Solutions in Motion™

For approximately 60 University of Michigan students, this summer is unlike any other. As participants in Elon Musk's Hyperloop Pod Competition, the students worked tirelessly adjusting their team's pod design, testing controls and functions, and completing documentation after classes ended in the spring. Even full-time jobs and long distances couldn't stop them from fulfilling this project, goal, and dream.

As they approached the July 22nd competition, we caught up with Stephanie Shantz, Michigan Hyperloop member, to learn what the team worked on this summer and how they're feeling about the big day. Here's what we learned.

Here at W.C. Branham, we define our products as problem-solvers. But, we admit, we are just a little biased. So when a customer shares a story of how a Branham product solved their thorny problem, that’s a story we want to share with everyone. After all, you never know when someone else’s design “win” might be exactly the solution to your problem, too. The subject of today's story: spring applied hydraulic brakes.

Spring applied hydraulic brakes are the go-to choice when you need to hold industrial equipment or heavy machinery in place, reliably. In an emergency, or to prevent an emergency from happening, you need equipment that can be stopped without question. It's the only way you can work safer with confidence.

When properly sizing and selecting a DURATRK rodless cylinder for your next cylinder application, the goal is to determine the amount of cylinder force necessary to provide a cost-effective and efficient solution.

DURATRK rodless cylinders are available in bore sizes from 18mm up to 63mm bore, and are available in stroke lengths from a few inches to 16 feet. With that flexibility and customization comes the importance of properly calculating and sizing the perfect rodless cylinder for your application:

By definition, actuators either move things or stop them. In industrial design and other heavy-duty applications, actuators — or cylinders — provide the driving force that moves (or holds) machinery components. You may ask, "Should I choose pneumatic cylinders for my design or some other type? Well, that depends on what you need to move, in what way, and under what conditions.

Pneumatic cylinders are powered by compressed air. But cylinders can also be powered by pressurized fluid (hydraulic), by electricity, or by hand (mechanical). For obvious practicality reasons, we can rule out hand-cranked cylinders for industrial applications.

Think a cable cylinder might be the best actuator to your design project? Well, which one do you need? There are rodless cable cylinders, guided cable cylinders, single acting cable cylinders, and linear tension cable cylinders.

Some aspects of cable cylinders are the same regardless of model. But of course, there are differences too, and it’s those differences that can help point you in the right direction. You can get the full story by downloading our Cable Cylinder Catalog, which includes a selection guide and sizing worksheet. Here’s an overview to get you started uncovering the secrets of fluid power.

When searching for the perfect magnetically-coupled cylinder for your next rodless cylinder application, there are certain observations you must make.

In our new video, Chad Randleman, VP of Engineering & General Manager of W.C. Branham, explains how to do just that:

Mother Nature is on the job in 41 U.S. states, delivering power to utilities via wind energy. But she only supplies the wind that makes the turbines go round and round. It’s up to humans to direct and control the process, and sometimes that requires no-fail stopping power. And caliper disc brakes are the go-to choice when it comes to wind turbine control.

Let's talk MAGTEC. What is magnetic coupling, anyway? And when should you choose magnetically-coupled cylinders, as opposed to another style?

One reason pneumatic cylinders are so versatile is that they can be configured in so many different ways. That makes it easier to find a great match for your specific application, but it doesn’t mean every air cylinder works best in every instance.

There’s nothing we love more than a good challenge here at W.C. Branham. Usually, it’s our customers who challenge us to help them select or custom-create exactly the right component(s) for their application. Recently, however, we turned the tables on them. We challenged our customers to show us the innovative ways they're using our products in their own designs.

Our Branham Challenge turned out to be even more fun — and impressive — than we expected. We asked customers to share unique solutions that featured any of our products — a caliper disc brake, some type of pneumatic actuator, a right angle gearbox, or even one of our custom-designed components.