IQS Newsroom

Direct Drive Blowers or Belt-Driven Blowers?

Belt driven or direct drive? That is the blower construction question. What are the advantages of belt driven blowers over direct drive blowers, if any? Let’s quickly review the difference. Direct drive blowers are blowers in which the motor that controls the rotation of fan blades is connected directly to the rotor shaft or fan axle. This means that the fan blades will spin at the same speed as the motor’s rotation. A belt driven blower features a motor that is not directly connected to whatever equipment the fan’s blades or impellers may be mounted on. Instead, one or more belts are used to connect the motor to the moving parts of the fan.

IQS Newsroom April 30, 2014

Featured Articles, Plant & Facility Equipment

Steel Rule Dies: The Basics

Every production method has a most basic level of operation, the level that started the trend or made the process popular enough to want to create alterations for specific applications. When it comes to the die cutting industry, the most basic technique involves steel rule dies. Working like a stamp, but one with sharp edges that pierces all the way through a material, steel rule dies are able to quickly and efficiently create die cut shapes for a variety of applications used in many industries.

IQS Newsroom April 29, 2014

The Swimming Goggle Components

As a kid as well as a teenager, I loved to swim, and participated in a number of swimming related activities. During grade school I was on our neighborhood swim team, and once I got into middle school I discovered the joys and struggles of synchronized swimming. Although some may scoff at this sport as simple water dancing, the physical stamina required to practice synchronized swimming is intense. During our 4 to 5 minute routines, we are never allowed to touch the bottom of the pool, which means we are constantly working to keep our arms, legs or torsos out of the water while retaining a sense of effortlessness and grace. This is not an easy fete. Both of these experiences gave me a grave appreciation for swimming goggles, the elements of which are fascinating.

IQS Newsroom April 29, 2014

Featured Articles, Plastic Molding Processes

Compressing Trash with Hydraulics

Hydraulic press manufacturers create a variety of pressing machines for a variety of industries. In a factory, a hydraulic press can be used to shape metal, compress pieces together, or compact a larger item into a smaller, denser shape. Other hydraulic presses are used to cut out metal pieces, or compress rocks into powder.

IQS Newsroom April 25, 2014

Featured Articles, Hydraulic Equipment & Supplies

Invention of the Hydraulic Press

Joseph Bramah is an inventor from England who was born on April 13, 1748 in Yorkshire, England. He started his invention work when he designed a lock, and received a patent for it in 1784. He soon started a lock company called Bramah Locks, whose locks were well known for their resistance to tampering and lock picking. In fact, they had a famous “challenge lock” hanging outside of the store, which promised to offer 200 guinea (a British coin) to whoever could open the lock. The lock remained unopened for 67 years, and it took the locksmith who eventually opened the lock 51 hours to do so. The original lock remains in the Science Museum in London.

IQS Newsroom April 25, 2014

Featured Articles, Hydraulic Equipment & Supplies

How Does the Hole Get Inside Hypodermic Needles?

Did you know that suppliers for hypodermic needles use a very special process to create the small, but strong needles? Each needle must contain a narrow, hollow center inside the needle for collecting blood or administering medication. The process of creating these tiny, hollow metal pieces made from stainless steel is quite interesting, and most companies will use a similar process to create their own needles. If you have ever wondered how hypodermic needles are created, look no further.

IQS Newsroom April 22, 2014

Featured Articles, Metals & Materials Suppliers

Structural Steel vs. Cold Rolled Mezzanine Systems

A mezzanine is an intermediate floor inside of a building, usually open and not walled off. There are a few different types of mezzanines; including stick built, fiberglass, and rack-supported. In general, the two most common types of mezzanines are cold rolled and structural steel. Understanding the differences in the way the two types of mezzanines are manufactured is crucial to ensuring you choose the right product for the job.

IQS Newsroom April 16, 2014

Featured Articles, Plant & Facility Equipment

Aluminum Alloy Advantages

It has been nearly one month since the announcement of the Lightweight and Modern Metals Manufacturing Innovation Institute (LM3I) and the market has already responded in impressive ways. The goal of the LM3I Institute is to research and design the most energy efficient lightweight metals which will be utilized in a wide range of industries. The price of certain aluminum alloys hasn’t been this high since early 2012 and price continues to fluctuate. Many companies and organizations are responding to this new era of metals in a big way. A number of aluminum alloy manufacturing facilities are now under construction throughout the world and it is estimated that these newer aluminum alloys will result in massive substantial savings in fuel consumption. These facilities are aiming to have aluminum capacities of 900,000 tons.

IQS Newsroom March 24, 2014

Featured Articles, Metals & Materials Suppliers

Preventing Bond Failure in Rubber to Metal Bonding

Durability is probably the most important characteristic of many products and is especially important for parts with rubber to metal bonding. The automotive industry uses rubber bonding on parts to absorb and dampen sound; this is one of the most common applications in the field. So how is durability ensured in the specific instance of these particular products? Well, there are a few different issue that could lead to failure as well as different ways to prevent them.

IQS Newsroom March 3, 2014

Featured Articles, Plastic Molding Processes

Understanding Abrasive Flow Machining

Abrasive flow machining is a finishing process for a variety of materials including tough metals such as titanium. Abrasive flow machining can be utilized in a number of industries including: aerospace, automotive, pharmaceutical, food processing, medical, electronics. Although this operation is ideal for many applications there a different types of abrasive flow machining. Regardless of the type, a hydraulic cylinder pushes an abrasive substance through a channel which is known as the work piece resulting in shaping, deburring and polishing. One major benefit of this process is the ability to control the specific output of the machining by using different grit sizes and types of media. By understanding the advantages and disadvantages of each type of media and abrasive flow machining styles the most cost effective results can be achieved.

IQS Newsroom February 10, 2014

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