Even with what the latest technology has provided with industrial parts and tools, most machines cannot do everything. Modern milling machines are no exception.

Vertical and horizontal milling machines have different uses based on the job you are looking to perform. Some milling machines give you the flexibility to manipulate the machine to provide more precise and tedious milling. Other milling machines can take on larger tasks.

Take your needs into consideration when choosing the best milling machine for you.

Here are some of the most distinctive differences between a horizontal versus a vertical mill.

Horizontal Milling Machine

Horizontal milling machines are fashioned like a circular saw. A horizontal arbor is used to mount whatever you plan to cut. The benefit of this is you can cut any surface quickly and easily.

Some horizontal milling machines also offer the flexibility to add multiple cutters to cut many pieces at once. You may also be able to shift the horizontal mill at different angles instead of only cutting at a horizontal angle.

A drawback of using a horizontal mill is that you are working with a large piece of material have limited vision to see what is being cut. Some operators work around this by touching the piece, then moving around to make sure the material is stable as it cuts.

An excellent factor to take into consideration is the cost of a horizontal milling machine. A horizontal mill costs $375k, and vertical milling machines are about half that cost.

Vertical Milling Machines

The cutting head of a vertical mill is on a vertical axis and allows the flexibility to be controlled in a variety of ways. You can have quite a lot of flexibility using different vertical mills. Turret mills and bed mills offer different capabilities.

The cutting head can be moved up and down vertically, and the bed can be moved horizontally. This allows the operator to be able to manipulate the material into different shapes and depths.

The downside of using a vertical milling machine is it is impractical when attempting to work on a large piece of material. The flexibility of manipulating the mill ends up being difficult to use. You may be better off investing in a horizontal milling machine if you are in an industry that works with a lot of large and heavy material.

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Each type of mill has its pros and cons. A vertical mill allows you more flexibility to customize the mill to the needs of the project or the material you are working with. The horizontal mill is better for larger jobs and heavier pieces of material.

The key factor in deciding which is the best milling machine for you is to determine the types of materials you would be working with on a regular basis.

Kor-Pak’s industrial-based products and services offer knowledgeable solutions to manufacturing leaders. Contact Kor-Pak today with questions on how to pick the best milling machine for your company.

Technology can do a lot, from solving complex math problems to mapping a genome, and the list goes on and on. What truly blows the mind is the fact that most possible uses for technology haven’t even been discovered yet.

One aspect of technology that is particularly fascinating–just ask a science fiction writer–is the use of lasers. While some dream of weaponizing them, most of the world seems content to use them for research and production purposes.

The use we’re going to concern ourselves with today is the use of lasers to cut metal, often for industrial workshops. How does a laser cutter work? What is it about this beam of what appears just to be a concentrated light that allows it to separate metal?

What is a Laser?

At the heart of it all is this one question. What is a laser?

For those of you who believe that a laser is basically just a beam of light, you’re right. The word ‘laser’ in and of itself is an acronym. The full name is ‘light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation.’

What all this means is that, yes, lasers are just light, but they’re sort of like fireworks. It’s light that takes on a slightly different color based on the elements that make it up. Granted, most lasers used in metal cutting are made with carbon dioxide, which can’t be seen by humans, so it’ll be invisible to you.

So, How Does a Laser Cutter Work?

All light is composed of energy, and all energy generates some measure of heat. When the light waves are spread out, so is the heat. By extension, concentrating the light also concentrates the heat.

Have you ever done that experiment in school where you use the sun and a magnifying glass to carve wood? Cutting metal is the same basic premise, except that it’s a lot harder to melt metal than it is to burn wood.

That’s what metal cutting is, melting the material so quickly and cleanly that it looks like it’s been cut in half.

Naturally, the equipment for this process is a lot larger and more complex than for carving wood. It’s also a lot more dangerous.

A Cut Above

Metal cutting may come with a lot of intimidating machinery, but the process is a lot simpler than all of that equipment might make you think. How does a laser cutter work? It just uses a beam of heat to burn through a material, just like a magnifying glass on wood.

The equipment exists because metal is notoriously difficult to melt or mold. Just ask a blacksmith.

