Investment casting
September 3, 2009 – 8:53 pmInvestment casting is an industrial process based on and also called lost-wax casting, one of the oldest known metal-forming techniques. From 5,000 years ago, when beeswax formed the pattern, to today’s high-technology waxes, refractory materials and specialist alloys, the castings allow the production of components with accuracy, repeatability, versatility and integrity in a variety of metals and high-performance alloys. Lost foam casting is a modern form of investment casting that eliminates certain steps in the process.
The process is generally used for small castings, but has produced complete aircraft door frames,
steel castings of up to 300 kg and aluminium castings of up to 30 kg. It is generally more expensive per unit than die casting or sand casting but with lower equipment cost. It can produce complicated shapes that would be difficult or impossible with die casting, yet like that process, it requires little surface finishing and only minor machining.
Tobacco Water Pipes: The Unique Smoking Experience
September 3, 2009 – 8:52 pmIf you like to smoke tobacco and you are sick of the traditional forms of smoking, then you obviously have never smoked out of a tobacco water pipe. A tobacco water pipe has a reservoir that you place water into. The bowl, the object you place the tobacco into, is attached to a stem that is then submerged into the water.
As you light the bowl with the tobacco, you inhale through the hole that is designated for your mouth and the tobacco is then filtered by the water as it flows into your lungs. This makes smoking safer than using a regular tobacco pipe and the experience is much more enjoyable, according to the many people who regularly enjoy smoking from tobacco water pipes.
Hookahs
For centuries, people have smoked from tobacco water pipes but they called these hookahs. Middle Eastern countries such as Iran, Saudi Arabia and Turkey are well known to use hookahs. These tobacco water pipes have long, ornately carved stems from which many hoses emerge. The idea is that when the bowl is lit, several people can enjoy the smoke at once. This makes the hookah a truly unique smoking experience, something enjoyed by several at once rather than being just a solitary activity.
Most hookahs are lavishly decorated and it’s not unusual to see gold and even jewels used in the decorated of the tobacco water pipe. In some countries, it’s seen as odd not to own one and the popularity of hookahs has even encouraged the opening of hookah lounges. These establishments sport several hookahs where customers can come to sample different flavors of tobacco. Sort of like a bar, it’s a bonding experience where many people can come and relax and smoke off the hookah.It is important to clean your tobacco water pipe regularly. If you don’t clean your tobacco water pipe, you could affect the taste of the tobacco you use and it can also hinder your experience in other ways, such as making you sick. Change the water regularly and make sure you use a pipe cleaner on the hoses as well as the stem. Keeping your tobacco water pipe clean is seen as etiquette, especially if other people will be smoking off it.
Tobacco water pipes can be made from different materials. There are glass water pipes, plastic and even metal. The different materials can be cleaned but you must be careful of the cleaning agents you use to prevent damaging your tobacco water pipe. It’s best to just use warm water if you can get away with it as certain chemicals can damage your tobacco water pipe and that would be a shame, especially if you owned a beautiful, elaborate hookah.
Owning a tobacco water pipe is a special thing, as many people can become attached to theirs. Once they smoke from their tobacco water pipe, they would rather not smoke out of anything else. If you like smoking, and you like pipes, get a tobacco water pipe and you’ll likely never stray again.
New Infusion Set
September 3, 2009 – 8:51 pmPump maker Disetronic announced on May 29 that its new Ultraflex Soft infusion set is now available for all insulin-pump users.
The Ultraflex Soft has a reversible connector at the base that “clicks” into place. In addition, it has a cannula that is tapered for easier insertion.
“We built this product from the ground up, using patient input to create the right features,” says John Odegard, marketing manager for Disetronic. “The Ultraflex is different from the Quick-set and Sof-set because the reversible ‘click’ connection system is much easier for persons who are vision impaired or have neuropathy.”
Odegard says the Ultraflex disconnects easily at the base, has a flexible Teflon cannula and doesn’t need an insertion device. It also has a clear window at the top of the infusion set, which makes it “easy to view your insertion site.” Compared with the Sof-set, Odegard says the Ultraflex introducer needle is a smaller 27-gauge.
“The Sof-set has a 26-gauge needle, which extends four mm beyond the cannula,” he says.
The Ultraflex Soft has a 90-degree insertion angle, as well as a soft Teflon cannula, which can flex with the patient’s body tissue.
The universal connection feature is compatible with all insulin pumps on the market. The set come sin two cannula lengths and three tubing lengths to fit all body sizes and types.
Odegard says all infusion sets need to be changed approximately every three days.
Foley Catheter Insertion
September 3, 2009 – 8:51 pmWhat Is It?
