With the days getting shorter and the air getting colder – it’s important that we not only prepare ourselves for the cooler months of the year, but our homes as well. Taking some extra precautions while the weather is still generally warm will help you from any headaches that may occur down the line. Windows are features in the home that require a little extra attention when it comes to winterizing, and with the following suggestions – you can be prepared for just about anything once the wind chill drops. If you’re a first time homeowner or you experienced issues after last winter – it’s the perfect time to plan ahead and get things taken care of well ahead of time:

The caulking around your windows is what ultimately helps to keep the chill out and ensure that your windows are working to their full potential. Before the temperature starts to drop, it’s a great idea to ensure that all of your caulking is up to par. If there are any spots you notice may be showing signs or wear or simply need touched up, you can purchase a tube of caulking at any home improvement store and take care of the problem in just an hour or so. This is especially important if you have large windows in a commonly used room that you ensure to keep warm during the winter. With bad caulking, your heater will be working much harder to keep your home at a toasty temperature, thus raising your bill. By stopping the problem before it even gets a chance to start, your utility bills will reflect your extra attention.

Heat Shrink Tubing

If you’re looking to replace your current windows, it’s a great idea to upgrade to an energy efficient style that will help conserve heat in the home. Double or even triple paned glass will help to insulate your home even more and can benefit you all year round. In the winter, it will help to keep the warm air in and in the summer months, it will do the same for the cool air conditioned climate. Not only will you have to worry less about climate control in your home, once again – your utility bill will certainly reflect your changes.

A quick temporary fix, although not very aesthetically pleasing, is to place a “shrink-wrap” type covering over your windows to add a bit extra insulation. This works great in spare rooms where new windows may not seem like a necessary investment, or even in a spot like the attic. Obviously, you’ll want to pay close attention to the windows in your most frequented rooms – but you also want to make sure that all problem areas are taken care of to ensure you’re getting the most out of your home’s heating system in the winter. By doing a quick walk-through and checking on all of the windows in your home, you’ll be sure not to let a window in the guest room or spare bathroom cause you a headache down the line.

Finally, giving the trim around your windows a fresh coat of paint will certainly help, as well. By painting the exterior portion around your windows while the weather is still nice, you’ll be helping to give the spot a little bit of extra protection from harsh weather. By ensuring to do this project around the same time every year, you’ll be building up the area’s immunity to damage, which will lessen your work load (and possibly even eliminate it) in the future.

So before you buckle down and prepare yourself for the cold front to roll in, make sure that your home is ready for harsh winter weather, as well. Although everyone hopes for mild weather during these months – we all know that that’s not always the case. By taking a few extra precautions, you’ll be sure that you don’t have a large workload on your hands once springtime rolls around.

4 Ways to Winterize Your Windows

Recommend : MyCoolbookmark Kingbookmark

The most popular accessory that people put in their cars is a new car stereo. Having your car stereo professionally installed can be expensive. If you are already spending hundreds of dollars on your stereo deck, the idea of spending up to three hundred dollars more to have it installed can be intimidating. Not to worry, though. Installing your own car stereo can save you a lot of money, and it can look just as nice as a professional installation. All you need is a couple of tools, a few parts, and a little time.

Let’s go down the list of the things you will need to install your own car stereo.

Heat Shrink Tubing

Car Stereo Installation Tool Kit: You can pick one of these up for under fifty bucks. You can probably get them for as low as twenty dollars, depending on where you buy it from. Make sure it has a DIN tool or pick one up separately. Without a DIN tool, you aren’t going to be able to pull your original head unit out. Also, make sure your tool kit has a multimeter, wire strippers and crimpers, splicing connectors, and electrical tape. It is also a good idea to get one that includes the tools you need to remove the pieces of your dash’s trim safely. (The DIN tool is the most common tool for pulling out your stereo deck. Your car may need a different tool. Ask your stereo salesman about your car.)

In-Dash Receiver Kit: You need to pick this up especially made for your car. You can get universal ones if you have an older car, but if you have a newer car with climate controls or any other controls built into the stereo’s trim, you will need to order one specifically made for your car. You can usually pick these up for under thirty dollars from online retailers like JC Whitney or Crutchfield.

