The Importance Of R4 Card
Now days only few people have got the idea what does R4 software actually means. But if you are really willing to know the details regarding this R4 software then this article will guide you to get the proper information and will also help you to get the details. If we talk about R4 software it basically consists of both additional applications as well as firmware.
The R4 card is a card that is basically in the shape of a normal game cartridge of the Nintendo DS and is inserted into the same slot as that of the game cartridges. The Slot 2 was the slot used for extendable memory earlier but now the R4 cards use the Slot 1 itself to execute its contents. The R4 box comes with a R4 card, a R4 carrying box case, a USB microSD card reader.
There is a small slot on the top left of the R4 card which is the provision for the microSD card which is the source drive for the R4 cards. The R4 is of course very easy to use as t is only the same mechanism as that of the normal game cartridges.
There is a software CD that comes along with this R4 Card box. The CD does not mean that the card cannot be accessed by any Operating System but is only the firmware of the R4 card that you have bought. Even though the R4 cards have been put to good use, there is a fact that these cards are sometimes not used legitimately and are used sometimes for illegal pirated games and applications. This is a major drawback for the popularity of the R4 cards. But yet since there are more of advantages that rule over it, R4 cards are much preferred everywhere.
The R4 cards boots up very easily just like the normal Nintendo DS games and applications. It does not need any kick start from any other boot up device to put itself to work. Likewise there is smooth functioning of the application without any pause or any stutter while reading the contents in the microSD card. This makes the R4 indeed a very much wanted device for great entertainment with the Nintendo DS.
R4 DS is applicable only if there is additional system software. And this additional system is also known as firmware. In order to run such a device the firmware software plays a very significant role as it the basic requirement if we are to run this kind of devices. It is mostly applicable now a day to play different types of games that are available in the internet. One has to update these devices every time as the devices will stay up to date and also helps in fine tune ones hardware to get the best performance.
Posted at 11:18AM Jan 29, 2010 Read More... by Rebecca in R4 |
How to Make a Flange Pillow
Flange are decorative borders that surround the edges of a pillow. Flange pillows can be small or large, square or rectangular, or even round. You can find pillow forms in a variety of shapes and sizes at many fabric stores or buy inexpensive pillows at discount stores or clearance sales. You can cover the pillow with home decor fabric, plain cotton or a whimsical print.
Cut one piece of fabric for the front of the pillow cover that is 7 inches larger than the height and width of the pillow. For example, if you have a 12-inch square pillow, cut a 19-inch square piece of fabric.
Cut a second piece of fabric 2 inches taller than the first (for example, 19 inches wide by 21 inches tall). Cut this piece of fabric in half across the width (in this example, the two pieces would be 19 inches by 10 1/2 inches). These pieces will cover the back of the pillow.
Fold one long edge of each piece of back fabric over 1/4 inch toward the wrong side of the fabric and press the fold flat. Fold over the edge again 1/4 inch and press it flat. Stitch along each fold with matching thread.
Place the two back pieces and the front piece right sides together and line up along the edges. The hemmed edges of the back pieces should overlap.
Pin the pieces of fabric together, then stitch together along all four sides using 1/4-inch seam allowance. Turn the pillowcase right side out.
Insert a row of pins 3 inches from the edge of each side of the pillowcase, forming a border, to make the flange.
Stitch along each line of pins, removing the pins as you sew. If you wish, you can sew a piece of ribbon or trim on top of the stitching for an extra decorative touch. Make sure to use thread that matches the ribbon or trim.
Insert the pillow or pillow form through the opening in the back of the pillowcase.
Posted at 11:17AM Jan 29, 2010 Read More... by Rebecca in Flange |
Bend a Sheet Metal Flange
Standard sheet metal flange are used for mounting accessories to duct work. Sheet metal flanges can be bent to any size, but there are two common types of flanges. The flange is designated by the direction that the flange bends on the duct.
A "flange in" is, as the name describes, turned to the inside of the duct work and a "flange out" bends to the outside of the duct work. Both flange types bend the same way; the difference is how you lay out the bends for the flange versus the layout marks for the duct work.
Set the scribe to 1 inch. Run the scribe along the edge of the ductwork that is going to receive the flange. Measure across the sheet metal with the tape measure and use the permanent marker to lay out the locations of any bends that will need to be made across the duct's sheet metal flange.
Cut a straight line with the aviation snips at each bend location that you marked in Step 1. The cut needs to extend the full 1 inch width of the 1 inch flange. Notch the corners of the flange that will require the seams for the connections on the side of the duct work.
Run the duct work through all roll-former equipment needed to place seam edges on the piece of duct work before you bend the sheet metal flange.
Place the edged sheet metal into the sheet metal hand brake. Slide the end that does not require the flange into the hand brake first, with the 1 inch scribe mark facing up. Align the 1 inch scribe mark with the top clamping leaf of the hand brake. Pull down the clamping handle on one side of the hand brake. Switch to the other side of the hand brake. Line-up the scribe mark with that side of the clamping leaf and pull the clamping handle on that side to completely secure the sheet metal in the hand brake.
Grasp the low handles of the hand brake's bending leaf. Pull the bending leaf up as you watch the sheet metal. When the flange is close to 90 degrees, lower the bending leaf and unclamp the sheet metal by raising the clamping leaf handles of the hand brake.
Pull the sheet metal forward of the clamping leaf 4 inches. Check the sheet metal flange for 90 degrees with the combination square. If the base and blade of the combination square both rest completely on the sheet metal and the flange, the bend is 90 degrees. If the bend is not 90 degrees, push the sheet metal back into place, clamp the metal back into the hand brake, and lift the bending leaf higher to tighten the bend of the sheet metal flange.
Check the sheet metal flange for square using the method described in Step 6. If the flange is still short of 90 degrees, repeat the process of clamping and bending to tighten the flange. Use the mallet to open up the flange if you go over 90 degrees. Hit the sheet metal flange lightly with the mallet. Hit the entire length of the flange with the mallet. The closer together you hit the flange, the more even the flange will look.
Bend the width and heights of the duct work. Assemble the ductwork with the sheet metal flange placed at the end of the length of duct.
