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Types of cables
Описание: Types of cables An electric cable has the purpose of transporting electrical energy from one point to another. Depending on their final application, cables can have different configurations, always basing their design on national and international regulations. Low voltage cables (up to 750 V): in a variety of applications, and with thermoplastic and thermoset coatings. They are designed and built according to harmonized standards. Low Voltage cables (up to 1,000 V): (also called (0,6/1 kV) The cables in this section are used for industrial power installations in various fields (general industry, public installations, infrastructures, etc.). They are designed according to international standards (UNE, IEC, BS, UL). Medium Voltage cables: from 1 kV to 36 kV. They are used to distribute electricity from electrical substations to transformer stations. High Voltage cables: from 36 kV. They are used to transport electricity from the generating plants to the electrical substations. Types of electric cable by their use Low voltage cables Cables for electric panels Flexible cables for wiring electric cabinets. These electric cables are especially suitable for domestic use, for installation in public places and for internal wiring of electrical cabinets, switch boxes and small electrical appliances. Power cables Energy cables for industrial facilities and public places. It is common to find power cable in applications for power transmission in all types of low voltage connections, for industrial use and for variable frequency drive (VFD). Armoured cables Cables with aluminium or steel reinforcement for installations with risk of mechanical aggression. It is also common to find armoured cables in places where rodents are present, as well as in installations in premises with a risk of fire and explosion (ATEX). Rubber cables The use of extra flexible rubber cable is very varied. We can find rubber cables in fixed industrial installations as well as in mobile service. Welding cables should have a rubber sheath, which allows high currents to be transmitted between the welding generator and the electrode. Halogen-free cables High Security Halogen Free (LSZH) Cables with low smoke and corrosive gas emission in case of fire are suitable for use in wiring of electrical panels and public places, installations of all kinds in public places, individual derivations, emergency circuits, public distribution networks and also for mobile service. Fire resistant cables These cables are specially designed to transmit electrical energy in the extreme conditions that occur during a prolonged fire, guaranteeing supply to emergency equipment such as signalling, smoke extractors, acoustic alarms, water pumps, etc. Their use is recommended in emergency circuits in places with public concurrence. Control cables Control cable for fixed or mobile installations should be extremely flexible, as they are mainly designed for small household appliances, for the interconnection of machine parts used for manufacturing, for signalling and control systems, for the connection of motors or frequency converters, for signal transmission where the voltage induced by an external electromagnetic field may affect the transmitted signal or for power supply connections to avoid generating electromagnetic fields. Instrumentation cables These are flexible and shielded cables for the transmission of signals between equipment in industrial installations. Especially suitable for optimum data transmission in environments with a high level of electromagnetic interference. Solar cables These cables are particularly suitable for connecting photovoltaic panels, and from the panels to the DC to AC inverter. Thanks to the design of their materials and their cover, which is especially resistant to solar radiation and extreme temperatures, they can be installed outdoors with full guarantees. Special cables There is a wide variety of electric cables for special installations such as: temporary light garland installations at trade fairs; connections for overhead cranes, hoists and lifts; applications in submerged pumps and drinking water areas such as aquariums, purification systems, drinking water fountains or in swimming pools for lighting, purification and cleaning systems. PVC Cables or PUR Cables: How to Choose the Right Cable Cables are an essential part of any industrial application. It is important to make sure that you choose the appropriate cable material for the environment, especially where chemical cleaning solutions, cutting fluids, and other caustic liquids are present. The two main types of cables used in industrial applications are either PVC or PUR, and they are each suited to different types of environments. This article describes the difference between PVC and P PVC Cables and When to Use Them PVC cable is Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) cables that is sheathed and insulated. PVC cables are an excellent choice for most chemical washdown applications in the food industry and beverage industry. They have good-to-excellent resistance to common cleaning solvents including, but not limited to: Sodium Hypochlorite Sodium Hydroxide Peracetic Acid Hydrogen Peroxide It is also important to take into consideration the concentration of chemicals, temperatature of the process, and the duration and frequency of exposure since these factors can impact the suitability of PVC for these applications. Furthermore, PVC has limited resistance to oils, making it less suited for automotive and machine tool industries. In addition to being resistant to common cleaning chemicals, PVC cables are generally more rigid than other types of cables. This makes them suitable for use in applications where they will be exposed to high temperature, high pressure washdown. The rigidity of the PVC sheathing protects the cable from damage and extends the life of the cable. A PVC cable with IP69K rating means it is sealed against the ingress of water even during washdown. However, the rigidity of PVC cables can be a disadvantage in freezer applications, where low temperatures can cause the material to crack if the cables are being flexed. Discuss your specific application with an expert to determine the best cable material in these circumstances. PUR Cables and When to Use Them PUR (or polyurethane) is a thermoplastic material used for cable jackets. Because PUR cables are resistant to cutting fluids, oils, and other harsh chemicals, they are a good choice for many automotive manufacturing, stamping and machining applications. PUR cables also have high tensile strength, tear resistance, and abrasion resistance. They are also extremely flexible, with a small bend radius. This makes them ideal for applications where connections move or bend frequently, such as robotic applications. What do you mean by XLPE cable and what are its advantages over conventional cables ? XLPE cable means cross linked polyethylene insulated aluminium conductor armoured cable. In XLPE cable stranded aluminium conductor is first screened in the form of a semi conducting extrusion which provides a smooth conductor surface and prevents formation of cavities at the surface of the conductor when the cable is subjected to bending. The screened conductor is insulated with extruded XLPE compound. The insulation is further screened with layer of nonmetallic semiconducting material and over that a non magnetic metallic screen in the form of copper or aluminium tape is applied. In case of multicore cables cores are laid together with suitable filler in the interstices and wrapped with PVC tapes or extruded PVC. For mechanical protection non magnetic aluminium wire/ strip/tape armour for single core cables and steel wire armour for multicore cables are provided over the inner sheath. A layer of PVC/PE is extruded as outer sheath usually in back colour to prevent ingress of moisture. The space feature of the XLPE insulation is that long molecular chains of polyethylene are cross linked to each other by means of a process similar to vulcanisation of rubber and thus forming a three dimensional network structure with strong bond. Pure polyethylene is a thermoplastic material i.e. it becomes soft and plastic on heating and hard on cooling. Pure polyethylene is converted into thermosetting XLPE i.e. it sets permanently when heated. By cross linking process the polyethylene insulation of the cable is made thermally stable and also the melting point is greatly increased. So XLPE insulated cable has better resistivity to thermal deformation for its higher thermal tolerance property. Due to excellent thermal properties the current carrying capacity of XLPE cable is higher than that of conventional cable. XLPE insulation has higher dielectric strength compared to other conventional dielectrics used for cables resulting low dielectric loss. XLPE cable is made suitable for high voltage and extra high voltage application puto 132 kV. This cable can be used for long cable routes in high voltage transmission where the dielectric losses play a major role. This cable can easily be hadled due to lighter in weight than any other high voltage cable. As there is no case of oil migration from insulation it can be installed for inclined or vertical runs without any hesitation. XLPE insulation is highly resistant to moisture for which no special precaution is needed at the time of jointing & termination. The joining of XLPE cable needs less time than that of any other conventional cable of similar grade. These cables can safely be used on any vibrating layouts like bridges. These cable have the better resistance to salinity of water in the ground, chemicals, oils and corrosive furnes. These are free from fire risk. These cables are not prone to failure due to ageing characteristics and have longer life. Advantages of Using ABC Cables: ABC Cable Network introduced a number of benefits that you get to avail when you use ABC cables instead of conventional ones. Here are some of them: ·Increased Safety:ABC cables are more safe, secure, and reliable than any conventional transmission lines. ·Low Maintenance Costs:These cables have low power costs, low installation costs, and, most importantly, low maintenance. It has all of it. This is why aerial bundle cable has started to replace the obsolete bare copper and aluminum conductor worldwide. ·Wide Area Coverage:Unlike traditional uninsulated transmission cables, you can use ABC cables in all areas. Knowing about ABC cable specifications, it is perfect for areas where the installation is quite a task.These cables are the best choice for installation in congested urban areas,where it is very difficult to lay the lines in between the narrow gaps of buildings. It is totally not possible to install bare conductors there.They are also quite ideal for places such as hilly areas or dense forest.ABC Cable Company ensures that they lay power lines there without trimming any trees. Common Types of Electrical Wire Used in the Home Knowing the basic wire types is essential to almost any electrical project around the house. When you're installing new wiring, for example, choosing the right wire or cable is half the battle. And when you’re examining existing wiring in your home, identifying the wire type can tell you a lot about the circuit the wiring belongs to—for example, when you open a junction box and need to determine which wires go where. Wiring for modern homes is quite standard, and most homes built after the mid-1960s have similar types of wiring. Any new electrical installation requires new wiring that conforms to local building codes. Here are some common types of home electrical wire. It helps to understand a few basic terms used to describe wiring. An electric wire is a type of -conductor, which is a material that conducts electricity. In the case of household wiring, the conductor itself is usually copper or aluminum (or copper-sheathed aluminum) and is either a solid metal conductor or stranded wire. Most wires in a home are insulated, meaning they are wrapped in a nonconductive plastic coating. One notable exception is ground wires, which are typically solid copper and are either insulated with green sheathing or uninsulated (bare). The most common type of wiring in modern homes is in the form of nonmetallic (NM) cable, which consists of two or more individual wires wrapped inside a protective plastic sheathing. NM cable usually contains one or more “hot” (current-carrying) wires, a neutral wire, and a ground wire. As an alternative to NM cable, individual wires can be installed inside of a rigid or flexible metal or plastic tubing called conduit. Conduit is typically used where the wiring will be exposed and not hidden inside walls, floors, or ceilings. These larger wires in your home are carrying circuit voltage, and they can be very dangerous to touch. There are also several wires in your home that carry much lesser amounts of "low-voltage" current. These are less dangerous, and with some, the voltage carried is so low that there is virtually no chance of shock. However, until you know exactly what kind of wires you are dealing with, it's best to treat them all as dangerous.
