5 Key Advantages of Custom Metal Fabrication

What does an assembly line make you think of? If you answered “sameness”, you wouldn’t be alone. Repetition, huge orders, a factory producing one product.

Hey, there’s nothing wrong with assembly lines. They’re helpful and efficient. But the one thing they don’t do is a custom job.

When it comes to metal parts, custom is the way to go. Here are the 5 advantages of custom metal fabrication:

1) You Choose What You Want

Not all parts will work for all jobs, and all metal parts can’t be bought in a store. With custom metal fabrication both problems solve themselves.

On top of getting the ability to choose exactly what the part is going to look like and what it’s going to be made out of, you’re also given the opportunity to save time.

In deciding how you want a part, you’re also making the decision how that part gets made.

2) Get Your Job Done More Quickly

Will it be a cut-and-roller job, or will it be a cast-and-form job? This factors into how quickly you’ll get your part. For all you know they’re out of your part at the store.

For all you know they’re out of your part at the store, and by the time they’re able to order a new one you could have had one that would haven’t just been a better fit for your project, it would have quite literally been the perfect fit.

3) Custom Metal Fabrication Means Handy Metal

Though some companies have the ability to work with other metals like aluminum, cast iron, and manganese steel, plate or sheet metal is most commonly in custom metal fabrication. This durable metal means several convenient things.

Sheet metal is lightweight. That means the product you get fabricated will be light as well. That will cut weigh down on transportation costs.

4) There’s Strength in Custom Jobs

Additionally, sheet metal doesn’t wear down easily and will look the way you want it to, or act the way it needs for a good long while. This has both aesthetic and practical implications.

Though it’s strong and light, perhaps the reason it gets used so often is its durability. It withstands heat and corrosion, meaning the thing that you built is built to last.

5) It Requires Its Laborers to Have Skills

This is no ordinary job! Much the same way your set of skills has landed you where you are, it takes a group of highly-skilled laborers to pull off custom metal making, which means you’ll work with the best.

It comes highly recommended that you find one company to work with for the majority of your transactions so that you can build up trust. The custom fabricated metal industry is a highly specialized industry.

This means, find someone you’re ready to spend a career partnered with.

Perhaps among the most important things to do is to find a company today that has the capabilities of taking on odd, often last-minute requests.

You’d be surprised (or maybe you already know…) just how often this kind of thing occurs.

US Manufacturing Industry Report: 5 Big Trends to Watch

US Manufacturing Industry Report: 5 Big Trends to Watch

2017 has been an exciting year for the manufacturing industry. The industry has seen some major breakthroughs and taken some surprising turns.

The US manufacturing industry now stands to be one of the major influencing forces of the year on the US economy and workforce.

5 Things You Should Know About the US Manufacturing Industry

We’ve combed the latest headlines to come up with the top 5 trends and statistics that are taking the US manufacturing industry by storm.

1. Manufacturing Employment is at a Steady Low

Manufacturing jobs in the US are currently at 12.4 million. While this number reflects an increase since 2010, when it was only 11.5 million, it shows a sharp decline since peaking in 1979 when there were 19.4 million workers in the industry. Today, the overall industry remains at its lowest since before WWII.

2. South and Midwest Regions Have Been Hit Hardest by Decline in Jobs

Areas that have traditionally relied on manufacturing in the south and midwest have been hit the hardest by the loss of jobs available. The obvious effects that the decline has had on workers may lend to the fact that four out of five Americans, are aware that jobs in the industry are down, according to Pew Research Center.

3. Jobs May Be Down, But Productivity is Up

Most Americans may realize that jobs are down, but what most don’t know is that output has grown. Pew Research Center’s report claims that while 81% of Americans realize that manufacturing employment has decreased, only 35% know that productivity has increased.

The gains have varied widely across manufacturing industry categories.

The report shows that there has been a whopping 2,600% increase in productivity in computer and electronics since 1987. However, in motor vehicles and parts, the percentage has ebbed and flowed, dropping during the recession, but now showing a 124% lead over its level of output in 1987. And, the textile sector has seen an overall decrease in productivity since 1987 of over 50%.