Posted at 02:15PM Jan 28, 2010 Read More... by Rebecca in Flange |
The Cam With the Flange Goes in the Groove With the Tube
Did you ever watch MASH? Remember that episode where Hawkeye was trying to fix that whatever it was and Nurse Kelleye told him that the cam with the flange goes in the groove with the tube? You remember that, right? Well, you're probably thinking, "What the devil does that have to do with article writing?" Well, it has everything to do with it. So if you'll hang in there, I'm going to explain. I think you will find this interesting reading.
In the MASH episode that I'm talking about, a particular procedure had to be done in order to get that, whatever it was, to work. And the funny thing was, even after Kelleye told Hawkeye EXACTLY what to do, he didn't know how to do it. He didn't know his cam from his flange OR his groove from his tube, let alone know where to put them all. It was a total mess and ultimately, Kelleye had to do it for him. Thus it is with some article writers. They don't know their cam from their flange OR their groove from their tube.
More specifically, they don't know a good title from a bad one, a good intro from a bad one, a good summary from a bad one and heaven knows they wouldn't know well written content if it bit them on the backside. Talk about cams and flanges and grooves and tubes being all over the place with nothing fitting correctly. No wonder so many article writers can't find freelancing jobs. People take one look at their examples and run for the hills. You'd think we were under attack from Martians.
Okay, so how do you get to the point where you know your cams, flanges and whatever? Well, there are two ways to go about it that I know. The one way is to get a formal education. Go learn how to write articles. I'm sure somewhere on this planet you can find an article writing course. Another way is to study the masters. If you go to the top article directories online and look at the articles that are most viewed, you will probably learn a heck of a lot from reading the works of these authors. And it won't cost you a dime.
Bottom line is this. Unless you understand your craft, you're not going to be a successful article writer. Oh I know, some people say it's just pure talent. It isn't. There are structures to writing that you need to learn. They don't come from a hole in the wall. They come from learning and doing. So make sure you know your cam from your flange and your groove from your tube.
Posted at 03:07PM Jan 26, 2010 Read More... by Rebecca in Flange |
Pneumatics Gets Lumber Mills Rolling
In the lumber industry, productivity demands are staggering; output is often measured in lugs per minute, a unit that describes how quickly a machine can process logs and boards. OEMs and timber-processing end users also need machines that can withstand harsh mill problems where temperatures fluctuate, dust damages equipment, and vibrations stress and grate machinery.
Traditionally, heavy-duty steel pneumatic cylinders were the only long-lasting hardware used in lumber production. However, over the past few years, pneumatic solutions combined with lighter and less expensive aluminum have improved sawmill production.
Mills resisted using aluminum because failure of aluminum pneumatic cylinders was common on equipment such as trim saws, where high speed and shock overstressed the units. Even though aluminum cylinders are less expensive than steel, the steep cost of downtime made sawmill operators question their use. Downtime in a mill is about $1,000 an hour, says lumber industry consultant Bill Bowlin. So if a trimmer stops for some reason, the whole mill stops because all the boards have to pass through the trimmer to get out of the mill.
Now, a new combination of pneumatics, aluminum, and ideal cushioning increases cylinder longevity and performance. The latter is a solution developed by Bosch Rexroth Corp., Lexington, Ky., that gently decelerates the pneumatic piston as it reaches end of stroke inside the cylinder to eliminate bounce and end-cap slamming, two main culprits of cylinder wear.
It is particularly useful for eliminating excess piston movement and bounce on quickly cycling, highly kinetic sawmills, especially in trim saws where pneumatic cylinders constantly drive blades up and down. Piston velocity at its maximum speed throughout the stroke sequence is exactly zero when it reaches the end cap. Vibration and noise are reduced and cycle time is improved, boosting machine speed as much as 30%. Cylinders with ideal cushioning are also lighter to further improve acceleration and cycle times.
Advanced Sawmill Machinery Equipment Inc. (ASM), Holt, Fla., worked with Bosch Rexroth to incorporate aluminum cylinders with ideal cushioning in its Series 140 Trimmer. The machine builder wanted to offer faster cycle rates and more durability.
ASM president David Seffens says the cylinders make their high-speed trimmer competitive and play a big role in opening up the 140 to 200 lugs-per-minute market for ASM. Seffens also notes that all the saw ladder surfaces on the Series 140 Trimmers are machined, keyed, and require no alignment by the customer. With the aluminum cylinders, each machine is customized for speed at the request of the end user.
Posted at 09:46AM Jan 25, 2010 Read More... by Rebecca in pneumatic |
A Look at Unique and Durable Stainless Steel Water Bottles
Stainless steel water bottles are durable, unique, and easy to clean.
On the go individuals looking for sturdy water bottle designs that won't break or leak should consider stainless steel made bottles for their hydration needs. A few companies make stainless steel water bottles and 5 have been chosen for this review.
Keep in mind that one big downside to stainless steel water bottles is that some of them wear quicker when washed in a dishwasher unlike some plastic counterparts. However they won't leak or break and won't have that plastic aftertaste that some bottles have.
New Wave makes a variety of stainless steel water bottle and food storage products. Their water bottles come in sizes ranging from 0.6 liters to 40 ounces.
The stainless steel bottles designed by New Wave come in a variety of shapes and sizes as well as a range of tinted steel colors. The 0.6 liter bottles have specially designed tops that allow them to be easily attached to backpacks, belt loops, and hooks.
Klean Kanteen on their website claims to be the original stainless steel water bottle. The sizes of the bottles range from 12 ounces up to 40 ounces and all models features the special screw on cap that allows for attachment to backpacks and hooks.
They have a sleek design and all of the sizes have a similar shape and grip. According to the company website, Klean's stainless steel water bottles are lined on the inside with a material that protects them and allows them to be washed in the dishwasher.
The color designs of these bottles are classy and have a glossy look on the outside. Klean also explains that their bottles are recyclable as well.
Nathan Sports makes these stainless steel water bottles that range in size from 500ml to 1 liter sizes. They have set themselves apart from the competition with the patent pending flip straw top designthat allows you to get the hydration you need without spilling the liquid all over. The flip top connects to an internal straw that goes all the way down to the bottom of the bottle. Plus it is leak proof and dishwasher safe.
The color and designs are also unique to these bottles. The colors come in types such as Pink Love and Green Recycle and some bottles feature images of animals and other nature friendly designs on them.
A bit more expensive when it comes to water bottles but this may be due to the straw design feature.
Earthlust Stainless steel pipe are made in limited edition batches making them a unique and attention getting water bottle. They are naturally unlined stainless steel and safe for a variety of liquids.
