Steel meets leather: The influence of cutting parameters in the leather splitting process

Content: This article wants to combine two perspectives: First, Leather production, focused on the splitting process, with its diverse quality requirements and second, the new evolutions in the field of bandknife properties. In a short introduction the splitting process as such will be described, its different use in several stages and leather types, also in the field of leather conversion (in shoe, leathergoods and automotive parts production). Influencing factors of the possible goals like quality and cost efficiency will be discussed. In the second part some main requirements and problem fields of leather splitting are analyzed in more detail. Requirements such as thickness tolerance, tensile strength, flexibility, fibre-free smooth cutting surface. Difficulties in practice like chrome nests, hard water, poor raw material, feeding speed, influence of abrasivity of leather. In a third part the physics of the cutting process as such will be described. Explanation of basic terms as “cutting ability”, “edge retention”, “pull vs. press cut”. Resulting from this we get important parameters that refer to the bandknife blade: e.g. steel characteristics (hardness, flexibility, grindeability, microstructure at cutting point, geometry of knife bevels, weldability etc.). The possibilities in modern bandknife production will be shown as for example: CNC-sensor-based tolerance measurements, presharpening, surface roughness variations. This is completed with a short view on the other components of the process like splitting machine (points like sharpness measuring), grinding stones (roughness-exactness controversy diagram). The fourth and last part puts the two perspectives together: Optimized bandknife characteristics for specific leather material. Alternative steel types that due to new properties allow to meet also new requirements. Take-Away: Optimization of the splitting process Better understanding of the bandknife propertie

Forestry assistance for landowners (2015)

Missouri citizens own about 85 percent of the state's 15 million forested acres. Proper care and management of the private forest resource are important to the health of Missouri's economy and environment. Once you as a forestland owner become aware of this valuable resource, you might have questions like 'How can I manage my forest for both wood and wildlife?' or 'Where can I go for help?' Throughout Missouri, the following agencies and organizations can help you find publications, technical advice, educational programs and financial assistance to help you manage your woodlands. The following descriptions will give you an idea of some of the assistance available.New 8/85; Revised 1/15/Web

Selling timber : what the landowner needs to know (2015)

Many landowners receive only a fraction of their timber's true value because they do not know what they have or how to sell it. Selling timber can be a rewarding experience if you understand the steps involved. This guide will not make you an expert, but it will explain the basic steps involved in selling timber, so you can feel more comfortable during the process and better about the results of your sale.Reviewed 3/15/2M

Wood fuel for heating (2012)

Increasing energy costs have resulted in resurgence in the use of wood as a fuel for home heating. But heating with wood is not for everyone. Here are a few questions you should ask yourself before investing in a wood-burning unit: Does it make economic sense? ; How do you properly size and install a wood-burning unit? ; Is burning wood suited to your lifestyle? ; Where will the wood come from? ; This guide provides the basic information to help you answer those questions.Revised 3/12/Web

Chipper-shredders (2014)

Disposing of yard waste can be difficult if your municipality bans leaves, grass clippings and other forms of yard waste from landfills. Leaves and other vegetation used to make up a large portion of landfill trash, so these restrictions increase the useful life of a landfill. But they make disposal of yard waste difficult, especially in areas that also ban burning. Composting is a viable alternative for leaves and grass clippings, but it does not work well for brush and small limbs. A chipper-shredder is an alternative that works for all of these yard wastes and offers beneficial side effects as well. (For information on composting, see MU Extension publication G6956, Making and Using Compost.) Chipper-shredders reduce brush and small limbs to a size that is easier to handle and that is suitable for composting or for soil covers, which reduce moisture loss and weed growth and add beauty to a landscaped lawn. Shredding leaves and grass clippings also will reduce the time it takes for composted materials to decay.New 7/93; Reviewed 9/14/300

Basic elements of a timber sale contract

About 85 percent -- 13 million acres -- of Missouri's forestland is owned by private landowners. Each year many of these individuals receive significant income from harvesting timber. However, too many Missouri landowners make the mistake of entering into an oral logging agreement on a handshake. Memory and recollection are not good tools for helping parties resolve conflicts. A written contract reviewed by an attorney is essential. A contract ensures that both the seller and the buyer have a clear understanding of the terms of the logging project, including the timber harvesting practices to be used. A reputable logger will understand the need for a contract.New 12/14/Web

Selling timber : what the landowner needs to know (2011)

Many landowners receive only a fraction of their timber's true value because they do not know what they have or how to sell it. Selling timber can be a rewarding experience if you understand the steps involved. This guide will not make you an expert, but it will explain the basic steps involved in selling timber, so you can feel more comfortable during the process and better about the results of your sale

DPP-PMRF: Rethinking Optimization for a Probabilistic Graphical Model Using Data-Parallel Primitives

We present a new parallel algorithm for probabilistic graphical model optimization. The algorithm relies on data-parallel primitives (DPPs), which provide portable performance over hardware architecture. We evaluate results on CPUs and GPUs for an image segmentation problem. Compared to a serial baseline, we observe runtime speedups of up to 13X (CPU) and 44X (GPU). We also compare our performance to a reference, OpenMP-based algorithm, and find speedups of up to 7X (CPU).Comment: LDAV 2018, October 201

Clinical Validation of the Ansi C63.19 Draft Standard for Measuring Compatibility between Digital Wireless Phones and Hearing Aids

Acoustic interference can be generated in hearing aids by the pulsed transmission signal of a digital wireless phone. This interference, resembling a buzzing, clicking, or static sound, is annoying and can seriously degrade the intelligibility of the speech. The objective of the ANSI C63.19 Draft Standard is to provide a simple, reliable test procedure for measuring the immunity of hearing aids to this interference. To clinically validate the standard, hearing aids were custom manufactured for eighteen hearing-impaired participants. The participants rated the effects of the interference experienced when using five digital wireless phone technologies (CDMA at 800 and 1900 MHz, TDMA-50 Hz at 800 and 1900 MHz, and TDMA-217 Hz at 1900 MHz) at five transmission power levels (0, 6, 12, 18, and 24 dBm). More than two-thirds of the subjects responded as predicted by acoustic measurements of the interference. The remaining subjects experienced difficulties unrelated to wireless phone interference due to severe hearing loss or excessive feedback. These results support the use of acoustic measurements of immunity as the basis for the ANSI C63.19 standard.Yeshttps://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/manuscript-submission-guideline