Fluid Power Journal

Tips for Trouble-Free Compressed Air

By Ron Marshall, Marshall Compressed Air Consulting Nobody wants compressed air system problems. Low pressure, water in the compressed air, and air compressor …

How to Keep Tabs on a Hydraulic Machine’s “Vital Signs”

By Brendan Casey, HydraulicSupermarket.com My wife often asks me why I still do consulting work. She wonders why I happily leave the comfort of my office at …

Seeing the Light: Indicator-Light Technology Reduces Time, Cost for Fluid Power Managers

By Fred Behnke, Engineer, Canfield Connector Imagine being responsible for a large fluid-management system that relies on dozens of solenoid valves, many of …

The Real Value Of Hydraulic Circuit Diagrams

Like many readers of this Journal, I’m regularly involved in troubleshooting problems with hydraulic equipment. When in these situations, there are two …

Machine Troubleshooting – A Vital But Shrinking Industry Skill

Troubleshooters are highly skilled workers, but they are becoming an increasingly rare breed in the workforce. We sat down with managers from several large …

Troubleshooting: Science or Black Art?

The increasing complexity of today’s hydraulic equipment means there is a lot to know about proactive maintenance to achieve optimum reliability. It’s my …

Don’t Ignore the Basics

Workers at a small fiberglass manufacturer implemented some good efficiency measures a few years ago, yet some basic elements of their system were ignored. As …

Good Housekeeping Keeps Solenoid Valves Happy

The health of any motion control system is only as good as the health of its components. Because of their small size, solenoid valves can sometimes get …

Striking Gold With Compressed Air Training

Employees of New Gold’s New Afton copper/silver/gold mine, located just west of Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada, have recently completed an intensive …

In the “Heat” of the Moment

IN THE “HEAT” OF THE MOMENT of a pneumatic system troubleshooting exercise, skilled workers frequently overlook the most important step. If this step is …