Molded Vs. Sintered Friction Material: Know the Difference

The global market for friction materials is projected to hit $23 billion by 2020. So are you looking to differentiating molded vs. sintered friction material? This article is a guide to understanding each of these two materials.

With asbestos ruled out as a friction material in many countries, there has been ongoing research for alternatives. These two materials are among the most prevalent in the market today.

What Is Molded Friction Material?

Molded frictional materials are made through molding metals through a hydraulic pressing method.

The process of molding the frictional material includes the following;

  • Blending vermiculite particles, asbestos-free filler, and thermosetting resin
  • Placing the blended mixture into a shaped mold cavity
  • Compressing the mixture at high pressure and room temperature to form a preform
  • Hot-pressing the preform into a different mold at a temperature of about 350oF and 2500 psi

It requires the right equipment, materials, and personnel to manufacture quality products.

Application of Molded Friction Material

Molded friction materials are used in heavy machinery such as cranes, lift trucks, mining and logging equipment, draglines, and shovels. Generally, they are appropriate for heavy industrial application. For high-performance cars, they are ideal because they can withstand very high levels of heat.

What Is Sintered Friction Material?

Sintered frictional materials are made through metal metallurgy. A sintered material can come from any of these materials;

  • Nickel
  • Steel
  • Brass
  • Copper
  • Bronze
  • Aluminum

The powder is mainly formed using the atomization process. It is then taken through the process of metallurgy to manufacture friction materials.

The sintering process maintains the physical attributes of the metal.

The powder is poured into a mold or die cavity as per the shape of the desired part. It’s then compacted under high pressure at room temperature to form a solid shape.

The solid part is then placed in a furnace and heated under extreme heat. This is the sintering process, which fuses the metal particles to form a rigid product.

This process is used to manufacture clutches, brake pads, and brake linings.

Application of Sintered Friction Material

Compared to molded materials, the sintered ones have more frictional characteristics. They can be used in regular cars to heavy industrial machinery. Besides, they are inexpensive hence popular among many.

The Durability of Molded Vs. Sintered Friction Material

Sintered materials have a higher friction coefficient than the molded ones. However, both types of brake systems have high durability. It all depends on usage.

The mixture of elements gives sintered frictional material lots of friction. Also, the molded ones tolerate high temperatures while maintaining grip.

Choosing Between Molded and Sintered Frictional Materials

Selecting quality materials can be difficult. However, it’s still easy to choose the ideal one.

Molded materials function better in cold conditions while the sintered counterparts are ideal for warm conditions. Sintered ones wear down the rotor unlike the molded one. With both products being long-lasting, the ultimate decision lies with the user.

The Bottom Line

Deciding between molded vs. sintered friction material? Both of them will serve you as long as you purchase from quality manufacturers. Visit our site and access more quality industrial products.

Stop! 3 Tips For Overhead Crane Safety

You’re using an overhead crane to move a few heavy tools from one place to another in your facility. Suddenly one of the objects slips out of the sling and falls to the ground below.

Luckily, none of your employees were hurt — this time. Overhead cranes are an easy and effective way of moving items throughout your facility, but if you don’t take the correct safety precautions, using them could end in disaster.

Safety needs to be your top priority no matter what machinery you’re using. To help you keep your workplace safe for everyone, here are three critical overhead crane safety tips.

1. The Hoists Need to be Maintained 

The quickest way to experience disaster when using overhead cranes is neglecting to maintain your hoists. Without regular testing, you’ll never know how much weight your hoists can take at one time. 

It’s also a known fact that machines get old. Moving parts do wear out after a while. Without maintenance, you won’t be aware when these parts start breaking down. 

To avoid danger, take care of your machines and get them checked regularly. 

2. The Slings or Attachments Should be Secured 

A lot of accidents involving overhead cranes could have been avoided if the slings had been appropriately secured. When you fail to make sure everything is secure, the heavy items could slip out and go crashing to the ground. You can only guess what happens if there were a bunch of employees in the way. 

Some hoists use a hooked latch. If you don’t close it all the way, the items can slip out like in the example above. While you’re at it, make sure any other attachments for the hoist are appropriately sized and are nice and secure on the hook saddle. 

3. Notify Your Employees of the Possible Risk

The easiest thing that you can do to avoid risk is to keep your employees informed of the danger at all times. Place “hoist danger” signs around the area, so that workers are aware that lifts are swinging above their heads. 

