning aluminum is a low-tech manufacturing option that still produces superior results over more high-tech solutions, which is one of the reasons why it is still so prevalent today. Many metal spinning factories create similar pieces, some of which can include:
Lids: It is easy to make a lid from a flat disc of aluminum. All the operator has to do is bend the metal slightly to create a dome-like shape, then roll the ends over with a special tool to prevent sharp edges and cuts during the lid’s use. Other features, like handles, are added after the spinning process.
Cans: Surprisingly enough, cans can also be spun formed. Usually, the cans are either prototypes, or cans with thicker edges than typical aluminum cans. A special mold is attached to the lathe during the spinning process to help shape the metal into the desired shape and thickness.
Cones: Using the right tools, a metal spinner can also create aluminum cones using the spinning process. A special mold is required to obtain the right shape. The operator simply forms the metal around the cone mold, creating a perfectly seamless cone ideal for a variety of uses.
Hemispheres: An aluminum hemisphere is often created by spin forming aluminum. Bowls, the back of light bulbs, and other metal circular shapes are often formed using the spin forming process. With the right techniques, it is possible to create a perfectly rounded shape from a simple piece of flat aluminum within just a few minutes.

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]]> 18357 Wire Rope: A Rock Climber’s Best Friend https://blog.iqsdirectory.com/wire-rope-a-rock-climbere28099s-best-friend/ Fri, 02 Apr 2010 10:00:00 +0000 https://blog.iqsdirectory.com/metals-materials/wire-rope-a-rock-climbere28099s-best-friend/ For the past year, my younger brother has been backpacking around New Zealand, sleeping in a tent, working on farms and climbing mountains. From the pictures I've seen, it's been an amazing adventure in one of the most naturally beautiful places on Earth. The older sister in me, though, is always a little bit worried. I imagine him scaling the sides of steep rock formations or climbing his way to the top of Mount Cook, and I realize how much more of a thrill seeker he is than me. While I would prefer he take up a more relaxing outdoor sport like fishing, the fact that he's well equipped for belaying allows my mind to rest easy. Instead of relying on a good grip and foot holding, most rock climbers these days use an effective system consisting of a harness, pulley and belay loop, which are all attached to a sturdy climbing rope. Belaying ensures the climbers won't fall very far in case they slip off a rock.

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]]> by Jenny Knodell, IQS Editor
Jenny Knodell, Author
For the past year, my younger brother has been backpacking around New Zealand, sleeping in a tent, working on farms and climbing mountains. From the pictures I’ve seen, it’s been an amazing adventure in one of the most naturally beautiful places on Earth. The older sister in me, though, is always a little bit worried. I imagine him scaling the sides of steep rock formations or climbing his way to the top of Mount Cook, and I realize how much more of a thrill seeker he is than me. While I would prefer he take up a more relaxing outdoor sport like fishing, the fact that he’s well equipped for belaying allows my mind to rest easy. Instead of relying on a good grip and foot holding, most rock climbers these days use an effective system consisting of a harness, pulley and belay loop, which are all attached to a sturdy climbing rope. Belaying ensures the climbers won’t fall very far in case they slip off a rock.

Example of Using a Wire Rope

The most important single piece of gear for rock climbers is the rope. It can be made of nylon, rubber or wire. Wire rope is the first choice for many climbers because it’s reliable, able to handle hundreds of pounds of weight and isn’t likely to fray. Most wire rope made for rock climbing and scaling is thin, about 1/5 of an inch. This type is sometimes called wire cable and is the first choice for rock climbers because it’s less bulky and more flexible, and still able to hold almost 500 pounds of weight. These ropes are more than enough to handle my brother and all his gear, and last a very long time without much maintenance. If wire rope is used as aircraft cables to handle large air planes, in weight lifting systems and in bridge construction to transport huge heavy steel beams, then I’ll trust it when it comes to keeping my brother safe.

Why is wire rope so strong? It’s composed of 3 parts—wires, strands and a core. The basic unit is a single wire, which is a very thin piece of extruded metal like steel or aluminum. Anywhere from 2 to 40 of the wires are twisted together to form strands. The strands then wrap themselves around a core, which is a thicker, solid piece of cotton, plastic or wire. You wouldn’t think so, but wire ropes are technically considered simple machines because they are composed of several different moving parts that work together. Some rope is made with outer coatings to prevent against wear resistance. While plastic coated cables are useful in theatre riggings and car towing, most rock climbers don’t bother with it, since the coating tends to rip off after a moderate amount of use.

3 Components of Wire Rope
Photo Courtesy of Miami Cordage.

All rock climbing wire rope needs some sort of surface protection. Since it is used outdoors so much, the rope is bound to come into contact with water at some point. And as we all know, water and metal are not a good combination, unless the metal is protected. So in order to prevent oxidization, which causes rusting, most wire rope is hot dipped in molten zinc. This is called galvanized cable, and it’s very durable, ware resistant and able to handle any bad weather. So if you’re feeling adventurous and have decided to rock climb, when you’re buying supplies, make sure you choose wire rope to keep you safe.

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