Дата Публикации: 26-11-21
6 Reasons to Use an Industrial Panel PC in Your Facility
Описание: 6 Reasons to Use an Industrial Panel PC in Your Facility Industrial computers with a touchscreen are a very popular piece of equipment to have in manufacturing or on your shop floor. However, many companies remain stuck in the past and use consumer-grade computers that include a keyboard and mouse. Not only is that computing option more likely to fail and cause disruptions in your operations, there are many reasons where using an industrial panel PC (IPC) can save you time and money in the long run. Here are six of those benefits. 1. Efficiency: When personnel are operating a PC and using a keyboard, they are constantly looking up at the screen and then down at their fingers if frequent data entry is required. Using a touchscreen, everything is in front of their face. They are not turning their attention from the screen, which increases productivity, and is safer as less mistakes have the potential to be made. 2. Versatility: Panel mount PCs can be placed almost anywhere; they can be integrated into equipment and machinery, or into walls and control panels. Industrial computers use software that can be updated as needed, allowing you to tackle more complex tasks if your application calls for it. 3. Ruggedness: Industrial touch panel Pc is built to last. They can withstand vibration, shock, and heavy use. This is especially important if multiple employees are going to be using one unit. 4. Easy Clean Up: Since many work environments are not going to be the cleanest, panel PCs are designed to be wiped down with water or cleansers. Most of them have an IP65 rated front bezel, which means the screen is dust and waterproof. Using a touchscreen eliminates the need for a keyboard or mouse. These two items are especially prone to dirt and dust build up, so getting rid of them makes the system a lot more hygienic. 5. Fanless Cooling: Industrial touchscreen PCs usually have fanless cooling systems to protect the unit from sucking in dust that can damage internal components. Eliminating this common problem can dramatically improve the life of your equipment. 6. Simplicity: Keys and commands aren’t fixed on an industrial touch screen computer. Depending on your application and software, you can show only functions that are completely necessary, and it can be easily configured. The keyboard interface can be included on the screen to further consolidate process functions. This also increases efficiency in a distracting environment. Display Ads A type of online advertisement that combines text, images, and a URL that links to a website where a customer can learn more about or buy products. There are many ad formats. These ads can be static with an image or animated with multiple images, video, or changing text (also called rich media ads). An ad campaign can have different goals, and some display ads educate about the product while others are designed to entertain and engage through simple games or puzzles. Banner ads are a common form of display ads that are frequently used for awareness campaigns. Digital advertising is changing the face of the marketing industry. Data suggests that digital ads will make up more than half of the total ad spend in the United States by 2021, compared to just 40.5% in 2017. Video ad spending passed $9 billion in 2017, and advertising technology budgets are continually increasing. Remaining competitive in this evolving market requires a strong grasp of digital marketing in all its forms. One of the easiest ways to start is with display advertising. What is display advertising? You've seen advertising display before, even if you didn't realize it at the time. Display advertising appears on third-party websites and uses video, image, or text elements to market products or services. There are many types of display advertising. Banner ads are an example of display advertising. So are desktop and mobile leaderboard ads. Most ads are rectangular or square in shape, and the content they contain is typically designed to align with that of the host website and the selected audience preferences. Display advertising campaigns can be run through advertising networks such as Facebook advertising or Google ads that provide powerful audience targeting features as well as advertising formats (that you can also combine with search ads). Types of display ads Display ads vary greatly in terms of who they target and how they work. Here’s a breakdown of the different display ad options and what they do. 1. Remarketing ads Most display ads you see today are remarketing ads, also known as retargeting ads. Thanks to the trend toward ad personalization, retargeting campaigns have become widespread. According to Accenture Interactive, 91% of consumers prefer to buy from brands that remember their interests and provide offers based on their needs. Retargeting ads do just that, and they're easy for brands to implement. Here's how they work. To start, place a small section of code onto your website that collects information about visitors' browsing behavior, including when they navigate to a category or product page. From the information you collect, develop lists of customer types and what kinds of advertising messages would most likely appeal to them. Then create and place display ads based on the different categories of interest you have observed. A dynamic remarketing campaign is an effective way to keep your brand present in the minds of shoppers who have already shown interest in what you have to offer. 2. Personalized ads Google considers remarketing to be a subcategory of personalized advertising. Personalized ads target consumers based on demographic targeting and the interests they have shown online, that you can use to set a custom audience. In addition to remarketing, Google recognizes 4 distinct types of personalized ads. Each incorporates general user behavior and preferences rather than interactions with any particular brand as a targeting option. Affinity targeting Affinity targeting shows your ads to consumers who have demonstrated an active interest in your market. These affinity groups can be relatively broad—like “car enthusiasts” or “movie lovers”—letting you reach large numbers of people. Custom affinity groups Smaller custom affinity groups like “long-distance runners” and “orchid growers” let you get more specific about the interests you want to target. Bear in mind that when you use narrower groups, you’ll reach smaller audiences. Custom intent and in-market ads Custom intent and in-market ads target consumers who are actively searching for products or services like yours. You'll reach fewer people than with either affinity or custom affinity targeting, but the people who do see your ad will be closer to making a purchase. Similar audience ads Similar audience ads target people who have interests or characteristics in common with your current visitors. To create lists of new but similar audiences, Google compares the profiles of people on your remarketing lists with those of other users, then identifies commonalities. 3. Contextually targeted ads Instead of displaying your ads on advertising display screen to people based on their user profiles, contextually targeted ads are placed on websites according to certain criteria, including: Your ad's topic and keywords Your language and location preferences The host website's overarching theme The browsing histories of the website’s recent visitors You can let Google make these determinations, or you can take an active role in it yourself through topic targeting. Topic targeting Google allows you to pick from a list of topics and will match your ad to relevant pages on the Display Network or YouTube. It also lets you specifically exclude topics that are underperforming or unrelated to your message. Topic targeting is a lot like affinity targeting, except that your ads are matched with websites rather than users. 4. Site-placed ads If you'd prefer to hand-pick the websites that will host your ad, website placement targeting is your best bet. You can select entire sites or individual pages within sites. You can even combine placement targeting with contextual targeting. With this approach, you choose a site and let Google select the most relevant pages for your ad. Display ads versus native ads If you count offline as well as online ads, display advertising is as old as business itself. The internet’s first ever display ad was a 1994 AT&T ad, and they've been increasing in prevalence ever since. Display ads are still popular, but a new strategy called native advertising has begun to take some of their market share. Native ads are designed to blend in with the other content on a page. These are especially common in social media news feeds. These ads look like regular user posts, although they are legally required to display the word “sponsored” to minimize deception. Native ads are less obvious than display ads and can sometimes reach users who have ad blocking software enabled. They can be a great way to engage potential customers as most people respond better to content when it’s not an obvious ad. But there's always the risk that when they reach the end and find out that the post or article they just read was advertising, they'll end up feeling tricked. Native advertising marketers also risk hiding their brand logo and information too well. There’s a chance that readers might not notice it, let alone remember it. They might remember the message—but that's not worth much if they can't recall who posted it. Pros and cons of display ads No form of advertising is perfect for every company. Before you decide whether or not to invest in display ads, consider the benefits and drawbacks. Pro #1: Display ads lead to better brand awareness. Unlike native ads that mimic editorial content, display ads are clearly advertisements. While that sometimes means that people will ignore them on principle, it also means that audiences immediately recognize that they’re seeing a message from your brand. Pro #2: Display ads convey your message quickly. Most display ads are based on visuals, not text. Your audience doesn’t have to read all the way through an article or infographic to get to your brand message the way they do with content marketing or native ads. Even when people scroll past these messages, they still make an impression. Pro #3: Display ads are easy to create and place. Compared to other forms of digital advertising, display ads don't require complex integration with publisher sites. They can go up on almost any site that's part of the participating ad network without much technical expertise. Pro #4: Display ads reach customers at every stage of the funnel. A well-thought-out digital advertising campaign can help you reach your target audience at any stage of the decision making process, from need awareness to purchase readiness. All you need is a knowledge of targeting methods. For example, if you sell home appliances, you could post custom intent ads to reach people who have been searching for new models of stoves or washing machines. You could then cast a wider net by posting a contextually targeted ad on home improvement sites, real estate blogs, or even parenting forums. Why Self Ordering Kiosks are Becoming the Secret Weapon for Successful Restaurants In the past few years, self-ordering kiosks have become a staple at fast food and fast casual chains around the world. But while the McDonald’s and Paneras of the world went all-in on kiosks early on, independent restaurants have been much more hesitant and slow to adopt this kind of self-serve technology. Now, the COVID-19 pandemic has radically changed the way independent restaurants think about ordering kiosks. What was once seen as costly and impersonal technology, is now considered a cost-effective way to reduce face-to-face contact and keep guests safe from the spread of the coronavirus. Even in full service restaurants where kiosks may not seem like a natural fit, restaurants are using the technology to streamline their takeout orders and reduce face-to-face contact with servers. And safety is not the only benefit. Self-ordering kiosks have also helped restaurants reduce wait times, improve order accuracy, and, most importantly, boost check sizes – benefits that just about any restaurant can enjoy.
Дата Публикации: 26-11-21
What is sand casting, and how does it work?