Wiring Harness Adapter: Most cars today have a simple plastic connection that plugs in all of your stereo wires. Your speakers, antenna, power controls, and auxiliary hook-ups are usually all bundled into one or two connections. With a wiring harness adapter made specifically for your car, hooking up all of your wires can literally be as simple as a snap.

Your Car Stereo: If you haven’t already got a car stereo you want to install or you are still undecided on what to buy, be sure you check with the retailer to make sure that it can fit in your car’s dash. Most stereos are compatible with most cars, but some stereos are oversized and made to fit only a few cars.

Time: Be sure you start this project on a day where you have a few hours. Once you get started, you will not be able to stop until you are finished. It may not even take a few hours, but you should still set aside the time so you can enjoy your new tunes.

When you are installing a car stereo, there are a few safety measures we need to go over. You want to make sure that you are doing this in a dry area. Water and electronics don’t mix. You also need to disconnect your negative battery cable under the hood. You disconnect this to protect your car, your new stereo, and yourself from electrical current and shorts while you are working. In my younger days, I did burn up a stereo by being hasty and skipping this important step. Now I make sure that the battery is disconnected before I work on any electrical component of the car.

Now that we have all the tools and parts we need and we know all about safety concerns, we can get to work on installing your new car stereo.

Disconnect the Battery: You should loosen and disconnect your NEGATIVE battery cable. Disconnecting the positive cable is not necessary.

Remove the old car stereo: Use your DIN tools to remove the old car stereo. There are holes on the sides for you to insert the tools into. Once you have them all the way in, put outwards pressure on the tools and pull gently, but firmly. Once you have it a little out, you should be able to grab the sides and support the weight of the old stereo while you pull it all the way out. Once you have it out, unhook all of the connections and set your old stereo to the side. (If you are using something other than the DIN tool, these work in the same fashion.)

Install Wiring Harness Adapters: Now that your stereo is out, all of your wires are exposed. This is the time to hook up the adapters you got for your car. Your wiring harness adapter probably has instructions designed just for your car. If you need to do any splicing, be sure you use splice connectors, electrical tape, or heat shrink tube. If you leave any exposed wire, it can cause your sound to be distorted, or even worse, short out your new stereo.

Install Your In-Dash Receiver Kit: If your car needs a kit, follow the supplied instructions carefully. Use the trim removal tools to disassemble the areas around your stereo. Your new pieces should snap in easily. You would need one of these in case your car has anything molded into the stereo’s faceplate, like climate controls. Most newer cars would probably use this kit.

Install Mounting Sleeve: Your car should be ready to have the mounting sleeve installed. This is a little “cage” type thing that locks into your dash. Simply slide it in and bend the appropriate tabs to lock it into place. Once you are done with that, it is a good idea to get your wires organized and easily accessible. Next, you are going to put your new stereo in!

Install Your New Stereo: By this time, your dash should look normal, except for a big rectangle hole in it. Take your new wiring harness adapter and plug it into the back of your stereo. There may be a couple of different connections and your antenna. Once those are all plugged in, tuck the excess wire neatly into the dash and then slide in your new stereo until it locks.

Hook Up Your Battery: Be sure and reconnect the battery cable. Be sure you tighten it up really snug, too. Loose battery connections are a leading cause of electrical problems.

Now it is time to take your new car stereo out for a spin. Well, it may be a better idea to sit in the driveway for a bit and get used to the controls. A lot of people spend hundreds of dollars to have their car stereo professionally installed. Now you can save a bundle by installing your own car stereo on a Saturday afternoon.

How to Install a New Car Stereo

My Links : Kingbookmark MyCoolbookmark

The use of Stretch Hooder film is more environmentally safe, cost effective, energy saving and convenient way to palletized materials. Stretch Hooder Films combine with UVI protection and with the right blend of plastic raw materials strongly improves load stability which is an advantage for pallet covers while it replaces Shrink Films that use a heat source which uses more energy and the use stretch film that carries an adhesive coating to it which is harder to recycle.

Stretch Hooder films make use of co-polymers to stretch a film without permanent deformation. The film stretches in the machine direction and the transverse direction which improves the stress strain curve, and the material never reaches the plastic point before it reaches the permanent deformation. This allows the film to snugly form around the dimensions of the pallet, and limits movement and also protects the contents from dirt and water contamination on top of the pallet and lower part of the pallet load.