Training is also essential. All employees should be aware of necessary safety procedures like not walking under a full load. The employees in charge of operating the crane should know not to hover heavy items over the workers on the ground. 

Overhead Crane Safety Tips to Keep in Mind During Every Job 

While using an overhead crane to transport heavy items in your facility can be convenient, it can also be dangerous if done incorrectly. Use these safety tips to keep yourself and your employees aware so that you can avoid disaster in your workplace. 

Part of keeping your employees safe is making sure all your machine parts are up to date. Contact us to ask us questions about our products or request a quote!

How Water-Cooled Brakes Work in Your Industrial Equipment

You need brakes that work for your machine.

The problem is that traditional disc brakes experience a great deal of pressure which can overwhelm the system.

This is where water-cooled brakes can make all the difference between a job done right and a bevy of technical difficulties.

Here’s what water-cooled brakes are, how they work, and when you need to use them in your industrial machinery.

What are Water-Cooled Brakes?

Water-cooled brakes consist of a central and stationary cooling plate. This plate has an internal chamber responsible for circulating coolant. There are also multiple cast-iron sectors mounted on opposite sides of the disc. The plate and iron sectors are typically divided by insulation layers.

They’re similar in principle to wet brakes, which use oil to keep the machine cool (especially in heaving braking applications).

The alternative is dry brakes, which are typically a single drum system which heats up once put under pressure.

How Do They Work?

Let’s say you’re using a machine and press down on the brake. There are different cooling systems your machine might use, but it generally works like this.

When you press down on the brake, this generates heat from friction. If left alone, the heat buildup from friction could put the whole system under extreme pressure and cause a mechanical breakdown.

The cast-iron sectors have enough thermal capacity to retain some of the heat generated by braking for a while. The task of conducting it out of the brake system lies with the water, which is used as a coolant liquid.

The heat is transferred to the water at a rate determined by the thermal conductivity of the insulative layers.

When Water-Cooled Brakes are Necessary

Knowing how brakes work, the question becomes when you might need water-cooled brakes over dry brakes.

Water-cooled brakes are most helpful when there isn’t enough space to create sufficient airflow needed for dry brakes to function optimally. They’re also useful in machinery that needs better heat conduction than air can offer.

This is most often seen in industrial machinery.

Within heavy machinery, these brakes are used in a variety of industries, such as drillers, tensioners for unwind stands, winches and mooring systems, and in yarders in the forestry industry.

Do You Need Water-Cooled Brakes?

The advantage of water-cooled brakes comes down to physics.

Air is ultimately a poor cooling medium–its density is too low, and the rate of heat transfer is too slow to work for heavy machinery, which generates too much heat and force in the course of normal use to make dry brakes practical.

Water-cooled brakes overcome this limitation. This way, you can stop worrying about mechanical failures and focus on the job at hand with a fully functional machine.

If you need to upgrade your machinery to make the most of your work time, we can help. We offer comprehensive services for industrial machinery, including modernizations, upgrades, repairs, and custom machining and fabrication.

If you need to request a quote, use our contact page to get in touch.

An Engineer’s Conundrum: Do You Use Drum Brakes, Disc Brakes, or Storm and Rail Brakes?

When choosing which types of drum brakes to use, you want to be informed. Your safety and investments depend on it. The importance of brakes doesn’t need to be overstated.

From storm and rail to disc and drum brakes, read on to learn which set of brakes fit your current situation. You’ll thank yourself later.

The Difference Between Types of Drum Brakes, Disc Brakes, and Storm and Rail Brakes

When trying to stop a train, truck, or other forms of heavy machinery, you want to be sure that your brakes are dependable. I mean, think of the sort of friction created by a 7000 horsepower piece of machinery trying to stop.

  • Drum Brakes- Brakes that utilize friction by pressing a group of pads outwardly against a cylindrical rotating part called a brake drum.
  • Disc Brakes-Similar to a bike brake except brake pads squeeze rotating disc inside wheel. Force is transmitted hydraulically instead of through a cable.
  • Storm and Rail Brakes-Similar to drum and disc brakes, only these brakes are not usually used for stopping or slowing down. They are primarily used for locking things.

Industrial brakes should be tailored to your specific application.