They come in sizes ranging from 13 ounces up to 1 liter. Each bottle has a unique art design and color with many of the bottles being limited edition designs. Clearly Earthlust is aiming for a market of water bottle users that appreciate a good looking, artistically designed bottle.
I was impressed by the art and designs of these bottles, many that come with tops that come with the clips needed to clip your bottle onto backpacks and belt loops. Surprisingly they cost less than some bottles with little or no aesthetic appeal.
These stainless steel bottles are incredibly unique and while I don't currently own an Earthlust water bottle I may consider purchasing one after seeing what they offer. They also make hats and carry bags with a focus on environmental protection.
What caught my attention about ThinkSport stainless steel bottles was their dedication and focus to producing 100% safe and toxin free bottle designs. While most companies produce safe water bottles, ThinkSport focuses on bottles that won't break down over time and thus remain safe for the duration of their usage time.
They are double walled and have a vacuum sealed design which is said to keep beverages hot or cold for hours.
They mainly come in just two sizes, 350ml and 750ml sizes. While they lack the hook or open circle style caps that many stainless steel bottles have for attachment purposes, the ThinkSmart bottles do still feature an attached screw on lid.
Look wise they come in black and grey with white text stating 'Think Smart' on them. So for someone who wants to have a unique looking bottle, this might not be the water bottle for them.
All stainless steel bottles are durable and many are designed to be dishwasher safe. Always make sure you check the specifications on the specific stainless steel bottle that you purchase as those that are not dishwasher safe could become worn down or unsafe to use after breaking down.
This writer has learned a lot about seamless pipe and was impressed by the wide range of stainless steel bottles and the sheer artistic nature of many of the companies making them.
Posted at 09:45AM Jan 25, 2010 Read More... by Rebecca in Stainless steel pipe |
How to Build Your Own Rapid Prototype Machine
Rapid prototype Comes of Age with This Solid Freeform Fabrication Kit
We've been waiting a long time for a product like this and now it has arrived. For the home user and those who don't have $15,000-$90,000 to drop on a high end rapid prototype unit, the Fabber gives the tools to build your own home manufacturing system that can build just about anything as long as you can design it. Designed by a guy who got tired of losing Lego pieces, the Fabber lets anybody have a desktop Rapid Prototype unit that can manufacture pretty much anything - let's have a look at this dynamic hobby tool.
Solid Freeform Fabrication or Rapid Prototyping has been around for quite a long time now. Many commercial companies offer various type of machines that can manufacture high precision parts out of both plastic or metal to exating tolerances. The downside, they cost anywhere between $15,000 and upwards of $90,000. Some machines can even run up to $500,000.
The Fabber is a joint project started in the Computational Synthesis Lab at Cornell by Dr. Hod Lipson. He initially visualized the Fabber as a tool to reproduce lost Lego pieces. It is a low cost reasonable detail sold freeform modelling or fabrication tool with a build volume of about 512 cubic inches. or an 8" cube.
What the Fabber really represents is a grass-roots approach to what has been a niche product for more than 20 years. As they explain, they are comparing the Fabber to the Altair 8000, one of the first microcomputers and one of the things that triggered the home computer boom back in the mid 1970's. The Fabber even costs about the same with inflation, at about $2300 for parts, whereas the old Plastic mould would have cost about $2000 in today's dollars.
The real beauty of the tool is that it is all made from off-the-shelf components. For a little over $2,000 you can buy the complete kit and put it together, or buy a fully assembled unit from a company called Koba Industries, which has partnered with Fab @ Home to build and sell the product at only a little bit above assembly prices.
The Fabber will take a standard STL file format used by any of the 3D design applications and produce an actual model based on that file. They have used the Fabber to produce a watch with embedded electronics, a working flashlight with circuitry injected, as well as some other really cool things.
This is a brand new technology and certainly not as refined as the high end production machines that can be bought for multi-thousands of dollars. But as a concept, it's something that can be developed and evolved. All it takes is ingenuity and a desire to see how far you can go.
What the Fabber is specifically, is a Solid Free Form Fabrication tool Plastic mold. It uses a lifting table combined with a XY axis stepper motor that guides a print head or engine that contains a number of syringes. Each syringe can hold a different fluid material, and depending on the size of the nozzle, you can potentially use the Fabber to build very small and detailed objects.
Posted at 09:45AM Jan 25, 2010 Read More... by Rebecca in Plastic mould |
Download SNES Emulator and ROMs to the R4 Card
The R4 cards, has many capabilities including being able to play the classic super Nintendo games on the Nintendo DS. This guide will provide directions as to how to download an SNES emulator and games.
Make sure to download the latest version, which will be the first link as you scroll down the page. It will be a zip file, so a program such as winrar, is required to unzip and extract the files.
Create a separate folder on the desktop. Name it "test" or whatever you want. Drag the emulator zip file into the test folder and unzip the files there. You will notice a few different files after you have extracted the zip file. The file with the extension, ".nds" is the file that you want to put onto the R4 card. Insert the micro SD card containing the appropriate firmware, into the USB adapter. Navigate to the folder of the device, where the firmware and other files are. Create a new file and title it SNES; make sure to include all capitals. Don't put the SNES folder into any other folders. It is to be completely independent. This folder will store the emulator and SNES ROMs.
Go back to the test folder and drag the SNEmulDS.nds file to the SNES folder of the micro SD card. Do not include any other files. Your file might have a different name, but as long as the extension is ".nds r4" then you are on the right track.
Return the micro SD to the R4 SDHC cartridge, and input into the DS. After turning on the DS go to the games section on the left of the screen. There you will see the SNES emulator. When you click on the emulator it will direct you to a blank screen; this is because you don't have any ROMs on the file yet.
Hover the mouse over the ROM files navigation bar. A drop list will appear. Navigate to Super Nintendo and click on it. An A-Z directory of SNES games will appear. Select a SNES ROM to download. Click "download your file" and save the ROM to your desk top. It's a zip file so it will have to be extracted. After extracting the zip file, you will see a file with the extension ".smc". This file is the ROM, and the emulator can only read ROMs with the ".smc" extension.
Import the micro SD card to the computer once again, and open up its root directory to the SNES file. Transfer the ROM with the .smc extension over to the SNES folder. Now it's time to test the ROM out on the DS. Just as done before, click into the game section on the DS screen. Enter the SNES emulator then you will see game on the screen. Tap on the game using your stylus, or press the "a" button to activate it then the game will begin.