Heat Shrink Tubing

Stretch Hooder Film is a one piece hood made in the machine direction from a continuous roll of lay flat tubing or gusseted film. The stretch hooder film is stretched over the load and secured under the pallet. Stretch Hooder Films are ideal for applications where pallet loads require five sided protection, that encounter stress during shipping or where products are sensitive to heat.

Some of the benefits of using Stretch Hooder Films are:

Pallet loads that have been packaged using stretch hooder films are more secured for transportation than stretch wrap or shrink films. You get great tension in both horizontal and vertical directions which mean that the finished goods are pressed downwards on the pallet preventing the load from shifting.

The stretch hooder film utilizes packaging film without the use of heat gun or tunnel or glue. This method reduces energy usage that is usually used by a heat gun to shrink the material. In turn improves safety in the workplace of a potential fire.

Pallets packaged with stretch hooder films are better than your standard shrink pallet covers or stretch film because it hold the pallet together without shifting during transportation.

Stretch Hooder Film technology has the opportunity to increase the security and palletizing of your load over stretch film that is not as environmentally freindly or shrink film that requires a heat source for additional energy consumption.

The Use Of Stretch Hooder Films

Friends Link : MyCoolbookmark Kingbookmark

Heat gun- this useful instrument comes with a large number of accessories hence making your tasks easier. Once you learn about the various functions of a heat gun which range from embossing to plumbing, you might find yourself handicapped without this wonderful tool. Knowledge on how to use various accessories that are compatible with your heat gun will definitely benefit you as you will be able to use it to its fullest capability. Other than the accessories that come along with the heat gun there are more accessories available in the market.

One of the most used accessories would be the spreader nozzle which enables the heat gun to uniformly distribute the hot air over a wider area. Instead of the regular mouth of the heat gun, they help to reduce the air flow through a narrower slit. The spreader nozzles direct the hot air in a more accurate and focused manner to heat a particular area of the surface and keeps the force of air applied from being mild and hence ineffective. When the air needs to affect a larger area, spreader nozzles are what you need especially in jobs like drying paint. The drying process is enhanced with the nozzles as they keep the hot air focused on the surface.

Heat Shrink Tubing

Though reducer nozzles are very much like spreader nozzles they differ in only one aspect, that is the reducer nozzle focuses the hot air over a smaller area. Various sizes are available depending on your needs and job requirements. Vinyl repair, welding plastics, soldering, PVC welding and many more jobs require the reducer nozzle. They are specifically designed for tasks that require fine focusing of hot air over a small area.

Nozzles of various kinds have been designed specially for many specific tasks which cannot otherwise be performed by the heat gun alone. You must read the manual regarding availability of different nozzles for your heat gun and their recommended functions. The uses of a heat gun can be increased further with the addition of accessories.

Heat Gun Accessories – What You Should Use And What You Should Not

Related : MyCoolbookmark

Receiving much press in recent years ~ both because of the number of people affected, as well as the sometimes sensational, multi-million-dollar lawsuits that have been filed, fought, won & lost ~ is a rare form of cancer known as malignant mesothelioma, whose principle cause is exposure to aspestos fibers.

Asbestos, a known toxin since the 1930′s, is an inexpensive fibrous material that is extremely durable and heat resistant. Because of these properties it was, for many years, heavily used in industry throughout the United States. Even after its carcinogenic (cancer-causing) properties were discovered, many industries continued to use asbestos, putting at risk those who were exposed to it. Asbestos-containing products remain, to this day, in buildings, ships, industrial facilities and other environments. The EPA has stated that asbestos “presents an unreasonable risk of injury to human health.” Even low levels of asbestos exposure can trigger not only mesothelioma, but also asbestosis, pleural disease and lung cancer: diseases that are caused almost exclusively by asbestos. The statistics for recent years show an average of 3000 people per year dying of aspestos-related causes.