4. Advances in Automation Lend to Productivity Increase

How can one of the industries with the biggest losses in jobs account for its thriving rate of production? The answer, at least to a major degree, lies in the growth of automation.

Few industries aren’t at risk for being affected by the reliance on automation. Among them, first line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers.

5. New Research Indicates 1 in 4 Jobs at Risk for Being Off-Shored

In addition to automation, off shoring has created yet another option for less expensive labor costs. In an effort to cut spending, many companies will turn to off shoring to meet their production needs.

25% of Americans are at risk of losing their positions to offshoring.

This may be a good deal for the companies, but it comes as a cut to the national workforce, whose manufacturing jobs have already suffered major losses.

Conclusion

If you are in the manufacturing industry, you need to know the latest stats and information. The manufacturing industry is changing in a major way. Make sure that you stay on top of the information that you need to know!

Click here for more of the latest manufacturing news!

What You Can Expect From Our Extensive Equipment Repair Services

When your equipment breaks down or needs repairs, you don’t have time to wait around for shoddy workmanship and multiple services visits. You need it done thoroughly, promptly, and correctly, the first time.

You have a lot of options to choose from when you’re looking for equipment repair services, but how do they all stack up? Do they have the expertise to get you back up and running in a timely manner? Can they meet all of your needs?

We know you take your business seriously, so we do too. This is what you can expect when you use our technicians and repair services.

Factory Trained Experts

Our service techs are trained to factory standards, and have years of experience in their respective fields. They know how to find what’s wrong, repair it, and get it running again good as new.

They can spot potential problems, meet factory and safety specs, and ensure your machines are running in optimal shape. They offer you professional, thorough repairs and solid piece of mind.

Repairs, Rebuilds, and Custom Solutions

In the time it takes to get a new part for your equipment, such as an EMG Thruster, we can do a complete tear-down and rebuild of the part for you.

We strip it completely down, clean it thoroughly, and do an inspection and testing of all parts. We then replace everything with factory parts, re-apply the factory paint job, do extended testing, and certify that the part is safe, working, and good as new.

We’ve also got your electrical needs under control. We repair VFD Drives, control panels, limit switches, and motors. Don’t worry if your VFD Drive is older or obsolete, we support a wide range of brands and models.

If we can’t find the solution you need, we’ll make you one! We can custom-make parts to your specifications through a variety of techniques including laser-cutting, riveting, and water-jetting, to name a few.

We Handle Hard-To-Find Parts

We pride ourselves on being a distributor and OEM for several industries, and we love the challenge of providing the parts that you need. If you need something that’s obscure or obsolete, that’s no problem at all. Bring all of your unusual needs to us, and we’ll get you taken care of.

Our ability to source these parts for you also helps us ensure that the repairs and rebuilds we do are done right, will last, and be safe. We make sure that we give you the best equipment repair services possible.

We Warranty Our Repairs

We stand behind our work. All of our repairs, rebuilds, and custom solutions are backed by a 1-year full warranty. If something goes wrong or breaks in that time, we’ll do everything we can to make it right and get it back up and running.

We Can Modernize Older Equipment

Not only can we get your equipment running smoothly again, we can also make stronger, safer, and more secure. We offer structural enhancements, brake upgrades, and electrical control solutions, just to name a few.

Let Us Handle Your Equipment Repair Services

We care about your business and your equipment. Contact us today and we’ll work together to get you running in top shape!

5 Telltale Signs Your Rope Drum Needs Maintenance

Not only can changing out rope drums be time-consuming, but it can also be difficult to tell when the right time is to have your rope drum serviced.

Not to worry. Below are the five telltale signs your rope drum needs maintenance.

1. Wearing Down of the Grooves

A study conducted in connection with the steel industry showed that the number one reason for changing out rope drums was that the grooves were worn.

Having worn grooves can be dangerous, which is why it is important to keep maintenance a top priority. There is a risk that it could pinch or damage the rope. It could even potentially cut the wire rope.