My personal thoughts on the emulator are that it could use a little more work. For example, the game stages on most ROMs are really distorted to the point where game play is impossible. Some games don't even start at all. I wouldn't really count on getting any high expectations from the SNES module for the DS, but there are games that you can play without any problems. Just test out the games and see if everything works out well. There might be updates for a newer emulator, so you might want to look into that whenever possible. Some updates might have been made to improve GUI issues with the games. I really hope this was able to help.
Emulator specifically for the Nintendo DS through the use of the R4 card.Make sure the file extensions are ".smc". The emulator will only read these files.
Posted at 09:44AM Jan 25, 2010 Read More... by Rebecca in R4 |
Stainless Steel and Non Stick Cooking Pans
I have had cheap, medium priced and expensive stainless steel, cheap, medium priced and expensive non-stick and at all price brackets stainless steel beats the non-stick. Although I have also learned that one should buy the best (which, if you look for one indicator, means the heaviest and thickest-based) cookware one can afford, unless it's only for temporary arrangement.
I have been cooking for about 15 years now, and I tried almost the whole gamut of cookware products. All have their benefits, and I wouldn't be without my cast-iron enamelled Le Creusets or silicone loaf tin. Copper pans have fantastic uses too. Overall, though, for pots and pans for the majority of cooking tasks you can't beat stainless steel (although I do keep my eyes open for hard anodised not-non-stick finishes, but these, so far, have been too expensive for the relatively small extra benefit).
Why?
1)Stainless steel will last longer. Whatever you do, if used regularly and in a normal manner, the non-stick coating will, eventually, develop scratches, and peel and crack. In fact, it's recommended to change the non-stick cookware every few years! Excuse me, but I can't afford (and in all honesty, don't want to) use a product that seems to have built-in obsolescence. If I spend 40GBP ($80) on a cooking pot, I expect it to last for many years, not to need replacing almost as soon as I get used to it.
2)Stainless steel is much more forgiving. With most non-stick surfaces, you are limited in the range of cooking tools and cleaning implements that you can use. Even the ingredients of your dish (bones and shells for example) can scratch the surface! I am busy and cook in a flurry of creative chaos (to call it nicely) and I think the effort to keep special plastic or wooden tools for the pot or pots I am using is just not worth the additional benefit. Plus, once those little scratches appear, something will stick and as you try to clean it, the surface will get damaged more, and then stick more, and so on.
3)Non stick sticks. I am yet to see a truly non-stick non-stick. It might be my personal talent for burning things, but they do, occasionally, burn, cook dry, overheat and similar. With a stainless steel cookware it can pretty much always be scraped, scrubbed and sanded off. With a non-stick surface, although it might take longer for the disaster to happen, once it's stuck, that's it: you can't resort to Brillo pads or sharp blades, you can only throw the thing away.
4)Stainless steel pipe is more heat resistant. It can be used in the oven at all temperatures (including over 200C), and if you accidentally overheat it on the hob, it doesn't start to emit mysterious fumes, but just goes, well, very, very hot.
5)Non stick produces noxious fumes. Overheated stainless steel fumes won't give you a headache, kill your canary or cause bad reaction in your child. In fact, there won't be any fumes at all, just a very hot pan. Overheated non-stick can produce pretty noxious fumes that have been known to kill pet birds and cause people to suffer to.
6)Stainless steel doesn't chip and the chips are not a health hazard, like chips of non-stick are often considered to be.
7)Non stick is more fragile. You can stack stainless steel pans inside each other, chuck other things made of metal into them and generally store them with much less care than you have to give to non-stick.
8)Good seamless pipe doesn't clean any worse than non-stick with a bit of a soak, and is in fact much easier to clean if anything does stick.
My favourite stainless steel cookware brand is Stellar (I like Lamina & 1000 series, but if you are sill unconvinced, they do lots of non-stick too!).
Posted at 11:02AM Jan 22, 2010 Read More... by Rebecca in Stainless steel pipe |
Device for Spraying-on of Especially Plastic Mould
The invention relates to a device forspraying-on of especially plastic Mould, wherein at least one mould cavity to be filled, constructed in a tool is arranged laterally next to a central nozzle body, with at least one nozzle tip arranged in and/or on the nozzle body which projectsoutwards over the circumferential surface of the nozzle body and forms an injection channel for the mould cavity in a recess of the tool and/or the nozzle body, according to the preamble of claim 1.
In known devices of this type, the nozzle tips are fixed in the nozzle body before assembling the tool, generally screwed in. In order to then make it possible to assemble the tool, the tool, that is, the element in which the mould cavities to befilled are arranged, must be segmented and dismountable according to the number of nozzles and mould cavities. This requires, on the one hand, a comparatively high constructive effort and on the other hand, the assembly of the tool is complex andtime-consuming and thereby incurs high costs.
Starting from this prior art, it is the object of the present invention to provide a generic device which has a simple structure and is mountable and dismountable in a simple and cheap fashion.
This object is solved by a device according to the teaching of claim 1.
Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.
The device according to the invention for spraying-on of especially plastic Mould has, in an initially inherently known fashion, at least one mould cavity to be filled, constructed in a tool which is arranged laterally next to a centralnozzle body, and at least one nozzle tip arranged in and/or on the nozzle body which projects outwards over the circumferential surface of the nozzle body and forms an injection channel for the mould cavity in a recess of the tool and/or the nozzle body.
According to the invention, there is at least one further recess arranged in the area of the bottom of the nozzle body, wherein this recess is provided with at least one through opening which connects the recess to the circumferential surface ofthe nozzle body and wherein the nozzle tip can be inserted through the recess into the opening and can be detachably affixed there. As a result of this structure, during assembly of the tool the nozzle body can initially be inserted into thecorresponding recess of the tool in a more or less form-locking manner without especially projecting nozzle tips, after which the nozzle tips are only then mounted by engagement in the respective mould cavities or the corresponding feed channels. Thus,segmenting of the tool is no longer necessary.
In a fundamentally arbitrary manner an arrangement with only one Plastic mold cavity is feasible. Preferably however, a plurality of nozzle tips is provided and the recess is provided with a number of openings correspond to the number of nozzle tips.
