Author: RMF

Tri-State MetalTech Expo

RMF

Tri-State MetalTech Expo featured small metalworking businesses from the area. We ran into some old friends and made a few new ones. It was a great way to do some networking. The event was presented by Marshall University’s Advanced Manufacturing Center, Advantage Valley and the WV Development Office. Though it was the first year of the event and we weren’t sure what the turn out would be, we were glad we attended.

 

Tri-State MetalTech
A nice showing for the Expo

The Advanced Manufacturing Center (previously called the Robert C. Byrd Institute) also had their students make their rounds and meet some prospective employers (and we were happy to meet them). These new machinists and machine operators are the life blood of our business and the future of the industry.

We hope to meet with a few of them again as they get closer to the end of their studies.

 

A sample of Riggs products on display
The Riggs booth with a sample of our work

We brought a few sample items along to show off what we do and enjoyed talking up our capabilities to the visitors.

We look forward to more events like this.

 

The crew at the Riggs booth
Johnny Riggs (CNC manager), Gregg Nichols (Sales), Mike Fitzgerald (IT Director)

Nucor, who is building a 3.1 billion dollar sheet steel mill in Mason county, WV, was the special guest and had a discussion about doing business with them.

Riggs Machine & Fabricating – Serving industry in KY, OH and WV for over 45 years!

Tensile testing (aka tension testing)

RMF

We recently got to work with a local steel company to help create samples for the tensile testing of their rolled products. I wanted to look at what the samples were going to be used for once they left the shop.

 

Tensile Testing measures tensile strength, breaking strength, maximum elongation and reduction in area. There are several variations of these tests, including how the loads are applied across the materials. Below is an example testing unit. The prepared bars are held in the arms and pulled apart.

Universal Tensile Tester
CC BY-SA 4.0 Ganitz

 

These tests are performed after rolling to ensure uniformity and consistency in the product line.

 

Other reasons for performing these tests are:

– to find out how well a product will perform

– to see if it meets the client’s standards

– to test a new design

 

Pallet of Bars to be Cut
A pallet of bars to be cut for testing.

 

To perform the tests properly, the samples must be prepared for the testing device (tensometer). The ends are wider to be easily held by the device, while the center is cut thinner to allow the deformation and fracture to occur at this point. To help repeatability of testing, the samples must be as similar as possible.

 

Cutting a Bar for Testing   Cutting a Test Bar

 

The tester will apply an even and consistent force across the sample until it fractures. The elongation that occurs, as well as the amount of force that was necessary to create it, is used in the final calculations.

 

bar cut for testing

 

These calculations will help with the following tests:

Yield Strength – The point at which deformation in the part occurs.

Ductility – Percentage of elongation.

Strain Hardening – How much the part hardens with plastic deformation (plastic deformation – a yield point, once passed, is some fraction of the deformation that will be permanent and non-reversible)

Modulus of Elasticity – The point where the material will no longer return to its original length and permanent deformation occurs.

Ultimate Tensile Strength – The maximum stress that the material can withstand while being stretched or pulled before breaking.

 

thick bar for testing

Thick Bar for Testing - Side Shot

 

Riggs Machine & Fabricating – Serving industry in KY, OH and WV for over 45 years!

Machinists Wanted!

RMF

NOW HIRING!!

Riggs Machine is currently looking for:

Manual & CNC Machinists

 

We offer:

  • Competitive Pay

  • Excellent Health Package

  • 401K

If you are an experienced machinist with a minimum of 3 years of on the job experience and are looking for a new work environment, send your resume to: sales@riggsmachine.com

 

(applications are available to download in PDF format ->)

 

We look forward to having you on our team!

Riggs Logo

Mill Caps – Handling the Heat and Pressure of the Modern Forge

RMF

As molten billets of steel race through the plant, they are formed into their final shape through a series of ever tightening rolls and presses.

The stands that hold these forming rolls are under extreme stresses as they progressively squeeze the metals into shape; be it flat sheets, bars, round stock or rails.