The best way to avoid these issues is to pay attention to both the material of your rope drums and the heat treatment.

2. Rope Looks Worn or Damaged

Another major sign that your rope drum needs maintenance is that the rope itself is worn or frayed.

Small particles can be abrasive to the rope, causing wear and tear that weakens the rope. If anything gets caught in the rope, that can cause damage too.

A weak rope means a weak rope drum. Ensuring that the rope is in good condition will greatly prolong the life of your rope drum. This is an important step in every rope drum maintenance effort.

Cleaning your rope from time to time can help combat this wearing down of the rope. Taking preventative measures like these is an important part of extending the life of your rope drum.

3. Rope Is Loose

It may be time to do some maintenance on your rope drum if the rope has come loose at all. If the rope is loose or out of place on the rope drum, the rope drum will not function properly and will need to replaced much more quickly.

Ensuring that the rope is properly in place on your rope drum will help it continue to function properly. If this is not the case, it is time to do some maintenance on your rope drum.

4. Groove Surface Is Crushed

Another issue that may come about with your rope drum is that the drum surface becomes crushed, leaving it flat and smooth. There should be grooves holding the rope in place on your rope drum. If these become worn down or even crushed, your rope drum will not work properly.

Check the groove surface regularly to ensure that your rope drum is still in good working condition. If it’s not, chances are it’s high time for maintenance.

5. You Don’t Have A Rope Drum From A Kor-Pak Supplier

Kor-Pak offers a full range of rope drum material and heat treatments. Our TSP-carburized rope drums virtually eliminate the need for maintenance. They also significantly improve the performance of your wire rope.

Kor-Pak carries rope drums that are carburized and hardened to 60-65 Rockwell C. They virtually eliminate the crushing and corrugation of the rope groove surface, which greatly helps to extend the life of your wire rope and your rope drum overall.

Contact us today if you have additional questions about rope drums.

Stainless Steel Fabrication: How Is It Made?

Stainless Steel Fabrication: How Is It Made?

Stainless steel is well known for its ubiquitous practical uses — making appearances in a range of commercial and industrial applications.

Since stainless steel contains chromium, it’s highly resistant to rust and corrosion.

Its ability to withstand high temperatures, high pressure and still be ductile and malleable makes it ideal for a wide range of oxidation resistant applications.

Stainless steels, by nature, are alloys of iron with a chromium content of at least 10.5 percent.

Other alloying elements in stainless steel include copper, titanium, nickel, molybdenum, nitrogen, and carbon. These elements are added to enhance its properties such as toughness and formability.

Due to its versatility, there is a wide range of stainless steel fabrication techniques.

The Importance of Chromium in Stainless Steel Fabrication

Chromium is a hard, corrosion resistant element that gives stainless steel its corrosion resistant properties. It’s an essential element in the manufacture of stainless steel and has no viable alternative.

In the presence of oxidizing agents, the stainless steel forms a passive film (chromium oxide) invisible to the naked eye on the surface.

As the film adheres strongly to the surface of the steel, it protects it from interacting with the environment, stopping the electrochemical reactions that cause corrosion.

How Stainless Steel is Made

The Manufacture of Stainless Steel Involves a Series of Processes.

1. Melting and Casting

The alloy materials are melted in an electric furnace for around 8 to 12 hours until the metals become molten.

The molten mixture is then decarburized in an Argon-Oxygen Decabuliser (AOD) to remove excess carbon. This involves blowing argon, oxygen, and nitrogen into the molten steel.

At this stage, other alloying elements such as nickel and molybdenum can be added enhance the properties of the stainless steel.

2. Tuning and Forming

Tuning involves stirring the steel slowly to remove unwanted elements and maintain the right chemical composition.

After tuning is complete, the molten steel is cast into forms. This is done by passing the refined stainless steel through a casting machine to form slabs, billets (round or square shapes), blooms (rectangular shapes) and tubes.

3. Hot Rolling

Hot rolling involves heat treatment of the final products after the forming process. It involves heating the slabs to between 1,100 to 1300 degrees Celsius, depending on the type of steel.