The good news is that unlike a blacksmith, you don’t have to get to the heat or the metal, and you don’t have to spend hours hitting it with a hammer, although that probably helps with managing stress.

If you find yourself in need of any metalworking services, please visit our website. Not sure if your problem is one we can help with? We encourage you to contact us. We’d love to help!

Drilling rigs are essential to the oil and gas industries because of their ability to extract petroleum from the earth’s surface. There are many types of drilling rigs, used in both offshore and land-based drilling. The type of oil rig selected for a particular job depends on the specific requirements of the site.

Both offshore and land-based rigs bring in large amounts of oil, though offshore rigs tend to come to mind when you think of an oil rig.

Let’s take a closer look at the different types of drilling rigs, how they are designed, and their uses.

The Different Types of Drilling Rigs

An oil drilling rig extracts petroleum from the earth. But there are different types of drilling rigs. Here’s your guide to know which rig your company needs.

Jackup Rigs

Jackups are the type of drilling structure most often used for offshore operations. The main deck is supported by a series of open-truss legs that extend up to 350 feet to the ocean floor.

Some jackup rigs are known as a keyway or slot-type rigs, which have an opening in the drilling deck, with a derrick positioned over the opening. The second type of jackup is known as a cantilevered jackup, with the drilling derrick mounted to an arm that extends out from the deck.

Floaters

This type of offshore oil drilling rig is semi-submersible units that float on giant pontoons or hollow columns that can submerge the rig to the needed depth when filled with water. Floaters are typically used for drilling new wells because of their ability to withstand rough ocean conditions.

Fixed Platforms

These types of oil platforms are permanent, immobile cement structures, used to house drilling rigs that open new wells. Fixed platforms are connected to the ocean floor, and are large enough to house crew and equipment.

These are mostly found in great depths, up to 1,700 feet, such as on continental shelves, and can use a drilling technique called directional drilling, allowing them to be attached to numerous wells within a five-mile radius.

Complaint Towers

Similar to fixed platforms, complaint towers consist of a narrow tower supported by a piled foundation, and a conventional drilling deck. Because of its narrow and flexible design, a complaint tower can withstand tremendous forces sustaining great lateral deflections in depths from 1,500 to 3,000.

Drillships

Typically built on tanker hulls, these merchant’s vessels are designed for use at great depths for scientific drilling purposes. These vessels look similar to tankers or cargo vessels, but drillships are equipped with a drilling derrick and a helipad for receiving supplies and transporting staff.

Drillships are mobile, able to propel themselves from location to location.

The Importance of Oil Rigs

Each of these types of drilling rigs is vital to the production of oil and gas. Crews work around the clock, every day of the year, pumping petroleum from the earth for countless purposes, for both industrial and consumer uses.

It’s a complex, fascinating industry that impacts your life in more ways than you could imagine.

Contact us to learn more about Kor-Pak’s products and services.

Interested in the agriculture, construction, forestry, mining, or military industry? All of these industries have something in common. They all use off-road equipment.

These industries are steadily increasing making them an excellent career choice for young students.

With these industries booming at such a high rate, it is essential to keep the equipment used as up to date and polished as possible.

Keep reading to learn more about when and why you need to update your off-road equipment.

Innovation

The word ‘Innovation’ is talked about a lot in 2018 but rarely implemented in the workforce. Innovation is taking a new idea or process and implementing it to benefit everyone involved.

If your 30-year-old equipment is not streamlining the construction process, then it isn’t innovative. This is when it is time to replace it with a new tool that can increase efficiency.

Successful Business Practice

Knowing when you need to update your machine or an equipment part can mean the difference between a few hundred dollars planned in the budget, or a last minute thousand dollar loss when the machine breaks. Understanding when it is time to replace a piece because it is dangerous or outdated not only increases productivity, but it increases safety and is a successful business practice.

Stay Competitive

Every industry is different, but they each need to fight against competitors to survive. The companies that have moved forward with advances in technology are likely going to be the ones that the consumers follow as well.

For your business to stay competitive, keep your off-road equipment up to date. That equipment does not last forever, although it is designed to the highest standards.

