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LWC Robotics 2020 - 2021 Season

Industrial Manufacturing Retrofits: What You Need to Know

Announcing Enhanced Capabilities for Web Gauging Systems

Quad Plus announces exclusive North American partnership with MKS Anlasser

How Continuous Thickness Measurement Improves Production Quality

Industrial Manufacturing Retrofits: What You Need to Know

When talking about manufacturing equipment that can cost several hundred thousand dollars to purchase, an extended life for your machine is a must for any company that wants to stay ahead of the competition. However, making large capital investments in new machinery can have an extended payback period, making them not cost-effective in the immediate future. Still, many new technologies exist that can be strategically integrated into your existing machine, making it easier and safer to operate, more productive, and efficiently use energy. To make the most of these hefty equipment purchases, industrial manufacturing retrofits can be the key to accessing new features and prolonging the working life of a machine.

What is an Online Thickness Gauge?

Automated production processes have allowed companies to manufacture items at high speeds and with fewer interventions from operators. Ensuring that a product’s quality remains within tolerance limits and that waste and defects are minimal requires a similarly automated quality inspection process.

An online thickness gauge is an ideal method for process control as it delivers not only speed, but also a high degree of accuracy. An online gauge is always scanning, as opposed to manual spot measurements with a handheld scanner or a lab sample. Non-contact displacement sensor methods are the optimal choices as no contact with materials are required allowing for the fastest speeds and fast adaptations to different materials or surface types being measured.

Different Sensor Technology for Web Gauging Applications

Web gauging systems are the key to meeting tight customer specs while also reducing waste and the overall expense associated with a production line. Which sensor technology to use depends on the substrate being measured as gauges are used to measure everything from the adhesive applied to tape to roofing products to soup bowls. Use this guide to help understand some of the technology that is available and let a Quad Plus expert help you find the right one for your production line.

What Are The Benefits of a Web Gauging System For Manufacturers

No matter what sector of manufacturing your company is in, from automotive to medical to consumer products, balancing quality control and manufacturing costs will always be a priority. Manually gauging or visually inspecting products or even small groups can be costly and inefficient. A web gauging system may provide the key to improving quality and productivity without sacrificing efficiency and expense.

Preventive Maintenance Guidance for Industrial Circuit Breakers

Circuit breakers form the foundation of safety for any industrial electrical system as they protect both your equipment and your crew from harm caused by overloaded circuits, short circuits, and other electrical problems. All protective systems should have a routine maintenance system in place to make sure everything is working as it should, and preventive maintenance will help you avoid costly breakdowns and industrial circuit breaker repairs.

Getting the Most from Your Industrial Circuit Breakers

Industrial circuit breakers are a necessary component of every electrical system to protect your crew and equipment from danger. When they become damaged or broken, an immediate replacement is required to prevent downtime. Still, the cost to replace industrial circuit breakers can range from several hundred to tens of thousands of dollars. In many cases, companies can save a considerable amount of cash over the lifetime of their equipment by reconditioning breakers for reuse rather than replacing and discarding.

What Do Robots, Kids and Couches Have in Common?

The Lincoln-Way Central Robotics Club enjoyed a fantastic 2019-2020 season, including making it to the last round of state qualification in the international FIRST Tech Challenge. Quad Plus is proud to support this talented group of young builders, and we’re excited to tell you more about their successful year and what they’re looking forward to in the upcoming months.

Industrial Circuit Breaker Repair Experts

Power distribution and switchgear equipment are critical to the operation of your business, and the heart of every power distribution system are circuit breakers. These devices are responsible for protecting your crew from injury and your equipment from damage, so it’s easy to see why spotting signs of trouble is critical. When it comes to industrial circuit breaker repair, you can trust the experts at Quad Plus. Here are three signs it’s time to give us a call.
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Shredder System Off and Storage

If you need to disconnect power to your Quad Plus system, this removes the heater logic from the motor. In such cases were power is to be isolated longer than one month, temporary 240v (or specified voltage) must be run to the point of termination at the motor.

