NSN Orbit Blog

A circlip, also known as a snap ring, is a simple yet versatile mechanical fastener used in various applications. It is a type of retaining ring that fits into a groove on a shaft or in a bore to secure components in place. Due to their ease of installation, reliability, and cost-effectiveness, circlips are widely used in automotive, aerospace, industrial, and manufacturing sectors. With so many possible applications, there are several circlip variations available on the market, each designed for specific purposes and operating conditions. In this blog, we will provide a brief overview of some of the most commonly used types, so you have a better understanding of these versatile devices.

Hinges play a critical role in a wide range of assemblies, including cabinets, dressers, drawers, doors, and more. For doors in particular, these mechanical bearings allow them to swing open with ease. Rather than using typical hinges, many furniture manufacturers take advantage of concealed hinges, which provide a similar range of rotation to their counterparts, but are hidden from plain sight for a seamless appearance.

An aircraft engine provides the immense amount of power needed to propel a plane forward and help it overcome drag during flight. Although there are numerous engine types that vary greatly among aircraft types, they all share the common feature of taking up a large percentage of the total weight. Given their size and aerodynamic hindrance, engines must be placed at strategic spots along the aerostructure. In this blog, we will discuss the common engine mounting locations, while also discussing the rationale behind each choice.

Whether you are working with a liquid or gas system, such as the hydraulic systems used in aircraft and various industries, you will need a manner by which to stop, start, and control flow across the system. With a cylindrical design, a ball valve relies on a hollow, pivoting ball to mitigate flow. Low-maintenance and highly efficient at preserving pressure levels, ball valves are useful in a variety of applications. As such, if you are in the market for a ball valve for any of your systems, it is helpful to have a better understanding of their different parts, that of which will be covered in further detail in the following blog.

Chain drives are assemblies that may be found in a number of systems and settings, and they are designed for the means of transferring mechanical power between spaces. For example, chain drives are often found in bicycles and cars alike, allowing for generated power to be transferred to the wheels so that they spin and move. Despite this common use, chain drive applications spread much further than automobiles, regularly being situated within industrial machinery and more.

Choosing the right electrical connector for your application can be a difficult task with so many specifications to consider. However, when the right connector is selected, you are provided with a reliable means to modularize, reduce space usage, and improve manufacturability and field maintenance. To get the most out of your purchase, this blog will cover the key criteria to keep in mind when narrowing down your options.

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Whether you are plugging in a laptop to a wall outlet for charging or are inserting a USB cable into a computer, you may have noticed the commonality of a large, nondescript cylinder that is located close to the connecting end of the cable. While you may not have thought much about the cylinder common to cables, it serves a very important role in connections and transfers. Known as ferrite cores, beads, or chokes, these cylinders are relied on for EMI management across a number of devices. While ferrite cores may play a diverse set of roles based on the application, this blog will be concerned with the operations of ferrite cores when they are specifically found on electronic cables.

As an element used for EMI protection, a ferrite core serves as a lowpass filter to guard a device. In a standard circuit, capacitors will operate as open when frequencies are low, while high frequencies will have them function as shorts. With consideration to Kirchoff’s voltage law, the total voltage of the loop will be equal to the sum of the drop across each component. It is important to know that both capacitors and inductors have a value known as capacitive reactance which is a counterpart to real number resistance. By adding resistance and reactance together as vectors, one will find the impedance value.

In 2020, the global aircraft brake system market was valued at $10.52 billion, and today, it is projected to reach $16.95 billion by 2030. Perhaps, it would have seen a greater increase had it not been for the significant impact COVID-19 has had on the market in the last two years. The COVID-19 pandemic brought about numerous challenges for the aircraft brake system industry, such as logistical challenges, and an unprecedented supply-demand gap, among others. Currently, the industry is playing catch up as it continues to combat the challenges of aircraft brake systems for fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft.

Modern aircraft engines are immensely powerful, utilizing the combustion of fuel and compressed air to achieve heavier-than-air flight that allows pilots and passengers to traverse the world with speeds never before thought possible. If you work with aircraft or pilot them, it can be extremely important to have a general understanding of how various engine operations work. In this blog, we will briefly cover the starting process for a reciprocating engine, ensuring that you are familiar with how it works for standard flight and for troubleshooting.

It is impossible to function in modern life without electricity. We need it for light and power in our homes, businesses, and schools, and we rely on power plants that deliver this essential service 24/7x365 days a year. This makes the electricity production process critical to understand for those who depend on power sources in their daily lives