Описание: What is sand casting, and how does it work? Sand castings are casting process by which sand is used to create a mold, after which liquid metal is poured into this mold to create a part. To learn about the other forms of casting, visit our article on the types of casting processes. Sand is used in this method because it insulates well, it is relatively cheap, and it can be formed into any number of mold shapes. There are defined steps to this process (shown simplified in Figure 1), and this article will walk through each of these steps to illustrate exactly how this casting procedure is conducted. The first step in the sand casting process involves fabricating the foundry pattern - the replica of the exterior of the casting - for the mold. These patterns are often made from materials such as wood or plastic and are oversized to allow the cast metal to shrink when cooling. They are used to create the sand mold for the final part, and can potentially be reused depending upon the pattern material. Often times, two pattern halves are separately created which provides cavities when put together (shown in Figure 1). Cores are internal mold inserts that can also be used if interior contours are needed, but are typically disposable after one casting. The type of pattern and its material is dictated not only by the desired part dimensions but also by the number of castings needed from each mold. The second step is the process of making the sand mold(s) from these patterns. The sand mold is usually done in two halves, where one side of the mold is made with one pattern and another side is made using the other pattern (shown in Figure 1). While the molds may not always be in two halves, this arrangement provides the easiest method of both creating the mold and accessing the part, once cast. The top part of the mold is known as the “cope” and the bottom half is the “drag”, and both are made by packing sand into a container (a “flask”) around the patterns. The operator must firmly pack (or “ram”) the sand into each pattern to ensure there is no loose sand, and this can be done either by hand or by machine. After ramming, the patterns are removed and leave their exterior contours in the sand, where manufacturers can then create channels and connections (known as gates/runners) into the drag and a funnel in the cope (known as a “sprue”). These gates/runners and sprues are necessary for an accurate casting, as the runners and gates allow the metal to enter every part of the mold while the sprue allows for easy pouring into the mold. The third main step in sand casting is clamping the drag and cope together, making a complete mold. If a core is needed for some internal contours, it would be placed into the mold before the clamping step, and any gating/runners are also checked for misalignments. The fourth step begins when the desired final material (almost exclusively some metal) is melted in a furnace, and is then poured into the mold. It is carefully poured/ladled into the sprue of the mold, where the molten metal will conform to the cavity left by the patterns, and then left to cool completely. After the metal is no longer hot, manufacturers will remove the sand from the mold (via vibrations, waterjets, and other non-destructive means, known as “shakeout”) to reveal the rough final part. The fifth and final step (not shown in Figure 1) is the cleaning step, where the rough part is refined to its final shape. This cleaning includes removing the gating system and runners, as well as any residual mold/core parts the remains in the final piece. The part is trimmed in areas of excess, and the surface of the casting can be sanded/polished to a desired finish. After major cleaning, each part is inspected for defects and is tested to ensure compliance with the manufacturer’s standards of quality, so that they will perform as intended in their respective applications. Understanding Valves Valves are mechanical or electro-mechanical devices that are used to control the movement of liquids, gases, powders, etc. through pipes or tubes, or from tanks or other containers. In most instances, valve relys on some form of mechanical barrier—a plate, a ball, a diaphragm, for example—that can be inserted and removed from the flow stream of the material passing by. Some valves are designed as on-off varieties, while others allow very fine control of the passage of media. Material selection and valve parts play an important role in specifying valves to ensure the compatibility of the wetted parts of the valve with the fluid or powder passing through it. Sizing is determined by the pipe or tubing diameter, flow rate, and the width between flanges for pipeline valves being installed as replacements. Types of Valves and Their Applications Aerosol Valves Aerosol Valves are used for dispensing the contents of aerosol cans. They consist of two primary components, the housing and the stem. Key specifications include the intended application, actuator type, output type, valve size, and materials of construction. Media dispensed can be a consideration as well. Aerosol valves dispense liquids, creams and ointments, gases, cleaning agents, and any other product that is packaged in an aerosol can. Air Logic Valves Air Logic Valves are mechanical or electro-mechanical devices used to regulate the flow of air in pneumatic systems and can be used in place of electrical control in instances such as hazardous atmospheres or where electrical control is impractical. Key specifications include actuator type, number of ports, materials of construction, switching speed, port thread size, pressure ratings, and input voltage. Air logic valves are applied to pneumatic systems as e-stops, pilot valves, one-shot valves, etc. Balancing Valves Balancing Valves are used to control fluid flow by dividing flow evenly in multiple flow branches. Key specifications include the number of ports, port connections, valve size, and materials of construction. Balancing valves are used primarily in HVAC applications and fluid power systems. For example, they can be used in commercial heating/cooling systems to adjust water temperatures under varying loading conditions. They can also be used to provide a counterbalancing force for double acting cylinders. Forged flange is defined as a plate type device, normally round, that is attached to the end of a pipe, fitting, valve or other object to facilitate the assembly and disassembly of a piping system. Forged steel flanges made of carbon steel or stainless steel, the materials conform to the JIS, ASTM A182,A105, DIN17100 ST-2 and BS standard. Dimension to be in accordance with JIS ANSI DIN BS standard accordingly. The flanges are suitable for connection of steel pipes conveying mediums such as steam, oil, air and water. They are widely used in Chemical industry and Shipbuilding . And the flanges are suitable for welding. The flanges mainly include Welding Neck, Blind, Slip-on, Lap-Joint, Socket, Spectacle, Forged, Reducing and Threaded. What is Forging? Forging, a metal shaping technique using compressive, localized forces, has been a staple metal fabrication technique since the time of the ancient Mesopotamians. Since its origins in the fertile crescent, forging has experienced significant changes, resulting in a more efficient, faster, and more durable process. This is because today, forging is most commonly performed with the use of forging presses or hammering tools that are powered by electricity, hydraulics or compressed air. Some of the common materials used for forging are carbon steel, alloy steel, microalloy steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and titanium. What is the purpose of forging? The purpose of forging is to create metal parts. Compared to other manufacturing methods, metal forging produces some of the sturdiest manufactured parts available. As metal is heated and pressed, minor cracks are sealed, and any empty spaces in the metal close. The hot forging process also breaks up impurities in the metal and redistributes such material across the metalwork. This vastly reduces inclusions in the forged part. Inclusions are compound materials implanted inside steel throughout manufacturing that cause stress points in the final forged parts. While impurities should be managed during the initial casting process, forging further refines the metal. Another way that forging strengthens metal is by alternating its grain structure, which is the metal material's grain flow as it deforms. Through forging, a favorable grain structure can be created, making the forged metal sturdier. The forging process is highly multipurpose and can be used on small parts just a few inches in size to large components that weigh up to 700,000 lbs. It is used to produce critical aircraft parts and transportation equipment. Forging is also used to fortify hand tools such as chisels, rivets, screws, and bolts. What are the different types of forging? The pounding action of forging deforms and shapes the metal, which results in unbroken grain flow. This causes the metal to retain its strength. Ancillary effects of this unique grain flow include the elimination of defects, inclusions, and porosity in the product. Another advantage of forging is the relatively low costs associated with moderate and long production runs. Once the forging tools have been created, products can be manufactured at relatively high speeds with minimal downtime.There are two main types of forging: hot and cold. Hot Forging Hot forging requires the metal to be heated above its recrystallization temperature. This can mean heating metals up to 2,300 degrees Fahrenheit. The main benefit of hot forging is the decrease in energy required to form the metal properly. This is because excessive heat decreases yield strength and improves ductility. Hot forged products also benefit from the elimination of chemical inconsistencies. Need a hot forging company? Thomas' Supplier Discovery has a vetted list of Hot Forging Companies in the U.S. and Canada. Cold Forging Cold forging typically refers to forging a metal at room temperature, though any temperature below recrystallization is possible. Many metals, such as steel high in carbon, are simply too strong for cold forging. Despite this hindrance, cold forging does edge out its warmer equivalent when it comes to standards of dimensional control, product uniformity, surface finish, and contamination. Cold forging encompasses numerous forging techniques, including bending, extruding, cold drawing, coining, and cold heading. However, this increased versatility comes at a cost, because cold forging requires more powerful equipment and may call for the use of intermediate anneals. What Is Keystone XL? The Keystone XL pipeline extension, proposed by TC Energy (then TransCanada) in 2008, was initially designed to transport the planet’s dirtiest fossil fuel, tar sands oil, to market—and fast. As an expansion of the company’s existing Keystone Pipeline System, which has been operating since 2010 (and continues to send Canadian tar sands crude oil from Alberta to various processing hubs in the middle of the United States), the pipeline promised to dramatically increase capacity to process the 168 billion barrels of crude oil locked up under Canada’s boreal forest. It was expected to transport 830,000 barrels of Alberta tar sands oil per day to refineries on the Gulf Coast of Texas. Some three million miles of oil and gas pipelines already run through our country, but KXL wasn’t your average pipeline, and tar sands oil isn’t your average crude. A grill is an object used for cooking food. With a grill, food is usually roasted. Some grills use charcoal or wood, and other grills use propane gas to cook the food. Using wood or charcoal makes smoke and changes the flavor of the food. Using gas does not. Some people only like one type, and some people like both kinds of grilling. The heat may be added underneath the food, or above, or both. A barbecue is a typical machine for outdoor cooking using coke or other fuel for providing heat from underneath. Overhead grilling is more usual indoors, especially in professional kitchens.