At the top of these stands are the mill caps – holding the components together, absorbing constant shock and vibrations as they maintain pressure on the searing metal as it is is worked beneath it.

The original cap was a cast part. This machined version will be stronger and less susceptible to cracks and weak spots due to the possibility of bad casting. It is also made of a finer grade of metal than the old, worn piece.

Using the drawings, we will CNC a new component from a 22 inch burn-out weighing over 19,000 lbs. (Not many suppliers can provide a single piece of metal that large.) Hooks were welded on the sides so the block could be moved throughout the shop.

These higher quality mill caps will provide a better support system and a more dependable and stable stand. In the long run, they will help provide our client produce a better product and maintain a longer running mill.

 

Riggs Machine & Fabricating – Serving industry in KY, OH and WV for over 45 years!

Bag Lifter – (Lifting Devices)

RMF
Bag Lifter - CAD Version
CAD Version

 

 

 

 

 

 

Getting materials and products across your facility, off of trucks, or onto storage takes various methods. Occasionally it will involve using a support structure that can safely manage the load. These devices spread the weight out evenly or allow you to lift multiple items at a time.

 

New Bag Lifter - Welding Begins
Welding Begins

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The unit shown here is a bag lifter. It lifts a single 1,000 lb. bag of dry product manufactured at the facility and allows them to quickly move them to a waiting fork lift.

 

Original Bag Lifter
Original Bag Lifter
Original Bag Lifter - End Hook
Original Bag Lifter – End Hook

 

 

 

The original unit was worn and in the redesign, we took the opportunity to reinforce the lifting eye with additional material.

 

New Bag Lifter - Reinforced Lifting Eye
Reinforced Lifting Eye

Often, such lifting devices have to be load rated. The design will be reviewed by an engineering firm and the final unit structurally tested. At that point, a placard will be placed on the unit noting its load limit.

 

New Bag Lifter - Arm Detail
Arm Detail

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here you can follow the job as it moves through the shop. From reverse engineering the original unit, to receiving the parts from the metal shop. Next we lay out and inspect the components. The tack-up process happens and then final welding. A coat of safety yellow (you really want to see anything that is lifted from a crane) is applied.

 

 

New Bag Lifter - Parts Bundle
Parts Bundle
New Bag Lifter - Parts Layout
New Bag Lifter – Parts Layout

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This sturdy, reinforced bag lifter will provide many years of dependable service. That’s the goal of the products we provide at Riggs. They’re the best parts and components in your shop.

 

New Bag Lifter - Final Unit
Final Unit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Those parts, much like Riggs Machine & Fabricating, are the ones you can count on for dependability.

 

Riggs Machine & Fabricating – Serving industry in KY, OH and WV for over 45 years!

What’s Up with the Price of Steel?

RMF

The cost of steel has tripled! This has been a blessing for the mills in the U.S. that had just recently been suffering. Some have been hiring and even running additional shifts to keep up with the growing demands.

Steelworks 62 – Ben Cooper – 2010
Licensed under CC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Profits are up as the price and demand for the products continue to grow – but there is a downside to all of this …

 

www.lemonloco.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New fabrication and repair costs have skyrocketed. Metal quotes that our vendors once held valid for up to 30 days, are now only good until the end of the day! This makes submitting a large quote that will have to go for budgeting and long-term planning difficult for many companies.

updated angle based handrail

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jobs that we had routinely run for clients, have to be re-quoted and adjusted – upward. Some clients are putting off the work while others are trying to find inventive ways to keep the costs down. At times running equipment that should have been repaired or replaced.

 

original housing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The analysts see this current price jump as a bubble and believe it will continue for a short time and then drop drastically. How it will affect the mills who have been riding on the higher profits is hard to say. It’s too early to tell.

 

Steelworks 68 – Ben Cooper – 2010
Licensed under CC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But fabricators and repair facilities are hoping for a stabilization so we can help our clients get over the sticker shock they are now facing and prepare for these large capitol upgrades, outages and major repairs.

