Showing posts with label Electronics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Electronics. Show all posts

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Common Conventional Faxing Frustrations - Image Quality | Paper Jams | Communication

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Fax Machine Breaking with Frustration
Source: mlive.com
Often times, sending a fax can be a complicated process. Fax machines are labyrinth-like machines, involving intricate and delicate elements that are, many times, difficult to figure out. A fax machine that is running well, properly calibrated, and operating within open lines can be a smooth piece of equipment that does exactly what you want. Otherwise, it can be a frustrating apparatus that causes more headache than help. Fax machines can pose several problems for users looking to send documents quickly and easily.

Image quality

Many times, transmitting documents via fax can lead to poor image quality. In these cases, received pages will not appear the same as the original, negating the entire purpose of sending the fax in the first place. Pages with text may become unreadable and images may appear blotchy, too light or too dark. This is frequently due to leaking/spilled toner or ink within the receiving fax machine or even an improper density setting that can be adjusted on the receiving machine. The problem may also lie in the scanning mechanisms within the sender’s fax machine.

Paper Jams

There is hardly a more frustrating problem involving the use of a fax machine than jammed paper in the document feeder or printing area. Beware though: attempting to pull jammed paper out of the machine in the direction opposite of the way the paper is supposed to naturally travel can damage some of the small parts inside your fax machine. To remedy the jam, gently pull the paper in the direction that it would normally run, while trying not to yank it out at an angle.

Communication

Frequently enough, you may come across problems while sending or receiving faxes that involve communication issues between your machine and the other at the remote location. Many times this involves phone connection issues, since faxed documents are being transmitted through a modem line, and just like a telephone, there may be interference or problems with the wall jack (which acts as a junction in the system). If you don’t hear the dial tone, it is likely that either your machine is unplugged or no signal exists.

If the receiving fax machine is using a dual-use fax/phone line, you may be greeted by a voice on the other end from someone who is answering what appears to be nothing more than a phone call. A user may lose the connection during the transmission of the fax, and unless that machine indicates its fax status by way of printing a receipt or otherwise, you may be left wondering whether your document was successfully sent and received.

Maintenance

To say the least, cleaning out your fax machine can be a headache. The quality of the fax can rely substantially on a machine that is clean and without any buildup that could create mechanical problems. Other than using canned/compressed gas-dusting air to blow out some of the dust and loose gunk stuck inside the fax machine, it can be quite a hassle to clean the internal components to ensure that it runs smoothly. If you choose to take on the task of wiping down the ink cartridges and purchasing scanner head cleaning sheets, refer to your fax machine’s owner’s manual to get it done.

This article was written by Amit Gangrade, article writer at FindAFax. Amit Gangrade is from Orlando, Florida. He is a recent alumn from the University of Florida, where he studied anthropology and Spanish.
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The Science Behind Scissor Lifts - How Scissor Lifts are Made

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Scissor lifts are mobile working platforms that rise. Their elevating mechanism consists of arms that are connected at the middle like scissors, hence the name. Scissor lifts are commonly used at warehouses and construction sites. They are also used in buildings where workers need a safe working platform to carry out maintenance and repairs at heights.

These robust and reliable machines make working at heights much more convenient and safer than using ladders or stepladders. Use of simple and straightforward technology and high grade materials make scissor lifts highly dependable, provided you are using the right weight and height specification for your job.

How Scissor Lifts are Made

The science behind scissor lifts might remind you of your elementary school, as you might have studied these principles in your 5th grade. Here, you can see them practically at work. Scissor lifts work on the principle of hydraulics.

The number of arms in a scissor lift varies depending upon the height of the lift. These are manufactured by cutting square steel pipes of appropriate thickness and length. A hole is cut out in the center of each length of pipe (each scissor-arm) for the central pivot to pass through.

When raising the lift, hydraulic fluid from a sump is pumped into the pressure hoses, which are screwed into a piston-cylinder mechanism. As the cylinder is filled with pressurized hydraulic fluid, the piston moves to raise the scissor arms. As the arms are hinged at their centers and connected to another pair of arms on top, and then another, the movement of the lower-most pair of scissor-arms translates into the movement of all the arms, raising the scissor lift. When lowering, the excess hydraulic pressure is bled out through a bleed hose leading back to the main sump.