Heat Shrink Tubing

Because aspestos products have been used so heavily by industry, many people have come into contact with asbestos fibers via their jobs (e.g. via occupational exposure). There is also a risk to the family members of those working in at-risk occupations; this exposure is called paraoccupational exposure. People who live near sites that have asbestos around the facility are also at risk. Refineries, power plants, factories, shipyards, steel mills and building demolition are types of work sites that can release asbestos fibers into the environment and contaminate nearby residential neighborhoods. Mesothelioma can result from very small fibers or dust particles at low exposure levels. (Most such exposure would likely have occurred prior to 1973, but the latency period can be up to 40 years for most types of lung cancer to develop.) Trades in which aspestos exposure is likely include:

~ Asbestos product manufacturing (insulation, roofing, building, materials)

~ Automotive repair (brakes & clutches)

~ Construction/contractors

~ Maritime

~ Miners

~ Offshore rust removals

~ Oil refineries

~ Power plants

~ Railroads

~ Sand or abrasive manufacturers

~ Shipyards / ships / ship builders

~ Steel mills

~ Tile cutters

Malignant mesothelioma is the formal medical name for this form of lung cancer. (A lay term for the equivalent condition is Aspestos Cancer). Mesothelioma is the term used to describe a cancerous tumor which involves the mesothelial cells of an organ, usually the lungs, heart or abdominal organs. Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma or cancer of the lung lining is the most common form of mesothelioma cancer. Peritoneal Mesothelioma is cancer of the stomach lining and is the next most common form.

The onset of mesothelioma asbestos lung cancer is usually very slow: the time between aspestos exposure and the onset of symptoms can be many years. The most common mesothelioma symptoms are chest pain and pain in the lower back. Sometimes the pain is accompanied by difficulty breathing, coughing, weight loss and fever.

Symptoms for Pleural Mesothelioma (involving the lung / chest area) are:

~ chest pain and pain in the lower back

~ difficulty breathing

~ coughing

~ weight loss

~ fever

~ muscle weakness and sensory loss

~ swelling of the face and arms

~ hoarseness

~ coughing up blood

Symptoms of Peritoneal Mesothelioma (involving the abdominal / stomach cavity, liver, spleen or the bowel) are:

~ abdominal bloating due to fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity

~ nausea & vomiting

~ swelling of the feet

~ fever

~ impaired bowel function

Diagnosing mesothelioma (within the framework of western medicine) can be challenging, because the symptoms are quite similar to those of other illnesses and conditions. A western medical diagnosis of mesothelioma might include any or all of the following: a review of the patient’s medical history and asbestos exposure; a complete physical examination, with x-rays of the chest or abdomen and lung function test; a CAT scan or MRI of the chest or abdomen; a biopsy.

In the case of pleural mesothelioma, a thoracoscopy may be performed where the doctor looks inside the chest cavity with an instrument called a thoracoscope that is put into the chest between two ribs. The thoracoscope allows the doctor to gather tissue samples and look inside the chest. For cancer in the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma), a western MD may perform a peritoneoscopy where a small opening is made in the abdomen and an instrument called a peritoneoscope is inserted in the abdomen cavity to collect tissue.

If mesothelioma is indeed diagnosed, the next step will be to determine the stage of the disease. The “staging” process helps to determine which part of the body the cancer has spread to, which in turn dictates a treatment plan. If the cancer is found only on the membrane surface where it originated it is called “localized.” If the has spread beyond the original membrane surface to other parts of the body it is called “advanced.”

Western Medical Treatment Options (chosen in accordance with the age and/or health of the patient) include surgery, radiation therapy, and/or chemotherapy. Surgery ~ during which part of the lining of the chest or abdomen may be removed ~ is a common treatment option for mesothelioma. For pleural mesothelioma, either a full lung or the muscle below the lungs that help with breathing (the diaphragm) may be removed. Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. This type of therapy only affects the cancer cells in the treated area. Chemotherapy uses anticancer drugs to kill cancer cells throughout the body. The drugs used to treat mesothelioma are sometimes given by injection in a vein.

Along with surgery and radiation, using a needle or thin tube to drain fluid that has built up in the chest or abdomen is one way to relieve some of the symptoms and control the pain associated with this condition. In addition, medications may be given through a tube in the chest to prevent fluid from accumulating and, once again, reducing some of the more painful symptoms.