 

Malecon Sunset –  Mark McNestry
licensed under CC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Riggs Machine & Fabricating – Serving industry in KY, OH and WV for over 45 years!

Aluminum vs. Polyethylene Pump Guards

RMF

 

We have been recently changing out a lot of pump guards that did not hold up to the harsh factory environments that they were expected handle. These plastic guards are being exchanged for more durable aluminum guards.

 

Here’s what they found:

  • The plastic can’t take the heat of the high temperature pumps. The guards get soft and warp.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • The aluminum guards will not rust, are highly resistant to weathering and are corrosion resistant to many acids.

 

  • Aluminum can be easier modified and repaired than plastic.

 

  • The plastic guards can only be removed a few times. After that, they become warped and difficult to fit back around the pump and often need to be replaced.

 

  • When supplied with a clear section for inspection, these areas quickly become clouded and useless. They have to be removed to inspect the unit opening a gap to a running pump.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Our upper ventilation slots also act as inspection ports so you can easily monitor the pump without touching the unit or removing a clouded cover.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • We’ve also added lower inspection holes to check the base of the pump for leaks, fallen items and belt issues.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • They have no ventilation or limited ventilation! Our aluminum guards have superior ventilation, increasing the lifespan of your high-temp pumps.

 

  • Many of these plastic guards come as kits. Your employees could spend may hours cutting and modifying one to get it to fit correctly. Our guards come custom built ready to install on your pump!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your people stay in the field = more dollars in your pocket.

 

 

Contact Riggs Machine about our durable, long lasting, custom aluminum pump guards.

 

Riggs Machine & Fabricating – Serving industry in KY, OH and WV for over 45 years!

Model 1841 Field Gun Cannon

RMF

1841 Field Gun - Test Fire

 

 

Built by Steen Cannons & Ordnance Works of Ashland, KY, (http://steencannons.com/) this is the test firing of a model 1841 field gun cannon. Riggs Machine milled and turned the cannon from a raw casting. This particular model is made out of cast iron. Steen did a beautiful job with the final assembly.

 

Here is the unit out of the horizontal mill after getting the trunnions machined. It is ready for the CNC lathe.

 

1841 Field Gun - partially machined

It’s been very exciting working with Steen. They do excellent work and we hope to continue our relationship with them. We never know what type of jobs will hit the shop, but these cannons have been some of our favorites!

 

Riggs Machine & Fabricating – Serving industry in KY, OH and WV for over 45 years!

Large Pipe Temporary Strainers (Witch Hats)

RMF
Large Pipe Strainers - Chris for Scale
Large Pipe Strainers – Chris for Scale

 

These temporary cone and basket strainers (the models with the flat bottoms) are impressive. Used during start-ups and repairs, they will protect pumps, piping and other parts of the system from nuts, bolts and other stray debris.

 

Various Styles of Temporary Strainers
Various Styles of Temporary Strainers

 

These are made of 304 stainless steel and custom designed. Riggs Machine can provide them in a variety of materials, styles and sizes.

 

Witch Hat Strainer - CU

Temporary Strainers on Pallet
Temporary Strainers on Pallet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They might seem extreme, but when you realize what they can save, they are worth every dollar!

 

Riggs Machine & Fabricating – Serving industry in KY, OH and WV for over 45 years!

Essential Business Status

RMF

On March 23 Gov. Andy Beshear ordered all nonessential retail businesses to be closed. Some critical businesses are exempt from these guidelines.

Riggs Machine is considered an Essential Business aligned with the Critical Manufacturing Sector servicing many industries including:

  • Energy
  • Chemical
  • Transportation
  • Water and Wastewater Systems

We will be operating and available as you have come to expect.

As always the health and safety of our employees and families remain our number one concern and we will continue to follow all applicable CDC guidelines.

Feel free to contact us at 606-324-009 if you have any questions about our operating hours or new safety protocols during this unprecedented time.

 

Riggs Machine & Fabricating – Serving industry in KY, OH and WV for over 45 years!