Fabrication System: Affordable Prototyping The FDM 360mc is a fabrication system for prototyping and direct-digital manufacturing applications. It is intended to provide the accuracy, repeatability and material specifications of more elaborate “3D printer” systems at a much lower price. It has a build envelope of 14 x 10 x 10 in. and can be upgraded to 16 x 14 x 16 in. The upgrade also includes two additional material bays, resulting in a total of four. Available slice thicknesses are 0.005 in., 0.007 in. and 0.01 in. Stratasys, Inc.; 888-480-3548; www.stratasys.com Sound Cleaning: Removing Lime The ScaleBlaster is intended to
Tudor Van Hampton For Don Ahern, who owns the largest independent rental chain in North America, keeping his fleet of machines looking clean and green is a daily part of the family business. But the grungy process of powerwashing construction equipment, such as dozers that can collect as much as 500 lb of dirt while working in the field, is not always friendly to shop workers and local wastewater treatment systems. “I’ve been playing with this my entire life,” says the president of Las Vegas-based Ahern Rentals Inc. He is developing his own self-cleaning powerwashing system for Ahern’s rental yards,
Chrysler LLC Among the most noticeable changes in the 2009 Dodge Ram light-duty pickup truck, besides its Charger-inspired mug, is a new rear suspension that strays from the traditional Hotchkiss leaf-spring style of other trucks in favor of more cruising-friendly coil springs. Also radically different are diesel and gas-electric hybrid options that are set to roll out over the next two years. As the only full-size pickup to come with a solid rear axle mated to coil springs, Ram 1500, available this fall, will be selling a modern, comfortable ride. But Chrysler LLC engineers are promising that performance won’t sag.
Auto-Feed Roofing Screw System: Saves Time During Installation The Precision Placement Quik Drive System is an auto-feed screw driving system for screw guns. Designed for standing-seam metal roofing, the system can drive screws into the pre-existing holes of a standing-seam clip without the clip bend getting in the way. Collated screw strips eliminate the need for carrying around loose bulk screws, which allows for one-handed operation. The lightweight system works with most brands of screw guns, and two types of Quik Drive fasteners. Simpson Strong-Tie; 800-999-5099; www.strongtie.com Concrete Forms: Tight Curves The Xtra Flex system now is able to form
Tudor Van Hampton Contractors glimpse free-trade Website. The construction industry loves free trade. Freedom to buy from a wide range of suppliers around the world keeps prices low and options flexible. That freedom also can open up buyers to scams and stomach aches. One such place where the industry comes together to make wholesale deals is www.alibaba.com, a China-based Website that has increasingly gained popularity as people look to source global supplies of just about everything, from steel conduit to earthmoving machines. Representatives from Alibaba Group, partly owned by Yahoo and whose stock went public on the Hong Kong exchange
Tudor Van Hampton Coomer's shoes cut pesky footprints. Rodney Coomer didn't whack any wise guys with a pair of cement overshoes at this year's World of Concrete in Las Vegas. But he and his newly-formed footgear company did get sunk with more orders than it could handle during the four-day construction show. "We sold out the first day," says the Campbellsville, Ky.-based inventor of "Finishing Slicks," an injection-molded, polymer-rubber overshoe that keeps workers from leaving behind pesky footprints as they finish fresh concrete. ENR spoke with him on Jan. 23, the second day of the annual show, as a small
Epoxy Anchor: Powerful Adhesive The HIT RE 500-SD Epoxy Adhesive Anchor System is intended for securing standard threaded rods in cracked concrete applications. The system meets the 2003 and 2006 International Building Code standards for strength in post-installed anchors. Able to work in a wide range of temperatures and in any seismic design category, the HIT RE-500 SD can be used in many different hole conditions, including hammer-drilled, diamond-cored, water-saturated, water-filled and underwater holes. Hilti; 800-879-8000; www.us.hilti.com Air Filter: Reduces Energy Costs Filtrete Commercial HVAC air filters are intended for commercial construction applications. According to the manufacturer, the filter’s low
Hydraulic Crane: Fits Dodge and Sterling Chassis The Dominator line of truck cranes now includes hydraulic telescoping cranes with air compressors that can be integrated into the new Dodge 3500, 4500 and 5500 chassis as well as the Sterling Bullet chassis. Unlike truck-mounted electrical cranes, the hydraulic Dominator can lift more than 6,000 lb and can be used repeatedly without straining the vehicle. Features remote start/stop and high-idle operation. Iowa Mold Tooling Co., Inc.; 800-554-4421; www.imt.com Engine Usage Monitor: Wireless Once installed, the ST-550 can monitor the usage, idle time, fuel consumption and service alerts of any diesel engine. The
Riding Trowel: For Finishing Concrete The Mechanical Super Pro 425 Rider is a riding trowel intended for concrete finishing. Powered by a liquid-cooled, 34-hp gasoline engine with a torque converter clutch, the Rider’s two 46-in.-dia, 5-blade rotors can achieve speeds of up to 170 rpm. It features manual steering and pitch controls for finer control of movements and has an electrically powered spray system for the application of retardant. The flip-up seat and removable screens allow for better access to the engine, clutch and drive-line during maintenance. Allen Engineering Corp.; 870-236-7751; www.allenconquip.com Mini Skid: Able to Take the Weight The
Accurate grading: Laser Precision The Power Blade unit (right) works in conjunction with laser sensors to give clear readings of grade conditions on a bright LED display. Compatible with a wide range of lasers, it can be used on scrapers, dozers, agricultural tractors and similar machines. In addition to basic grade monitoring, the Power Blade can be combined with a MCP700 Panel and hydraulic valve package for automatic grade control. Grade changes from the cab and additional land-leveling functions can be made when the optional MPM700 electric mast (top-right) is added to the unit. Leica Geosystems; 770-326-9500; www.leica-geosystems.us. Strong Wall
RSS