Safety Hazard

Safety is one of the most important reasons why you need to keep your equipment up-to-date. There are always advances in technology that makes it, so things are increasingly safer. Take advantage of those advances.

Especially when it comes to off-road equipment in the military, it is essential that everyone feel as safe and as comfortable as possible.

An Outdated Strategy

Is your consumer strategy even possible anymore? Evaluating your equipment to test the value it brings to your overall company strategy is a great way to know if your equipment is bringing your company to the level at which it wants to compete.

The smartest companies embrace processes with new equipment. This brings new opportunities and new areas of growth and development.

Off-Road Equipment is Diverse

With the ups and downs of company finances; it is hard to decide to update equipment when other things seem to take precedence. It makes sense to want to spend the money increasing company culture and giving people the necessary raises to make their salaries competitive. This list can go on and on.

The critical thing to remember is that updating your off-road equipment will bring immense benefits as listed above. Take the time to discuss these attributes with your team to decide when the right time is to update your equipment.

For more tips on ways to increase company success through maintenance repairs, check out this article.

Are you tired of sourcing your rail parts and manufacturing needs through a variety of companies? Are you looking for a reputable railroad parts vendor that can help?

Kor-Pak can provide you with innovative manufacturing solutions for a variety of rail applications. From parts sourcing to engineering, to complete fabrication and servicing- we aim to create a one-stop source for the rail industry’s needs.

Read on to see why Kor-Pak is the answer for you.

Innovators with a Trusted Reputation

Since our inception in 1976, our core objective has been creating value for our customers. Our dedication to quality products and unwavering service has earned us an A+ from the Better Business Bureau. When you partner with Kor-Pak, you bring on a team designed to anticipate and help solve your problems.

More than a company that buys and sells parts, we focus on problem-solving through custom engineering and fabrication. We continuously work to stay on the cutting edge of the industry. That’s why trusted names like GE, Union Pacific, and many others choose Kor-Pak.

We’re always expanding and innovating in our field. You can find us leading the way at conferences like AISTechand the Crane Symposium where we work with our industry peers to improve manufacturing technology.

Special Order Experts

Think you’ll have to scour every resource to locate the specialized hardware you need? Think again. We pride ourselves in sourcing unusual, hard to find, or obsolete parts. No request is too complicated, no part too obscure.

If we can’t find it? We’re experts in custom machining, too. Our engineers work to fabricate custom parts and complete assemblies for clients to deliver what they’re looking for. Whatever your needs, chances are we have the resources to make it happen.

Diverse Partnerships

Here at Kor-Pak, we believe that building long-term relationships is the key to success. That’s why we’ve spent over 40 years working to partner with the best names in the industry. We represent and distribute parts from a dozen quality manufacturers.

Our extensive knowledge and distribution mean we have negotiating power. These relationships allow us to pass savings onto our clients. You aren’t just buying parts; you’re creating a network of resources and field experts who can help you implement, service, and maintain those parts for the life of your business.

Railroad Parts Manufacturing Excellence

Kor-Pak’s engineering capabilities mean we manufacture durable, quality railroad parts that are compatible with a wide variety of brands. Budd, Pullman, Nippon Sharyo, Power Parts Company, EMD, Amtrak, Wabco- we make and service them all.

Each of our products undergoes rigorous testing procedures. You can find our quality parts on passenger and freight cars all around the world. We provide industry-leading service for everything from old locomotives to high-speed rail.

Kor-Pak produces an extensive variety of rail friction parts from a large selection of available materials. We also create virtually all types of rubber products, designed to your specifications. You can customize your order to the last detail.

Look No Further

If you’re looking for a company that cares about your business like their own, you’ve come to the right place. With an eye for excellence, we’ve built a reputation as a one-stop-shop for railroad parts and fabrication.

The value of our combined services means we can work on the custom assembly from start to finish. We aim to provide convenient, knowledgeable resources for any size railroad application at an extraordinary value.

For more information, visit our website and let us get started on your project today.

A broken down machine is so much more than an inconvenience — it’s a disaster. It results in lost wages, output, and even a potential lawsuit.