A Foley catheter is a thin bendable tube with a balloon on the end. The end of the tube and the balloon are pushed into your bladder to drain urine. While this tube is in the bladder, urine is drained from it right away. You may need this catheter for just a little while or for a long time. How long you need it depends on why you have it.
The bladder is a hollow organ that holds urine. When you are ready to pass urine, it travels through the urethra (a small tube) to an opening in the body. Urine is let out of the body through this opening.
Why do you need it? You may need a catheter because of an infection, or a swollen prostate gland. You may need a catheter because of medicine you are taking. You may need a catheter because of a disease or an injury that is
causing problems in your urinary tract. Catheters may be used because you cannot pass the urine by yourself. After surgery, some people need to have catheters. The catheter is often used to keep track of how much urine a person is passing. When you have a catheter, it is important that you drink enough liquid every day. Ask your caregiver how much liquid you should drink each day.
Inserting a Foley catheter:
You will need to lie on your back covered by a sheet. While wearing sterile gloves, your caregiver will carefully clean the area around your urethra.
A soft tube called a Foley catheter will be gently put into your urethra. The tube will pass through the urethra and into your bladder.
When the tube gets to your bladder, the balloon will be filled with sterile water by your caregiver. The balloon will keep the catheter in your bladder.
The balloon presses against the wall of your bladder. This may make you feel like you need to pass urine. Instead of you passing the urine, it will drain out the catheter and into the urine bag.
To keep the catheter in place, it will be taped to your abdomen (stomach) or leg.Putting in your catheter should take about 10 minutes.
Caring for your Foley or leg drainage bag:
Catheters are designed to be closed drainage systems. This means that the path from the tip of the catheter inserted into the bladder, to the bag which catches urine, is closed. A closed system decreases the chance of getting an infection. It also decreases the chance of the catheter breaking and urine spilling out. People with catheters and their caregivers should avoid detaching parts of the catheter along the closed system unless it is necessary.
Larger, sterile, drainable, 2 liter drainage bags or smaller sterile leg bags are used to collect your urine. To
keep a closed system, these bags are connected directly to the catheter. If you use a leg bag to collect urine, a larger drainage bag may be attached at night with a special connector. A drainage bag should be emptied only when it is full enough that this is needed. Some plastic drainage bags should be changed every 5 to 7 days. Ask your caregiver how often your drainage bag should be changed.
Drainage bags must be kept below the level of the bladder. This will allow gravity to help drain the urine, and will stop urine from flowing back into your bladder. Urine that flows back into your bladder increases your risk of an infection. Do not let the drainage bag rest on or touch the floor. The tubing that goes from your urethra to a leg bag should be secured to your thigh with special tape, a leg strap, or a drain tube stabilizer. Allow extra tubing between the urethra and the point where it is secured to your thigh.
CARE AGREEMENT:
You have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat you. You always have the right to refuse treatment.
Definition of Oxygen mask
September 3, 2009 – 8:50 pmOxygen mask: A mask that covers the mouth and nose, and is hooked up to an oxygen tank. It delivers oxygen directly to the patient. Oxygen can also be delivered directly through a nasal catheter, a tube that divides into two smaller tubes that go into the nostrils.
Oxygen is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas that makes up about 20 percent of the air we breathe (and at least half the weight of the entire solid crust of the earth) and which combines with most of the other elements to form oxides. Oxygen is essential to human, animal and plant life.
The chemical symbol for the element oxygen is O. As a medicinal gas, oxygen contains not less than 99.0% by volume of O2.
Oxygen was discovered in 1774 by the British scientist Joseph Priestly but he did not name it “oxygen.” He called it dephlogisticated air. (Priestly discovered three other chemical compounds, one of which, nitrous oxide -”laughing gas” – is still used today as a mild anesthetic agent, as during dental procedures.)
The word “oxygen” came from the French “oxygene.” It was so named by the French scientist Antoine Lavoisier (1743-94) who thought it was a necessary ingredient in all acids. This is not so. Hydrochloric acid (HCl), for example, contains no oxygen.
Fasteners and Fastening Systems
August 4, 2009 – 12:06 amMechanical fasteners provide a clamping force between two pieces of material.There is a wide variety of types of fasteners and a variety of materials used to make them. There are threaded fasteners, non-threaded fasteners and special purpose fasteners. Steel fasteners are the most common material used, although aluminum alloys, brass and nickel are amongst other metals used. Aluminum alloy fasteners have the advantage over steel of being much lighter, non-magnetic and more corrosion resistant fasteners. Nickel has the particular advantage of strength at high temperatures.
The choice of fastener will depend on a number of factors:
-Environmental…For example: high, normal and low temperature; corrosive, abrasive and oxidising conditions.
