2012年1月16日星期一

How to Keep Ink Jet Ink From Drying Out

A common problem with the ink jet printers is the cartridge ink drying out when the printer is not used frequently. A lot of people print a page at least three times a week to prevent the ink from clogging. If you are not going to use your ink jet printer for more than a week, follow the steps below to store the ink cartridges and save them from drying out.
1 Remove the ink cartridges from the inkjet ink printer by following the directions from your printer manual. If you do not have the printer manual, try to get the manual or the instructions on removing the cartridges from the manufacturer's website. Remove all the cartridges from the printer, including the color ink cartridges if present.
2 Cover the cartridge openings with a tape. The cartridges have two small holes called the breather hole and the delivery hole. These are easily visible when the cartridges are taken out.
3 Place the black and the color cartridges in separate air-tight bags. You can label the bags as "black" and "color" with the date for reference.
4 Store the bags in the refrigerator. The tape prevents the air entry into the cartridges and keeps the ink from drying out. Storing the cartridge in the refrigerator reduces color degradation.

What Are Plastic Composite Materials?

An increasing number of manufacturers are discovering the benefits of composite plastic materials. They are used extensively in a range of products, from consumer and medical applications to transport and aerospace structures. Science and technology have helped industries combine and improve these versatile materials to create lighter, stronger and more flexible structures and products.
Definition
Although there are many kinds of composites both natural and manmade, commonly the term refers specifically to reinforced plastics and polymers.
A plastic composite is a combination of two materials: a matrix, or resin solution, and a reinforcement. The polymer matrix surrounds and binds the reinforcement, which is a cluster of fibers or fragments of a much stronger material. These two components have different attributes, but together they give the composite unique properties otherwise unavailable from the individual materials.
Polymer and Plastic Composites
The most common polymer and plastic composites include: fiber-reinforced plastics (FRPs); sheet molding compounds (SMCs); bulk molding compounds (BMCs); prepreg materials; and fabricated composite parts.
The most popular composites are FRPs that incorporate a structural fiber and a plastic. The fiber ensures the composite has structure and strength, while the plastic polymer holds the fibers together.
The Matrix
There are several categories of plastic resins for the matrix available on the market, depending on the raw ingredients in their composition. The most common kinds include: polyester, vinyl ester, epoxy, phenolic, polyimide, polyamide, polypropylene and PEEK.
Resins are available as compounds, liquids, pellets and powders. They not only hold the reinforcement together, but also protect the fibers from damage by sharing the stress among them. Resins determine the physical properties of the end products.
The matrix is soft enough to allow tool shaping. If damaged, manufacturers can repair it by softening with certain solvents.
Reinforcement
The reinforcement materials -- usually fibers and ground minerals -- have special mechanical and physical attributes that enhance the matrix properties. Common types of fibers used in FRP composites include: fiberglass, carbon fiber, aramid fiber, boron fiber, basalt fiber and natural fiber such as wood, flax or hemp.
While glass fibers are the most common, many advanced composites use pure carbon fine fibers. These are much stronger than glass fibers, but also more costly to produce. They usually go into aircraft structures and sporting goods. In the medical world, they serve as bone repair and replacement material where metal would have been used in the past.
Benefits of Composites
Composites often provide an advantage compared to materials such as metal and wood. They are strong and lightweight, which makes them ideal for use in the aviation, medical and sporting goods industries. Composites go into whole sections of a plane, such as wings, tails, propellers and most of the internal structure and fittings. The material helps improve flying speed and is less likely to break up under stress. While a small crack in a piece of metal can spread rapidly, the fibers in a composite block are better able to handle stress.
Composites are durable materials, widely used in products such as boats, chemical-handling equipment and spacecraft, which are exposed to extreme environments, from high heat to corrosion.
Last, but not least, the plastic composites allow for an impressive design flexibility and manufacturers can mold them into complex shapes useful for certain end products such as a tennis racket or a gold shaft.

2012年1月13日星期五

New ink promises 'bendable' circuits

CHAMPAIGN, Ill., Jan. 13 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers say a new kind of silver ink could lead to printable low-cost electronic circuits on flexible materials like paper, plastic or fabric.
University of Illinois materials scientists, led by Jennifer Lewis, have developed a particle-free reactive silver ink that holds the promise of creating flexible circuits for antennas, batteries, sensors, solar energy, wearable devices and more, a UI release reported Thursday.
While most conductive inks rely on tiny metal particles suspended in the ink, the new formula is a transparent solution of silver acetate and ammonia in which the silver remains dissolved in the solution until it is printed and the liquid evaporates, yielding conductive features.
"It dries and reacts quickly, which allows us to immediately deposit silver as we print," researcher S. Brett Walker said.
The reactive ink has several advantages over particle-based formulation, Walker said. A batch can be mixed in minutes, as opposed to particle-based inks that take several hours and multiple steps to prepare.
The ink also remains stable and usable for several weeks, he said.
"For printed electronics applications, you need to be able to store the ink for several months because silver is expensive," Walker said. "Since silver particles don't actually form until the ink exits the nozzle and the ammonia evaporates, our ink remains stable for very long periods.
"For fine-scale nozzle printing, that's a rarity."
The ink's low viscosity makes it suitable for inkjet printing, direct ink writing or airbrush spraying over large areas, the researchers said.
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Vacuum bag can be used carbon fiber