The arrangement of the mould cavities in the tool and thus correspondingly the arrangement of the nozzle tips in the nozzle body is arbitrary. According to one exemplary embodiment however, the nozzle tips are arranged in the nozzle body atleast in groups in a row and/or in the fashion of a triangle, square or a polygon shape. In this case, the arrangement can take place not only in a plane but also spatially offset.
According to a further exemplary embodiment, the nozzle body has at least in sections, a substantially cylindrical shape wherein the openings are arranged such that the nozzle tips project in a substantially star shape in the radial directionfrom the nozzle body. With such an arrangement, a simple, substantially rotationally symmetrical structure of the device is obtained.
The shape of the recess in the bottom of the nozzle body is initially fundamentally arbitrary. According to a preferred exemplary embodiment however, the recess has a substantially dish-shaped cylindrical or polygonal cross-sectional shape witha base running perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the nozzle body and a side wall running substantially perpendicular thereto. In this case, the openings are preferably arranged substantially in the area of the side wall.
The nozzle tips can be fixed in the nozzle body in an arbitrary fashion. According to one exemplary embodiment, for this purpose the nozzle tips have a flange-, collar- or head-like shoulder on their end opposite the tip, wherein the collarsurface of the head-like shoulder of the nozzle tips pointing towards the side wall of the recess is constructed as a stop face, which can be brought to rest supported on the side wall of the recess. As a result, a precisely axially specified positionof the nozzle tips in the nozzle body is obtained.
The nozzle tips and the through openings are preferably provided at least in sections with substantially cylindrical fitting areas such that the nozzle tips can be inserted into the openings at least substantially free from play. As a result, aprecisely radially specified position of the nozzle tips in the nozzle body is obtained. The terms "axial" and "radial" relate to the longitudinal axis of the nozzle tips.
In order to remove the nozzle tips from the nozzle body during dismantling of the tool or for repair purposes or the like, according to one exemplary embodiment the head-like shoulder has an engagement for a tool with which the nozzle tips can bepulled out of the opening. In this case, the engagement can be formed, for example, by an annular-groove-like indentation surrounding the head-like shoulder at least in sections on its radial outer surface or it can be formed by an inner thread formedin the head surface.
According to a further exemplary embodiment, in the recess between the head-like shoulders of the nozzle tips there is detachably arranged a fixing element whose outer surfaces pointing towards the head surfaces of the nozzle tips are constructedas stop faces on the head surfaces such that when the nozzle tips are mounted and the fixing element is mounted, the head surfaces of the nozzle tips come to rest supported on the stop faces. In other words, this means that this fixing element serves asprotection against unintentional loosening of the nozzle tips by sliding out of the respective opening of the nozzle body into the recess.
The shape of this fixing element is fundamentally arbitrary. For example, this can be constructed as ring-shaped, star-shaped or rod-shaped. Preferably however, the fixing element is constructed as a substantially cylindrical or polygonalfixing block in cross-section, which can be detachably affixed by means of a fixing screw at the bottom of the recess.
According to a further embodiment of the fixing of the nozzle tips in the nozzle body Rapid prototype, the nozzle tips are provided, at least in sections, with an outer thread and the through openings in the nozzle body are provided, at least in sections, withan inner thread complementary thereto so that the nozzle tips can be screwed into the openings. In this case, the head-like shoulder can be constructed in the fashion of a screw head, especially in the fashion of a hollow screw with hexagonal recess.
Posted at 11:02AM Jan 22, 2010 Read More... by Rebecca in Plastic mould |
Top 10 2009 Nintendo R4 DS Unique Facts
After creating the Top 10 2008 R4 Nintendo Wii Unique Facts list, I decided that it would only be fitting if I did the same for all three versions of the Nintendo DS (Original, Lite, DSi)! I'm sure you'll find some pretty intriguing Fact s regarding the DS system.
Featured Videos10:22Pokémon Diamond / Pearl Walkthrough Part 703:15Super Mario Bros "Spring of Death" Glitch TutorialBy 5min Life Videopedia Well, Im sure that all of you found at least one interesting Fact about the Wii in my Top 10 2008 Nintendo Wii Unique Fact s article.
But what do you REALLY know about the Nintendo DS, DS Lite and DSi gaming systems? Its time to find out the true extent of your knowledge about the popular handhelds! These are the Top 10 2008 Nintendo DS Unique Fact s!
Fact 10 - Local Wireless Distance
Two or more Nintendo DS systems can communicate with each other over local wireless up to a distance of 30 feet!
Fact 9 - Codename: Nitro
Before its release, the system's code-name was Nitro, resulting in the letters NTR appearing in the serial number written on the back of game cards and the system itself.
Fact 8 - Battery Life
For the original Nintendo DS R4 Card, on a full 4-hour charge, the Fact ory 850 mAH battery lasts about 10 hours. Battery life is affected by multiple Fact ors including speaker volume, use of one or both screens, backlighting, and use of wireless connectivity. The biggest effect on battery life is caused by using the backlight, which can be turned off in the main menu screen, or in selected games.
For the Nintendo DS Lite, on a full 3-hour charge, the battery will last up to 20 hours on the lowest backlight setting, and up to 8 hours on the brightest.
For the Nintendo DSi, on a full 2 and ?-hour charge, the battery will last up to 14 hours on the lowest backlight setting, and up to 4 hours on the brightest.
Fact 7 - Hacking the Mainframe
Since the release of the Nintendo DS, a great deal of hacking has occurred involving the DSs fully rewritable firmware, Wi-Fi connection, game cards that allow SD storage, and software use. There are now many different emulators for the DS such as: NES, SNES, Sega Master System, Sega MegaDrive, Neo-Geo Pocket, Neo-Geo (arcade) as well as many other older consoles like Game Boy Color. Due to the processor power and RAM limitations, the DS cannot emulate Nintendo 64, PlayStation, PS2, Dreamcast, GameCube, Xbox, PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii or Xbox 360 games.
There are a number of cards which either have built-in flash memory, or a slot which can accept an SD, or MicroSD (like the DSTT and R4) cards. These cards allow the user to play music, movies and load homebrew and commercial games.
In South Korea, many video game consumers exploit illegal copies of video games, including for the Nintendo DS. In 2007, 500,000 copies of DS games were sold, while the sales of the DS hardware units was 800,000.
Fact 6 - Color Therapy?