Through the heating, billets and blooms are further formed into bar and wire while slabs are formed into strips, sheets, and plates.

The plate thickness can range from 3mm to 60mm.

4. Cold Rolling

Cold rolling involves subjecting the rolls to a relatively low temperature. The process not only reduces the thickness of the rolls but also produces smooth, shiny finished, and cold rolled stainless steel.

5. Annealing and Pickling

Annealing is the process used to soften the stainless steel and improve its ductility. The annealing process results in a scale build up on the steel, which is often cleaned through a process called pickling.

Pickling involves bathing the steel in nitric hydrofluoric acid. Alternatively, the scale can be removed through electrocleaning — a process that involves the use of electric current to get rid of the scale.

6. Cutting

Cutting operations are necessary to give the final product the desired shape or size.

Mechanical cutting involves the use of guillotine knives for straight shearing, circular knives for circle shearing, or steel blades. Other methods of cutting include nibbling and blanking.

7. Finishing

In applications where the appearance of the stainless steel is important, applying a surface finish can give the steel an attractive look.

Some surface finishes also make the stainless steel easier to clean, which is important for kitchen appliances.

Surface finishes are in most cases the product of the stainless steel fabrication process. For example, annealing, hot scaling, and descaling result in a dull finish.

A combination of annealing and cold rolling in controlled temperatures produces a reflective finish. Abrasive belts and grinding wheels can also be used to polish steel.

To Sum Up

Currently, there are over 60 grades of stainless steel, all categorized by the alloy elements of their microstructure. Within these grades are the three most popular types of stainless steel, namely, austenitic, ferritic, and duplex.

Each type of stainless steel differs depending on the percentage of chromium and the proportion of other elements.

Contact us today for all your iron and steel supplies. We’ve been a successful supplier to the iron and steel industry for over 30 years, and have successfully designed hundreds of overhead crane industrial braking systems for the steel industry.

How Electric Brakes Work

How Electric Brakes Work

Electric brakes are standard features on trailers, and they’re similar to the hydraulic brakes on cars. The only difference is that electric options use electromagnets while hydraulic pressure powers car brakes.

An electric braking system has several components, including a magnet, shaft, actuating arm, small front shoe, reactor spring, and larger rear shoe. All these parts work together seamlessly to support the overall function.

If you’re curious about the workings of an electric break, this post is going to help you to learn that.

Read on to learn more.

The Controller

An electric braking system requires the use of brake controller, which is usually connected to the battery and stop light switch. This component regulates the electric current sent to the brake once your press the pedal.

Your trailer can have the time delay or proportional brake controller. These are the two common types of controller. Proportional controllers work by determining how the tow vehicle is stopping and regulates the power to the brake proportionally.

Proportional controllers work by determining how the tow vehicle is stopping and controls the power to the brake proportionally. The use of this controller allows the trailer brakes to be applied at the same time and rate as the tow vehicle brake.

With a time delay controller, you have to adjust its controls to suit your trailer weight and the moment when you apply the trailer brake. This is important to avoid too little or too much stopping resistance when braking.

The Braking System

As you already know, electric brakes have a magnet, which is usually on the backing plate. The plate is usually bolted to a flange on the trailer axle, which is the passage of the hub and the bearings. This magnet has two conductor wires that are directly connected to the trailer spring.

So, when electric power is on, it activates the magnet, which is then attracted to the drum face. The contact of the magnet and the drum face results in friction that prompts a rotating action. This rotation causes the actuating arm to pivot, pushing the brakes shoes out against the inside of the drum.

When this happens, the hub stops, resulting in the stopping of the wheels.

Safety Features

Federal laws in most states require the use of a safety circuit for trailers that have electric brakes. This circuit is known as a breakaway system, which is designed to apply the brakes if the trailer disconnects from the tow vehicle.

The breakaway system features a battery and switch. The switch has a non-conductive plastic that separates its contacts. A lanyard connects the plastic to the tow vehicle. So, if the trailer disconnects from the trailer, the lanyard pulls the plastic, allowing the switch to close. This stops the brakes of the trailer.