For simple pieces of which relatively few copies are needed, (1–2 per day) a vacuum  bag can be used. A fiberglass, carbon fiber or aluminum mold is polished ,basalt fiber and waxed,  and has a release agent applied before the fabric and resin are applied, and the  vacuum is pulled and set aside to allow the piece to cure (harden). There are two  ways to apply the resin to the fabric in a vacuum mold. One is called a wet layup,  where the two-part resin is mixed and applied before being laid in the mold and  placed in the bag.
The other is a resin induction system, where the dry fabric and  mold are placed inside the bag while the vacuum pulls the resin through a small tube  into the bag, then through a tube with holes or something similar to evenly spread  the resin throughout the fabric. Wire loom works perfectly for a tube that requires  holes inside the bag. Both of these methods of applying resin require hand work to  spread the resin evenly for a glossy finish with very small pin-holes. A third method  of constructing composite materials is known as a dry layup.
Here, the carbon fiber  material is already impregnated with resin (prepreg) and is applied to the mold in a  similar fashion to adhesive film. The assembly is then placed in a vacuum to cure.  The dry layup method has the least amount of resin waste and can achieve lighter  constructions than wet layup. Also, because larger amounts of resin are more  difficult to bleed out with wet layup methods, prepreg parts generally have fewer  pinholes. Pinhole elimination with minimal resin amounts generally require the use of  autoclave pressures to purge the residual gases out.

2012年1月5日星期四

Kick It Jurassic-style: Animatronic Dinosaur Park To Open in 2012

If you’ve ever watched Jurassic Park Dinosaurs, dreaming of hanging out with some prehistoric creatures, you may want to hightail it over to New Jersey: Turns out, Laurel Hill (Secaucus) is getting its very own animatronic dinosaur park!
Slated to open in May 2012, “Field Station: Dinosaurs” will be an outdoor science exhibition where visitors will be able to roam the grounds among 31 life-size robotic dinosaurs. The venue — fittingly complete with a 150 million-year-old rock formation — will also offer a petting zoo and educational programs about dinosaurs as well as the environment. Given its focus on the outdoors, the 24-acre park will naturally close during the winter months, from Thanksgiving on.
To promote Field Station, organizers sent a 14-foot T-Rex puppet to the Frank R. Lautenberg Secaucus Junction Station for a meet-and-greet with Giants and Packers fans on their way to MetLife Stadium.
I know the exhibition’s meant for kids, but who wouldn’t love hanging with some epic techno reptiles? For more, check out the vid.

How to remove silicone sealant from hands

Silicone sealant, or caulk, is commonly used to bond or hide joints in bathrooms, kitchens and other plumbing or tile fixtures. It is a highly effective adhesive that prevents leaks, water damage and rusting. Removing silicone sealant from your hands after a messy project may seem difficult, but a common household product can help. Nail polish removers that contain acetone are the safest solution to quickly remove silicone from skin.
1 Wash your hands with soap and warm water two to three times to soften the residue. Carefully peel off any loose pieces to ease the removal.
2 Prepare a ventilated area and dampen a cotton pad with nail polish remover. Make sure it contains acetone, which is the chemical that will dissolve the silicone.
3 Rub the nail polish remover onto the affected areas until the silicone begins to loosen. Roll off the residue with your fingers to help the process along.
4 Rinse your hands with warm water and dry it with a clean cloth once the sealant has been completely removed. Apply a moisturizer to the area, as acetone can be safely applied to the skin but does tend to cause dryness.

The applications about fiberglass

Fiberglass is an immensely versatile material which combines its light weight with an inherent strength to provide a weather resistant finish, with a variety of surface textures.
Fiberglass was developed in the UK during the Second World War as a replacement for the molded plywood used in aircraft radomes (fiberglass being transparent to microwaves). Its first main civilian application was for building of boats, where it gained acceptance in the 1950s. Its use has broadened to the automotive and sport equipment sectors as well as model aircraft, although its use there is now partly being taken over by carbon fiber which weighs less per given volume and is stronger both by volume and by weight. Fiberglass uses also include hot tubs,carbon fiber ,pipes for drinking water and sewers, office plant display containers and flat roof systems.
Advanced manufacturing techniques such as pre-pregs and fiber rovings extend the applications and the tensile strength possible with fiber-reinforced plastics.
Fiberglass is also used in the telecommunications industry for shrouding the visual appearance of antennas,basalt fiber, due to its RF permeability and low signal attenuation properties. It may also be used to shroud the visual appearance of other equipment where no signal permeability is required, such as equipment cabinets and steel support structures, due to the ease with which it can be molded, manufactured and painted to custom designs, to blend in with existing structures or brickwork. Other uses include sheet form made electrical insulators and other structural components commonly found in the power industries.

