Published August 24, 2012

Reuters

Durable Goods Orders Rise in July

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New orders for long-lasting U.S. manufactured goods surged in July, but a second straight month of declines in a gauge of planned business spending pointed to a slowing growth trend in the factory sector.
The Commerce Department said on Friday durable goods orders jumped 4.2 percent on strong demand for civilian aircraft after an upwardly revised 1.6 percent increase in June. Last month's increase was the largest since December.
Economists polled by Reuters had forecast orders for durable goods, items from toasters to aircraft that are meant to last at least three years, rising 2.4 percent after a previously reported 1.3 percent increase in June.
Orders excluding transportation fell 0.4 percent, dropping for a second month in the a row.
Non-defense capital goods orders excluding aircraft, a closely watched proxy for business spending plans, declined 3.4 percent after falling 2.7 percent in June.
Economists had expected this category to rise 0.7 percent after a previously reported 1.7 percent decline in June.
Shipments of non-defense capital goods orders excluding aircraft, used to calculate equipment and software spending in the gross domestic product report, were flat after rising 1.5 percent in June.
The mixed report hinted at a cooling in the growth pace in manufacturing, a sector that has shouldered the economy's recovery from the 2007-09 recession.
It could favor additional monetary easing by the Federal Reserve next month, even though other data on jobs, consumer spending and the housing sector suggested an improvement in the economy ea r ly in the third quarter after growth slowed in the April-June period.
Overall orders last month were buoyed by a 14.1 percent jump in transportation equipment as demand for civilian aircraft surged 53.9 percent. Boeing received orders for 260 aircraft, up from 24 planes in June, according to information posted on the plane maker's website.
United Airlines placed an order of 150 planes last month.
The aircraft surge was complemented by a 12.8 percent increase in motor vehicle orders, the largest increase since July last year.
Away from transportation, details of the report were mixed with gains in new orders for primary metals, computers and electronic product. There were declines in new orders for fabricated metal products, electrical equipment and appliances and machinery.

Read more: http://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/2012/08/24/durable-good-orders-rise-in-july/#ixzz24T1o8cqE

China, Euro Manufacturing Sectors Shrink in August

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China, Euro Manufacturing Sectors Shrink in August

Published August 23, 2012

Reuters

Read more: http://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/2012/08/23/china-euro-manufacturing-sectors-shrink-in-august/#ixzz24NQ6Fkiy

The euro zone is on track for its second recession in three years, China's once booming manufacturing sector is contracting at a faster pace than previously reported, and the United States is widely seen as struggling to keep up its pace of growth.
Business surveys released on Thursday painted a global picture of economic malaise from Beijing to Berlin.
The euro zone economy will shrink around 0.5 percent in the current quarter as the economic rot is even spreading through Germany, the region's largest and strongest economy, Markit's Purchasing Mangers' Index (PMI) suggested.
It came on the heels of the HSBC Flash China manufacturing PMI falling to 47.8 for August, its lowest level since November and well down from July's final figure of 49.3.
Growth in the United States manufacturing sector is also expected to have slowed in August. U.S. data due at 1258 GMT.
"The indicators taken as a whole indicate a material slowdown in the pace of the world economy," said economist Philip Shaw at Investec.
The euro zone composite PMI, which measures manufacturing and services together, was actually slightly better than a month earlier, nudging up to 46.6 and just pipping forecasts for it to hold steady at July's 46.5. But was still its seventh month in a row below 50, the dividing line between contraction and growth.
"August's flash euro zone PMI does nothing to challenge the notion that the single currency area is now firmly in recession," said Jonathan Loynes, chief European economist at Capital Economics.
More worryingly, the downturn in smaller euro zone economies is clearly taking root in the core. The flash composite PMI for Germany fell to a three-year low, a fourth straight month of contraction.
German economic growth slowed to 0.3 percent in the second quarter on a sharp drop in investment, adding to evidence that it can no longer be relied on to pull the euro zone out of a deep slump, data showed earlier on Thursday.
"Another reminder that a chronic lack of economic growth in the euro zone will continue to impede efforts to bring the debt crisis to an end," Loynes said.
The euro zone economy shrank by 0.2 percent in the three months to June, according to official data. Economists polled by Reuters last week predicted a similar outcome for the current quarter, with no growth until the start of next year.

