Digging Deep for Data
There may be a tendency to look at data collection in machines as an indoor sport, but in the mining industry, it occurs in a busy, dusty and occasionally dangerous setting. That makes accurate data collection even more important.
Hydraulics & Pneumatics spoke with Brian Howell, U.S. sales manager-large hydraulic drives at Bosch Rexroth, to discuss how the industry can work with its OEMs to get data the industry can really use. One insight from Howell: “Deploying condition monitoring systems can allow mining companies to analyze and trend their machine performance in real time and tailor their settings to boost productivity and eliminate bottlenecks in their processes.”
Combine Materials in Harsh Environments
In extreme temperatures, it’s not just engineering precision that matters. The material properties of such things as seals and bearings makes a big difference.
The use of thermoplastics in such environments was discussed in a recent Hydraulics & Pneumatics article. “For off-highway parts that need a combination of properties of high-modulus thermoplastics and those of other polymers, co-injection might be the answer. It combines two polymers in single operation to create a multi-functional component,” the article notes. “One example would be an elastomeric material that acts as a seal and a scraper combined with a stronger thermoplastic material that could act as a bushing or guide ring. This component would be an ideal molded rod end in a hydraulic cylinder for an excavator bucket on an off-highway vehicle.”