Structure of carbon fiber

Many carbon fiber-reinforced polymer parts are created with a single layer of carbon fabric, and filled with fiberglass. A tool called a chopper gun can be used to quickly create these types of parts. Once a thin shell is created out of carbon fiber, the chopper gun is a pneumatic tool that cuts fiberglass from a roll and sprays resin at the same time, so that the fiberglass and resin are mixed on the spot. The resin is either external mix, wherein the hardener and resin are sprayed separately, or internal, where they are mixed internally, which requires cleaning after every use.
The primary element of CFRP is a fibre. From that, an unidirectional sheet is usually created. These can be layered onto each other in a quasi-isotropic layup, e.g. 0, +60, -60 degrees relative to each other. From the elementary fibre, a bidirectional woven sheet can be created, i.e. a twill with a 2/2 weave.

2012年1月3日星期二

How to convert a regular shower to a steam shower

If you're tired of traveling to the spa or the gym to use the steam room, you can convert your shower cubicle to a steam shower. Most stand-up stalls can be converted to steam showers with just a little tweaking. By adding a room, checking the seals and installing a steam generator, your old shower will be steaming in no time.
1 Examine your existing shower stall. The walls and ceiling of your unit must be made of a waterproof material that will hold in the steam. Acceptable materials include granite, fiberglass, limestone, tile or marble.
2 Cover the roof of your shower. If your shower stall stops a few inches short of the ceiling and is not fully protected by a roof you will need to install one. You can purchase a lightweight roof from a home supply store. Consider purchasing a domed roof so that condensation from the steam shower will not constantly drip down.
3 Follow the factory instructions to install your roof, ensuring it is properly sealed.
4 Ensure the unit's walls are properly sealed. Escaped steam can cause rotting and mold, so it is always important to ensure the seals are tight. If you are unsure of the door of your shower, you can also purchase and install a shower door that is designed to hold in steam.
5 Purchase a steam generator to make the steam. Measure the size of your shower so your dealer can help you choose the appropriately sized generator.
6 Place your steam generator between 20 and 40 feet from the shower. It can be tucked away inside a vanity or cabinet if desired. The steam generator connects to a steam head, which is installed inside the shower enclosure.

Save money by recycling ink cartridges

In a flailing economy, it is more important now than ever for businesses and individuals alike to do whatever they can to limit spending and stay within a budget.? Obviously, printing is an integral part of any standard office, and many people have a personal printer at home that is used for printing things like flight itinerary or concert tickets as well as pictures.? The upfront price of printers has been reduced over the last few years, but the cost of ink and toner has gone up.? Fortunately, though, there are ways to cut costs on cartridges right now and in the long run.
Saving money now
Instead of going to the manufacturer or certified vendors to purchase brand new ink cartridge, there are companies that provide remanufactured options.? These cartridges have been used before and had any damaged or worn down parts replaced, then new printer ink was added.? This type of rebuilt cartridge will deliver the same quality and number of prints, but cost considerably less.? Often, remanufactured ink cartridges can be found for less than half the OEM price.
The big picture
Using remanufactured cartridges will undoubtedly save users money; however, there is a bigger picture here.? These cartridges are only able to be made when people recycle empty cartridges.? Many companies offer recycling programs to make this task as painless as possible.? Tax payers should jump on this bandwagon, as tax money helps to fund the landfills the empties are dropped in.? Over 375 million cartridges per year in the US alone, which is a cartridge every 11 seconds and enough to wrap around the planet almost 4 times, are thrown away.? It takes almost a gallon of oil to make a brand new cartridge, and the products they are made with can take 450-1000 years to decompose.
Recycling and remanufacturing ink and toner cartridge will not only save individual’s money now, but it will save a country of individuals money in the long run, and ultimately save a planet.

How to refinish carbon fiber parts

1 Wash the parts to be refinished to remove surface dirt, as the hard silica can leave scratches in the finish.
2 Remove the layer of surface oxidation and heavier scratches with a microfiber cloth and a medium-duty polishing compound, such as Scratch X. Work the polish in with overlapping 8-inch diameter circles. Be careful not to apply too much pressure, as it's not difficult to wear thin spots in the clear coat.
3 Wait for the polish to dry, then buff with a clean towel.
4 Polish the surface further with a high-quality product. Using a good polish is very important on carbon fiber, as the dark color, depth of the weave and several coats of clear hide nothing. Work the polish in gently with overlapping circles using a clean towel.
5 Wait for the polish to dry, then buff with a clean towel.
6 Wax using the highest quality product available with---you guessed it, a clean microfiber towel. Avoid using spray-on waxes (remember, the carbon fiber's clear coat hides nothing).
7 Allow 10-15 minutes to dry, away from direct sunlight. Buff with a clean towel. Repeat waxing if desired.