Read more: http://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/2012/08/23/china-euro-manufacturing-sectors-shrink-in-august/#ixzz24NPn7iyl

Miracle Point Magnetic Base Protractor

The Amazing

"Miracle Point" Magnetic Base Protractor

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"Miracle Point" Magnetic Base Protractor
Features:

• Protractor is permanently attached as an integral part of a powerful Magnetic V base containing lifetime Alnico magnets.
• V base is precision ground.
• Gives immediate readings of angles for full 360 degree radius.

The TOOL with UNLIMITED USE ANGLE FINDER & CENTER LOCATOR Protractor Uses

• This accurate protractor has an extremely sensitive, balanced needle which gives immediate reading of angles for 360 degree radius.
• The V base exerts a powerful magnetic pull to most any shape/form. The V base is precision milled and the center pin will show the middle point.

Toolroom and Machine Shops

• Determining angles on shapers, milling machines, grinders, etc.
• Quickly finds center of square or round stock.
• All angle finding operation in your shop.

Welding Shops

• Indispensable in quickly and accurately determining angles.

Construction and Maintenance

• Locate plumb and centerline.

Auto and Truck Stops

• Checks drive line angles and many other uses.

900-22 Lens Guard

The lens of the Miracle Point needs protection in harshenvironments. Lens Guard will protect the edge of the lens. Easy to install or request Lens Guard with your repair service. *Kit includes lens, guard & glue

Specifications:

Height: 5-1/4"
Width: 5"Depth: 1"
Weight 16 oz.
Packaged one per carton

Three Heads are Better Than One

 

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Measurement System Analysis, Part II: Electronic Gage Heads
George Schuetz, Mahr Federal Inc.

Last month we began a series looking at various aspects of the electronic gaging process with an eye towards reducing uncertainty and making measurements "less imperfect." This month, we'll look at probes.
Users of electronic amplifiers can choose from a number of gage head types to generate the measurement signal. The three most common—cartridge, pantograph, and lever-type gage heads—differ from each other mainly in the orientation of their sensitive contacts, and the mechanisms by which contact movement actuates the transducer. Other types of dimensional sensing devices, such as capacitance gages and laser devices can also be integrated into electronic amplifier-based systems. These are useful in applications that require non-contact sensing, but most metalworking applications are satisfied with the three common "mechanical," or contact-type gage heads. Each offers particular advantages for different applications.
The cartridge probe, or pencil-type gage head, is a compact cylindrical device, usually 3/8" or 8 mm in diameter and less than 3" (75 mm) long. Not coincidentally, these are about the same dimensions as dial indicator stems, which cartridge probes were originally designed to replace. Like dial indicators, the probe's spindle, or sensitive contact, has an axial motion. Readily incorporated into fixture gages and in-process gages, several cartridge probes can be positioned within close proximity, to measure closely spaced part features. For even tighter spacing requirements, some manufacturers offer special miniature probes, with diameters as small as 6 mm and lengths below 20 mm.
Most cartridge gage heads operate on an LVDT principle. The linear variable differential transducer is an electromechanical device consisting of a primary coil, flanked by two secondary coils connected in series, all surrounding a movable magnetic core—the spindle—which provides a path for magnetic flux linking the coils. When the primary coil is energized by a sinusoidal signal from the amplifier, voltage of opposite polarity is induced in the secondary coils. The device's net output is the difference between the voltages of the two secondary coils, so when the core is centered, net output is zero.
The null, or zero position, is very stable, making LVDTs ideal for high repeatability comparative measurements. And because the LVDT works on an inductive principle, its resolution is, in theory, virtually infinite. In practice, it is limited by the amplifier's ability to amplify and display the results. Ranges vary from ±0.010" to ±0.100" (±0.250 mm to ±2.500 mm), with linearity from 0.5% to 0.05% over the nominal range. Longer ranges are also available, but they are usually not applied for tight-tolerance measurements. (Linearity is typically a trade-off against longer range.)
Some LVDT probes are signal conditioned to produce a digital format; others have a digital scale built in for extended range. But whatever the actual electrical means of working they pretty much produce the same results. Moreover, even standard-duty LVDTs are very rugged, and heavy-duty versions are capable of extended use in the harshest environments.


