What is is about the new year that causes us to try to measure things? Must be human nature, or we’re just subconsciously influenced by all the pop culture TV programming that divides things into lists and countdowns and anniversaries. Regardless of the reason, we thought it would be fun to see what were the most […]
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What is a hydraulic pump?
It seems like such a basic question to ask, but unfortunately, many who even work in this industry do not know the function of a hydraulic pump. When I was first taught about the function of a hydraulic pump, I was told its only job was to provide flow. I was also told that any […]
Q&A with NC State’s Dr. Paul Cohen
Recently, I chatted with Dr. Paul Cohen, head of NC State University’s Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) Department. The department leads an advanced manufacturing institute that is focused on power electronics, as part of a White House project to advance specific technologies and create new manufacturing jobs in the coming years. He touched on everything […]
5 tips for yearly maintenance
Well, we made it through another year. I’m not sure what else we could have done, since doomsday theories never seem to pan out. This means your hydraulic machines are still humming away as you go through your work day to achieve the status quo. To keep your machines—whether they be tractors, excavators or even […]
Hydraulic O-ring kits
Variety of O-ring and bonded seal kits are offered—these are a necessity for both maintenance and repairs. Most fluid piping system sizes are measured by dash numbers. For example, a –04 port is 4/16 or 1/4-in. Dash numbers are usually nominal and are abbreviations that make ordering of components easier. Each kit is packaged in […]
Why the ISO code matters
Earlier this month, I explained the meaning behind the ISO 4406 contamination code, so now I’m explaining why it matters, and how you can apply it to your application. The code describes the quantity of 4-, 6- and 14 -μm particles in a milliliter of hydraulic fluid—because these particle sizes are considered the most damaging […]
Accumulator fundamentals … without the math
I’m going to attempt the impossible: I am going to explain the fundamentals of hydro-pneumatic accumulators without using any mathematics. I will use some numbers where needed, but the unfortunate reality is that the proper application of accumulators does require the manipulation of equations. Accumulators are a versatile and valuable tool, but because of the […]
The challenges of mobile reservoir design
Hydraulic oil spends most of its time in the reservoir, and as such, various tank design criteria provide benefits for the hydraulic system as a whole. When designing the optimum hydraulic reservoir, most of the considerations are in keeping the oil clean and cool. Reservoirs in industrial applications are spoiled by the extra space and […]
How magnets can help your maintenance schedule
Probably the most interesting object on my desk is the shaker bottle demonstrator for a company called FilterMag. The small, clear bottle is filled with iron shavings suspended in vegetable oil. Slap on the FilterMag product (a specially engineered rounded magnet) and shake the sample—pretty quickly, voila! You can see the shavings aligned to the […]
Similarities between hydraulic and electric symbols
Earlier, I mentioned how electric and hydraulic actuators are similar in execution and principle, and in this blog post I’d like to finish off the mini-series on the similarities between hydraulic and electric symbols. The most obvious similarity is the conductor,which is a hose in hydraulics or a wire in electrics. The physical manifestation can vary—such […]