Why Choose Drum Brakes?

I know what you may be thinking, why wouldn’t I just go with disc brakes? They’re better. You wouldn’t be wrong in stating that disc brakes perform better and last longer on average.

However, in the case of industrial brakes for heavy machinery, you don’t need the most hi-tech option. You need something dependable and cost-efficient. Different types of drum brakes offer you just that.

After all, you’re already spending a ton of money on the machinery itself.

You’re not cutting corners with drum brakes, either. Five years, ago federal authorities updated stopping-distance restrictions for heavy tractors. There was talk that this would finally initiate the conversion from drum brakes to disc.

Not the case.

Drum brakes have drastically improved their performance and dependability by expanding their size.

In 2015, 90% of heavy truck buyers opted for drum brakes.

There’s also an added expense to disc brake maintenance that adds to the appeal of drum brakes.

If you’re looking at a standard operation, drum brakes are your best bet. But you have to buy the right set. If you are dealing with operations that require higher safety precautions, I would consider disc brakes.

Why Choose Disc Brakes?  

Drum brakes are great for the average operation because of their cost-effectiveness. Disc brakes are still superior in performance and maintenance.

Disc brakes last longer than drum brakes. They are also easier to repair. Because of this, they offer a viable option for companies who know they are transporting large amounts of goods over long periods.

They are perfect for tankers, freighters, and heavy-duty vehicles transporting hazardous materials.   

Certain industrial applications require a little more assurance and thus, a bit more expense than drum brakes.

Why Choose Storm and Rail Brakes?

While drum brakes and disc brakes are industry standards and have a wide range of applicability, storm, and rail brakes have a niche position. Their place is just as important.

These brakes are ideal for large cranes and other equipment that needs to be locked in position for long periods.

The Type of Brake You Use Depends on the Job you Do

Choosing a brake system is no easy task. You have to weigh in the potential long term and short term effects of your decision.

Certain types of drum brakes are great if you’re dealing with a standard operation in which the risks aren’t too high. Disc brakes are great for the long haul. Storm and rail breaks have a specific job.

Make sure your decision is an informed one!

 

Catch Wind of the Hype: The Growth of the Wind Energy Industry

In 2015, 80% of the world’s energy came from fossil fuels. However, there are other safer, environmentally-friendly solutions all around us, and we’re finally beginning to utilize them.

The past decade has seen stunning growth in environmentally-conscious businesses and consumers, especially where wind energy is concerned.

But why the sudden interest? Aren’t there other renewable energy sources?

There are, but right now is the optimal time for wind. Find out why you should join the movement.

Why Is Wind a Promising Choice?

Wind energy has few disadvantages and a myriad of advantages.

Wind turbines work by letting the wind spin propellors. The propellors link to the main turbine shaft, which transmits the energy throughout the turbine and to the generator, where it’s transformed into power.

The sun’s warmth spurs the wind, so it is an abundant resource. Further, it’s cost effective and advantageous to farmers or individuals with many acres of land, who can make money in addition to using the turbine to power their home.

Finally, turbines are excellent for the economy and the Earth.

The Future of Wind Energy

Wind energy is the fastest growing sector of renewable energy. In 2016, 27% of all new energy capacity additions were from the wind industry.

Over 30% of Iowa’s and South Dakota’s electricity in 2015 was from wind.

But the demand isn’t the only thing growing. Wind energy doubled from 2011 to 2016, and job growth increased by 32% in the sector from 2015 to 2016.

Like the wind itself, the sector is spreading across the globe.

Why Is the Wind Industry Growing So Quickly?

Society is beginning to turn to wind energy for power needs as it recognizes the positive impacts it has. There are many reasons for the sector’s growth.

Technological Advances

Wind turbines today are larger and more efficient than their past models. Researchers are also studying materials that reduce costs and stand up to the elements.

The result is turbines that are cheaper and offer higher efficiency.

Most People Can Benefit

Over half of the population dwells within 50 miles of a coastline, making wind a promising source for a large proportion of the US. As a result, businesses and even landowners are taking advantage of the future opportunities this entails.  

Prices

The prices for wind energy are excellent. Wind energy is the cheapest source of renewable energy in the UK and US.

As demand grows, competition ensues. This drives prices down even more.