Nine official colors of the Nintendo DS were available through standard retailers. Titanium (silver and black) were available worldwide, Electric Blue was exclusive to North and Latin America. There was also a red version of the DS which was bundled with the game Mario Kart DS R4 Card. Graphite Black, Pure White, Turquoise Blue and Candy Pink were available in Japan. Mystic Pink and Cosmic Blue were available in Australia and New Zealand. Japan's Candy Pink and Australia's Cosmic Blue were also available in Europe and North America through a Nintendogs bundle, although the colors were just referred to as pink and blue; however, these colors were only available for the original style Nintendo DS.
The Nintendo DS Lite is currently available in a multitude of colors: Polar White, Onyx Black, Coral Pink, Crimson Black, Cobalt Black, Metallic Silver and Metallic Rose. Of course, aside from the color, there is no difference in hardware or system updates when compared to the original Polar White version.
Finally, the Nintendo DSi currently comes in Matte White and Matte Black colors.
Apparently, the reason behind releasing a system in multiple colors is purely on the marketing side. Although I cant explain it, several articles on the internet claim that certain colors appeal to certain people, though as I mentioned earlier, the difference is solely aesthetic.
Fact 5 - DS Sales Surpass Record Numbers
As of October 1, 2008, the original style DS and the DS Lite has sold 6,449,206 and 17,080,747 units, respectively, in Japan, according to Famitsu. As of December 2, 2008, the DS, DS Lite and DSi combined to sell 24,239,590 units in Japan alone, according to Enterbrain.
Fact 4 - Keep that Remote on the Nintendo Channel
On May 7, 2008, Nintendo released the Nintendo Channel for download on the Wii. The Nintendo Channel uses Nintendo's WiiConnect24 to download Nintendo DS demos through the Nintendo Channel. From there, a person can select the game demo they wish to play and, similar to the Nintendo DS Download Stations at retail outlets, download the demo (temporarily) to their DS.
Fact 3 - Best-Selling Games
As of September 30, 2008, the best-selling game of the Nintendo DS has been Nintendogs, most likely because of its vast appeal to both young and old gamers. The second-best selling game as of September 30, 2008 is the New Super Mario Bros., a revival on the classic side-scrolling Mario franchise.
Fact 2 - Regional Division
Past Nintendo systems were region-locked, meaning that if you bought a Nintendo system in North America, it would only run games made in North America. This is not the case with the Nintendo DS. The Nintendo DS is region-free in the sense that any system will run a Nintendo DS game purchased anywhere in the world; however, the Chinese version games can only be played on the Chinese iQue DS, whose larger firmware chip contains the required Chinese character glyph images.
Also, as with Gameboy games, some games that require both players to have a Nintendo DS game card for multiplayer play will not necessarily work together if the games are from different regions (i.e. a Japanese Nintendo DS game may not work with a North American Nintendo DS game, though some titles, such as Mario Kart DS, are mutually compatible). With the addition of Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, certain games can be played over the Internet with users of a different region game.
Some Wi-Fi enabled games (i.e. Mario Kart DS) allow the selection of opponents by region. The options are Regional (Continent in Europe) and Worldwide, as well as two non-location-specific settings. This allows the player to limit competitors to only those opponents based in the same geographical area. This is based on the region code of the console in use.
The Nintendo DSi, however, has region-block for the DSWare downloadable games.
Fact 1 - Dogs and Wars Drop the Price
The first Nintendo DS R4 Cards variant originally retailed for $149.99 USD, but one day prior to the release of Nintendogs and Advance Wars: Dual Strike, the price dropped a whopping $20.00 to encourage sales! It just goes to show you that sometimes, it really is worth waiting for your favorite game to come out before buying the system.
Other Great Fact s
Have an interesting Fact regarding the Nintendo DS? Feel free to post a comment and let others know!
Posted at 11:01AM Jan 22, 2010 Read More... by Rebecca in R4 |
12 Steps to Troubleshooting Pneumatic Systems
Troubleshooting a pneumatic system has been considered an art, a science, or just hit-or-miss luck. In the minds of maintenance personnel, production managers, and plant managers, the word troubleshooting conjures up images of hours of downtime and lost production.
However, when reduced to its basic elements, troubleshooting a pneumatic system is a step-by-step procedure. Using this process can speed up the ability to determine what the problem is, the probable cause of the malfunction or failure, and a solution.
Every pneumatic circuit has a logical sequence of operation that can involve timing logic, pressure sensing, position sensing, and speed regulation. Troubleshooting is initiated when the circuit does not operate properly.
Certain general diagnostic and testing steps can be applied to any troubleshooting problem, whether the problem occurred at startup of a new system or at a breakdown of an existing system.
Think safety first
Safety should always be a prime concern of maintenance personal. Compressed air is a volatile element in a pneumatic circuit. Air receiver tanks have exploded, causing severe injury to personnel and damage to property. It is imperative to relieve pressure in a receiver tank prior to making any repairs.
Air is also highly compressible, which is another reason to be cautious in the approach to troubleshooting a pneumatic system. When working with overhead loads that are supported by cylinders, but not mechanically locked into position, block the load before servicing the system to prevent falling or drifting.
Many pneumatic systems are controlled by electrical or electronic devices. Before attempting service or repair on these components, be sure the electrical power supply has been turned off.
Pneumatic directional control valves that use electrical solenoids to operate the valve spool are often equipped with manual overrides (Fig. 1) that can be used during troubleshooting to operate the system.
Pneumatic lockout valves (Fig. 2) are excellent safety devices that, when used properly on pneumatic systems, can prevent accidental operation. Ensuring a safe condition should always be the first step in troubleshooting pneumatic systems.
Ask the three Ws
When a breakdown in the system occurs, the pressures of downtime loom large in the minds of all concerned. Before beginning repair of a system, stop and ask these three questions:
What is or is not occurring in the system's operation?
When did the problem begin? Was it a sudden failure or a gradual failure?
Where in the machine cycle does the problem occur? Was it at startup or after the system has been operating for a while?
What is or is not occurring in the system can often be answered by the system operator. Answers to questions such as slow actuator speed or inability of the actuator to move could lead to looking for a low flow rate or low pressure.
Asking, "When did the problem begin?' can often lead to troubleshooting steps looking for worn components or leaks. Sudden malfunctions can point to breaks and possible mechanical problems, ruptures in lines, or other catastrophic failures. By determining the when, the problem search can be narrowed in its scope.