Дата Публикации: 26-11-21
Liquid filling machine trends: Today's equipment is more versatile
Описание: Liquid filling machine trends: Today's equipment is more versatile Whether you’re a newcomer to the world of liquid filling equipment or an experienced user looking to upgrade or change your production line, browsing websites and product catalogues in the search to source a suitable machine can be more than a little confusing. Overflow or gravity machine? Piston or pump? Automatic, semi-automatic or manual? Hot or cold-filling? In-line or rotary filling? Off-the-shelf or turnkey? Fortunately, with so many choices out there you’re likely to find the ideal solution for your particular application – however, finding it requires that you do a bit of homework and adopt a systematic approach. To simplify the process, you may find this guide to liquid filling equipment useful. It identifies key questions which will help you narrow down your search and focus only on those systems that meet your objectives. The first question to ask is what product is being filled? Not all liquids are the same. Some are free-flowing, others are very viscous. Some contain particulates or flammable ingredients, others are foamy whilst the viscosity of some products may change when the temperature changes. The important thing to remember is that type of liquid filling equipment that you choose has to be compatible with the product type. For example, a gravity filler is more suitable for thin products, piston fillers are a better option for thick products than overflow filling machines and bottom-up filling machines are used for foamy products. Another key question to ask is what type of container is being filled? In many instances, the type of container or bottle will dictate the type of filling technique and the more you know about the attributes of the container, the better. What material is it made from (e.g. glass, aluminium, plastic) and what are its dimensions and characteristics? This information is important because it will determine the optimum performance of the equipment and the best equipment type. For example, an automatic bottle filler which grabs a container from the side may not actually be the best option if your container is very wide and a top filler may not work if your container has an unusually-shaped cap or lid. You need to ask how many containers do you want to fill every hour? Knowing your production rate is also a crucial factor in your equipment selection. A semi-automatic filling machine would be a cost-effective and reliable solution for smaller production runs like those in a laboratory or in a start-up venture, whilst an automatic filling machine with a sizeable conveyor is ideal for larger-scale operations with much higher production rates. For operations with very low production rates and no expansion plans such as a home brewing venture or small-scale home-made sauce business, a manual machine could fit the bill. You also need to ask yourself, how do you want the final fill-level in your container or bottles to look? Appearance does count, and different filling systems have different outcomes. For example, a liquid level machine will fill every container to the same specified level regardless of the volume of the product, making it a preferred product where uniformity is important. On the other hand, a volumetric filler will fill a container with the identical volume of liquid even when the fill levels may appear to be variable. Volumetric fillers generally cost more as they require specialized instruments for calibration, balance and timing. Some of the types of liquid filling machine include: gravity fed fillers (a good, cost-effective option for efficient volumetric filling especially for low viscosity and foamy liquids); piston fillers which use a highly accurate volumetric filling technique, ideal for thick or highly viscous liquids. These are divided into two types, namely check-valve piston fillers and rotary valve piston fillers; pump fillers which are very versatile and suitable for a wide range of liquids and viscosities in-line filling machines (a cost-effective choice for filling containers in a line) which are suitable for those operations where different container sizes are involved; and rotary filling machines (which are often much larger and more specialized) for faster speeds and higher production rates. Another question is whether your filling equipment can be modified if your needs change? It’s often not necessary to buy new equipment just because your business has expanded or you want to add new products or packaging to your line. An experienced manufacturer will have the knowledge and skills to advise whether your liquid filling system can be modified and will make recommendations to future-proof your investment. Choosing the best liquid filling equipment is a complex decision and many factors need to be considered. From product characteristics and container attributes to fill size, production rates, regulatory issues, safety requirements and expansion plans, if you answer the questions highlighted above, you’ll be in a strong position to make an informed choice which factors in all of these issues. However, your best option is to talk directly to industry professionals, like AccuPak. They are one of Australia’s largest suppliers of all types of packing and filling equipment and they will work with you to identify the most cost-effective and practical solution. They know the critical factors required from all packing, filling, bagging and palletizing machinery and equipment - i.e. versatility, flexibility, reliability, accuracy and affordability. All About Liquid Bottle Filling Machine If you are into the packaging industry, then you must have heard about ‘liquid bottle filling machines’. These high-grade machines are designed especially for packaging products in liquid form. Over the years, companies have found it difficult to package and preserve products in liquid form that ensure efficiency and precision. With the invention of Liquid bottle filling machines, companies have now started packaging liquid products in bulk, which are easy to port and can be handled efficiently. The machines are designed in a way that guarantees purity and maintains hygiene standards. Now that you know what a liquid bottle filling machine is, understand how it can benefit your business: Faster and more efficient filling Automatic Bottle Filler machines can help companies to consistently fill bottles with liquid products by avoiding errors and minimizing waste. These machines make it possible for industries such as pharmaceuticals to packaging their products in liquid form with precision. Helps Maintain Hygiene Standards If you are in the food industry or even the pharmaceutical industry, then you know the importance of maintaining proper hygiene standards. Manually filling with them bottles leaves room for error. With an automatic liquid bottle filling machine, liquids enter into the bottle with the press of a button, and you can monitor the whole process to avoid any malfunction. The flexibility of the machines allows you to save time The higher the speed of the machine, the more you can save time. Perhaps the biggest advantage to companies using this machine is speed and its flexible nature. Liquid Automatic filler machines can fill more than 80 bottles per minute; this high speed can help companies fulfilling their orders. The flexible nature of the automatic bottle filling machine allows for a seamless operation. Not only are these machines convenient, but also allow you to adjust the speed and height of the bottles. This machine is designed to achieve maximum output and increase the growth of your company. Uses of Liquid Bottle Filling Machines: Pharmaceutical Product Packaging: Packaging of pharmaceutical products of liquids is very essential for the growth of the industry. The liquid bottle filling machines offers flawless operation that bottles are user friendly and prevent contaminants entering into the bottle. Versatile application of the machine: Many local drug-making companies are using these machines to process vial filling, tube filling, powder filling, and syringe filling to package their products innovatively. Cosmetic and food industry: Liquid filling machines effectively help in sealing syrup, oil, and other liquid products. Milk bottles and grape wine bottles are a few examples of how the food industry is revolutionizing its packaging process. Holden also notes that brands in the snack industry have been implementing reusable cases—often printed with branding—that drivers return to the processing site. This has lead to rising demand for case packers that can accommodate reusable cases. Case aligning and closing mechanisms are fully integrated, removing the need for additional conveyors and creating an all-in-one case packing solution. An integratable seal checker checks for defective packs, while the system features gentle, vacuum-free bag handling. Changeovers can routinely be performed in 3 minutes, with preset options that allow for the machine to be automatically set up without the need for tools or any other manual operation.
Дата Публикации: 26-11-21
WHAT IS AN EXTRUDER, AND DOES OUR COMPANY NEED ONE?
Описание: WHAT IS AN EXTRUDER, AND DOES OUR COMPANY NEED ONE? To understand what an extruder is, we must first know what the process of extrusion is. Extrusion is when a material, usually pellets, dry powder, rubber, plastic, metal bar stock or even food is heated and pushed through a die. A die is essentially a mold that shapes the material as it is forced through the small opening to the other side. It’s one of the most common ways to produce sheets and strips of stock metal, plastic and rubber shapes. An extruder is simply the machine used to complete the extrusion process. Using a system of barrels and cylinders, the machine heats up the product and propels it through the die to create the desired shape. WHAT IS AN EXTRUDER USED FOR? Extruders can be used to create a wide variety of usable products by shaping various materials. For example, our breakfast cereals and pre-formed snacks are often made using food extruders, which use uniform, controlled pressure and temperature to create the near-identical pieces we pour into our bowls each morning. Pet food and treats are created with food extruders for the same reason — to create a high level of consistency and quality in the meals we feed our furry family members. The Bonnot Company’s food forming extruders can be used as standalone applications or be combined with a cooking extruder for unitized cooking and cooling. For many industries, catalyst extruder machines are used to create catalysts such as high aluminas, gels, kaolin carriers, molecular sieves and more. Whether your company requires minute pellets, solid rods, unsupported rings or another catalyst configuration, Bonnot has the extruder that can get the job done. Rubber bales can also be extruded for a variety of purposes. For instance, rubber extruders can create extruded hydrogels, which are used to create everything from contact lenses to replacement cartilage. A rubber extruder from The Bonnot Company can break down the large, tacky bales without the use of talc or special chemicals. Extrusion equipment is even used to create the materials that keep the air and water in our homes purified. Vacuum extruders, which were originally used in the clay industry to de-air their products, are now used to create activated carbon. The extruder de-airs the carbon to increase its adsorptive properties and prepare it for use for any number of air and water purification applications. Bonnot has worked with virtually every base material available, not just activated carbon, and can use our expertise to demonstrate how this extrusion process could work for you in our test facility. While these are some of the most common types of extrusion supported by The Bonnot Company, other extrusion equipment manufacturers may specialized in extruders for other materials, such as plastics, clay, aluminum or other metals. For example, plastic extruders can be used to create PVC pipe. As you can see, the types of extrusion equipment and their uses are widely varied. WILL ANY EXTRUDER DO? In short, no. First of all, many devices that are technically extruders are meant for individual, personal use and must be operated by hand. Manufacturers, however, will generally require much larger, more sophisticated industrial extruders. It all depends on the scope of your operation and the standards of your industry. As with any other type of machinery, there are a wide variety of industrial extruders available, and each one is intended for a particular purpose or set of purposes. Some are designed to also serve a specific niche function, such as de-airing a material, de-watering it or pelletizing it. Capacity is another differentiating factor. For large batches and maximum capacity, a company may need the High Volume Production Extruder (Terrier), for example. Meanwhile, a company that specializes in research and development would probably do well with low-volume Lab Extruders for producing and testing their products in small batches. Another company may need an entirely different solution. Pasta Machinery A kitchen utensil, also referred to as a Pasta Rolling Machine, that is used to roll pasta dough into thin sheets of pasta. The Pasta Machine may be a motor driven machine or a hand-cranked machine that rolls out the dough, stretches it and then cuts it to size. Larger Pasta Machines are made to mix and extrude dough that will be formed into shaped pasta, however, those are more common in commercial use. For home use, the hand-crank machine is the most popular unless homemade pasta is an everyday event and there is a need or desire to make the process more efficient by using a machine with a motor. Most often the Pasta Machine is made of stainless steel which encloses a set of rollers through which the pasta dough is rolled. As it passes through the rollers, the machine flattens or stretches the pasta, depending on the setting selected for the thickness, creating a thin to thick strip of dough to be formed into the pasta desired. The machine may also have attachments for cutting various sizes of pasta strips into noodles, linguine, fettuccine or other pastas of this type. When adjusting the thickness of the dough as it is rolled, if it is made too thin it will not cook properly and will become mushy instead of delicately textured so it is important to understand the machine processes in order to roll the pasta so it provides the results desired. Pasta machinery provides a means to produce a fresh, superbly textured and exceptionally flavored product once the art of producing pasta is mastered. Information technology in the management of pasta factory production lines They don’t do things the way they used to do once… How many times have we heard that. Of course, this sentence cannot be valid for everything, yet in the field of dry pasta industrial production machinery it is not so far from reality. Here are some important considerations taken from a speech by Vittorio Cogo on the italian sector magazine “TECNICA MOLITORIA”. The technology for the production of dry pasta is increasingly characterized by the automation of process lines. After the drying technologies based on the high and very high temperatures that characterized the 70s and 80s respectively, we moved on to the information technology era that characterizes pasta production technology from the 90s to the present day. It has definitely replaced all the previous production line management systems within pasta factories, and affirmed the irreplaceable nature of electronic logic supervision, not only in the single machine or on the single pasta production line, but on the entire production activity of the pasta factory, from the storage of the stocks of raw materials to the storage of the final product, from the organization of the types and times of production to the sorting of the packaged and packed product, from the choice of raw materials to the programming of operational departments. This means that this type of management ensures a complete functional interconnection between the various company sectors. The automatic control system for dry pasta lines and machinery Entering more specifically in the “automation” topic we can say that an automatic control system is characterized by three basic groups, namely: group of devices for detecting functional parameters and field control parameter processing group supervision system First group is composed of all the elements that detect the quantities to be controlled, such as: temperature and humidity probes, inductive sensors for controlling movement, inverters for controlling motor speed, microswitches for monitoring the alarm and safety system . Second group is composed of the PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) system which takes the inputs sent by the instruments in the field, processes them and sends the command outputs to the process. This device consists of an electronic processing unit equipped with a memory and built around a microprocessor. The supervision system consists of an interface software program that allows the operator to interact in a simple and intuitive way with all the process parameters, monitoring at all times the operation of the entire production chain. The operator can set all the production parameters simply by recalling from the PLC memory the so-called “recipes”, prepared for each of the various pasta formats foreseen by the production program of the line. The system will automatically reset the line at each format change, in just a few seconds, thus relieving the technologist from a task as heavy as it is delicate. In addition, the system will intervene automatically in the event of anomalies detected along the line, independently providing for the various corrections and / or warning the operator of the intervention performed or of the simple detection. In extreme cases the system will block the operation of the component or machine in question, or even of the entire line if the detected anomaly exceeds the safety levels. Is The Food Produced By The Puffed Food Machinery Healthy?The puffed food machinery is fully automated from batching, extrusion, puffing, molding, sandwiching, cutting, spraying to finished product at one time. The production line has the characteristics of many optional models, flexible equipment configuration, wide range of raw materials, many types of products, and simple operation. Choosing the right configuration can produce sandwich cakes, sandwich rolls, puffed rice crackers, barley, rice crackers, nutritious breakfast, modified starch and other products, which are suitable for various food manufacturers. 1. What is puffed food? Puffed food, as the name suggests, is a crispy food with a certain degree of puffing that is made with grains, potatoes or starch as the main material and made by the puffing technology of puffing food machinery. The most common ones are popcorn and potato chips. There are many types of puffed foods. Puffed foods can be divided into fried puffed foods and non-fried puffed foods according to whether they have been fried or sprayed. Potato chips, wonderful crispy corners, and rice crackers are all fried puffed foods, while snow rice crackers and popcorn are all non-fried puffed foods. Puffed food machinery According to the processing technology, puffed food can be divided into baking type, fried type, direct extrusion type, and color type. 1. baking type. It is puffed by baking or roasting, and the common ones are Wangwang Snow Cake and Wangwang Senbei. 2. fried type. It is made by edible frying and puffing. The common ones include fried potato chips, corn on the cob, and corn flakes. 3. Direct extrusion type. The raw material is extruded by an extruder, and under high temperature and high pressure conditions, it is made by expanding the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the machine. Common ones are Xiaomi Tong, Lexiang Rice, Shrimp Crackers and so on. 4. Design and color craftsmanship. On the basis of the above three processes, add another coloring process. Multi-grain fruits, sandwich rice crackers. In addition to the traditional puffing technologies above, there have been many new puffing technologies in recent years. For example, vacuum low-temperature puffing technology is mainly used for puffing fruit and vegetable products. Microwave puffing technology is mainly used for puffed cereal products, such as popcorn and soybean products. Puffing is just a food processing technology. Puffed food is not necessarily unhealthy, and some puffed food production line may even be healthier than boiled. Fried pasta production line adopts corn starch or potato starch, cassava starch as main raw material, following the process of starch mixing, extrusion forming, pulling and cutting, cooling and drying, then frying and flavoring to make a series of fried corn/ potato puffed food or snacks in different shapes, such as crisp pea, shell, screw, square tube, round tube, wave etc. This line is famous for its operated easily, unique technics, rational configuration, high autuomatition and stable performance. It makes less cracked and no scrap, and main parts of this line are durable in use.