Electric Brakes – The Bottom Line

Understanding how electric braking systems work is essential to ensure safety when using your trailer. Different states have varied laws regarding the ideal towing practices.
Ideally, it’s safe to have electric brakes if you have a camper or an RV. Make sure to get braking system that suits your particular vehicle for the best performance.
Do you have any question on electric brakes? Feel free to get in touch.

Stainless Steel Fabrication: How Is It Made?

Stainless steel is well known for its ubiquitous practical uses — making appearances in a range of commercial and industrial applications.

Since stainless steel contains chromium, it’s highly resistant to rust and corrosion.

Its ability to withstand high temperatures, high pressure and still be ductile and malleable makes it ideal for a wide range of oxidation resistant applications.

Stainless steels, by nature, are alloys of iron with a chromium content of at least 10.5 percent.

Other alloying elements in stainless steel include copper, titanium, nickel, molybdenum, nitrogen, and carbon. These elements are added to enhance its properties such as toughness and formability.

Due to its versatility, there is a wide range of stainless steel fabrication techniques.

The Importance of Chromium in Stainless Steel Fabrication

Chromium is a hard, corrosion resistant element that gives stainless steel its corrosion resistant properties. It’s an essential element in the manufacture of stainless steel and has no viable alternative.

In the presence of oxidizing agents, the stainless steel forms a passive film (chromium oxide) invisible to the naked eye on the surface.

As the film adheres strongly to the surface of the steel, it protects it from interacting with the environment, stopping the electrochemical reactions that cause corrosion.

How Stainless Steel is Made

The Manufacture of Stainless Steel Involves a Series of Processes.

1. Melting and Casting

The alloy materials are melted in an electric furnace for around 8 to 12 hours until the metals become molten.

The molten mixture is then decarburized in an Argon-Oxygen Decabuliser (AOD) to remove excess carbon. This involves blowing argon, oxygen, and nitrogen into the molten steel.

At this stage, other alloying elements such as nickel and molybdenum can be added enhance the properties of the stainless steel.

2. Tuning and Forming

Tuning involves stirring the steel slowly to remove unwanted elements and maintain the right chemical composition.

After tuning is complete, the molten steel is cast into forms. This is done by passing the refined stainless steel through a casting machine to form slabs, billets (round or square shapes), blooms (rectangular shapes) and tubes.

3. Hot Rolling

Hot rolling involves heat treatment of the final products after the forming process. It involves heating the slabs to between 1,100 to 1300 degrees Celsius, depending on the type of steel.

Through the heating, billets and blooms are further formed into bar and wire while slabs are formed into strips, sheets, and plates.

The plate thickness can range from 3mm to 60mm.

4. Cold Rolling

Cold rolling involves subjecting the rolls to a relatively low temperature. The process not only reduces the thickness of the rolls but also produces smooth, shiny finished, and cold rolled stainless steel.

5. Annealing and Pickling

Annealing is the process used to soften the stainless steel and improve its ductility. The annealing process results in a scale build up on the steel, which is often cleaned through a process called pickling.

Pickling involves bathing the steel in nitric hydrofluoric acid. Alternatively, the scale can be removed through electrocleaning — a process that involves the use of electric current to get rid of the scale.

6. Cutting

Cutting operations are necessary to give the final product the desired shape or size.

Mechanical cutting involves the use of guillotine knives for straight shearing, circular knives for circle shearing, or steel blades. Other methods of cutting include nibbling and blanking.

7. Finishing

In applications where the appearance of the stainless steel is important, applying a surface finish can give the steel an attractive look.

Some surface finishes also make the stainless steel easier to clean, which is important for kitchen appliances.

Surface finishes are in most cases the product of the stainless steel fabrication process. For example, annealing, hot scaling, and descaling result in a dull finish.

A combination of annealing and cold rolling in controlled temperatures produces a reflective finish. Abrasive belts and grinding wheels can also be used to polish steel.