Asking, "Where in the machine cycle does the problem occur?" can reveal a reoccurring condition.
If good maintenance records have been kept, reoccurring problems should have been recorded. This information makes the troubleshooting process much easier.
A maintenance person who stops and asks the three Ws can reduce downtime by not having to guess at what is wrong. However, if these questions do not yield a satisfactory diagnosis the maintenance person must begin the mechanics of troubleshooting by visually inspecting the machine.
Make a visual inspection
Walking around the machine will often uncover problems such as worn or burst hoses, loose components, and broken components. This is the time to become familiar with the components contained in the pneumatic system.
If unfamiliar with the components, or if unfamiliar with the machine operation, ask as many pertinent questions about the system as possible. Before trying to operate the system or attempt repairs, understand the interrelations of all the components and the sub-systems found on the machine.
Read the schematics
Every pneumatic system should have two forms of documentation that will assist in troubleshooting. One document is a schematic drawing of the pneumatic circuit (Fig. 3). The schematic is a road map. It not only explains the operating function of the components but also is a valuable diagnostic tool.
The schematic contains useful information about pressure test point locations; pressure settings of regulators and other pressure valves; flow rates within the system; cylinder stroke lengths, and air motor speeds as well as a bill of materials for the system. This type of information can aid in determining if the system is operating within its design parameters.
Along with schematics supplied by the manufacturer, another set of documents, the service/maintenance manual and its service bulletin updates, may be available to assist in the diagnosis and repair of the machine. These may contain information about the problem that has occurred.
Operate the machine
After becoming familiar with the components and operation of the pneumatic system, start the machine and operate it to get a first-hand view of the malfunction. See if the malfunction that has been reported occurs again. While operating the machine, perform a visual inspection.
Some questions to ask during the inspection:
Is there any excessive air leakage?
Are system pressures at the levels specified on the schematic or in the maintenance manual?
If there are manual controls for the machine, do they feel stiff or loose in their operation?
Are components that move, moving smoothly or erratically?
By operating the machine, any abnormalities may become obvious, shortening troubleshooting time.
Recheck all services
Before attempting repair on the machine after it has been operated, once again check to see if power supplied to the machine has been turned off. Check to see if any stored pressure remains in the system, because this stored pressure can cause premature actuation of the system's actuators and cause injury to personnel and damage to the machine.
Isolate subsystems
A malfunction in one part of the machine can be caused by a malfunction in a different subsystem on the machine. Isolating the subsystems, can help focus on one system at a time. Narrowing the diagnostic area by isolation of subsystems requires extra precaution while operating the machine.
Any lines that have been disconnected and any ports that have been opened should be plugged properly to prevent unnecessary air leakage and the entrance of contaminants.
While operating the machine, a close watch should be kept on the pressures within the system, so maximum allowable pressures are not exceeded. Caution and safety are the two keys to this diagnostic step.
Make a list
During the previous step, the immediate problem may be quite obvious. However, in troubleshooting, the obvious may not be the root cause.
As an example, the obvious problem may be slow actuator speed but the root cause of the problem could be insufficient lubrication, no lubrication due to a faulty lubricator (Fig. 4), or bad seals within the directional control valve that controls the actuator.
After making a list of possible causes, check those items on the list and eliminate them without going back over ground previously covered. This list will also reduce the time required for troubleshooting and can eliminate the parts exchanging syndrome that often accompanies troubleshooting.
The example of slow actuator speed shows why a thorough understanding of component and system operating principles is required to accurately match the problem to the cause.
After making a list and narrowing the possible causes, it is now time to make a decision on which one of the remaining causes is most likely to be the reason for the malfunction. Reaching this conclusion may, at first, appear difficult but this step is essentially the starting point for the repair portion of troubleshooting. Up to now the system has been evaluated, now it is time to test the conclusion.
In the example, testing the conclusion may be merely the need to add lubricant to the lubricator or make an adjustment to the drip rate of the lubricator.
Conducting various tests such as pressure checks with an accurate gauge, checking actuator alignment, checking flow rate in the system with a flow meter, or temperature checking of the air system, can further reduce the number of causes remaining on the list and accurately pinpoint the cause.
Repair or replace
Testing the conclusion automatically leads to deciding whether to repair or replace a component. Many factors can influence this step. Repairing parts immediately for reinstallation on the machine increases downtime, and the cost factor of this downtime is a significant consideration.
To simply replace the part with a new or rebuilt component would reduce the amount of downtime; however, the question of inventory cost now becomes a factor.
Another point that may influence the repair-or-replace question is component availability. Obviously if the component is not readily available, then repairing may be the only alternative. Still another aspect may be the inhouse capability to make repairs.
After the malfunction has been corrected, one final step remains, the need to report the findings.
Report what you did
Paperwork is often neglected, but in the case of pneumatic troubleshooting it is a vital part of the procedure. This paperwork helps to maintain a record of changes, problems, and solutions that have occurred to individual machines.Pneumatic updates are necessary to keep this diagnostic tool current and accurate. Report making also serves as a good reference should any problems reoccur in the future.
Posted at 11:00AM Jan 21, 2010 Read More... by Rebecca in pneumatic |
Steel and Pipe Used for Anything from Cars to Construction
There are probably as many different Stainless steel pipe products on offer in the market as there are different uses for them - and with steel used in almost anything from construction to packaging, it's hard to keep track of all the different types.
While steel manufacturers have different specs for steel and pipe on offer, there are some broad categorizations to help users make informed decisions.
Firstly, all steel and pipe are alloys in which iron is mixed with carbon and other elements. Steels are therefore described as mild, medium- or high-carbon steels, depending on the percentage carbon they contain. The higher the carbon content, the harder the steel will be.
Metals such as nickel and chromium can also be added to produce alloy steels, for example stainless steel, which is used in high-end, quality steel products. Galvanized steel is coated with zinc to prevent corrosion, for example for the use of roof sheeting.
Galvanized pipe is also mainly used in construction, while corrugated steel pipes will be used more often for drainage, sewer and transportation. Seamless pipe, made from high-quality steel, is used for steam boilers and pipelines.
Steel products can be divided into two groups - flat and long products. Flat steel is used in the manufacture of cars, electrical products, sheeting, coils and pipes. Long products, on the other hand, are mainly used in construction.