Дата Публикации: 26-11-21
Mica Powder and Pigment Powder – Differences and Use with Epoxy Resin
Описание: Mica Powder and Pigment Powder – Differences and Use with Epoxy Resin What is Mica Powder? Mica powder is one of the most popular choices for artists and enthusiasts who want to make the finest art. Consisting of the most natural elements, it is very safe to use and is non-toxic. It is a common confusion on the difference between Mica powder and pigment powder. Mica Powder is shimmery, giving a very glossy effect, while normal color pigment has a matte appearance. The powder is very flexible and is used in beauty products, healthcare products like lotions and soaps, and also in art supplies. Makeup enthusiasts are often baffled with the glow and the radiance it gives to their appearance. For artists, it is a perfect pick that can fit into any project. With an extended usage in woodblock, festivals of color, clay pots, and architecture, Mica is an organic mineral found in stones. When this mineral with shiny flakes goes through the process of grounding, it is converted to the powder form. Mica powder is best known to give a perlaceous effect. What Is the Best Mica Powder for Resin? You have probably seen mica pigment powder around, whether it be in your local store or while you were shopping online for crafting supplies. Loads of companies make this product, and unfortunately, not all mica powder kits are made equal. This begs the question, what is the best mica powder for resin? Let’s have a look at some of the best-rated mica powder sets on the market and see how they stack up against one another. The Advantages and Disadvantages of using Mica Many individuals often encounter the problem of using a product that does not suit their skin. Mica, however, is a relief as it suits all skin types and is extremely safe to use. Possessing all-natural ingredients that are very beneficial for health and beauty, it does not have any additional side effects on the skin like rashes and irritation. It is also ground to the finest powder creating a scintillating organic finish. If Mica has any disadvantage, it would be the mining involved. The regions that have abundance in the deposits of Mica require huge amounts of manpower. Thus, the industry often deals with child labor, for example in India. States like Jharkhand in India are examples of the poverty-stricken helplessness the children deal with while mining. Usage of Mica Pigments in Art Mica pigments consist of minute particles that can easily dissolve into any opaque medium. Thus, for maximum benefits of shine and sparkle, the pigment powder can be used in clear or translucent mediums. These pigments shine, particularly in oil paints and watercolors. You can mix the mica pigment by the requirement for the intensity of the color, which can be light or heavy. The pigments work wonders with transparent topcoats like shellac, wax, clear epoxies, and glazes. It is very useful for Iconography, and Egg Tempera Artists will find them particularly useful, especially in Iconography. It is also a common choice for walls, floors, and furniture as it never degrades and is safe to use. What is Pigment Powder? Pigment powders consist of pigments known to give color to paint, that are primarily used for adding color to many products. Innately, they do not possess any lustrous properties. The effect is similar to powdered colored chalk. The pigments powder consists of a range of colors like ultramarine blue, cadmium red, yellow ochre, and titanium white. Pigment Blue 15 is an example of synthetic artificial pigment that is not produced naturally. The pure pigments which are recommended often fare higher than the ones mixed with fillers like chalk. Fruit Powder Vs Fruit Juice; Which Is Better? We all often get confused as to what is better and more nutritious between fruit juice and fruit powder. This is because many people are not concerned about consuming a well-balanced diet but instead choose to have a quick meal instead to manage time, leading to severe consequences. This is where food and fruit supplements came to play, these powdery substances can be mixed with quick meals or taken with plain water and they'll take care of your body's nutritional needs. But what difference does it make when compared to consuming fruit supplements rather than eating the fruit in its original raw form or simply drinking some fruit juice? We're going to find that out in this article. Researches conclude that fruit powder tends to retain about 95% of the nutritional content of the fruit, but there's a catch. Our body processes powder supplements differently when compared to juice and solid fruits. Usually, the body is not able to absorb all of the nutrients from fruit powder and you might miss a lot as compared to consuming fruit juice or the fruit itself. Also, fruit powder is deprived of the fiber content of the fruit, which means it has none to zero fiber content of the fruit in it. Fiber is essential for an efficient working digestive system and it also helps the body digest food better and absorb nutrients with its full capacity. The absence of this fibrous content is the reason why our body is not able to process all of the nutrients from the fruit powder supplements. Whereas on the other hand, fruit juice does not lose nutrients at all. Drinking fruit juice is almost the same to having eaten the fruits. Juice retains the same amount of nutrients and is also it's easier for the body to digest and absorb essential nutrients from the juice even though it does not contain the same amount of fibers as compared to the fruit. Fruit powders have gained a lot of popularity in the past few years. As people are more or less occupied with their busy lives, there's an increasing impact of malnutrition in major chunks of the population across the globe especially the working individuals. Demand for fruit and vegetable powder is growing as manufacturers discover their flavor, color, texture and nutrient assets, and consumers look to increase produce consumption, according to Ingredients Network. These powders are showing up in beverages, confectionery, ready-to-eat products, bakery and dairy, Ingredients Network reported. Demand is particularly strong in Europe, but the publication predicts it will soon be followed by the Asia Pacific region as food processing technology and disposable incomes advance. According to MarketsandMarkets data cited by Ingredients Network, the value of fruit and vegetable ingredients could hit $216 billion by 2022, for a compound annual growth rate of 5.8%. How to mix Mica Powder and Pigment Powder with Epoxy Resin Many consider mixing Mica powder and pigment powder with Epoxy Resin. This can be done in various ways. However, you will have to keep certain things in mind. Make sure that your pigment powder is completely dry and away from any additional moisture. Moisture can prevent the epoxy resin from curing or can promote soft curing. Also, be careful while mixing your resin and hardener. Many adults and children in the United States take one or more vitamins or other dietary supplements. In addition to vitamins, dietary supplements can contain minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acid, enzymes, and many other ingredients. Dietary supplements come in a variety of forms, including tablets, capsules, gummies, and powders, as well as drinks and energy bars. Popular supplements include vitamins D and B12; minerals like calcium and iron; herbs such as echinacea and garlic; and products like glucosamine, probiotics, and fish oils. The Dietary Supplement Label Products sold as dietary supplements come with a Supplement Facts label that lists the active ingredients, the amount per serving (dose), as well as other ingredients, such as fillers, binders, and flavorings. The manufacturer suggests the serving size, but your healthcare provider might decide a different amount is more appropriate for you. Effectiveness Some dietary supplements can help you get adequate amounts of essential nutrients if you don’t eat a nutritious variety of foods. However, supplements can’t take the place of the variety of foods that are important to a healthy diet. To learn more about what makes a healthy diet, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and MyPlate are good sources of information. Some dietary supplements can improve overall health and help manage some health conditions. For example: Calcium and vitamin D help keep bones strong and reduce bone loss. Folic acid decreases the risk of certain birth defects. Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oils might help some people with heart disease. A combination of vitamins C and E, zinc, copper, lutein, and zeaxanthin (known as AREDS) may slow down further vision loss in people with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Many other supplements need more study to determine if they have value. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not determine whether dietary supplements are effective before they are marketed. Safety and Risk Many supplements contain active ingredients that can have strong effects in the body. Always be alert to the possibility of a bad reaction, especially when taking a new product. You are most likely to have side effects from dietary supplements if you take them at high doses or instead of prescribed medicines, or if you take many different supplements. Some supplements can increase the risk of bleeding or, if taken before surgery, can change your response to anesthesia. Supplements can also interact with some medicines in ways that might cause problems. Here are a few examples: Vitamin K can reduce the ability of the blood thinner warfarin to prevent blood from clotting. St. John’s wort can speed the breakdown of many medicines and reduce their effectiveness (including some antidepressants, birth control pills, heart medications, anti-HIV medications, and transplant drugs). Antioxidant supplements, such as vitamins C and E, might reduce the effectiveness of some types of cancer chemotherapy. Manufacturers may add vitamins, minerals, and other supplement ingredients to foods you eat, especially breakfast cereals and beverages. As a result, you may get more of these ingredients than you think, and more might not be better. Taking more than you need costs more and might also raise your risk of side effects. For example, too much vitamin A can cause headaches and liver damage, reduce bone strength, and cause birth defects. Excess iron causes nausea and vomiting and may damage the liver and other organs. Be cautious about taking dietary supplements if you are pregnant or nursing. Also, be careful about giving supplements to a child, unless recommended by their healthcare provider. Many supplements have not been well tested for safety in pregnant women, nursing mothers, or children. If you think that you have had a bad reaction to a dietary supplement, let your healthcare provider know. He or she may report your experience to the FDA. You may also submit a report directly to the FDA by calling 800-FDA-1088 or completing an online form. You should also report your reaction to the manufacturer by using the contact information on the product label. Quality The FDA has established good manufacturing practices (GMPs) that companies must follow to help ensure the identity, purity, strength, and composition of their dietary supplements. These GMPs can prevent adding the wrong ingredient (or too much or too little of the correct ingredient) and reduce the chance of contamination or improper packaging and labeling of a product. The FDA periodically inspects facilities that manufacture supplements.