Machinery is a necessity for many industries from farming, mining, and oil drilling. Therefore, you owe it to yourself, as well as your employees, to take care of your equipment.

Here are a few reasons why you should train your employees in the art of machine maintenance.

Regular Machine Maintenance Keeps Your Business Running Smoothly

Did you know that stress and missed productivity costs businesses between $200 and $300 billion per year?

Each lost second of productivity is a lost chance to make money that could go back into your business. Imagine what your business could do with a few extra thousand dollars per year.

Ensuring that your employees know how to clean and maintain workplace machinery adequately ensures that your business stays as smooth and well-oiled as a machine itself.

Maintenance Keeps Your Machines Running Longer

Whether you’re working with cranes, brakes, transmission products, or any other type of equipment, calling in repair services can get quite expensive, especially if done on a regular basis.

In short, maintaining your machines is an investment. Ill-maintained machine tends to have a shorter shelf life. This, in turn, could cost your business thousands of dollars.

Instead of constantly ordering replacement parts, invest those resources in your training program. It may be an upfront cost, but you’re saving your business money in the long run.

Maintenance Keeps Your Employees Safe

Of course, machine maintenance isn’t just about keeping your equipment up and running. It’s about making sure workers are skilled and knowledgeable enough to handle preventative measures and avoid potentially fatal injuries.

Your employees deserve a safe, welcoming work environment. 2.9 million workplace injuries occurred within the past several years alone. Something needs to change.

Each of these injuries can cost your business quite a bit in Workers’ Compensation costs. You can expect to pay anywhere from $.75 to $2.74 per $100 in employee wages in the event of an injury.

Keep Your Employees And Equipment Safe. Invest in Training

The average workplace loses extraordinary amounts of money each year, either through Workers’ Comp claims, repair costs, or even something as simple as lost productivity.

If you’re not taking care of your machinery, you’re far more likely to lose money.

Furthermore, investing in your employees’ training is a great way to make sure both worker and machine are safe.

Investing in a machine maintenance training program is important for any industry dealing with large machinery, so don’t wait. Contact Kor-Pak today to ask about machine maintenance and see how you can keep your workplace optimized and well-maintained.

Inefficient oil flow isn’t just slowing down your hydraulic system; it may be costing you thousands of dollars.

A hydraulic system with improper oil flow works harder, takes longer, consumes more, pollutes more and costs more.

Fortunately, preventing oil flow problems is as simple as proper maintenance and oil choice. Apply these three tips to improve oil flow and start saving money (and the environment) right away

Pick the Right Oil For Your Operating Climate

The biggest factor linked to oil flow is viscosity. And the biggest factor in choosing your oil viscosity is the range of temperatures your system will be operating in.

If the oil viscosity is too high, oil flow and lubrication are hindered when operating in cold temperatures. This could result in wear or malfunction of your hydraulic system.

If the viscosity is too low when operating at high temperatures, your system will lose oil flow to internal leaking. This can also hinder lubrication and cause wear.

Since most hydraulic systems will have to operate in the extreme temperatures of winter and summer, your best bet is to use a multigrade oil as it is designed to operate efficiently in both extremes.

Because multigrade oil is more expensive than monograde, some people use a different oil for different seasons. But multigrade oil has been tested and proven to provide average savings of 4.8% in the summer and 20.1% in the winter, despite it’s higher purchase cost. Another study found that multigrade oil can save you $10,000 for every 1,000-hour drain interval.

Proper Maintenance of Your Hydraulic System

This may seem obvious, but don’t be passive. Neglecting maintenance is the second easiest way to lower flow rates and, therefore, operating efficiency.

Check your system for kinked or dented oil lines, leaks, cracks, clogged parts or any parts that need replacing or cleaning. When was the last time you checked?

Change your filters regularly. A dirty or clogged filter will restrict oil flow.

If you want to be extra efficient, don’t change filters according to a schedule. If you do, you may be replacing them too often (costing you more for filters) or not often enough (reducing the life of your system’s parts with dirty oil).