Numerous options and variants are available to increase flexibility of application. The standard plain bushings that support the spindle tend to be quite durable, but in applications that subject the spindle to significant side-loading, ball-bearing bushings can provide longer life cycles. The signal output cable is normally supplied straight and plastic-jacketed, but coiled cable is available for use on hand-held gages, and armored cable is available for harsh environments. Cable may exit the probe from the back of the cartridge (axially), or at a right angle—a small detail that occasionally makes mounting the probe much more convenient.
Most cartridge heads are splash-proof, with a protective rubber boot surrounding the probe's stem. Hermetically sealed versions are also available, for use in extremely harsh environments: for example, for in-process gaging during a grinding operation.
Cartridge heads tend to have relatively heavy gaging pressure—about 3.5 oz. (99 g)—but here too, optional specifications are available from some manufacturers. Another handy option is a pneumatic retraction accessory, to minimize side-loading on the spindle when inserting a workpiece into a gage fixture.

Pantograph, or reed-spring gage heads, are most often used in bench top height comparators where both ruggedness and extremely high accuracy are required. The gage's contact is suspended by a pair of reed springs, which provide virtually force-free and friction-free measurement. (External springs or deadweights can be added if a specific gaging pressure is required.) Pantograph gage heads offer a measurement range of ±0.010" (±0.250 mm) with repeatability of <0.5 µin (<0.01 µm). They are more accepting of side-loading than cartridge-type gage heads, and can be repaired more easily and economically if side-loading damage does occur.
Where the cartridge gage head replicates the action of a dial indicator, lever-type gage heads are functional replacements for test indicators. Electronic lever-type gage heads are typically used in connection with a height stand, often for surface plate work. When mounted on a tiltable extendable cross-bar, they can be positioned with a great deal of latitude relative to the workpiece. A clutch on the swivel further assists in positioning convenience, allowing the contact to be repositioned by as much as 20° without moving the body of the gage head. Their ability to measure in both directions further enhances versatility. In contrast, cartridge and pantograph gage heads are unidirectional, and must be positioned perfectly in-line with the dimension being measured.
The extended, pivoting contact of the lever-type gage head provides good access to working surfaces that may be hard to reach with other contact styles. Contacts with special shapes, and diameters as small as 0.010" (0.250 mm), can be specified for use on really inaccessible workpiece surfaces. Repeatability can be as good as <4 µin (<0.1 µm), and gaging pressure, at <0.14 oz. (<4 g), is light, making these heads well suited for high-resolution measurements on delicate surfaces or compressible materials.
All three types of electronic gage heads can be combined in a single fixture gage or application, and many amplifiers will accept all three interchangeably. All three can also be readily integrated with either digital or analog amplifiers. These features help make electronic gaging a very flexible approach to high accuracy inspection.

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Today that small facility is much larger and Baileigh Industrial, Inc. now has dozens of manufacturing sites worldwide with multiple distribution sites on different continents. Today we offer many different product segments in metal fabrication equipment as well as machine tools, comprised of hundreds of different models manufactured to the highest quality standards on the market, and sold at reasonable prices that are afforded by the small start ups as well as the large multi nationals.
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#Carson #SensorMag LED Lighted Camera Sensor Loupe

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Features:
The #SensorMag™ will help you clean any dust and debris on your camera Sensor helping you eliminate the need to digitally correct pictures. The 5x power SensorMag™ rests comfortably inside the camera lens hole and has an adjustable focus for different size cameras and Sensor depths. This hands free Loupe allows you to magnify and aids you in cleaning the Sensor. There are two different diameter settings to fit most camera bodies.

The six, bright, LED’s in the base of the SensorMag™ light your way to a clean Sensor. The SensorMag™ is unique in the fact that the lens can rotate 45 degrees out of the way to gain better access to the Sensor while still being able to use the LED lights. It leaves room for a small tool or cleaning brush to be used while looking through the lens at the Sensor. It is small enough to carry in your camera bag and comes with a zippered pouch. 

Manufacturing Sector Shrinks for Second Month

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Published August 01, 2012

Reuters

The U.S. manufacturing sector shrank for the second month in a row in July as new orders improved modestly but employment dropped to a 2-1/2-year low.
The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) said its index of national factory activity inched up to 49.8 from 49.7 in June, shy of economists' expectations for 50.2.
A reading below 50 shows contraction in the sector. Forward-looking new orders remained in contraction territory but improved to 48 from 47.8. The gauge of employment slid to its lowest level since December 2009 at 52 from 56.6. Exports continued to tumble and were down at 46.5 from 47.5.
The index has lost 13 points since February.

Read more: http://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/2012/08/01/manufacturing-sector-shrinks-for-second-month/#ixzz22JXt41pD