The physical and psychological strain of malignant mesothelioma can be severe, and western medical treatments meant to heal often cause unexpected and irritating side effects. For these reasons, it is important for the mesothelioma patient to gather as much information as possible about how malignant mesothelioma progresses as a disease, as well as to explore alternative or complementary treatment options (see below). And if a western treatment is chosen as part of the healing protocol, it’s important to know what side effects to expect and how to minimize them.

Along with managing the disease itself, Mesothelioma patients oftentimes find themselves embroiled in legal battles (reminiscent of the Karen Silkwood case) ~ in class-action or individual lawsuits against the companies or corporations by whom they were employed at the time of their exposure to aspestos. Aspestos Law has emerged as a specialty, with mesothelioma attorneys and lawyers positioned to support their clients in establishing a link between a specific aspestos exposure and their subsequent contracting of mesothelioma … and ~ to the extent that they are successful ~ taking, in the process, a handsome cut of the settlements.

Because of the physical, emotional, psychological & spiritual (as well as legal!) challenges involved with a disease such as mesothelioma, creating a strong support system is a vital part of the healing process. As has been documented from the experiences of many with so-called “terminal” illnesses, the introspection that arises in the face of such a challenge oftentimes has the “hidden benefit” of allowing what is “really important” to emerge. For this to happen, however, requires the creation of an (internal & external) environment conducive to such explorations. And what are the “building blocks” to creating such supportive (non-toxic!) environments?

Everyone can improve their energy level and promote healthy cell growth by getting adequate rest and relaxation, good nutrition, some exercise and having some fun! Here are some practices commonly recommended for cancer patients:

~ Learn relaxation techniques (yoga or qigong are an excellent choice)

~ Share your feelings honestly with family, friends, a spiritual advisor or a counselor

~ Keep a journal to help organize your thoughts

~ Find a source of spiritual strength

~ Pray or meditate

~ Find time to be alone

~ Go for walks

~ Remain involved with work and leisure activities to the extent possible

~ find a support group or “chat room” to share your experiences with others in a similar situation

~ as much as possible, maintain a positive attitude, and optimistic outlook

Of the many alternatives or compliments to western medical treatment, qigong is one that stands out as particularly hopeful. In China, there are entire hospitals devoted to the use of qigong techniques exclusively, for the treatment of cancer as well as countless other conditions. Binhui He is one Medical Qigong Master (http://www.wishus.org/research.asp?cat=research&index=2)

who has had large success working with cancer patients. His qigong anti-cancer therapy protocol includes, in his own words, the following five steps:

~ Attitude change: Turn traditional searching help outside into searching help inside. It is the immune function and self-healing power that cure cancer eventually! While fear-of-cancer effect is the real incurable disease, since it keeps patient stressed and lowers their immune functions. Instead, consider cancer part of the body, communicate with it by consciousness power, and eliminate the source leading to cancer in the first place.

~ Intensive Qigong practice: empty mind without desire, forget about disease, trouble, environment and self; rapidly stimulate immune functions and body potential by intensive Qi cultivation.

~ Energetic Fasting (Bigu): Cut the supply for tumors so as to inhibit the rapid growth of cancer; and help to strengthen immune function effectively (Need under the close supervision of an experienced Qigong healer).

~ Shatter Tumor by Strong Qi: Focus of mind power and strong Qi can shatter after a period of Bigu.

~ Collective Qi Adjustment: Group practice of Five-Element Qigong to form a strong Qi field and to strengthen the inhibitory effect of the Qi cultivation.

In the United State, Dr. Kam Yuen (http://www.yuenmethod.com) is a 35th-generation Shaolin Master who has created a healing system which combines the power of qigong practice with the diagnostic techniques of applied kinesiology. He, also, has had great success working with a whole variety of conditions, including cancer.

Similar in many ways to Taoist qigong practices are the Tibetan practices described in Tulku Thondup’s two books: Boundless Healing: Meditation Exercises To Enlighten The Mind & Heal The Body; and The Healing Power Of Mind. The specifics of the practices vary widely, though what many have in common is the use of an internally-cultivated energy of “blissful heat” to resolve whatever imbalances are at the root of the condition. He presents, in these two books, a number of practices designed specifically for those working with cancer. Tulku Thondup also travels quite widely, offering workshops & retreats in which he presents these Tibetan healing techniques.