Дата Публикации: 26-11-21
How is heavy-duty steel grating manufactured?
Описание: How is heavy-duty steel grating manufactured? Heavy-duty steel grating can be integrated into an extensive range of industrial projects, from airplane hangars to drainage grates. Contractors rely on steel grating products for roadway inlet gratings and other industrial applications. With its high demand in industrial construction, steel grating needs to be made as quickly and efficiently as possible. Laurel Custom Grating (LCG) is at the forefront of automated steel grating manufacturing. The company’s modernized fabrication process ensures their products are of the highest quality—and that they arrive on time. Bill Adams, sales team lead at LCG, recently discussed how LCG combines hand-welding and automated technology to produce versatile, durable steel grating products. Hand-welded, heavy-duty steel grating offers design versatility and a quick manufacturing process, so the products can make their way to construction sites faster. Our 30,000-square-foot manufacturing facility at LCG features large capacity hydraulic presses with automated feed lines and high-production robotics. By using robotic technology, we maintain our competitive edge in the steel grating market. Our high-capacity hydraulic presses are precise and economical, providing users with reliable, heavy-duty steel grating products at an affordable price. Automation allows us to maximize productivity and efficiency. Our robotic welder can weld commercial steel grates from start to finish. This means less time needed for staging materials—and less people needed for the job. Instead of having to do the fitting process and the welding process in two different areas, the robotic welder puts all of the material into the fixture and then it welds it on the spot. This hand-welding process is very efficient and allows for customization, too. First off, LCG’s team cuts the steel to size, and then punches in the bearing bars to allow the cross bars to fit in. Then they fit the steel grating to spec and assemble it. The welders complete all of the final touch-ups to ensure the gratings are in compliance with National Association of Architectural Metal Manufacturers’ standards, and the customer’s specific requirements. Our manufacturing facility in Everson, Pennsylvania, also offers convenient access to major interstates, which makes the shipping process even simpler and more energy-efficient. How to Avoid Problems When Installing Stair Treads When using resilient stair treads on angled “ADA” steps, choose a tread that is notched so it can bend (top) or an angled nose tread (bottom) that will fit snugly against the step. The use of epoxy nose filler can prevent cracking of stair treads. Stair treads have been around for a long time, and are a tough, durable and safe covering for stairs from heavy duty to light usage. Growing up in the industry, I always found stair treads an interesting material. I spent several years working for a major manufacturer of stair treads, and recently started working with another. You could say this is a product category that is near and dear to my heart. I recently visited an office where diamond design rubber stair treads were installed and asked how old they were. The answer, “1965,” did not surprise me. Done properly, stair treads will last a good long time. This rubber stair tread was properly trimmed to butt up to 1/8” VCT in the corridor at the top of the stairs. This is also a nice use of stair treads with carpet as the riser material. The keys to stair tread installation success start before even taking the order. There are two types (rubber and vinyl), two shapes (round nose or square nose), two different constructions (one piece tread and riser or separate tread and riser), and a variety of surface textures (diamond, ribbed, circular, smooth, etc.). Rubber treads are the most widely used, for everything from the most heavy traffic area to light duty use. Vinyl treads tend to be for light duty use. As for the type of nose, this is an important detail. “Square Nose” could be a 90-degree angle step or in the case of newer steps the riser is angled back to provide a more safe walking surface, as per the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Make sure the tread can be angled. Some treads come out of the box already angled and some have a notch at the nose so it can be bent slightly, as shown in the photo below. I remember being on a job where square nose treads were ordered for an angled step. I had to show the installers how to grove out the back of the nosing by hand. We made it work and it turned out to be a beautiful job, but the extra time required could have been avoided by ordering a tread that was able to handle an angled riser. Round nose treads also need some careful attention. Not all treads are able to wrap all the way around a typical round nose wooden step, so take an actual sample to the job to be sure. Open trenches, broken pits and displaced manhole covers are all potential dangerous trip and fall hazards. For instance, in public places including on footpaths and nature strips, there are many utility pits and manholes that have been installed by telecoms, power, water and other utility companies. At times, due to ongoing civil works, repairs, upgrades or general works, pit covers need to be replaced. If left in state of disrepair or if the works are ongoing, these open pits/holes can be a serious hazard. In addition, pit covers which are located near or on footpaths, may develop exposed or raised edges, creating additional trip hazards. Therefore, it is extremely important to cover trenches, damaged pits, raised pit covers and damaged manhole covers with a sturdy, durable and non-slip cover. The WB Safety trench cover has been designed to cover these dangerous trip and fall hazards and can be used as a trench cover, pit cover, footway board etc. The cover can be a temporary or semi-permanent installation. The safety trench cover is available in 2 sizes: 1200mm x 800mm – suitable for pits/trenches up to 700mm wide 1600mm x 1200mm – suitable for pits/trenches up to 900mm wide These versatile safety covers are exceptionally rigid in construction, yet lightweight. The sturdy glass-reinforced composite trench cover maintains performance in the most demanding situations. Designed primarily for use in street works or construction, the safety covers are made from a single piece of glass-reinforced composite and can support a distributed weight of up to two tonnes. Therefore, potential trip and fall hazards on the street, footpath and construction site can all be reduced or eliminated with the WB safety trench cover. Correct Grating of Production Method, Materials, Mesh Size and Surface Steel gratings are widely used in many industrial applications including factory platforms, walkways, stair treads, trench covers, fences, ceilings, etc. It ensures personnel safety and provides high strength, great carrying capacity and excellent corrosion resistance. We have stainless steel gratings, galvanized steel gratings, pressure-locked steel gratings and heavy steel gratings for you to choose from. Then how to choose the right steel gratings? Here are some tips on how to choose the correct steel gratings for your reference: Welded steel grating or press-locked grating The main difference between the two gratings is the mode of production. Welded steel gratingIt is a steel grating fixed by pressure resistance welding in the each intersection point of bearing bar and cross bar, and the cross bar is generally used by square steel or twisted steel. It provides a robust structure, high strength and great carrying capacity. It is commonly served as walkways, stair treads, fences, floors, etc. Press-locked grating It is a steel grating fixed through the pressure to make the cross bar into the pre-open flat steel in the each intersection point of bearing bar and cross bar, and the cross bar is usually flat steel. It offers a stable connection and an attractive appearance. It is widely used in factories, civil and commercial buildings for stair treads, trench covers, floors, platforms, fences, etc. Materials When you choosing materials, you must consider the expected use of the grating. Is it used only for grating walkways? Or a shelf? Does the vehicles need to pass through the gating? In these cases, you must ensure that the grating has adequate strength to ensure the correct choice of materials. Each material has its unique characteristics and applications. Here we’d like to introduce it briefly to help you choose the right material. Which mesh size to choose The common mesh size of welded steel gratings is 33 mm × 33 mm and 34 mm × 38 mm. According to the different load, place, use, method of application and the requirements of customer, there are different ways to divide grating mesh. Load: The smaller the mesh, the higher the load capacity of grating. Application: Larger mesh allows more light to pass through. Smaller mesh prevents objects from falling off. Customer: The shape and size of the mesh determines the optical perception of the grating.
