Solutions in Motion™

Caliper disc brakes are incredibly versatile. They can slow, hold, and stop very heavy and/or fast-moving units quickly. For this reason, they are well-suited to applications that require high torque, high energy stopping, and/or tensioning. Caliper disc brakes absorb the generated energy of the braking process, then dissipate that energy as heat. Here is an overview of each type of brake and what it does best, to help you in selecting the right kind for your application. 

The worm gearbox is an effective compact mechanical solution to reducing speed or increasing torque in many industrial settings. It can help with engineering challenges around rotational speed and torque. Another benefit is the gearing system inside a worm gearbox is self-locking by nature. A worm gearbox gets its name from the screw-shaped shaft that drives it and how that interacts with the wheel gear is where the magic happens. 

Stainless steel is unsurpassed when it comes to durability - making it a great choice in harsh environments or where heavy industrial cleaning is important. Because of this, stainless steel gearboxes, actuators, and brakes are often used in food and beverage processing and packaging, medical manufacturing for equipment and pharmaceuticals, and chemical processing facilities. 

When you’re trying to decide which type of brake is best for your particular application (such as mechanical, pneumatic, or hydraulic brakes), it’s important to understand both the reasons for braking and the differences in the types of caliper disc brakes available for industrial equipment and on- and off-road braking applications.

Caliper disc brakes come in many sizes and types, depending on your needs. W.C. Branham is proud to offer a wide range of industrial and vehicular caliper disc brakes – more than 300 possible model configurations. From active pneumatic and active hydraulic to lever mechanical actuated and spring applied brakes, you can customize disc brakes for your application. The key to success is proper sizing.

When your industrial design calls for linear movement, you might want to use hydraulic actuators. There are definite advantages to using a fluid-powered actuator, but that doesn’t mean they are right for every purpose. It all comes down to the requirements of your specific application. So, when should you choose hydraulic linear actuators?

Industrial applications are typically complex. At W.C. Branham, Inc., we deliberately design our products with a multitude of configuration options because customers need an exact fit for their application. We design, build and sell our own products, but often our customer’s full scope of needs goes beyond our line of fluid power and power transmission. That’s why, for our U.S. customers on the West Coast, we have DJ Reps as a trusted partner. 

W.C. Branham President and CEO Troy Branham introduces our pneumatic actuator line, specifically our new DURATRK™ slot tube style rodless cylinders in this edition of Solutions in Motion.

A lot can go wrong with air cylinders, and when any problem could lead to downtime, damage, or equipment failure, troubleshooting each issue can get complicated. Preventive maintenance can keep air cylinders running at optimum performance levels and reveal telltale signs that you might need to repair them. Look for these six telltale signs you may need air cylinder repairs.

When designing a custom solution, mitigating risk and margin for error is critical. One mistake and the fallout in expense can be substantial. This is why prototyping is a common practice in manufacturing. It allows manufacturers the ability to assess, qualify, and minimize risk. But if you need to justify the expense of prototyping, it’s worthwhile to weigh the advantages of prototyping against the associated costs.