Non-chrome coating… Screen material… Label applicator…
Dear Search Engineer: I need an equivalent to Chem Film per Mil-C5541A (Elec. Conductive) that is RoTH compliant. Hexavalent chromium is not allowed. What type of non-chrome conversion coating can you suggest?—K. C., DN reader
Dear K.C.: One reader suggests that his company is currently going through the same substitution efforts. "We have used Mil-C-5541E, Class 3 (elec. conductive) but are doing a D.O.D. contract which does not allow Hex. Navair developed a Trivalent Chromium Pretreatment/Post Treatment (TCP) and has licensed it to two manufacturers: METALAST® TCP-HF, and SurTec® 650 chromitAL TCP."
Dear Search Engineer: I am looking for a window screen material that is highly transparent and nearly invisible. It will be used in a luxury recreational vehicle for the screen door on the entrance. Our current door screen limits the visibility for the passenger, and, at times, due to light conditions, the driver's vision is also impaired. The shape of the door doesn't lend itself to a rollup or removable screen so that is probably not an option. Gore-tex makes a material that might work, but at this time it has an exclusive relationship with Pella windows and isn't available for other manufacturers to use. Any suggestions?—M. W., DN reader
Dear M. W.: One reader says to investigate partial metallization of the window itself. It will not affect driver vision i.e. light entering, but impairs light escaping out. It is also the principle of one-way mirrors. Careful however, as a mirror might cause blinding of other drivers when reflecting sunlight or bright headlights. Slight tilting of the glass will help reflect the incoming strong light downwards, away from other drivers.
Dear Search Engineer: I need a label applicator that can apply small (2" x 1.5") labels to the back of a small plastic box, slightly bigger than the label. The labels will be adhesive backed and arrive in rolls, with or without backing paper (my choice). The volumes are not that large (fewer than 100 per run). The applicators I have seen are large and very expensive. I need a small device (mechanism only is OK), preferably one I can embed into a larger machine I am designing which handles the plastic boxes to be labelled. Can anyone suggest a source?—J.P., DN reader
Dear J.P.: One reader said you should contact ACS Vision in Dothan, Alabama. They built a label machine for him that was far superior to any other design he has ever seen. Contact ACS Vision at www.acsvision.com.
Dear Search Engineer: We are interested in learning more about the process of hot stamping, where steel is heated prior to being formed to improve formability and strength. Can anyone provide information or sources of information on this process?—M. W., DN reader
Dear M. W.: One engineer replied that this is a subset of the process called "forging" and "plastic deformation of hot metals." Seek books on these topics.
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