Дата Публикации: 26-11-21
F Type Connector for TV Coax Cables
Описание: F Type Connector for TV Coax Cables The F connector or F-type connector is a form of coax cable connector that is widely used with domestic television equipment.The F connector is cheap and can perform to frequencies in excess of 2 GHz making it ideal for terrestrial and satellite links between antennas / down-converters or LNBs and the television itself. In Europe, cables for down-converted satellite signals that fall between 950–2150 MHz from LNBs and DC power and block signalling from satellite receivers exclusively use F connectors. The connector is usually used with RG-6/U cable, although it can also be used with the older RG-59/U cable. The F type connector provides some significant improvements over the Belling Lee connectors (IEC 61169 part 2) that are widely used in Europe. These connectors were developed around 1922 and naturally their performance is not up to that of UHF TV. F connector development The F connector was developed in the USA in the 1950s by Eric E Winston of Jerrold Electronics, a company that was developing equipment for the domestic TV cable market. The connector became widely adopted for VHF and then UHF television in the USA. It was cheap and performed well within domestic TV situations. With the globalisation of TV equipment, and the wider adopting of satellite TV, the connector has come into more global use, first for satellite TV and then for terrestrial TV cables. With its increased use it has been standardised by the International Electrotechnical Commission under its standard IEC 60169 which standardised radio frequency connectors. F connector basics The F type connector is an inexpensive connector that provides the required performance for many domestic TV related applications. The connector has male and female connections, uses a threaded outer to provide reliable contacts and it provides good 75Ω match for signals extending well above 1 GHz. The thread for the F-type connector is a 3?8 in-32 unified extra fine (UNEF) thread. The female connector has a receptacle for the centre conductor and a barrel containing the spacing dielectric on the inside and on the outside is the thread. The male has a captive nut with a thread on the inside and the centre pin - typically this is the centre conductor of the coax itself. The connectors are arranged so that the dielectrics of the two halves are in contact, thereby producing an almost constant impedance across the connectors. In this way, the male F connector consists of only a body, which is generally crimped onto or screwed over the cable shielding braid, and a captive nut. These do not require tight tolerances and this means costs can be controlled. Push-on versions are also available. What is the best BNC connector? This article will discuss some of the most popular options that are available and present videos on how to connect these types of BNC connectors to coax cable. I hope that it will help readers decide which is the best choice for them. BNC connectors are used in video applications with RG59 and RG6 coaxial cable. They are the industry standard connector for CCTV video surveillance systems. Almost always, devices such as CCTV cameras, surveillance DVRs, and security monitors have a BNC female video input or output on them. So, the coaxial cable that connects these types of devices needs to have BNC male connectors on both ends of the cable run. Crimp-on BNC connectors are available in two styles: 2 piece and 3 piece. The two piece style is much more popular, so that is the type that we will discuss here. Installation using two piece BNC crimp-on connectors requires two tools: a coax cable stripper and a coax crimping tool. The attachment process takes a little longer than the other methods, but this is still a favorite among professional installers because the connector stays very secure when done. Please watch the below video to see how BNC crimp-on connectors are attached to RG59 cable. What Does IEC Connector Mean? An IEC connector refers to a type of electronic cable that meet the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards. The specification for IEC connectors is IEC-60320. The connectors mount with cables are commonly referred to as female connectors or sockets, whereas the connectors mount with panels are known as male connectors or plugs. IEC-60320 is a standard for male and female connectors used in cables and electric devices such as computers, workstations, laptops, printers and so on. Note that the IEC-60320 standard applies to different range and types of electrical devices. There is a range of standardized connectors that differ in regards to current capacities, temperature ratings and number of conductors. The main purpose of these cables is to attach an electronic appliance to its power source. Techopedia Explains IEC Connector In the classification of IEC connectors, odd numbers denote the female connectors. The corresponding male connector number is the number of female connectors plus one. Thus, C1 is female connector and C2 is the matching male connector. The set of thirteen male and female connectors are summarized below: C1 and C2: These connectors have 2 conductors, a rated current of 0.2 ampere and a maximum temperature of 70°C. C3 and C4: These connectors have 2 conductors, a rated current of 2.5 amperes and a maximum temperature of 70°C. C5 and C6: These connectors have 3 conductors, a rated current of 2.5 amperes and a maximum temperature of 70°C. C7 and C8: These connectors have 2 conductors, a rated current of 2.5 amperes and a maximum temperature of 70°C. This set allows up to 4 meters length, whereas all the previous connectors allow only 2 meters of cable length. C9 and C10: These connectors have 2 conductors, a rated current of 6 amperes and a maximum temperature of 70°C. C11 and C12: These connectors have 2 conductors, a rated current of 10 amperes and a maximum temperature of 70°C but are no longer part of the standard. C13 and C14: These connectors have 3 conductors, a rated current of 10 amperes and a maximum temperature of 70°C. It is also known as the IEC cold connector. It allows up to 10 meters in length. C15 and C16: These connectors have 3 conductors, a rated current of 10 amperes and a maximum temperature of 120°C. It is also known as the IEC hot connector or kettle lead. What Is an RCA Connector? Radio Corporation of America (RCA) jacks and plugs are found on some of the most commonly used varieties of radio frequency (RF) coaxial cables. A male RCA connector consists of a central contact pin and an outer sleeve, each of which can be crimped or soldered to a shielded wire within a cable. Multiple RCA cables are typically required for any given application, since each one can only carry a single audio or video signal. Three RCA cables are required for a system that has stereo audio and composite video, while five are needed for stereo audio with component video. Modern high definition video signals can be transmitted through analog RCA connectors, though digital signals require different solutions. The RCA connector was invented in the 1940s and was first used to connect an amplifier to a phonograph. They are sometimes referred to as phono connectors due to this original purpose, even though they can be used to carry both audio and video from many different devices. By the 1950s, the RCA connector had largely replaced the tip ring sleeve (TRS) connector in most high fidelity audio systems, and they remained popular even after the introduction of digital audio and video. Most audio-visual equipment comes equipped with RCA connectors, and some speakers do as well. 5 Common Types of RF Connectors Do you find it difficult to identify what RF connector type you're going to use in an application? If so, don’t worry. In this article, you will learn about the different types of RF connectors and what applications they are commonly used for. RF (radio frequency) connectors are connectors that are designed to work at radio frequencies for signal transmission of products like radios, antennas, coaxial cables, etc. However, these connectors have a variety of types. Here are 5 of the most commonly used types of RF connectors. 5 Most Common RF Connector Types The 5 most common RF connector types include Type N Connectors UHF Connectors TNC Connectors BNC Connectors SMA Connectors 1. Type N Connector The Type N connector is a threaded, weatherproof, medium sized connector for durable applications that can easily handle frequencies up to 11 Ghz. This type of connector follows MIL-STD-348 and widely used in lower frequency microwave systems where ruggedness and low cost are needed. 2. UHF Connector The Ultra High Frequency (UHF) connector is also a threaded RF connector that carries signals at frequencies up to 100 MHz. It’s not waterproof and non-constant surge impedance. It can be used in amateur radio, Citizens band radio, and marine VHF radio applications. 3. TNC Connector TNC is a threaded version of BNC connector and has better performance compared to BNC connector at microwave frequencies. It is used in radio and wired applications. 4. BNC Connector BNC is a miniature quick connect/disconnect RF connector commonly used at low frequency applications. It is originally used for the military sector and has gained wide acceptance in composite video on commercially used video devices and RF applications up to 2 GHz. 5. SMA Connector SMA or SubMiniature version A connectors are semi-precision coaxial RF connectors operating up to 18 GHz, though some proprietary versions are rated to 26.5 GHz. It is commonly used in RF power amplifiers, RF isolator, microwave systems, mobile telephone antennas, WiFi antenna systems and radio astronomy at 5 GHz+.
Дата Публикации: 26-11-21
LED Tube Lights Vs. LED Panel Lights: Which Is Better for Commercial Use: User
Описание: LED Tube Lights Vs. LED Panel Lights: Which Is Better for Commercial Use: User Insights For office or working environment LED lights to have the first choice for a long time. Most offices have replaced old fluorescent lights with LED Tubes or LED Panels for better illumination condition and cost effectiveness. But still some offices need to upgrade and they are looking for the best solution you can choose the best from the best and this is why today’s’ article is all about the difference between LED Tubes & LED Panels. LED Tube Lights You can select LED Tubes from lots of LED products designed to replace your old T8 lights. LED Tubes are lighter than other bulbs which make it easy to set up. They are less costly and less power ingesting than other lights. LED tube lights decrease the dangerous effect on the environment as they consist of non-toxic gases. These lights offer crystal clear, smooth and stable light. LED tubes of 15W to replace 32W T8, T10 or T12 lamps making the LED 50% more efficient. These tubes have a longer time span of 50,000 hours which is 55 times extended than other lights. LED tubes use drivers that power the LEDs. Some drivers are incorporated in the LED tubes and some decide to use an external driver outside the lights which totally depends on the manufacturers. There are some subtle differences between these designs. More people are asking for LED tubes that can be easily installed as a plug and play version into existing fixture without removing the existing ballasts. Though the installation cost is high, still it’s an investment for the long run. Advantages 1. LED tube lights can reduce electricity consumption up to 50% 2. LED tubes are recyclable after their life span. 3. The service of LED tube depends on some components like mechanical design, quality of LED, heat management etc. 4. Illumination of Led tubes are better buy some of these tubes are unlikely to be suitable for use in luminaries which are used in emergencies. 5. For many areas like offices, corridors and car parks vertical illumination is important to see someone’s face and read a notice board. LED Panel Lights But these days LED surface mounted device panels are now turning into more popular in the modern community for lighting up buildings like offices. They also save energy by improving energy efficiency. LED panels can generate light of full spectrum. Typical sizes for conventional fluorescent light containing troffer fixtures are 2ft*2ft or 2ft*4ft. These correlate with common recessed ceiling panel sizes. We can easily replace LED troffers with fluorescent tube light troffers. We can do this by installing LED strips directly into the aluminium troffer. Manufacturers can create a numerous configuration of power and brightness by changing the number of density of LED stripes. LED troffer can replace a fluorescent fixture consuming two times more energy if it’s well designed. We can give an example of a ballast draw included 3* T8 fluorescent lights that consume 108 watts. A 40w LED troffer can replace the same fixture and it won’t be unreasonable to achieve 40% savings on your utility bill. Advantages 1. Panel lights are designed to be flexible. Designers design a variety of different shapes & different particles of the light source according to the customer requirement. 2. The illumination of LED panel light is higher and glow is even. 3. Heat dissipation of LED panel light is less than other lights. These lights are slim. 4. Control ability of these lights are strong. LED Panel lights can carry out program control by an external controller and regulate the light color. 5. LED panel lights can change or adjust light color according to the environment and different needs. 6. These lights don’t produce any radiation and glare and can protect eyesight. The light color is also very average. The light bulb that has lit up our homes since the 1800s was officially on its way out after former President George W. Bush signed the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. Although the act didn't ban the use, purchase, sale or manufacture of incandescent bulbs, it did require household light bulbs to have 25 percent greater efficiency (which means 25 percent less energy use) than the traditional bulbs that used between 40 and 100 watts of electricity. The inefficient incandescent, where 90 percent of its energy is given off as heat, had fallen out of favor with the financially and ecologically concerned. When the new lighting standards began in 2012, prime replacements for the incandescent light bulb were the higher-efficiency compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) and the light emitting diodes (LEDs). The CFL, though, has its own problems, primarily the inclusion of toxic mercury in the design and a strange, sometimes unpleasant color that even gives some people headaches. An LED is what's called a "solid-state lighting" technology, or SSL. Basically, instead of emitting light from a vacuum (as in an incandescent bulb) or a gas (as in a CFL), an SSL emits light from a piece of solid matter. In the case of a traditional LED, that piece of matter is a semiconductor. Stated very simply, an LED produces light when an electrical current passes through a microchip, which illuminates the tiny light sources called LEDs and the result is visible light. For a complete explanation, see How Light Emitting Diodes Work. The problem with LEDs as primary home lighting was that while they emit a lot of light, the structure of an LED caused some of that light to get trapped inside. So, an LED bulb was traditionally dimmer than an incandescent bulb, and most people want their lamps and ceiling fixtures to be pretty bright. Now, LEDs bulbs have brightened up. You can now find LED replacement bulbs that emit light equivalent to a 60-watt incandescent light bulb or higher, which makes them a viable technology for basic lighting needs at home. And a LED replacement light bulb has a life 24,000 hours longer than that of a traditional incandescent 60-watt bulb. What Are Solar Lights? A:Solar lights are lighting systems powered by the sun and come in various colors, designs, and sizes. They can be fixed or portable light fixtures that include rechargeable batteries, photovoltaic solar panels, controllers and LED lamps. Since they are powered by solar radiation they have no wires to connect. Solar LED light is the best alternative energy source since they are eco-friendly and come from a limitless source. Solar street lights A LED street light is powered by solar energy and is used in parking lot areas and along different streets for lighting purposes. It uses a battery plus photovoltaic panel that is charged during daytime for lighting at night. Solar Street light has other features such as motion sensors and remote controls that come in handy when lighting up difficult areas to the wire. Solar Flood Lights - The Two Piece Option LED Flood Light is the best alternative for lighting a larger area. They are motion-activated and provide extra lighting, which works perfectly for security purposes. With solar flood lights, you do not need to worry about an extension cable or replace your batteries. Other perks that make the solar flood lights increase in demand include the following: ? They have a timer and brightness option. ? They can stay on for up to eight hours without charging. ? Motion sensors for detecting movement around your premises. ? The motion sensors help conserve energy since they only light up when there’s movement in the area. “High Bay Lighting” Defined Most businesses that own and operate warehouses, factories, and distribution centers have heard of “high bay lights”. But before we get into the latest technologies and their advantages, we wanted to unpack what “high bay lights” actually are and where they are most commonly found. What are High Bay Lights? “High bay lights” are typically defined as those lights which are 20 feet or more above the ground. Most often used in gymnasiums, warehouses, factories, and distribution centers, high bay lights are powerful lights that are capable of evenly illuminating large spaces with little to no glare. If you can remember the good old days, think of your old high school gym. Remember those big canister lights that hung down from the ceiling, high among the rafters? Those were high bay lights. High bay lights are typically used in industrial, warehouse, manufacturing, and aviation settings. Although high bay lights used to mostly be round, there are now round, linear (and other) LED high bay lights – depending on the application. Whether round or linear, their form comes primarily from their function, rather than the desired design aesthetic.