The pivots or the joints bear maximum loads and face the stress from the rotation each time the lift is raised or lowered. Therefore, most of the engineering goes into the connections between the scissor arms. There's one connection in the middle, and two connections on the upper and lower end of each arm. Advanced welding techniques including robotic welding are deployed to manufacture the hinged joints at each end of the arms, while the connection at the center is reinforced by welding a small cylinder into the hole that was cut earlier through each arm's center.

Reinforced steel rods are inserted and secured into place using locking pins. When the scissor-arms are ready, primer and rust proof paint is applied to them. As the paint dries up, the other two parts of the scissor lift are getting ready. These are the top platform and the base assembly.

The base assembly contains a set of steerable front wheels. The front wheel assembly is connected to a second hydraulic cylinder, which just controls the left and right movement of the wheels. A hydraulic tray is also stacked into the base assembly on one side, and a battery pack is installed on the other side. Hoses connecting the hydraulic pump to the cylinders are screwed firmly in place.

The top platform is just a steel platform with safety railing. When the three components of the scissor lift are ready, it's time to join them to each other. The scissor-arms are attached to the base and the hydraulic cylinder is attached to the bottom pair of scissors. The steering cylinder is connected to the control panel on the top platform via an electrical interface. The batteries are connected to the hydraulic pump and the controls installed on the platform. Everything is tested and the safety decals are applied before the scissor lift is moved into the warehouse for sale.

Author: Dr Garry McClean is a staff writer at The Workplace Depot - a leading UK supplier of industrial and workplace products
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Saturday, January 25, 2014

5 Marine Electronics Every Boat Should Have - Marine GPS and More!

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epsos, cc-by-3.0, flickr

Whether it’s a commercial fishing boat or a private leisure vessel; a boat these days requires a solid line-up of marine electronics to help it function properly and safely. Of course, a boat doesn’t have to contain all high-tech equipment, but having these essentials make for a more pleasurable boating trip each and every time.

Here are five crucial boat electronics every vessel needs in their helm and why they are a must-have piece:

1. VHF Radio                         

Perhaps one of the most important piece of electronic device a boat can contain; a VHF  Radio is often considered a staple at the bridge. This is worth the investment since it features a host of functions.

Used primarily to call for rescue or help, they can also be used in contacting various bridges, harbors or marinas. Most boats contain two kinds of VHF radio, one is fixed (the one usually found at the bridge) and the other is often handheld (usually placed in lifeboats; serving as an emergency alternative.)

2. Marine GPS (Global Positioning System)


These days, it is hard to find a boat without some form of GPS or Global Positioning System installed in it. One of the best investments any mariner can make, the GPS is considered a real necessity when going on sea travel. It is an affordable and easy system that allows users to find out where they are. Its main function is providing the proper longitude and latitude when necessary.

A GPS can be handheld, mountable/portable or purely fixed, depending on what the user prefers. Like a piece of anchor chain, it is unimaginable to have a boat without some form of GPS inside it.  Of course, it is still advisable to learn how to navigate using a compass as well as chart, just in case.

3. Sonar or Fishfinders          

A Fishfinder or a “sounder” is actually a form of sonar that allows vessels to find schools of fish under the ocean. It works by sending electrical impulses under water and transforming it into a sound wave. When this sound wave hits something along the way, it transmits the size, shape along with composition of the object. This is one powerful piece of marine electronics beneficial for both commercial fishing vessels as well as small boats.

4. Small Boat Autopilots


Highly functional for expert and novice boaters alike, small boat autopilots also serve as a necessary boat safety equipment. Essentially, it works by allowing users to program a course   and letting the computer drive the vessel until it reaches the destination. These are highly useful if the boater needs to go on longer trips since they can minimize the amount of pressure the helm or helmsman experiences during voyage.

5. Marine AIS (Automatic Identification System)

This is the most recent must-have in the world of marine electronics. The Marine AIS or Automatic Identification System is a dependable apparatus used by ships to identify nearby vessels or stations. Electronic data is exchanged between ships and AIS stations, allowing boats to receive positional data from each other. This helps avoid collisions between ships.

Serious boaters who want only the best will benefit from having these set of electronic equipment on their vessel. Most of these are affordable, not to mention helpful, so investing in any or all of them will make a boating experience more enjoyable and much safer.

About Author:
Marketing specialist Debra Wright enjoys learning new things both online and offline. Her love for discovery encompasses varied subjects from the mundane to the riveting, including topics like technology and gadgets. When she is not in front of her computer or behind the wheel for a road trip, she is busy with her oven trying to master her baking skills. Follow her on twitter @debrawrites...
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