Machine Building

Why the nuclear industry is a good cyber-security example

The nuclear industry is a prime example of a regulated industry that has adopted practices to help facilities easily achieve compliance through education and transparency. Though not all industries are regulated, they can still learn a lot from the nuclear industry. Tony Berning, senior manager, OPSWAT recently attended a workshop for the Nuclear Information Technology Strategic Leadership (NITSL) in Minneapolis, MN. The focus of the workshop was to discuss IT-related issues in the nuclear industry as well as define and share best practices for the implementation of IT systems. A significant consideration in the implementation of such systems is the concern over securing them against threats, which can be addressed by malware detection and data sanitisation systems. Here he shares some points from the workshop.

4th September 2015

An introduction to stepper motors and stepper drivers

Bill Schweber of Mouser Electronics provides an introduction to stepper motors and drivers that will help machine builders and OEMs specify the right products to suit their applications.

27th August 2015

Gaining production efficiencies in food and beverage processing

By selecting, maintaining and monitoring critical components and inside rotating plant and machines such as gearboxes, electric motors, pumps and fans, food and beverage processing companies can improve their plant efficiencies, eliminate production downtime and increase the operating life and reliability of plant equipment, says Dr Steve Lacey, Engineering Manager at Schaeffler UK.

26th August 2015

Safety interlocking in the waste and recycling industry

A metal recycling firm was recently fined £35,000 by the HSE after a worker's hands were severed while cutting metal strips on an industrial baler. Industrial balers are used to compress recyclable material into stackable, manageable pieces before they are sent for reprocessing. This type of machinery should be extensively guarded and interlocked to ensure operators can only come into contact with the machine when the power has been isolated.

25th August 2015

Solenoid valves - one for every occasion

Solenoid valves perform an essential task in the control of fluids and gases and the basic design has been refined over the years to allow them to be utilised in a wider range of applications. Modern fluid control systems present a number of challenges that require the correct design of solenoid to achieve a reliable and efficient control process. Kelly Booth, solenoid valve specialist at Bürkert UK, looks at the different valve types and their suitability to various applications.

25th August 2015

Prevention of white etching cracks in rolling bearings

The formation of white etching cracks (WEC) in rolling bearings can lead to their premature failure. However, a number of innovative approaches have been developed that significantly reduce the risk of WEC, says Dr Steve Lacey, engineering manager at Schaeffler UK.

25th August 2015

Machine guarding requirements for robot cells

This article from Axelent discusses the important issue of guarding for robot cells when the guard is to be positioned within the motion range of the robot.

21st August 2015

Specifying standard, modified or customised worm gear sets

Darren Reynolds, the Gears Product Manager at R.A. Rodriguez (U.K.) Limited, outlines the most important factors to consider when specifying either standard or custom worm gears sets for any type of machinery.

17th August 2015

Powering cathodic protection

Often dubbed the inconspicuous killer, rust costs the global economy $2.2 trillion dollars every year. It accounts for anywhere between 3.5 to 4.5 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) and is responsible for the structural failure of steel frames around the world. From bridges and cars, transcontinental and marine pipelines, to industrial machinery, tools and parts, rust contributes significantly to plant downtime the world over.

12th August 2015

Wireless standard harmonisation creates a new problem

As more and more wireless devices come to the market, concerns have emerged within the standards body responsible for managing the radio spectrum allocation and wireless device conformance that more guidance is needed to help ensure spectrum sharing. Tony Ingham of Sensor Technology Ltd reviews the situation.

12th August 2015