Дата Публикации: 26-11-21
Peptides vs proteins - what's the difference?
Описание: Peptides vs proteins - what's the difference? If you’re looking for the difference between peptides and proteins, the short answer is ‘size’. Both peptides and proteins are made up of strings of the body’s basic building blocks – amino acids – and held together by peptide bonds. In basic terms, the difference is that peptides are made up of smaller chains of amino acids than proteins. But the definition, and the way scientists use each term, is a little loose. As a general rule, a peptide contains two or more amino acids. And just to make it a little more complicated, you will often hear scientists refer to polypeptides – a chain of 10 or more amino acids. Dr Mark Blaskovich from the Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB) at The University of Queensland in Australia says approximately 50-100 amino acids is the cut-off between a peptide and a protein. But most peptides found in the human body are much shorter than that – chains of around 20 amino acids. There’s also an important variant of peptide called the cyclotide. As with the peptide and the protein, the cyclotide is also comprised of a string of amino acids, but unlike the others, the ends of a cyclotide are joined together to form a circle. As we’ll discuss below, this structure is important in the manufacture of therapeutic peptide-based drugs. As for proteins, biochemists generally reserve the term for large peptide molecules, which can either be one long chain of 100 or more amino acids – a ‘complex polypeptide’, if you like – or they can be comprised of several amino acid chains joined together. Haemoglobin, found in your red blood cells and essential for carrying oxygen, is such a protein. It’s made up of four different amino acid chains – two with 141 amino acids each and two with 146 amino acids each. Why peptides are the ‘next big thing’ in medical research Biochemists are excited by the possibilities presented by peptides and proteins as pharmaceuticals because they so often mimic exactly the behaviour of a natural ligand – the substance that interacts with the receptor on an enzyme or cell to cause a biological process. This gives peptide drugs the potential to be more precisely targeted, with fewer side effects than small-molecule drugs. Within the body, there are lot of different hormones that react with cells and trigger different biological processes. Often these are peptides, either cyclic versions or straight, linear ones. And then there’s the matter of how fast that peptide breaks down, which causes some stability issues, but in terms of safety, can be a positive. “We think peptides are the future of drugs for reasons of being more selective, more potent and potentially safer, because when a peptide eventually breaks down it just breaks down into amino acids, and amino acids are food, basically,” says Professor David Craik, who leads IMB’s Clive and Vera Ramaciotti Facility for Producing Pharmaceuticals in Plants. There are also manufacturing considerations that make peptides attractive – their length allows them to be chemically synthesised, as opposed to proteins that are generally expressed in yeast or mammalian cells. So that’s peptides. What are the applications for proteins? The most promising application of proteins is as antibodies, which are themselves a form of protein. Particularly in anti-cancer applications, there are a lot of antibodies either in the clinic or under development. Two well-known examples are Herceptin (trastuzumab) for breast cancer, and Humira (adalimumab) for rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases. The advantage of using proteins is the same as for the drug applications of peptides – they mimic something that is natural in the body, or replace something that’s missing or damaged. In the case of antibodies, protein-based drugs use the same strategy as the body does to target things. That way the drug can provide the specificity required, while also avoiding the off-target effects that a small molecule drug can have, causing bad side effects. When will we see new peptide-based medications? Stability can be an issue, as peptides can degrade very quickly, and that means it can be difficult to dose a patient with a peptide. And according to your body, peptides and proteins are basically just food, which makes administering peptide drugs in an oral form quite difficult, as the body promptly digests them. “That’s why drug developers often try going from a peptide and mimicking it with a small molecule instead, because the small molecule potentially has better properties for a drug, where the small molecule stay around in the body longer and can be administered orally,” Dr Blaskovich said. But the challenge is to get the small molecule to mimic the peptide. “Billions are spent by the pharmaceutical industry trying to do this,” Dr Blaskovich added. “That’s why if you’re able to come up with drugs that are peptides, rather than having to convert them into small non-peptidic molecules, it’s potentially a much faster way to develop a potent, selective, and apt drug.” The pharmaceutical industry remains sceptical, mainly due to the stability issue, but also the difficulty in getting orally administered peptides to cross the barrier of the gut and be taken up by the bloodstream. But intravenous and subcutaneous use of peptides as drugs is becoming more common. There are around 60 FDA-approved peptide drugs on the market, with about 140 peptide drugs in clinical trials, and over 500 in pre-clinical (before human testing) development. There are agricultural applications too While the stability of peptides is a challenge to be overcome in human use, it’s a double-edged sword, and may be an advantage in some agricultural uses. The speed of degradation of peptides used as insecticides or fungicides means that they are not going to persist in the environment. So creating greater stability of peptides can work both ways. If the stability of the peptide can be tailored, then it can be made to last long enough to work on the crop, but then also to degrade. This means it would not cause the long-term problems of DDT, for example, which can exist for hundreds of years. Why are experts so excited about peptide drugs? Cyclotides - the central focus of Craik’s work - have great potential to address the issues of stability of peptide drugs. As they structurally form a circle, cyclotides do not have the weak point of loose ends that speed up degradation by our digestive enzymes. They are further stabilised by several interlocking cross-links, forming a compact, very stable structure. This helps them reach their target intact, even when taken orally. Blaskovich’s group is working on two promising peptide-based antibiotics to deal with growing antibiotic resistance. The first of these is to enhance the glycopeptide (peptides with sugar molecules on them) antibiotic Vancomycin, by trying to make it a super-vancomycin that more selectively targets bacterial cells. This approach starts with vancomycin as the core, with additional groups added on to interact selectively with the bacterial cell instead of a mammalian cell. The aim is to increase its potency at killing bacteria and reduce the unwanted side effects it has on human cells. The second research program is developing antibiotics that attack Gram negative bacteria - generally considered the more difficult to fight. These peptides are cyclic lipopeptides (peptides with a fatty acid, or lipid, attached) with eight to 10 amino acids. You might have already taken a peptide-based drug One of the best-known peptide-based drugs is exenatide, which is marketed under the name Byetta. It’s used to help control blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes patients. It works by increasing the insulin production in response to meals and is a synthetic form of the peptide found in the venom of the Gila monster - a species of venomous lizard native to the US and Mexico. It’s a linear peptide containing 39 amino acids that was developed some 10 years ago, and is now widely used. Defining Antiaging Nutraceuticals The term antiaging can incorporate a broad range of nutraceutical possibilities. For the purpose of this article, let’s define antiaging nutraceuticals as those nutracentical ingredients that help to address health and wellness issues associated with aging. In this context, that would potentially include nutraceuticals that can positively impact the aging process itself as well as those that positively impact aspects of human physiology that tend to decline with age, such as joint health and cognitive health. Ahead, we touch on a few promising contenders. The benefits of organic food How your food is grown or raised can have a major impact on your mental and emotional health as well as the environment. Organic foods often have more beneficial nutrients, such as antioxidants, than their conventionally-grown counterparts and people with allergies to foods, chemicals, or preservatives may find their symptoms lessen or go away when they eat organic fruit and vegetable powder. Organic produce contains fewer pesticides. Chemicals such as synthetic fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides are widely used in conventional agriculture and residues remain on (and in) the food we eat. Organic food is often fresher because it doesn’t contain preservatives that make it last longer. Organic produce is sometimes (but not always, so watch where it is from) produced on smaller farms nearer to where it is sold. Organic farming tends to be better for the environment. Organic farming practices may reduce pollution, conserve water, reduce soil erosion, increase soil fertility, and use less energy. Farming without synthetic pesticides is also better for nearby birds and animals as well as people who live close to farms. Organically raised animals are NOT given antibiotics, growth hormones, or fed animal byproducts. Feeding livestock animal products increases the risk of mad cow disease (BSE) and the use of antibiotics can create antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. Organically-raised animals tend to be given more space to move around and access to the outdoors, which help to keep them healthy. Organic meat and milk can be richer in certain nutrients. Results of a 2016 European study show that levels of certain nutrients, including omega-3 fatty acids, were up to 50 percent higher in organic meat and milk than in conventionally raised versions. Organic food is GMO-free. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) or genetically engineered (GE) foods are plants whose DNA has been altered in ways that cannot occur in nature or in traditional crossbreeding, most commonly in order to be resistant to pesticides or produce an insecticide. Organic food vs. locally-grown food Unlike organic standards, there is no specific definition for “local food”. It could be grown in your local community, your state, your region, or your country. During large portions of the year it is usually possible to find food grown close to home at places such as a farmer’s market. The benefits of locally grown food Financial: Money stays within the local economy. More money goes directly to the farmer, instead of to things like marketing and distribution. Transportation: In the U.S., for example, the average distance a meal travels from the farm to the dinner plate is over 1,500 miles. Produce must be picked while still unripe and then gassed to “ripen” it after transport. Or the food is highly processed in factories using preservatives, irradiation, and other means to keep it stable for transport. Freshness: Local food is harvested when ripe and thus fresher and full of flavor. Some small local farmers use organic methods but may not be able to afford to become certified organic. Visit a farmer’s market and talk with the farmers to find out what methods they use. At the same time, we now have many ways to get organic plant extract.
Дата Публикации: 26-11-21