According to the CDC, our best protections against the Coronavirus are: Keep our face covered Keep our hands clean Keep our distance Breathe fresh air outdoors Interviews show a growing consensus among experts that, when Americans leave their homes, it’s safer to be outdoors than inside of a building. With fresh air and more space between people, the risk goes down. For the duration of Covid-19, we will provide either an event pavilion tent, erected in the parking lot or lawn of your plant, or a pavilion at a nearby park of sufficient size to maintain the recommended 6 feet of social di ..read more

Since many of our students are unable to attend due to the Corona virus shelter-in-place order as well as company directives by their employers, we have rescheduled two of our 3-Day Basic Hydraulic Troubleshooting workshops so that we may accommodate as many students as possible. Other classes may well be rescheduled as well for the same reasons, but we will make every effort to alert you as soon as possible. The two classes currently affected are: Basic Hydraulic Troubleshooting Grenada,Mississippi, originally scheduled for May 19th – 21st will now be conducted August 25th – 27th. 2020. Basic ..read more

Excessive heat can affect a hydraulic system in many ways. Generally, oil temperatures in excess of 140°F (60°C) will cause the oil to rapidly degrade. Other effects include accelerated wear of system components and damage to bearings and seals. Therefore, high oil temperature is a major concern. A properly sized and located heat exchanger in a hydraulic system can save time, money, and repair headaches. Most importantly, system downtime will be greatly reduced. There are two primary ways in which heat is removed from a hydraulic system: natural convection and forced convection. Another form o ..read more

As our nation, and the whole world seeks to restart after the COVID-19 crisis, it is important that care is taken when restarting hydraulic machinery that you do not cause more harm than good. When hydraulics sit for weeks at a time, special precautions must be taken for a safe and effective startup. Throughout this article we will discuss certain procedures and checks that should be done for a more effective startup. Check Breather Filter and Replace if Needed Check Pressure Filter – Replace if Needed Prior to working on any machine, you should ensure that the proper lock-out tag-out (LOT ..read more

Seleccionar el tamaño correcto para un receptor de aire puede reducir el ciclo excesivo del compresor y limitar el consumo de corriente del motor de accionamiento eléctrico. En muchas aplicaciones, se utilizan receptores de aire primario y secundario para proporcionar aire adicional al sistema. Las válvulas de drenaje automáticas o manuales y las válvulas de alivio siempre deben instalarse con cualquier receptor. La mayoría de los receptores tienen una forma cilíndrica con tapas redondeadas en los extremos. Como son recipientes a presión, su diseño debe ser propicio para la contención de la pr ..read more

When servicing and troubleshooting hydraulic equipment, we all make mistakes. After all, we are human. These mistakes can cost us in many ways and almost always result from a lack of competent training. Working around hydraulic machines can be a complex exercise, as it involves a great deal of science. To avoid these common mistakes, a logical approach based on knowledge (including knowing the function of each hydraulic component) and sound troubleshooting principles is required. Failure to Put Safety First! Hydraulic systems operate at high pressures and flow rates. As a result, they have the ..read more

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Selecting the correct size for an air receiver can reduce excessive cycling of the compressor as well as limit the current draw of the electric drive motor. In many applications, both primary and secondary air receivers are used to provide additional air to the system. Automatic or manual drain valves and relief valves should always be installed with any receiver. Most receivers have a cylindrical shape with rounded caps on the ends. Since they are pressure vessels, their design must be conducive to pressure containment. Obviously, a spherical shape provides the greatest pressure containment ..read more

When most people think of preventive maintenance and reliability procedures for a hydraulic system, regularly changing filters and checking the oil level are the only things considered. When the machine fails, there is often very little information about the system to refer to when troubleshooting. However, proper reliability checks should be done with the system running under normal operating conditions. These checks are vital for preventing equipment failures and downtime. Check Hoses Regularly Hose Condition Leakage is one of the biggest problems in a hydraulic system. Proper hose assembly ..read more

A big problem with pneumatics is the lack of reliability or preventive maintenance. Leakage control, filtration, and lubrication are just a few examples of reliability practices that many times fall to the wayside. The latter of these is the topic of this article. Lubrication of components is one of the most important steps in having a reliable pneumatic system. As a fluid power consultant, one of the most common questions I get is, “What is a lubricator, and why do I need one?” A lubricator is a pneumatic component that injects a fine mist of oil into the air to assist in the movement of dire ..read more