Instead, use a clogging indicator to monitor pressure drops across the filter to find out exactly when it needs changing.

This principle applies to changing oil, too. Never dump that oh, so expensive oil according to a timetable unless you enjoy throwing money away. Only change the oil when you’ve analyzed it and confirmed that the base oil is degraded or the additive package is depleted.

Reduce Air Entrainment

Lastly, air bubbles trapped in your oil can hinder oil flow because aerated oil is harder for your system to pump.

Air entrainment can be caused by system leaks, splashing or improper bleeding when adding oil, and contamination. Mostly, air entrainment can be prevented with proper maintenance. But it can also occur on its own when dissolved air inherent in hydraulic fluids is released during operation.

If entrained air is affecting your oil flow, a bubble removal device can be used to deaerate the oil.

Conclusion

Improving oil flow isn’t difficult. Practice proper maintenance, use multigrade oil and start saving money.

Need more help? See what our team of experts can do for you. Or, better yet, let us know exactly how we can help.

According to Dr. Ernest Rabinowicz of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 70% of moving machine failure is the result of wear and corrosion. Both of these factors are due to ineffective lubrication. He goes on to state that 6% of GDP is lost through mechanical wear.

Who would have thought that over $1 trillion could be the size of the prize if we, as a nation, could combat this problem? If you worry about machine failure, read on to learn about the benefits of lubrication.

Machine Failure

When machine failures occur, investigations reveal causes such as contamination, misalignment, installation error or overheating. There is often a lubrication cause to these explanations.

The four features of good lubrication practice are:

• Correct lubricant
• Stable lubricant
• Contamination control
• Sufficient and sustained lubrication

Maintaining these good lubrication practices reduces the causes of a breakdown.

How Does Lubrication Reduce Wear?

When two objects are in contact, the force that resists relative motion is friction. Friction is useful in many ways, but there are times when it is not. Friction generates heat in bearings, heat results in expansion and expansion can result in bearings seizing.

Lubricating machinery minimizes the friction and the resultant heat. Any heat produced is then transferred to the lubricant and removed by a lube cooler. Friction and heat are not the only things lubrication reduces.

When two materials rub against each other, tiny imperfections in their surfaces rub and fragments break off. These fragments act as an abrasive resulting in more surface damage. A lubricant protects both surfaces.

Some lubricants contain additives. They attract contaminants such as particles worn from the surfaces in contact. These can then be filtered and the contaminants removed before they can do any damage.

How Does Lubrication Reduce Corrosion?

Many machines operate in situations where there is some level of humidity. When metal and air come into contact with water, the result is corrosion. Corrosion is one cause of machine failure.

Specific lubricants have additives which prevent rust. They do this by protecting the metal from coming into contact with moisture. Without rust, the metal surfaces remain sound, and the machine is less likely to fail.

Lubricating For Machine Longevity

Lubrication extends the life of machinery by reducing heat, friction, wear, and corrosion but this is only successful if the lubrication regime is fit for purpose. The right lubricant has to be in good condition and uncontaminated. It must be applied in sufficient quantity and at the right level of frequency.

Failing to adopt this standard means optimum machine life will not be achieved. Machinery manufacturers often guide the lubrication needs of their machinery. These should be followed.

The International Council for Machine Lubrication is an independent organization established to develop machine lubrication as a technical field. It provides certification for skills in machine monitoring, lubrication, as well as oil analysis. The proper application of standards in lubrication must pay dividends in reducing equipment downtime and machine failure.

To talk to someone about your machinery needs, contact us.

Often overlooked, a cylinder clamp performs a vital role in all types of industrial-based machinery.

Let’s take a moment to explore how they work and why their performance can be directly tied to the effectiveness and safety of a machine.

What is a Cylinder Clamp

It’s always good to start with the basics. Cylinder clamps provide a precision force to hydraulic, pneumatic, and electrical systems.

In short, their function is to maintain the power that keeps a system in motion. When they malfunction, it can cause an erratic system behavior or even a stoppage. This holds not just production issues but also safety concerns, both of which are good reasons to perform preventative maintenance on each cylinder clamp within a system.