For all other inquiries regarding storage and/or idling, please see the following Quad Plus Motor Storage Instructions. Read More

Zentel Tech Optimizes Rare Book Storage HVAC

Zentel Tech was contacted by the director of commissioning for a world renown institution to investigate issues with the HVAC in their rare book storage. Zentel Tech reviewed all of the information and equipment. The initial complaint was that the heat was being carried over to the supply air from the desiccant regeneration system causing the temperature to rise in the rare book storage. A secondary issue was the motor for the desiccant wheel failed due to the motor leads overheating.

Robotics and Engineering Competitive Team

The 2018/2019 robot season has begun for the Lincoln-Way Central Fighting Knights! With the help and support of Quad Plus, the team is in the final stage of prep for their first competition this weekend. Frantic robot modifications and program tweaks are keeping team members busy after school and on the weekends. Go Knights!

Shredder Life! A 4,000HP Belted Shredder System!!!

Quad Plus was out for our annual maintenance on a 4,000HP Belted shredder system! Quad Plus works with companies of all sizes to create AC or DC drive systems that include an electric motor, transformer(s), circuit breakers, and electric drive cabinet. This technology converts electricity from the utility line to power the shredder, providing more functionality at a lower cost. Making this energy-efficient yet powerful technology available to customers is the primary focus of the Large Drive Division within Quad Plus.

Scott's Scraps: SIEMENS K-Frame Rebuild

A complete teardown and rebuild of a SIEMENS MasterDrive K-Frame caused by an improperly placed IGBT within the U phase leading to a dangerous arc-flash event. Our in-house expert Scott, documents the steps that Quad Plus takes to rebuild from this costly issue. Make sure to always have your drives serviced and maintained.

Scott's Scraps: SIEMENS Sinamics PM240 Power Block

The Drive had a massive failure within a U phase IGBT, causing damage to the IGBTs, IGBT Control Board and the Bus distribution plate and insulators. VeeArc will clean and repair the IGBT and IGBT Control Board assembly, rebuild the Bus distribution plate Insulators and perform a full functionality test to save the end user the cost of a New Drive replacement and get their motor back up and spinning like a ballerina on a merry-go-round.

New Synchronous Motor Field Application Systems

Quad Plus has completed their installation portion of the 45 million dollar Electrical Distribution revamp of The City of Chicago’s South Water Purification Plant. This first phase of the project was to install 9 new PCP’s (Pump Control Panels), for 7 synchronous and 2 induction motors. These panels completely changed how the motors were started from the existing systems installed in the late 1940’s. The installation team consisted of MG Electric (general contractor), Quad Plus (provided 7 Synchronous Motor Field Applications Systems), Siemens Industry, Inc. Switchgear Division (supplied new Switchgear and motor starters), and Allen ICS (Supplied SCADA equipment and programming). One of the challenges was that the Plant could not be shut down to accomplish this retrofit.

Toroidal Plasma Device - HIDRA Installation

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Center for Plasma-Material Interactions (CPMI) looked to Quad Plus Senior Engineer Kent Wegley for expertise in safely installing a toroidal plasma device known as HIDRA.

2018 Annual Electrical Safety Training Program

Quad Plus & Siemens are working together to increase public awareness of the electrical hazards around us.

Fan-tastic

How long should your fan run for?

We all know we shouldn’t wait until our cooling fans come to a complete stop before replacing them on our Motor Drive/Power supply units. By not having the proper cooling ventilation on our equipment it can cause overheating causing electronic devices to malfunction or fail resulting in severe damage to the Drive/Power Unit. .

So...what are some of the steps to prevent these types of failures

Should you spare the money for a spare VFD?

Spare a spare. Should you or shouldn't you?

Does your company have an action plan for a critical drive going down? Quad Plus can help with that!

Your Drives Are Safe with Us

At Quad Plus we care about your drives and aim to provide a safe working environment for the sensitive electronics that your company depends on. Our state-of-the-art repair shop ensures the correct handling of your equipment so you can rest assured that devices are functional right out of the package once you receive your repaired shipment.