State Requirements

More states are demanding businesses behave in environmentally-friendly ways. Customers, too, place a high value on this trait.

As expectations and requirements increase regarding behavior, companies search for the least expensive way to satisfy their corporate needs, state regulations and customer wishes. Wind energy is a popular choice.

Tax Credits

Finally, current and past tax credits encourage individuals and companies to take advantage of wind energy.

The Production Tax Credit will go out of effect in 2020, meaning businesses and homeowners are building now to take advantage of discounted prices.

Maintain Your Turbine

Wind energy is beneficial, and it doesn’t look like it will disappear anytime soon. But maintaining a turbine is a different matter. It takes quality parts, routine care, and careful research.

Do you need braking systems for your turbine? If so, contact our representatives to discuss your needs. Regardless of how specific, our experts will find the parts you require.

Let the wind blow those electrical bills away.

The Basics of Oil Rig Drilling Equipment

The oil and gas industry might be considered the backbone of America’s economy. With production going back to the mid-1800s, oil is an absolute necessity for this country. Since 2017 American oil companies have produced and refined over 571 million metric tons of oil.

The oil industry employs thousands of people, making it one of the most lucrative jobs in the country. Oil rigs are complicated. Keep reading to find out how most rigs work and what kind of parts make them up.

From the Top Down

First things first: getting to know your rig is essential. As such, knowing every inch of it from the mast to the mud tanks is the first step. There are several major components for every rig.

Crown Block

This collection of pulleys is located at the very top of a rig. These pulleys maneuver the heavy drilling equipment further down the rig. They will be mounted to the platform, keeping them stable throughout the drilling process.

Top Drive

A top drive will help decrease the manual labor that goes into oil drilling. The motor will turn the string which controls the drill. This replaces a Kelly or rotary table some older rigs are outfitted with.

Doghouse

For the people running the drill, a doghouse is a place where they can stay undercover to observe the drilling processes. It can be used as an onshore office or for offshore drilling it keeps the electronics safe from the elements.

Drill Pipe

This part will encase the drill bit and help revolve the bit as it goes deep into the ground. It will also circulate the drill fluids, preventing the part from overheating.

Drill Bit

Possibly the most essential part of every rig, the drill bit, will bite into the shale or gravel the rig is placed over, bringing you closer to oil. Drilling the wellbore is an essential step of the oil production business. Making sure your bit is reliable and of high-quality metal will ensure the process goes smoothly.

Shale Shakers

Oil drilling is a messy business. There will be a lot of material you need to sift through. Shale shakers are a collection of sieves and screens that will help remove unwanted grime from the well.

The Mast

This part is where most of the pulleys and strings are located. It’s the tallest part of every drill. You’ll be able to position the strings with the mast, ensuring your best ground penetration.

Mud Tanks

When a well begins to fill with excess fluids, it’s necessary to store them safely out of the way. Mud tanks are steel tubes and plates that keep those drilling detritus safe.

Know the Oil Rig Inside and Out

There are a lot of moving parts that go with an oil rig. Knowing what each one does will ensure you’re able to keep an eye on your rig better.

If you notice some parts are beginning to wear out though, it may be time to get some replacements. When you do, be sure to contact us. Our high grade, industrial parts will keep your production business running smoothly.

OSHA Compliance and Overhead Crane Inspection

Over half of all overhead crane fatalities involved injuries from objects or parts falling from cranes.

To avoid this type of injury and fatality, OSHA created a list of guidelines regarding the use and maintenance of overhead cranes. OSHA compliance should be one of your biggest priorities to protect the safety of your workers.

Keep reading to learn more about how you can become OSHA-compliant and how crane inspection can help you save the lives of your employees.

How to Achieve OSHA Compliance

We’re going to jump right into how you can achieve compliance with OSHA. As you’ll see, there are only a few steps, but each one will require a lot of work. Keep in mind that putting in this work is well worth the effort.

1. Know the Standards

Before you can adhere to the standards, you have to know what they are. Take your time in reading through the OSHA overhead crane standards to see which ones apply to your particular business.

These standards will determine what you need to do for the rest of the process.

2. Set up Inspections

One of the most important things you can do to comply with OSHA’s standards is to have regular inspections done of your overhead cranes. There are two types of inspection schedules that you need to follow.

Frequent Inspections

These should be done on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis on all cranes that are in regular use. You’ll need to check that your cranes are working correctly and that all parts are in good repair.

