The term “flexible magnet” can be confusing. When most people think of magnets, they envision solid bars or pieces of metal. After all, magnets are defined by their ferromagnetic composition. They are comprised of a ferromagnetic metal — iron, cobalt, … Read More

Hydraulic cylinders are commonly found in industrial machines. Consisting of an actuator, it uses hydrostatic energy to generate force. Hydraulic cylinders essentially use fluid to create a pull or push force. Because they contain fluid, however, they require the use … Read More

Consisting of a thin donut-shaped plate of metal with a hole in the center, washers are used to distribute the load of a fastener. Fasteners will create a load when driven into an object. With a washer, this load will … Read More

Molded rubber is used in a variety of products. You can find grommets, gaskets, hoses, boots and countless other products made of molded rubber. It’s a durable, long-lasting material that’s incredibly versatile. Unless you’re familiar with it, though, you might … Read More

Stainless steel is often classified by its crystalline structure. When inspecting stainless steel under a microscope, you’ll see an array of crystals. There are four primary types of crystalline structures including ferric, martensitic, duplex and austenitic. Of those four types, … Read More

Loose joint hinges have become a popular alternative to traditional hinges. They are still used to connect two objects, and they still allow one or both of the connected objects to rotate. Loose joint hinges, however, feature a unique design … Read More

A turnbuckle is a common rigging device that is used to adjust the tension or length of cables, reduce the level of slack in ropes, and for many other tensioning applications. The tension delivered is controlled by rotating the frame … Read More