Steel and pipe buyers will also come across the terms hot rolled and cold rolled steel. This refers to the heat treatment given during the production process, and has an impact on the qualities of the product. Cold rolled products are normally harder and more brittle, while hot rolled steel and pipe will be softer.
In addition to the different qualities of steel and seamless pipe products, they are also available in a wide variety of different sizes and thicknesses.
Posted at 10:59AM Jan 21, 2010 Read More... by Rebecca in Stainless steel pipe |
Plastic Moulded Bodies,Hard Candies in Innovative Plastic Moulds
A new development from the two companies, namely Kaupert and Winkler, and Dunnebier SuBwarenmaschinen (WDS) enables the casting of hard sugar candies into plastic moulds, allowing candy to be produced in various shapes. The MultiSweet technology provides plastic mould offering a wide variety of shapes and designs for all sugar and sugar-free candy recipes.
The present invention relates to plastic moulded bodies, processes for their production and their use. In particular, the present invention relates to plastic moulded bodies exhibiting a barrier layer of polyvinyl alcohol and a cover layer which his highly suitable for storing liquids containing carbon dioxide and/or sensitive to oxidation.
The use of weight-reducing packaging, particularly in the field of beverage packaging, is increasing continually and the substitution of glass by plastics, in particular by polyethylene terephthalate (PET) containers, is progressing steadily. However, in order to achieve the properties of glass especially with regard to the gas barrier properties polyethylene terephthalate is satisfactory only if the bottles are correspondingly thick-walled. However, this requires a larger amount of material to be used than would be necessary for static reasons. Apart from involving higher material costs, this has a particularly negative effect at the expense of the desired weight reduction.
For this reason, the use of polyethylene terephthalate containers provided with barrier layers has been suggested in the literature which are to be produced e.g. by means of coextrusion, in the case of which, in the simplest case, a multiple layer sequence, e.g.Rapid prototype /polyethylene terephthalate (PET)/barrier layer/polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is produced, or by means of plasma-enhanced vapour deposition processes, preferably with aluminium and/or its oxides, silicon and/or its oxides or carbon as primary layer material.
Although the gas barrier properties of the containers can in this way, basically, be improved, both procedures are poorly suited for practical application because they are, on the one hand, highly cost-intensive and time-consumung as a result of the high cost price of the required machinery, the limited useful life of the machinery and the high sensitivity of the machinery.
Moreover, the mechanical properties of the containers which are achievable in this way are insufficient for day-to-day use. The high mechanical stresses to which the coated containers are subject even during a normal filling and packaging process and even more so during subsequent distribution and in use, frequently lead to impairment of the surface of the barrier layer which in turn drastically reduces the gas barrier effect of the barrier layer.
A first approach to solve these problems is described in the printed document GB 2 337 470 A which proposes reducing the gas permeability of a substrate, such as e.g. a PET bottle, by applying a barrier layer of a first polymer, such as e.g. polyvinyl alcohol, onto the substrate and then protecting the barrier layer against the environment by applying a protective layer of a second polymer with a molecular weight in the region of 5,000 to 50,000 g/mole. As possible materials for the protective layer, polyethylene terephthalate, polyester, polyester copolymers, polycarbonates, polyolefins, PEN, polyvinyl chloride, polyamides, polypropylene, polystyrene, aliphatic polyketones and/or polyethylene are mentioned.
An advantage of this solution is the use of polyvinyl alcohol as barrier polymer since, on the one hand, exhibits excellent gas barrier properties, in particular vis-a-vis carbon dioxide and oxygen. At the same time, polyvinyl alcohol is classified as an environmentally friendly raw material safe for health which can be used for food packaging without reservations. However, it is a disadvantage that the coated PET bottles obtainable according to GB 2 337 470 are still not able to withstand the strong mechanical stresses during the normal filling and packaging process and later during distribution and in use. On the contrary, cracks in the protective layer are frequently observed after only a short time, which cracks lead to either the protective layer, in some cases even including the barrier layer, peeling off partly or completely and/or the barrier layer becoming detached by contact with water such as e.g. water of condensation, water vapour etc., as a result of which the desired barrier effect is almost completely lost.
In view of this state of the art, it was thus the task of the present invention to provide Plastic mold bodies with as low a gas permeability, in particular to oxygen and carbon dioxide, as possible, which moulded bodies simultaneously exhibit as high a mechanical stability and durability as possible such that they withstand the strong mechanical stresses during the normal filling and packaging process and later during distribution and use. In particular, the plastic moulded bodies should exhibit gas barrier properties which are almost unchanged even after prolonged use.
Posted at 10:58AM Jan 21, 2010 Read More... by Rebecca in Plastic mould |
Technical Advantages of R4 Networking
Lighthouse Technologies Limited today announced it will introduce the R4 LED display screen to the United States market at InfoComm 2006. The ultra high resolution R4 was designed in response to customers' needs for a noiseless yet stunning indoor display.
The R4 is the first Lighthouse product to be fully RoHS (Restrictions on Hazardous Substances) compliant for lead-free products. The R4 will make its first appearance in the US at InfoComm 2006 from June 7 - 10, 2006 in Orlando, Florida, Booth 3579.
"The R4 complements our existing product line," said Mark Chan, Managing Director for Lighthouse Technologies Limited. "We are offering our customers a full range of LED video display screens from large-pixel outdoor displays to quiet and ultra high resolution indoor LED video display solution."
With the award-winning M4 uniformity control technology and 14 bit processing technology, the ultra high resolution R4 card delivers stunning images.
The R4's fanless design makes it the best choice for television studios, board and meeting rooms, houses of worship, corporate lobbies, museums or anywhere requiring minimal noise. Its noise level is far below audible noise levels that can interfere with microphones or normal conversations in a meeting room, or at quiet performances such as a solo performer or in a venue with a cozy audience where a noisy compressor would be an unwanted interruption.The R4 is cooled by natural convection, supported by attached heat sinks for additional cooling. A major contributing factor to the low heat generation of the R4 is the use of the very bright 3-in-I surface mounted LEDs package that run at lower power.
The R4 cards seamless mechanical cabinet system with interlocking king-pin connectors and the integrated control system provide for quick, trouble-free assembly under the most challenging set-up conditions, yet it is rugged enough for the rigorous demands.
Posted at 10:58AM Jan 21, 2010 Read More... by Rebecca in R4 |
