Blog Posts

Vulcanization is a chemical treatment process that involves the application of chemicals — usually sulfur — to alter the physical properties of rubber. In its natural state, rubber has numerous attractive qualities, including rust, corrosion and mold resistance. But rubber … Read More

Thermal spraying is a coating process that involves the application of heated particulate matter on a surface to protect against heat, cold, electricity, moisture and rust. The particulate matter — either metal, ceramics, plastics or composites — is heated using … Read More

If you are looking for a list of spectacular manufacturing failures, where products fail to perform as intended, that is not this story (although I would bet at least one of these listed failures happened in every one of those … Read More

Originally known as an antifriction nut, a ball screw is a mechanical device that’s used to convert rotational motion into linear motion. They feature a long threaded shaft with ball bearings to withstand significant stress and weight, all while minimizing … Read More

Welding and brazing are two of the most common metal-joining processes used in the manufacturing industry. When fasteners aren’t viable, manufacturers often use one of these techniques to join two metal surfaces together. But while brazing and welding both allow … Read More

While small in size and simple in design, bushings play an important role in high-stress applications where vibrations are problematic. Automotive suspension systems, for example, often feature control arms with bushings that connect the vehicle’s struts or shocks to the … Read More

Also known as a toric joint — in reference to its torus shape — an O-ring is a gasket with a circular-looped design that’s used to seal two working surfaces. The valve stems in automotive engines, for example, often use … Read More