Stahle Company

On the floor and out the door. Frist full week of 2025 has been a full and satisfying one for sure. 7 out or ready to go out, after snowmageddon. Plenty more in the works. Thanks to all those who trust us to build for them. Thanks for all those with the patience to wait. Let's all have a good year!!

Sometimes, it's just that simple. Sometimes not. Good to be busy.

Clamping durability. Hammer friendly. If you have followed me much, you know I have mentioned “hammer friendly” several times. In the design and build of a welding fixture, that is a critical point. This is an example of why we use toggle clamps, power clamps, toggle lock clamps or whatever you know them by. What is shown here is on a tool that is back in for an upfit and I always love to look at things that have been in service for a while. In this case, 12+ years. Thousands of cycles and thousands of parts produced. The benefit of this style clamp is the mechanism is enclosed and protected from spatter. Now, in the case of this old fella, the rubber top cap has been gone for a long time. The back cover plate has been gone a long time. It still works like a champ. Granted, I stopped using this brand a while back because certain aspects no longer meet the quality of what we like to produce. The screw hole with the red arrow, is the only screw that holds the back plate on….and it only has 2 thread engagement with the screw that holds it from the factory. I worked with the manufacturer to get that resolved, but it never was. So, we have moved on from these…..but they are still working. Mounted with a 2x2 steel block (hammer friendly) and utilizing an 8mm key mounting, instead of 6mm dowel pins….that will break. In welding fixtures, durability is a must. #durability #clamping

Durability testament. It is nice when a tool comes back in for upfit and we get to see how things have performed over production time. What I have shown here is a locator assembly we build quite often that we refer to as a “center-pull”. The picture on the left shows a new one that is getting assembled and ready to go into service. The picture on the right shows a unit that has been in service 12 years. Durability and application knowledge are key in designing this type of assembly. Welding is a harsh environment full of sparks, spatter, and hammers. This unit is designed to be customer serviceable, with off the shelf components to maintain accuracy over years of use, though most don’t service them. Key highlights include: ·????????Mechanism can be dissembled for service with 4 screws. ·????????Off the shelf guide rods and bearings. ·????????Off the shelf coupler ·????????Off the shelf locator pins. ·????????Guided assembly is closed during welding, protecting the rods. ·????????Rods have 2 ? times diameter engagement when closed, increasing accuracy. ·????????At least 1 ? times diameter engagement when open. These are built to last. #durability #design #dfm

I would like to thank all of you who viewed, responded or replied to this post. Obviously, the content struck a chord. https://lnkd.in/ebrPikjh