Not all mechanical seals are made of a single piece of material. Filled PTFE seals, for instance, feature an inner core and an outer jacket. The outer jacket is made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), but the inner jacket is made of … Read More

When shopping for door hinges, you may come across the term “hinge radius.” It’s a key specification for rounded door hinges. Some door hinges have a 1/4 inch radius, whereas others have a 5/8 inch radius. To learn more about … Read More

Nuts can loosen when exposed to vibrations. The vibrations from engines or machines, for instance, can cause nuts to loosen from the bolts on which they are installed. Fortunately, locknuts are designed to resist vibrations. When choosing a locknut, though, … Read More

Machinery, equipment and furniture need to be level. If one side is higher than the opposite side, it may become unstable. Vibrations may cause the unlevel object to shake uncontrollably or even tip over, creating a serious safety hazard. Rather … Read More

Swivel casters offer a superior level of maneuverability when compared to their rigid counterparts. They are characterized by the presence of a swivel mechanism between the wheel and the mounting stem or plate. While rigid casters can only roll forward … Read More

Springs can’t stretch forever. Whether extension or compression, all springs have a point at which they will no longer behave like a spring. Known as the elastic limit, it defines the physical limits of a spring. For a better understanding … Read More

When objects become magnetized, they will attract nearby ferromagnetic materials. Unfortunately, this can lead to metal filings and other metal debris clinging to magnetic tools and equipment. A simple solution, however, is to use a surface-type demagnetizer. It can neutralize … Read More