Periodic Inspections

These inspections are done quarterly, bi-annually, or annually. In some cases, it involves carefully checking parts like brakes and fire extinguishers. It may also require a thorough inspection of cranes that are not in regular use.

3. Follow Manufacturer’s Recommendations

In your crane’s logbook, you should be keeping track of the manufacturer’s recommendations for every part of your crane. These will need to be inspected or replaced in different timeframes, so you need to know when to do these.

4. Perform Preventative Maintenance

In addition to inspecting your crane and parts, you also need to be performing routine maintenance on it. This will help keep everything in good working order and allow you to continue to comply with OSHA standards.

This is another area in which you’ll have to check for manufacturer’s recommendations to see how often parts need to be serviced and what needs to be done for them.

5. Ensure All Personnel Are Qualified

Every person that works in or around your overhead crane should have the proper certifications. OHSA requires that all crane operators have the appropriate training to reduce the chances of workplace accidents from happening.

Don’t forget to restrict access to cranes by using a keycard system and locking doors whenever possible.

Need an Overhead Crane Inspection?

Now you know the five things you need to do to ensure OSHA compliance for your overhead crane operation. As you can see, there’s a lot of work involved, but it’s worth it for the safety of your workers.

If you need an inspection to meet OSHA guidelines, ask us about our overhead crane inspection services.

Hydraulic vs Mechanical Disc Brakes: Your Questions Answered

Brakes come in many varieties and sizes, each with its own purpose. Out of the two most common brake types, hydraulic vs. mechanical disc brakes, which one is best? What is the difference between the two, and what purpose do they serve?

If you’ve come to this article seeking answers to these questions, then you’ve come to the right place. All of these questions (and more) are answered in the below.

Hydraulic vs. Mechanical Disc Brakes

In this section, you’ll find out the difference between hydraulic and mechanical brakes. Read on to find out more.

What’s the Difference?

Hydraulic brakes are better at coming to a complete stop than mechanical brakes, are cheaper, and save more space than other brake types.

Efficiency means that hydraulic discs dissipate heat well. This translates into a long life span for hydraulic brakes. When all of this comes together, it means that hydraulic brakes end up being safer than other brakes.

Hydraulic brakes are easy to repair because of readily available parts and because of their sealed-off closed system. This means that hydraulic brakes only lose brake fluid when the brake is malfunctioning.

Hydraulic brakes are also easier to inspect than mechanical brakes because there is no need to remove the wheels.

Mechanical brakes are significantly less durable than hydraulic brakes because they rely on fiction alone to stop vehicles. The durability of mechanical brakes depends on the strength of the friction-like material used in the pad or shoe of the brake.

Hydraulic brakes may be easy to fix, but that doesn’t mean that mechanical brakes aren’t easy to fix as well. Mechanical brakes are easier to set up and maintain and are more cost-effective than hydraulic brakes.

Also known as drum brakes, these brakes are known to brake fade, which is when you lose braking power due to the heating up of the brake system. Modern vehicles still utilize this older braking system, although they are (for the most part) found in the rear wheels.

Which Brake is Better?

Each brake serves its purpose in the real world.

Hydraulic brakes are most commonly found in vehicles, which often require a specific fluid to allow them to run correctly. High-pressure breaking is where hydraulic brakes excel, assuming the hydraulic system that powers them is operating correctly.

Mechanical brakes, on the other hand, do not require a power supply or system to run. A simple lever is usually what powers a mechanical brake, meaning they are quite basic. Parking brakes are an excellent example of a mechanical brake.

You Decide…

Hydraulic vs. mechanical disc brakes may sound complicated, but hopefully, this article has made it easier to understand what they are and what they do.

If you’d like a one-stop place for all the industrial solutions that you or your company require, then make sure to check us out.

The Basics of the Wind Turbine Brake System

The wind turbine brake system is one that is every bit as impressive as it is complicated. To work on something as powerful as a wind turbine, you can’t expect anything less.

Over the years the design has been modified to work at maximum efficiency and to help save on the general cost of materials. That being said, it can be a challenge to know everything that’s involved with making the brakes work.

This article will describe the basics of the brake system, so you’ll have an idea of how they work if you ever need to handle them in the future.

