How Plastics Wear Against Metals

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Testing Thermoplastic Composites against Steel
How do plastics wear against metals? In tests mating thermoplastic composites and AISI 1141 cold-rolled steel counter-faces, the highest composite wear factors (greatest wear) resulted with the smoothest range (8-12 µin.) of metal surface finishes.  This result, contrary to what might be expected intuitively, is attributed to the adhesion-and-deformation friction mechanism of metal/plastic combinations.  The 12 to 16 µin. range yielded the lowest wear factors, and the 50 to 70 µin. … Read more

Isoplast Beam Clamps

How to Buy Plastic Parts: The Ultimate Checklist

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How to Buy Plastic Parts

Most of the world’s fasteners are produced from metal, but many users have switched to plastic as a better material for their application.  If you’re considering plastic fasteners there are several pieces of information you’ll want to have to insure that you end up with what you need.
What Are The Options?
Many prospective customers contact Craftech for help in determining what options would best suit their applications.  … Read more

Several types of plastic parts.

History of the Screw

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No Historic Evidence for When the First Screw Was Made
We do not have historic evidence to show when the screw was first developed. However,  it is believed that by at last the first century it was used in a screw press. But we also believe that screw presses were used in Roman times to squeeze olives for oil and grapes for wine.  Archytas of Tarrentum is credited by the Greeks with the invention of the first screw.  … Read more

An Ancient Olive Press

Industry 4.0: Get ready now

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Manufacturers are on the brink of a major leap in production called Industry 4.0.  It describes the current generation of workflow processes infusing smart technology, big data and brainpower. According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), “ [M]anufacturers that successfully implement the Industry 4.0 technologies best-suited for their businesses no longer need to choose between focusing on a better top line or a more profitable bottom line – as they can improve both at the same time.”
Industry 4.0 succeeds Industry 1.0, … Read more

Industry 4.0

How Plastic Wears Against Plastic

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Wear of Plastics Against Plastics
Wear characteristics of a plastic against another plastic vary widely, even among those materials with good natural lubricity. When an application calls for plastic-to-plastic bearings, shafts, gears and other parts, the combination must be chosen carefully.
Plastics and the Laws of Nature
Because plastics are not rigid bodies, they do not behave according the natural laws of friction.   It is these deviations which cause some of the unexpected results when plastics are run against metal.  … Read more

Plastic Wear Against Plastic TPU