To Sum Up

Currently, there are over 60 grades of stainless steel, all categorized by the alloy elements of their microstructure. Within these grades are the three most popular types of stainless steel, namely, austenitic, ferritic, and duplex.

Each type of stainless steel differs depending on the percentage of chromium and the proportion of other elements.

Contact us today for all your iron and steel supplies. We’ve been a successful supplier to the iron and steel industry for over 30 years, and have successfully designed hundreds of overhead crane industrial braking systems for the steel industry.

How To Stay Safe Around Your Underground Mining Equipment

Let’s not mince words: underground mining can be very dangerous. Remember the Gleision Colliery disaster and the Soma Mine Explosion? These accidents remind us that we should all work harder at keeping our miners safe.

We can at least thank some factors for reducing mining deaths and injuries in recent years. The MSHA credits advances in technology, mine safety laws, and training for this.

That’s not to say a few mining accidents are acceptable. Rather, it’s a work in progress.

Everyone in the mining industry should keep miner safety a priority. This covers everything from equipment used to accident programs and laws enforced. That said, here are some tips to keep in mind when working with underground mining equipment.

Ensure Proper Illumination

Paths, walkways, etc. should be sufficiently illuminated. Make sure lamp sockets are weatherproof.

You should also immediately replace faulty taillights and headlights on mobile equipment. Otherwise, the mine operator should keep a record of future inspections.

Wear Protective Gear

Miners should wear face shields or goggles when doing any type of work that could hurt their eyes. This includes digging with a pick, riding in railcars, and breaking material with a hammer.

For handling electric equipment or testing power circuits, miners should always wear gloves. Other protective gears include hard hats, reflectorized clothing, and high-visibility coveralls.

Check Machinery and Equipment

Equipment defects can compromise the safety of miners. These include worn tires and faulty hydraulic controls, to mention a few. To avoid incurring violations, operators must immediately remove and replace unsafe equipment.

Every mining company must perform routine checks and maintenance programs. This will ensure all vehicles and equipment are safe to operate.

Maintain Efficient Ventilation

Diesel fumes, aerosols, and particulates are contaminants that are harmful to underground workers. Air quality sensors and alarms can help detect hazardous substances in the atmosphere.

You should also note that some gases have the potential to explode. A well-maintained ventilation can reduce this risk.

Make Sure Signaling Devices Are Working

Hazard signs should always be visible. Telephones and other communication devices should work at all times. These devices can be critical for an injured worker to get emergency medical help on time.

Prepare for Emergencies

Do office workers take part in disaster evacuation drills? What about other simulated emergency procedures? All the more should high-risk workers know emergency plans by heart.

Miners should know how to evacuate in case of an earthquake or another disaster. There should be emergency gear ready. This includes HAZMAT suits and rescue breathing apparatus.

Last Words on Underground Mining Safety

Underground mining safety is not just a miner’s problem. Safe underground working conditions are the responsibility of everyone in the mining industry.

Safety awareness is just one component of this. To effectively reduce mining accidents, consistency in following safety policies is key.

Contact us today if you need mining-safe products and services. We look forward to helping you in every way possible. Feel free to also browse our blog for the latest news in mining, oil, steel, rail, and energy industry.

What Do You Need For Drawworks Disc Brake Cooling?

Massive drawworks disc brakes can get insanely hot. Overheating can lead to slowdowns and breakdowns. You don’t want that.

Read on to learn how this type of cooling works, and what you need to know about it.

Disc Brakes 101

Disc brake of various types are used in virtually every industry. Their main purpose is to control the speed of rotation by turning rotational energy into heat energy. Obviously, the more a disc brake works, the hotter it gets.

Disc brake overheating is a serious problem. In fact, it’s the number one cause of brake failure. There are several ways to cool disc brakes, mainly through air flow. Cooling with air flow is called convective cooling. However, it’s somewhat hard to control.

The Four Phase of Disc Brake Cooling

Thankfully, disc brake cooling is often predictable. Breaking comes in four phases:

  1. Braking
  2. Slow cooling
  3. Fast cooling
  4. Slow cooling

During braking, heat is generated as the drawworks lower the load. Obviously, larger loads will generate more heat.

