“If a man is in need of rescue, an airplane can come in and throw flowers on him, and that’s just about all. But a direct lift aircraft could come in and save his life.” ~Igor Sikorsky
When Michael Mitchell, a mechanical engineer at Zephyr International, LLC called B&B Manufacturing, he needed pulley stock for a specially designed version of Zephyr’s hoist equipment that would be very light weight and used on board ships.
The B&B customer service team worked with Michael to determine B&B’s aluminum bar stock, 60L-PS8A is what he needed. B&B worked with Michael to determine that he needed 8 inches of “L pitch” pulley stock with 60 teeth and made from aluminum, a 60L-PS8A. Although not typically stocked, B&B machined the pulley stock to Zephyr specifications.
Pending the initial design tests results, B&B and Zephyr may have found a lightweight substitute for the heavy cast iron pulleys typically used on these critical hoists.
Up, up, and AWAY!
Saturday, January 7, 2012 is the start date for the First Robotics Competition. The Manchester, New Hampshire kickoff event will be televised by NASA. That event and the many “local” kickoff events will give teams a chance to network, share ideas, pick up the Kit of Parts and get ready for the new competition season.B&B Manufacturing and the Gates Corporation have teamed up to provide the First Robotics teams with the Kit of Parts pictured above. Skids of kits were shipped out of B&B Manufacturing in late October for this year’s competition.