Understanding the Essentials of RIA R15.06:2012

The new Robotics Industry Association (RIA) standard for robots and robot systems (RIA R15.06:2012) will have a significant impact on all businesses using robotic automation. It’s important that all businesses that utilize robots in their facilities are aware of the changes to robotic safety that have been brought about by this new standard update, and begin to set aside both funds and time in order to implement the new changes in an efficient manner.

OSHA Compliance

Simply Being “OSHA Compliant” Is Not Enough

Clients often ask: Does OSHA require compliance with ISO 13849, (such as evaluating a machine control system to insure it meets the correct Performance Level)? Perhaps a more accurate question is: What is the difference between compliance and liability?

Machine Safety Standards

With so many rules and regulations related to safety, it can be confusing to figure them all out.

To help clear things up, we do our best to explain the ISO 12100:2010, ISO 14121-1:2007, ISO 13849-1:2006 Safety Standards

Wait More Than a Year, Fuses You May Clear

Virtually all low voltage Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) that have not been powered up for over a year must be reformed or they could vent upon power up causing serious damage to the internal components of the Drive. Quad Plus offers reforming services both onsite and in house, as well as Capacitor bank studies and evaluations.

What Makes A Factory Smart?

The majority of us own a smart phone. Why not make our Industry Smart too?

As technology keeps improving and is implemented into the industrial world, Industry 4.0 is starting to play a prominent role.

CAD Department Development - Getting Started

When a project reaches our CAD Department desks, we, the CAD team, start developing the schematic and Mechanical drawing sets. Let’s not forget, however, that back in the day - which is around the year 2014 and before, we could only develop the schematic part of the project drawings. Upon completion, we submitted the drawing set to the shop to use in developing the Back-Panel layout.

Today, we are easily able to develop all drawings needed for any of the company’s projects ? Ambition, commitment, & determination of the CAD team, along with Quad Plus Management’s support & guidance, brought our CAD work great success during the time of development.

I weeennnnttt tooooo the Danger-zone!!

Most manufacturing facilities use floor tape or painted lines on the floor to differentiate various zones and personnel traffic areas. Knowing what color the DANGER or Hazardous areas are marked with is very important to your life expectancy as a Field Service Technician. However there are currently no government-mandated regulations regarding Floor tape color codes.

Don't Start No Static!

Electro-static discharge (ESD) can be a serious problem when handling electronic equipment. It can cause permanent damage in both an immediate and latent fashion causing components to fail prematurely. The little electric arc we produce when touching a door knob is somewhere between 2,000 and can be as much as 35,000 volts!

Do you know the many ways to use PWM?

Pulse-width Modulation (PWM) is a term used to describe a digital output signal being sent to constant HIGH depending on the duty cycle and can be programmed to control different applications in a control circuitry. This same technology is being used to run the fan for your PC device you are using while reading this blog.

CAD Development - Accuracy with Efficiency

In recognition of the CAD Department’s distinguished improvement over a very short period of time, Quad Plus was pleased to ask the CAD Team to share their skill development story with Quad Plus website viewers. The CAD Team agreed to provide the website with one post every week where they will tell our readers about the accomplishments and the outcomes of their development. The CAD team will provide as many posts as needed until the story has been told.

We hope that you will enjoy reading our story, and please don’t forget to comment, ask questions, or make suggestions. We will be happy to read your comments and address your concerns.

Don't Put The Squeeze on Your IGBT's

When removing and replacing a defective Insulated-Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) be sure to remove all residual thermal transfer compound and remove any dirt or grime on the heatsink.

Don't Blow Your Cap Off!

Capacitors play a major role in our Variable frequency drives (VFD), keeping them up-to-date and working properly can save us from major headaches down the line.

Improved True Constant Tension Brush Arm Package

Quad Plus is excited to introduce the enhanced True Constant Tension Brush Arm package, ideally suited for longer run times and increased productivity. After undergoing more than two years of testing, we’re confident that this new brush holder has been truly perfected.