-Nature of the external loading on the fastener…For example: tension, compression, shear, cyclic, impact.
-Life and service requirements…For example: the need for perhaps frequent assembly and disassembly.
-Design of the components being joined and types of materials…For example: stress concentrations; the elastic, plastic and thermal properties of the materials.
Quantity of fasteners required and cost
Threaded fasteners
With a threaded fastener, the clamping force holding the two pieces of material together is produced by a torque being applied to the fastener to stretch it and this is maintained during the service life of the fastener. The fastener is in tension and the two pieces of material in compression. Bolts mated with nuts and screws with threads in the material are examples of this type of fastener. Low- or medium-carbon steel bolts will typically have a minimum proof strength of about 225 to 400 Pa, the proof strength being the maximum stress the bolt can withstand without acquiring a permanent set. For quenched and tempered mediumcarbon bolts the minimum proof stress is 600 to 650 MPa and quenched and tempered alloy steel about 970 MPa. Threaded fasteners are particularly useful for joining components that are likely to need to be dismounted during the life of the product.
Non-threaded fasteners
Rivets, eyelets, nails and pins are examples of non-threaded fasteners. Rivets can be used for joining dissimilar or similar materials, both metallic and non-metallic, to give permanent joints. When the force applied to the rivet is sufficiently high, plastic deformation occurs and the shank of the rivet increases in diameter as its length decreases. That part of the shank within the hole increases in diameter until it fills the hole and the unsupported part of the shank outside the hole continues to deform until a head is formed. A ductile material has to be used for the rivet material, e.g. mild steel, copper, brass. aluminium alloy. For some materials the required ductility is obtained in the cold state, in other cases the riveting takes place hot. Where the riveting force might damage or distort the materials being joined, tubular or semi-tubular rivets might be used instead of solid rivets.
Pins, either in the solid or tubular forms, are widely used for fastening. For example, taper pins are used to join wheels onto the ends of shafts, the pin just being driven through holes in the two parts until it is fully home and giving a tight fit. Taper pins are usually supplied in mild steel but can be alloy steel, stainless steel or brass. Another form of pin is the split cotter pin. This is used where movement in the joint is required or as a locking device : for slotted nuts on bolts.
There is a wide variety of forms of spring-retaining clips. A simple form is a C-clip which is used to lock components on shafts, the clip generally fitting into a groove on the shaft . Most C-clips are made from hardened and tempered carbon steel.
Fatigue properties of fastened joints
The use, for example, of bolts or rivets as fasteners for joints can introduce fretting damage. Fretting is the wear process that occurs at the areas of contact of two metals undergoing small cyclic slip. The damage is referred to as galling or scuffing. Such damage can lower the fatigue strength by factors as high as three for aluminium alloys.
Door Hardware to Reflect Style and Taste
August 4, 2009 – 12:06 amTags:cabinet handle drawer and door lock glass door handle
Every room throughout the house reflects the homeowner’s style and taste in one way or another. Home interior design is an art to many people and often times homeowners tend to throw in their own style and personality when it comes time for a home remodel or redecorating project. A house should really reflect on the personality of the homeowners and those who live in the house. By throwing in your own style and preferences it will make the house feel like more of a home than just an actually house that you live in.
There are many different ways that homeowners can express themselves through redecorating the house and throw in their own taste. Some details are more obvious than others, but there are numerous ways to show guests a little bit about yourself with the design elements that you choose. One design element that often times gets overlooked but can give a great reflection of your style if chosen correctly is the door hardware throughout the house. Many people see a door handle or knob as a necessity. While it is true that hardware for the door is a necessity that does not mean that it should not reflect the homeowner’s style and taste.
Hardware for the doors throughout the house encompasses a lot of different details. One aspect of this particular hardware is the actually door knob. Homeowners can choose from door knobs, levers or handles when it comes to this particular piece of hardware. Door handles tend to be used on doors on the front of the house, where as levers tend to be used on French doors or bathroom doors. Door knobs come in handy for other doors throughout the house that lead to bedrooms or family rooms. Choose the right hardware really boils down to the homeowners preference so there really is not right or wrong hardware for a particular door.
In addition to the handle of the door, hardware also includes the dead bolt. Dead bolts are typically only used on front doors in order to provide security and safety to the homeowners. Just like door knobs and handles, dead bolts come in many different finishes. Because of this, it is important that the dead bolt and handle of the door match one another and compliment the rest of the home design. Door hinges are also included in the hardware of doors and should match the handles and dead bolt on the door as well.
Whether you are undertaking kitchen renovations or any other renovations throughout the house, choosing the right hardware for a particular door is important to the overall look and feel of that room. Updating the hardware of the door is a rather inexpensive and simple project that many homeowners can perform themselves. New hardware on an existing door can give the door an updated look. A fresh coat of paint or stain to the existing door can also go a long way to make the door look new again.
