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Best Website for Technical Search in Physics |
October 25, 2005 |
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Posted by Joe Lewis at 12:54 PM | Comments (0) |
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I recently did a search to find background material on the Hall effect. In the process I found this great website that I just had to tell everyone about. You can link to it on the picture to the left or click here.
This site is fantastic! I can't understate this. Not only did I find a concise understandable discussion on the Hall effect but I also have referred back to several times for other topics. I've bookmarked it and suggest you do as well. This site covers over 500 topics (I gave up counting at that number). Subjects from "acceleration" to the "zeeman effect".
The site is produced by Dr. C. R (Rod) Nave in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Georgia State University. The topics are generally contained within ten application areas. These include: Mechanics, Electricity, Vision, Hearing, Thermal, Solids, Astronomy, Nuclear, Relativity and Quantum
The intellectual property rights of the HyperPhysics site and the responsibility for accuracy reside wholly with the author, Dr. Rod Nave at Georgia State University.
I hope this information is useful for you. Check it out and let me know what you think, or if you know of other similar sites that you'd like to share.
Joe Lewis
Vice President
Marketing & Sales
Monitor Technologies LLC
Phone: 800-766-6486 or +1-630-365-9403
Email: jlewis@monitortech.com
These Websites Offer Easy Access to Science and Technology News, Useful Tools |
October 23, 2005 |
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Posted by Don Dunnington at 09:37 PM | Comments (0) |
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While many think of blogs and RSS newsfeeds as synonymous, there are an increasing number of websites that offer RSS subscription to their web pages. A website whose RSS feed I subscribe to is physorg.com, which offers news on science, technology, physics and space.
I first came across physorg.com about a month ago in a short news item on a new trigonometry developed by Dr. Norman Wildberger of the University of New South Wales, Australia. Dr. Wildberger has eliminated the need to use sines, cosines and tangents in trig and calculus.
"Generations of students have struggled with classical trigonometry because the framework is wrong," says Wildberger, whose book, Divine Proportions: Rational Trigonometry to Universal Geometry, is published by Wild Egg books.
Could Wildberger’s rational trigonometry lead more young people loving math, or entering careers in science and engineering? Wildberger thinks so. "Once you learn the five main rules of rational trigonometry and how to simply apply them," he writes, "you realise that classical trigonometry represents a misunderstanding of geometry."
Here are two other websites that offer free tools that I use myself:
Free K-Convert Translates Measurements
K-Convert will convert metric measures to US standards and US to metric. I’ve been using this freeware program from K-Tron for more than a decade. Originally written for Windows 3.1, this small conversion utility works great and runs on any Windows platform including XP. You can join the thousands who have downloaded it from K-Tron's "free tools" page (requires registration).
Pennsylvania Crusher’s Handbook of Crushing Now Online
Penn Crusher’s classic Handbook of Crushing offers a solid introduction to size reduction technology. Where once the handbook was available only through limited distribution directly from Penn Crusher, you can now see much of the content 24/7/365 on the web, including an animated explanation of the four basic ways to reduce material. You can also download the entire handbook free (requires registration).
We invite you to share your favorite tools and tips on this blog. Tell us about the machines, the tools, or even a free download from a website that makes your job easier, faster, or just more fun.
Don Dunnington
Level Controls - Commodity or Differentiated Components |
October 13, 2005 |
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Posted by Joe Lewis at 01:22 PM | Comments (0) |
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"Commodity" Defined
What defines a commodity? One Webster definition is "a product of agriculture or mining". In "industry" a commodity is typically thought of as an item that; 1) can be procurred from numerous sources, 2) is identical, no matter what the source of supply is, and 3) is procurred primarily on price. A commodity is not thought of as an item where there exists strong differences between brands and sources of supply.
Applied To Level Controls?
Often buyers of level controls consider them to be a commodity, just as defined above. It seems that industrial consumers look at level controls as though they are commodity items solely because there is several sources of supply and because level controls are all alike and perform the exact same function. In addition, level controls are relatively low cost. But is this true?