During the slow cooling phase, the disc stops and work is done at ground level. In that phase, cooling happens passively.

During fast cooling, the discs spin as the load is raised again. The brakes are not applied as the block is raised, which means zero heat generation while the system cools rapidly.

Maintenance Pressure Points

Brake heating and cooling means that your system will go through temperatures that span about 150 degrees Celsius.

Most of the cooling comes from air convection while the discs spin without brakes (fast cooling).

A well maintained drawworks is less prone to overheating. In addition to proper ventilation, sufficient lubrication is also crucial in ensuring the machine is not generating excessive heat.

All grease fittings must be regularly maintained. Additionally, any chain parts must be properly oiled.

Follow your manufacturer’s guidelines and conduct regular inspections. While you can’t measure air flow, you can at least make sure that all oil sumps are filled and all oil nozzles are operational. A plugged oiler means no lubrication, which can lead to problems.

While your drawworks can operate in a range of 150 degrees, you must take into account the local weather as well. Additionally, if yours has a water cooling system, it’s important to keep the cooling water tank full and ensure that water flows properly.

What to Do If Your Drawworks Malfunctions

Even the most well maintained machine breaks down sooner or later. If yours malfunctions, don’t panic!

In case the disc brakes fail, you must always ensure the auxiliary braking systems are in order.

Keep in mind that the auxiliary systems must be considered a temporary solution until you fix the main braking system ASAP. Auxiliary brakes are not designed for long-term use.

Even if you’re using an old, unusual model, there are reputable companies out there that specialize on sourcing unusual or hard-to-find machine parts.

From finding the right part for your custom solution, to sourcing rare parts for your disc brakes, help is available. You just need to reach out and ask.

How Sprag Clutches Work

Heavy industry parts are complicated. There are many different types of parts that are used on many different types of machines and equipment. But knowing the role of each one is the difference between carelessness and safety.

The sprag clutch plays an important role in heavy machinery. They have very specific use cases and can seem difficult to understand.

Understanding these clutches and nurturing an interest in this sort of subject matter may prove to be wise in the coming years, as manufacturing jobs are back on the rise in the United States.

After this quick read, we assure you that you will have a better understanding of exactly how sprag clutches work.

What Is A Sprag Clutch?

A sprag clutch consists of an inner and outer ring. Unlike other types of clutches, however, sprag clutches are perfectly smooth inside. There are no rims or ridges in this specific clutch.

The inner and outer rings are connected by small parts like steel wedges, which are referred to as sprags or sprag elements. Sprag elements are permanently in contact with both the inner and outer ring of a sprag clutch. They are placed at a specific angle that helps to create torque.

Sprag clutches are an important part of the smooth flow of heavy machinery. They are used across many different industries. However, this equipment isn’t just used for heavy labor, parts like this are also used in the creation of fun things like roller coasters!

How Does a Sprag Clutch Work?

The inner and outer parts in a sprag clutch are held together by individual elements called sprags, as mentioned above. When the inner part rotates in one direction, the sprags flow along with the spinning, and the part turns freely.

When the direction of rotation changes to rotate the other way, however, the sprag elements shift and hold the inner and outer parts together. This seems to lock into place and turn the entire sprag, once the sprag clutch rotates in that specific direction.

This works because the sprag elements are arranged in such a way that when the sprag clutch turns in one direction, rotation goes smoothly. In the other direction, because of their angle, they create a force that stops the rotation and holds the wheel of the sprag clutch in place. This force is called backstopping.

Want to Know More About Sprag Clutches?

Though a sprag clutch is different from other types of clutches used in industry, the result is the same as other types of clutches. The inner and outer parts are forced to hold, drive, or freewheel (or spin), depending on the direction the sprag clutch is rotating.

If you are more of a visual learner, check out this short video animation to see a sprag clutch in action.

Of course, for the safety of everything affected by heavy machinery, parts like sprag clutches must be engineered with the utmost care given to precision and quality. Contact us for help sourcing clutches and other parts when you need reliable quality.