The Basics of the Wind Turbine Brake System

The turbine brake system is made to slow down and halt the movement of the wind turbine itself. It takes more than just a couple of simple brake pads to bring it to a halt.

There’s a lot of kinetic energy generated by the wind turbines, and to disperse it properly, you have to turn that kinetic energy into heat energy. Depending on the type of wind turbine, you can do this in several ways.

Low-Speed Braking

If your wind turbine runs off of lower speed mechanics, you don’t need to have the powerful brakes that high-speed turbines use. In this case, you could get away with installing a large disc brake instead.

Disc brakes are the same brakes found on many motor vehicles. We don’t tend to think of our cars as low-speed or low-power, but compared to a high-power wind turbine they don’t generate nearly as much kinetic energy.

One thing to keep in mind is that the disc brakes rely on torque to do their job, so make sure you pick the right brakes to last you a long while.

High-Speed Braking

When you have a bigger wind turbine or one that generates a lot of power, you need more than disc breaks to stop it. That’s where high-speed brakes come into play.

High-speed brakes work by engaging with the generator so they can directly affect the movement of the turbine. The ratio of the turbine’s gearboxes results in a significant reduction in output torque, something to factor into your selection.

Two of the main things you need to factor in are the diameter of the brakes and the number of teeth the brakes have on them. The higher the number these variables are, the better and faster the brakes will perform.

If you want to be on the safe side (and if your turbine allows it), you could get both brake types. Doing this ends up being cost-effective in the long run, so if you have the money to buy both now, you should do so.

All of the Products You Need

When it comes to accessing the right products, you should know we’ve got you covered. You can buy an industrial wind turbine brake system, as well as clutch accessories, torque limiters, and much more.

Reach out to us to find out what we can do to help you. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Protecting Your Workers and Facility: Overhead Crane Safety

There is an average of 71 fatal accidents involving cranes in the United States every year.

It’s essential to understand overhead crane safety to avoid injury or death to your workers. By following these simple tips, you can help prevent numerous workplace accidents.

Keep reading to learn more about overhead crane operation and how to ensure the safety of everyone in your company.

1. Set up Daily Inspections

You should be doing a full, in-depth inspection of your crane every single day. Everything that’s checked should be noted in a log book where anything unusual is written.

Some things to check every day include:

  • Operating mechanisms
  • Lines, tanks, and valves
  • Hooks
  • Hoist chains and ropes
  • Slings

Any unusual findings should immediately be addressed, and the crane should never be operated if there are any suspicions that it may not be working correctly.

2. Inspect Before Every Lift

You should also be doing a quick visual inspection before every lift. This ensures nothing unusual has happened since the previous lift. It also allows you to make sure the loading area is clear of anything that could interfere with the next lift.

3. Always Confirm Suitability

If you always lift the same amount of weight with your crane, you can skip this step. However, if you are frequently moving objects of different weights, you need to ensure that your crane is capable of lifting them safely.

Carefully check everything from the type of motor you have to the sling and hook before lifting something. If you attempt to lift something heavier than what your crane can handle, the lift could end in disaster.

4. Use Clear Communication

In most cases, you won’t be able to speak directly to the crane operator. That’s why it’s crucial to have a qualified crane operator signal person on the ground.

This person should know the proper hand signals needed to safely direct the crane operator, so the job is completed without putting anyone in danger.

You’ll also want to communicate with everyone on the ground when a load is going up. This allows workers to clear the area while the crane is in operation.

5. Limit Crane Access

Speaking of qualified personnel, access to the crane must be limited to only those who know how to operate it. In the wrong hands, an overhead crane can be deadly. Use locks and keycards to restrict crane access.

6. Minimize Load Swing

Make sure your crane operators are both qualified and skilled at operating a crane. This means they can smoothly move the load to minimize the amount of moving it does.

When the load swings, it puts unnecessary pressure on components and can create an unsafe work environment.

7. Keep Equipment Clean

This should go without saying, but avoid storing slings and other crane equipment on the floor. By keeping everything clean, you can keep it in good working order which will decrease the chances of failure.

Learn More About Overhead Crane Safety

Now you have a list of ways you can ensure the safety of yourself and your employees when using cranes.

Learn more about overhead crane safety; check out our article on small mobile crane maintenance. There, you’ll find additional information on how you can keep your crane running the way it should.