It is true that level controls are relatively inexpensive components. It is also good judgement to consider the pricing of the component as a criteria for decision making (after all we are in business to make a profit). However, applying commodity buying principles and judging level controls solely by price can be a risky venture. This is because there exist several technologies and numerous brands in each technology segment. There are typically multiple technologies and multiple brands available for each technology to solve each application need. Each technology has pros and cons. Each brand has different features and benefits, different quality, reliability and performance levels. Each supplier can have very different service and business philosophies and procedures. As the crusade knight told Indiana Jones in "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade", "choose wisely". Level controls are not simple commodity items.
Can A Criticle Component Be A Commodity?
What happens when your level control fails to function properly? The answer depends on the specific application and how the unit fails. In addition, the solution provided by the level control can be either a point level or continuous level monitor.
Many level control units are used in very critical applications where substantial costs can be incurred when the unit fails. High level sensors keep bins and silos from overfilling and keep material from backing up into conveyor lines. The maintenance cost if a unit fails and material spills and backs up can be sizeable in comparison to the cost of the level control itself. In addition, lost production can occur and be even more costly.
Low level applications also can be critical. They are typically used to signal that a vessel is empty or approaching empty so that additional material can be ordered/resupplied or so that process problems can be identified or operations terminated. If the level sensor used for this purpose fails to operate correctly, production downtime can occur and production efficiencies can be diminished.
In the case of continuous level monitors these devices are used in applications where knowledge of the amount of material in a vessel at any given time is important to ensure supply of production material and to improve the efficiency of resupply. When these devices fail to operate the result is similar to that of failing point level sensors.
Conclusion
Yes, a critical component can be a commodity. There's no question about that in my mind. However, level control sensors are not true commodities. There are significant differences between the level sensor technologies that exist and differences in brand and suppliers. I urge Engineers, other influencers and specifiers/purchasing decision makers to evaluate the technology choice, brand, and the source of supply very closely.
Click for a FREE point level application review.
Any questions? Post a comment, call or email me.
Joe Lewis
Vice President
Marketing & Sales
Monitor Technologies LLC
Phone: 800-766-6486 or +1-630-365-9403
Email: jlewis@monitortech.com
The Silver Lining... |
October 04, 2005 |
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Posted by Joe Lewis at 01:45 PM | Comments (0) |
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As millions of people from the gulf coast to the eastern seaboard of the USA know each year, we are still in the hurricane season. These awesome storms illustrate the fierce power of nature and the uncertainty of being in their path. The recent hurricanes Katrina and Rita have had devastating impact, both in terms of the impact on the lives of those in their path as well as in financial terms. I continue to pray for those so negatively impacted by this natural disaster and at the same time look forward to the good that can come from it as we recover, help the victims and re-build.
Has your business been impacted by this directly or indirectly?
In addition to the impact on our country's petroleum refining capacity and fuel distribution system, how many industrial businesses have been severely crippled and/or shutdown? I haven't heard any statistics but I can't help but think of the production facilities in the chemical, plastic processing, aggregate production, food and other industries that handle powder and bulk materials that have had their production temporarily stopped and facilities lightly or severely damaged.
What about the trickle-down effect?
All of the plants and industrial businesses that have been closed or have had their production stopped or substantially reduced because of a displaced workforce have stopped, temporarily, buying raw materials and components they need to manufacture their products. Their suppliers have been impacted, haven't they? Is the economy and demand for powder and bulk solids material handling and processing equipment so strong that we haven't felt the effect? Or have we?
The Silver Lining
Even given the negative impact of this natural disaster and the impact on our fellow citizens one can't help but think about moving forward, restoring order and prosperity to those areas hardest effected. This requires re-building, retrofitting, new construction, new plant and new equipment. While we have the continued opportunity to show our compassion, kindness and love for those that continue to suffer (and this is a wonderful opportunity), I feel our country, economy and industry will be even stronger than before. The industries we all serve or participate in will have new and added opportunities.
Note of Caution in My Optimism
What concerns me for the long term is the continued rise in interest rate by the Fed. The last rate increase was the eleventh straight since June 2004. This pushed the rate to its highest level since the summer of 2001. Much of our manufacturing industries had been in a recessionary state for months if not a couple of years at that time, precipitated in part, I believe, by the persistent raises of rates by the Fed. Will this raising of rates continue? I remain cautiously optimistic about our economic future.
Joe Lewis
Vice President
Marketing & Sales
Monitor Technologies LLC
Phone: 800-766-6486 or +1-630-365-9403
Email: jlewis@monitortech.com
