29Mar
24Mar
Wrapped Yarns-Three New Options!
Wrapped Yarns-Three New Options! Shieldex and Lederer GmbH are developing three new products. Three types of conductive wrapped yarns are under development. These products are: Wrapped Yarn dyed: Silver plated yarns cannot be dyed. Color can now be added by wrapping the dyed yarn with silver plated yarn. The silver plated yarn is not directly affected by the dyed yarn. This allows the plated yarn to maintain its electrical and thermal conductive properties. Wrapped Yarn Stretched: Using a very stretchable yarn...
22Mar
Supply Chain Woes- We’ve got the Goods!
Supply Chain Woes-We've got the Goods! The last two years have been crazy for businesses! Shutdowns due to COVID put us all behind production schedule! The suppliers of raw materials were also affected in similarly. Now we are able to work again. Good Employees are hard to come by, slowing production! The current problem is that the supply chain is broken! Many companies have no raw materials or parts to work with. Orders are currently being taken at many companies. ...
17Mar
Global Reach and Innovation-two Great Assets!
Global Reach and Innovation-two Great Assets! During these tough economic times, we have been very fortunate. The supply chain has broken and is difficult to repair. VTT and our European partner, Shieldex, have excellent global reach. Our two locations, Germany and the USA, make shipping easier. Both of our locations have large standing inventories in stock. We manufacture many of the products that we sell. We have been fortunate to find suppliers of raw goods. This has helped us to...
10Mar
Use a Tenter Frame-Erase Yarn Memories!
Use a Tenter Frame-Erase Yarn Memories! Yarns develop bad "memories" from the knitting process. Think of the knitting process as a traumatic event for the yarn. These "memories" first show up when oils and binders are removed by washing after knitting. The removal of these oils and binders is an "aqueous process". As the yarns dry from the washing, the yarn appears wrinkled. These "wrinkles" are physical swelling or "bellies" caused by the yarn's "knitting memory". These "physical memories" make...
03Mar
Electronic Data Protection-Buy or DYI!
Electronic Data Protection-Buy or DYI! I've talked about Faraday pouches that protect digital data hacks before. They are security pouches used by government, police, and big business. These pouches prevent data tampering or theft by wireless access. Phones, laptops, and PDAs are protected from wireless access while inside the pouch. These pouches work using the "Faraday Cage Effect" created by metalized textiles. The metalized textiles block passage of electromagnetic fields through pouch walls. This same technology is now available to...
23Feb
Pre-Compliance EMC Testing saves Time and Money!
Pre-Compliance EMC Testing saves Time and Money! All electronic devices must pass testing by an accredited EMC testing lab. It is estimated that up to 50% of products fail final testing on their first try! Multiple trips for testing really increase the product development cost. Pre-Compliance Testing during development at your facility can prepare your device for the "Final"! This early testing helps to detect and address problems stepwise during development. Testing and correcting early avoids expensive "back tracking" to...
17Feb
Shielding lowers Interference-Devices work Better!
Shielding lowers Interference-Devices work Better. We all know what interference is like in an office situation. While concentrating on an important job, someone disrupts your concentration. The interference comes from a coworker who is working with you. Frustration sets in, you can't get back "into the zone". You know you aren't performing your best work. The same thing can happen to devices in a shared electrical environment. All devices are trying to work but can't function well. In the workplace...
16Feb
Sensors and Electrodes-keeping us Aware!
Sensors and Electrodes-keeping us Aware! Sensors are by definition devices that measure a physical property and records, indicates, or otherwise responds to it. Electrodes are conductors through which electricity enters or leaves an object, substance or region. Through sensing, we know the condition of our automobile's systems. Today's automobile tells us how much gas we have and the condition of our tires. They tell us if seatbelts are buckled, and airbags are functional. The health care industry uses sensing devices in...
03Feb