Chinese Medicine offers yet another paradigm through which to examine mesothelioma. The diagnostic system of Chinese Medicine is quite dramatically different from that of western medicine. If in fact we were to present to the Chinese physician, say, ten people who had all received the western medical diagnosis “mesothelioma,” it is entirely possible that this Chinese physician would ~ after his or her examinations ~ present us with a different diagnosis for each of those ten people! (The reasons for this are complex, and beyond the scope of this essay, but the basic reason is because Chinese medical perception looks at patterns present within the entire person, and in relation to every aspect of their lives; while western medicine tends to focus primarily on individual symptomotology.)

In Chinese Medicine it is understood that emotional imbalance is often a root cause of physical imbalance. The emotional state that damages the lungs (and its corresponding physical structures, which include the skin & mesothelial cells), and which also tends to appear when the lungs are out of balance, is grief. The emotional state which signals a balanced, healthy lung organ system is courage. There is also a belief, in Taoist philosophy (the root of Chinese Medicine), that the lungs are the equivalent in the human body to the atmosphere/ionosphere of the Earth. So an aspect of Chinese Medical treatment for a lung imbalance of any sort might well be to do practices to release (individual & planetary) grief ~ e.g. a “healing sounds” qigong practice ~ and to augment our feelings of courage and righteousness: our willingness and capacity to stand up strongly for Truth, for Beauty, for Love, for Kindness … or whatever other values we hold most deeply, for ourselves, our communities and our planet.

Mesothelioma – A Full Spectrum Examination

Recommend : Kingbookmark MyCoolbookmark

Who could ever forget the infamous Tylenol tampering case of 1982? When the popular over-the-counter pain reliever was found to have been laced with cyanide poisoning and to be the cause of seven deaths, a nationwide paranoia ensued. Although other such product tampering cases, albeit on a much smaller scale, have made headlines over the years, that incident may have single-handedly led to the invention of tamper resistant product seals.

Today, everything from water and ketchup, to vitamins, medicine bottles and skincare products come with tamper resistant seals in place. This security measure affords consumers the peace of mind of knowing that their purchased products have remained untouched by sinister hands since leaving the manufacturer. As long as the tamper evidence seal remains unbroken and non-punctured, the item’s contents can be can be trusted to be pure and untainted.

Heat Shrink Tubing

Tamper evident shrink bands that come wrapped around the outside of products are those most commonly seen these days. They usually come in clear or white plastic that is imprinted with the manufacturer’s logo. Because these tamper resistant seals are broken, they can’t be put back into place, thereby adding to consumer confidence in the company’s product and brand. For decorative use and for optimum protection, shrink bands can be coordinated with the label and printed with a company’s logo or tag line.

Given the option of a tamper resistant bottle and a traditional bottle, the choice is obvious. Only the former can guarantee that what you are putting into your body contains only what its ingredient label claims is in the product.

Tamper Evidence Seals – Ensuring Your Consumer Peace of Mind

Tags : Kingbookmark

When you are starting your next project that deals with electrical wiring, you will probably need some heat shrink wrap to protect the wires from getting damaged. There are a variety of things that you must take into consideration before making a decision as to what you get. You will first need to think about the length and overall size of the tubing or wrap that you plan on getting. This will all depend on the project you are working on, meaning the length of the wires you need to protect. After you do all the proper measurements, you will then be ready to start buying this special wrap.

The first step in protecting your wires is placing an initial layer of insulation around them, making sure it has been applied correctly. After you do that, you will then want to put the shrink wrap around the insulation. Make sure to use either an oven or a hot air gun to seal it tight. You have to make sure that it is on properly, or it will begin to fall off and wear away soon after you put it on.

Heat Shrink Tubing

Heat shrink wrap comes in many different colors, materials, and sizes, so before you buy anything, you have to make sure exactly what you need for the job you are doing. Working with wires can sometimes be tricky, but as long as you have all the proper materials, you will do just fine. Remember that the heat shrink wrap you buy is important. You want it to be flame-resistant and protect the wires from any damage or abrasions that may occur over a certain length of time. Since most wires are extremely sensitive and vulnerable to damage, you need to make sure that you take all of the necessary steps to protecting them from anything that could happen.