Injection Mold Maker – A New, Innovative and Improved Technique of Molding
August 4, 2009 – 12:05 amMold is a fungus that grows on many different substances. Unlike plants, which feed themselves through photosynthesis, molds actually gain energy by consuming other substances. For example, if you see mold on your bread, it is most likely consuming the bread it is on. Similarly, mold that is found in the walls may be living off of the wood and other materials that are in the walls.
If you are interested in Injection Mold Maker but are not sure where to go to find it, then you should know that there are a few options in particular that you should be taking into consideration. By choosing these particular Injection Mold Maker companies over any other, you are going to be ensuring that you receive the best quality and value possible, which is obviously very important to anyone.
Bring into Play the Use of an Injection Mold Makers:
The Injection Mold Maker Resource is considered as being the Internet’s best source when it comes to information on machines and resins. The injection molding process and plastics industry has truly become an incredible, multi-billion dollar industry, and injection molding has made possible the cheap and durable construction of various different consumer and industrial items which have had a profound impact on society.
They are a company whose goal is to educate both customers and engineers as much as possible by providing information regarding manufacturers, resins, materials, and anything else that is related to injection molding.
The Equipment Used in Injection Molding:
Their products include mold waxes, polyvinyl alcohol or PVA film forming barrier solutions and mold polishes and buffing compounds, and mold cleaners. What is good about these products is that most of them are environmentally friendly and only contains ingredients that are non-hazardous.
Injection Mold Makers is a method of molding in which the molding material is first placed in an open, heated mold cavity. The mold is then closed with a strong top force or plug member, and pressure is put on to force the material into contact with all of the mold areas, and then proper heat and pressure are maintained until the molding material has completely cured.
The Injection Mold Makers process employs plastic resins in a partially cured stage, either in the form of granules, putty-like masses, or preforms. It is also important to understand that Injection Mold Makers is an incredibly high volume, high pressure molding method that is suitable for a variety of different purposes, including the molding of complex, high strength fiberglass reinforcement.
Cardboard coffins don’t cost the earth
August 4, 2009 – 12:05 amSeveral years ago, Burringbar artists Julie Ward and Evelyn Jones had to deal with the loss of family members and the subsequent grief.
Julie dealt with it by painting a local panorama to sit near her dad’s coffin at the funeral while Evelyn painted her mother’s casket.
‘It was really nice and brought a personal dimension to the whole grieving process and helped both of us in our healing,’ Julie said.
At the time, the pair were running an art gallery/studio in Burringbar and when the building was sold, they wanted to continue with their art work and create another business so came up with the idea of designing coffins, preferably environmentally-friendly ones.
‘It was an economic decision at first, as six years ago when mum died I went to a funeral home to choose a casket and saw the chipboard coffin which looked awful so I decided to paint it with the family crest, angels, flowers and more… I turned a really ugly coffin into something beautiful and special and relating to mum,’ Evelyn said.
‘The reaction from mum’s friends at the funeral gave me the idea later to do this because they all just loved it.’
Julie said that when her dad, a fisherman, died five years ago, she painted a large panorama of Fingal Head, a place he loved, complete with a huge eagle soaring off into the clouds which was placed on an easel behind his coffin at his funeral.
‘They were both major losses for us and we realised these paintings worked for us and our family,’ she said.
‘Participation in the whole process of death has been taken away from our society over the past 100 years, people don’t see the bodies or are not involved in the process.’
Evelyn said dealing with funeral homes made grieving for family members harder and more expensive ‘with chipboard coffins and all the extras’ so they decided to start their own funeral-wares business after undertaking a New Enterprise Incentive Scheme program.
Calling themselves The Rose and Lily Funeral Wares, the women converted a shed on their property into a factory and started designing and painting environmentally-friendly cardboard coffins from mostly recycled paper or cardboard which can be hand painted with a range of designs.
The cardboard caskets weigh about 15kg but are strong enough to hold up to 120kg.
‘The straps are hessian, the lining is cotton, they’re completely biodegradable and we use only non-toxic glues… we encourage people to decorate their own coffin or get family members to get involved,’ Evelyn said.
‘We’re trying to empower people to be pre-organised and get involved in the process from a financial and spiritual point of view because people don’t need a funeral director involved at all,’ Julie said.
The two are also involved in educating people about burials, including home burials, addressing seniors groups about what options they have for their funerals.
‘They’re quite fascinated by it, many of them do not want to burden their families with the cost of their funerals and we provide options to buy a more personalised, inexpens-ive product.’