These clamps also work to maintain the stability of a system. When placed correctly, they can keep the extra movement in a system down and guard against quick shifts in the positioning of a pipe due to inevitable pressure surges.

System Check

Some preventative maintenance measures can be performed while a system is running. For instance, have you noticed a change in the machine output? Is there anything to indicate that it’s not running at capacity?

A visual inspection is also important, both of the cylinder clamp itself and the surrounding area. Do you notice any blemishes, rust, cracks, or other marks that might indicate the start of an issue?

Do you also see any displacement of oil, feel the excess air, or detect any pooling of hydraulic fluid that might indicate the equipment is not performing as needed.

Repair vs. Replacement

If you notice any areas of concern that a repair may not overcome, it might be time to look at a replacement. There are some variations of cylinder clamps that you could consider changing to.

Before making a decision though, make sure to do your research to ensure that changing clamps will not void the warranty of the machine or cause potential compatibility (and safety) issues.

Rod Locking Cylinders

One replacement option can be found in rod locking cylinders. These have been specifically designed to lock into place should the system fail.

So, if there is an issue that causes a loss of hydraulic pressure, the machine will not continue to operate or stop hard but essentially freeze in place. This can help prevent damage to the machine overall and, more importantly, could head off serious injury caused by a misfiring machine.

While a rod locking cylinder can add a safety component to your equipment, it’s important to note that it is not intended to be a replacement device for your entire safety system.

Next Steps

We just took a brief look at what a cylinder clamp does. If you have one machine or hundreds working for you, you’re bound to rely on this part to keep your operation running smoothly, efficiently, and safely.

We’d love to talk with you in more detail about how you can keep this key piece of machinery from causing you headaches and downtime.

If you’ve ever been guilty of not properly maintaining your equipment, you’re not alone. Many field experience industry-wide cultures that prevent regular preventative maintenance from taking place.

Unfortunately, this can lead to many problems with your machines and equipment.

Keep reading to learn why a preventative maintenance schedule is an absolute must for all of your company’s gear.

Extending the Life of Your Machinery

Setting up and following a preventative maintenance schedule can help to extend the life of your machinery.

Most types of heavy machinery require oiling and fine tuning to stay running.

Failing to perform regular maintenance could cause your machinery to stop operating correctly. It could slow down your equipment, or even cause it to stop working entirely.

But with regular maintenance, you can extend the life of your machines by keeping them running the way that they should for longer.

Preventing Costly Repairs

Without regular maintenance, your machines’ moving parts will eventually degrade. When this occurs, it is likely that your cranes and other machinery will need costly repairs or parts replacements to get back to running order.

Regular maintenance helps to reduce the need for these types of repairs. You will spend money on regular maintenance. But you are saving money compared to replacing parts or rebuilding broken machinery.

Knowing When an Issue Arises

Even with regular maintenance, normal wear and tear will occur on all heavy machinery.

But when you follow a preventative maintenance schedule, you’ll be more likely to know when these types of repairs will be needed.

An experienced repairman will be able to judge how quickly parts are wearing. With an estimate of when more extensive repairs or parts replacements will be needed, you can better plan ahead.

This could mean planning to get temporary equipment. Or otherwise preparing for the disruption to your normal workday. It also means having the ability to somewhat plan for the cost of repairs.

For small businesses, unexpected repair costs can put a serious dent in the flow of operations. The ability to plan and save money for those repairs can be a lifesaver.

Finding replacement parts can also slow operations. Being able to plan ahead can allow you to source difficult to find parts and to help reduce how much downtime your equipment has while it is undergoing repairs.

Meeting the Demands of a Warranty

If your equipment or machinery has a warranty, it usually requires that the machine or equipment undergoes regular maintenance.

Failing to do so could cause you to violate the warranty. When the time comes that you want to put the warranty to use, you might be denied your claim if you can’t prove that the equipment was maintained properly.

Setting a Preventative Maintenance Schedule

Setting up a schedule for regular preventative care can save you loads.

If you’ve recently bought a new piece of equipment and aren’t sure what kind of maintenance is needed, or if you need a replacement part to keep your gear running, contact us today.