Do You Need Heat Shrink Wrap?

Tags : MyCoolbookmark Kingbookmark

One of the best ways to save time and money in injection mold making is by using hard milling techniques. In fact, if you are not already hard milling, you will soon find yourself at a distinct competitive disadvantage.

Why use hard milling?

Heat Shrink Tubing

To save time

Reduce set ups

Eliminate a great deal of EDM work

Eliminate hand fitting, especially of contoured shut-off surfaces

Produce a surface that is much more true to the CAD model

Eliminate a great deal of stoning and polishing

Move work through the shop more quickly

Eliminate many grinding steps

Shorten delivery dates

Those are some pretty compelling reasons to use hard milling! After all, who doesn’t want to achieve any or all of the above benefits?

Do you need specialized CNC milling machines?

Yes, and no. No, you don’t have to go out and buy a half million dollar vertical milling machine, in fact, you can do a lot on a basic Bridgeport type of machine. But, if you are serious about hard milling, you should definitely invest in a machine that is designed for this purpose.

You need a CNC milling machine that is rigid enough to withstand the forces generated by the high spindle speeds, rapid feed rates and the vibrations caused during machining. Nowadays there are many high quality machines that are specifically designed for high speed milling and hard milling.

A CNC milling machine used for hard milling should have

A column and base that is heavy

Box ways with linear roller bearings

A spindle that is core cooled

Ball screws that are dual supported

Thermal stability and structural rigidity

Do you need specialized software?

Again, yes and no. No, you don’t need CAD/CAM software that is engineered specifically for hard milling. But your quality will suffer as a consequence.

This is because the requirements for hard milling are different than conventional milling of soft steel. The typical software will cause the cutter to move in a jerky manner, which will shorten tool life dramatically and fail to achieve the desired accuracy and surface finish.

Some other tool path requirements are

The need to control how the cutter enters and exits the cut

The need to maintain a steady, constant chip load

Ensure that the shock conditions for each roughing and finishing pass are maintained

The idea is to produce a surface that is true to the model, dimensionally accurate, has a good surface finish and do it quickly! Sounds like a lot to ask, but it is done everyday by progressive mold making shops around the world. Having the right software is essential.

What about the spindle?

The cutting tool and the tool holder act as one unit. The spindle must be able to protect the integrity of this unit. Therefore, it must be designed for the high speeds that are necessary. Direct drive spindles are called for in hard milling applications. Gear and belt driven spindles are not advised. The control of heat and vibration is also extremely important.

The importance of the spindle cannot be overlooked because it is the link between the machine tool and the cutter. If the spindle is inadequate, the entire process will suffer greatly.

Do you need special CNC tooling?

Shrink fit tool holders and an HSK interface are mandatory for hard milling. Sure, you can use other methods, but this combination has proven to be very effective. These tool holders are the most accurate available today and they are very easy to use.

The HSK interface is simply the most accurate, secure and stiff type in use today. Failing to use the proper tool holders will shorten tool life dramatically because the chip load will fall on on flute and quickly cause premature wear.

Conclusion

The hard milling of plastic injection molds is becoming a standard method of mold making. There are so many benefits associated that shops who are slow to get onboard will soon be at a serious loss to compete.

With today’s sophisticated CNC milling machines, coated carbide end mills, ceramic inserts, advanced software and reasonable prices, hard milling is within the reach of almost any competitive mold shop.

Why You Need Hard Milling in Plastic Injection Mold Making

Related : MyCoolbookmark Kingbookmark

There are some serious parks to being a woman – high heels, lipgloss and Josh Holloway daydreams for starters. But then there’s also the downside: painful periods, And a massive 70% of us say we regularly resort to painkillers to cope with that time of the month. “Sadly, every woman experiences some lovel of period pain, but once you know what’s normal for you, you can cope with it better,” says Dr Trisha Macnair, who specialises in women’s health at the Royal Surrey Hospital. But what happens when the pain becomes unbearable? Try your best not to panic. “Worrying that there’s something seriously wrong only makes you suffer more,” says Trisha. We might feel as if we need A&E, but could some TLC be just as good? Here’s Trisha’s checklist…

You’re completely normal if…

Heat Shrink Tubing

You get cramps that feel intolerable, but are only severe for a day or so.
Taking ibuprofen alleviates your pain.
You experience soreness in your lower back, breast tenderness and a bloated felling in your lower abdomen.
Intense headaches tend to strike while you’re premenstrual.

OK, so it’s nothing to worry about, but hew effective is your DIY cure? You might think curling up on the sofa is the best treatment, but exercise will make you feel better as it boosts circulation and prevents cramps. If you can’t face the gym, have a hot-water bottle to hand on the sofa. Scientists have discovered that heat treatment works by blocking pain messages to the brain in a similar way to painkillers for up to an hour.

And while sex may sound unappealing, orgasms can help, too – women can tolerate up to 110 % more pain during orgasm.

Talk to your doctor if…

The pain persists throughout your period, not just the first kayo t two, or even continues after bleeding has finished. This could be a sign of infection or pelvic inflammatory disease, which can cause infertility if left untreated. Caught early, it can be effectively treated with antibiotics.
You get a greenish discharge before your period, as you may have an STI.
Pain spreads further up your abdomen or right down your thighs. See your GP to rule out the possibility of endometriosis, a painful condition that causes bleeding outside the womb.
You have very severe abdominal pain and there’s a good chance you could be pregnant. The pain could indicate an ectopic pregnancy, which happens when a fertilized egg implants in a Fallopian tube.

HEALTH FACT

Women lose two eggs every hour (we’re born with around one million!).

During out fertile years, only 400-500 eggs will actually be released in total at ovulation – the rest shrink and are absorbed by the ovaries.

UPDATE

CAN ORAL SEX CAUSE CANCER?

Women who’ve had oral sex with five or more partners are a shocking 20% more likely to develop throat cancer, according to new research. Scientists believe oral sex could transmit the human papilloma virus (HPV), which is also linked to cervical cancer.

“It’s currently only a theory, but the idea makes sense,” says Dr Dawn Harper. “Although HPV is transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, not bodily fluids, condoms are your best protection, so try using them during oral sex. And if you’re receiving, you could ask him to wear a dental dam – a thin square of latex that goes between his mouth and your vulva.”

Those of us who’ve had five or more oral-sex partners shouldn’t panic: only 1.7% of diagnosed cancers are throat cancer, making it quite rare.

Painful Period SOS

See Also : MyCoolbookmark Kingbookmark

What is the Best way to ship and store watercolour paintings? I always ship my watercolour paintings flat, never rolled. To roll a painting, especially if it is on thick watercolour paper can easily damage it and make it difficult to frame properly. It does not matter how long a painting is rolled up for either – First class post may only take a day but what if you are out when it arrives and it gets taken back to the depot and stored for a week before you can pick it up? Changes in temperature as the painting is shipped can cause the painting to shrink and expand. Shipping a painting flat may take slightly more effort and cost a bit more in both packing and postage but it is worth it to make sure a buyer received their new artwork in the best possible condition. If you are a buyer always request that an artist ships a watercolour flat. If you do buy a painting or print that is shipped rolled in a tube unroll and lay it out to flatten it as soon as you receive it.

Heat Shrink Tubing

Framing your painting

Never store your paining rolled in a tube. After only a little while stored like this it will be impossible to flatten correctly. Standard size paintings and prints can be slipped in to a standard frame and hung straight away, this is an excellent temporary measure but the best thing to do is to take your new art to a framer and have it professionally mounted and framed. It may cost a bit more but the effect and the use of archival acid free materials will preserve your painting the best possible way and be worth it in the long run. For watercolour paintings you should also ask about framing using special Perspex or Glass that cuts out UV rays. This will stop your painting from fading and also help it to stay it tip top condition for as long as possible. A professional framer should also seal the back of the frame so that bugs, dust and moisture cannot get to the picture.

When your painting is framed make sure you hang it somewhere where the conditions will not damage the painting. Do not hang it over a radiator or other source of heat, and it is best not to hang original works in bathrooms or places with high moisture.

How To Ship And Frame Watercolor Paintings (And Art Prints)

Recommend : MyCoolbookmark Kingbookmark