New name, same great service. You may have noticed that when you call us you hear, “Thank you for calling ISC Companies.” ...Yes, you called the right place.

Why the name change?

So you may ask, “why the name change?” We have expanded by adding more products and services to better serve you and our old name simply does not cover all that we do. In order to better define who we are we have categorized ourselves into three groups: the Bearings & Power Transmission Group; the Machining & Fabrication Group; and the Sensors & Controls Group.

Each of these three groups offers a different array of products and services:

• Our Bearings and Power Transmission Group represent the best in class products from manufacturers like, SKF, Baldor, Gates, Martin Sprocket and Gear and many, many others.  The same products you have turned to us for the last seventy years. Will still inventory these brands and offer the expert application support you have come to rely on.
• Our Machining & Fabrication Group offers complete, in-house machining, welding, and fabrication of parts.  We also offer complete design service using SolidWorks™. Simple modifications or complex assemblies; repairs or prototypes to production runs, look to ISC Companies to deliver results.
• Our Sensors & Controls Group inventories and provides expert application support for a wide array of machine control products.  Safety products like light curtains; bar-code and RFID scanners; photo-electric, capacitive and inductive sensors; push-buttons and pilot lights; motor control devices and much more. Whether you need an individual component or an integrated machine control package we have the products and the expertise to get the job done.

But that’s just the beginning.  Where else can you turn to get all these services from one source?  One source that is capable of combining and integrating all these disciplines into one package? One source that is able to deliver and stand behind comprehensive, turn-key solutions? One source that will see your projects through from concept to the completion? ISC Companies is that one source!

Inverter Duty Bearings Prolong Electric Motor Life

Are you experiencing short service life in your electrical motors?

Are you aware that conventional motor bearings can get "fried" by the electrical current passing through them?

Are you aware that gorounding the shaft may not stop the problem?

Are you aware how much motor breakdowns and downtime cost you per year?

These Questions point out common problems experienced by variable speed motor users. You have a choice to either accept the impact that these problems have on your plant's bottom line, or you can do something about it.

SKF INSOCOAT® bearings are the solution to current-induced bearing failure.

SKF INSOCOAT® bearings are designed to prevent electrical current damage. They feature a coating of aluminum oxide as an insulator on the inneror outer ring of the bearing - dependingon shaft size. This coating is an effective insulating barrier, preventing electrical current from passing through the bearing to cause microscopic "melting" of the bearing and subsequent failure - and motor stoppage.

Plasma spray technology provides a uniform coating for reliable performance. In addition, SKF INSOCOAT® bearings are treated with a sealant that resists humid environments, heat and chemicals. 

Field tests conducted by SKF demonstrate that SKF INSOCOAT® bearings outperform (both electrically and mechanically) all other solutions, including so-called "conductive" grease. Under SKF failure analysis, competitive insulated bearings tend to exhibit cracked coatings and show a high sensitivity to humidity.  

SKF INSOCOAT® bearings are 100% performance-tested to 1,000 V DC with a minimum ohmic resistance of 50 M OHM. They are made to standard bearing dimensions allowing for drop-in replacement. There is no need to rework housings or change mounting procedures. Bearings are available for shaft diameters up to 155 mm.  

SKF INSOCOAT® bearings are the solution to current-induced bearing failures.

Trends in Power Transmission:

A Whitepaper from Gates

Synchronous belts do not slip, need re-tensioning or require lubrication. Offering 98% constant efficiency, these belts are now being used on all types of plant equipment and machinery. This Gates White Paper compares synchronous belt systems to roller chain, gear and traditional V-belt drives.

Case History

A design firm recently completed one of the largest automated conveyor projects in its 26-year history. The application required a wide variety of packaging systems, with conveyors varying in length from 10 to 200 feet. But, unlike typical systems that move pallets, boxes and assorted hard goods, this project required conveyors that would meet stringent USDA food handling requirements. For the drive systems, roller chains and V-belts were not options. The customer needed a drive that was clean, dependable, maintenance-free, and could handle daily washings with a caustic solution. The design firm needed a drive on conveyor equipment that was easy to build, and reassemble at the customer’s site. The firm’s engineering staff specified Gates Poly Chain® GT® 2 belts and a stainless steel sprocket package because: “this drive system was the best choice for our production needs and the non-corrosive, food grade conveyor requirements of the customer.”

Replacement Features

Examples such as this from industries across the country are becoming common as synchronous belts are used to replace roller chains, V-belts and even some gears. Forecasters at Gates Corporation, the world’s largest belt manufacturer, expect the synchronous belt market to grow by 5% per year for the next five years – a 25% jump. Why? Synchronous belts are versatile and dependable, and they provide positive, non-slip power transmission.

Synchronous belts operate by making positive tooth engagement with mating grooves on the sprockets much like chain and gear drives. Since they require minimum maintenance they are often used to replace V-belt and chain drives in hard-to-reach areas and critical applications where downtime must be minimized. Less attention from maintenance personnel translates to additional savings for the end user.

Synchronous belts also have an extremely high horsepower rating, size for size, when compared to V-belts. Furthermore, new generations of synchronous belts are capable of matching the load carrying capacity of roller chain size for size while providing longer life due to reduced wear (no metal-on-metal contact) and minimal stretch. This allows for more compact drives, leading to reduced wear on other components due to lower overall loads. 

When compared to V-belts, synchronous belts require less tensioning when equivalent diameters are used and additional tension is not necessary for applications with less than 180 degrees of wrap on the pulleys or sprockets. This further reduces the overall stress seen by all components in the system.

No lubrication & no stretch

Synchronous belts require no lubrication. They do not give off the oil spray associated with roller chain drives. Clean operation makes them ideal for contamination-sensitive applications such as food handling and bottling. For drives requiring optimal clean operating conditions, synchronous belt and stainless steel sprocket drive systems are designed to carry extremely high power ratings, and they resist corrosion and caustic wash-down solutions.

Energy efficiency

Studies by Gates power transmission engineers reveal that synchronous belts may be the most efficient form of power transmission short of a direct drive. The average V-belt drive is about 97% efficient when installed, but can drop to 93% or less as the belts stretch and slip.

Synchronous belts, however, offer a near constant 98% efficiency over the life of the belt. This is due to their non-slip characteristic and lower bending stresses (thinner section) that result in minimum heat buildup. This means that the user can increase the efficiency of the drive by 5 to 10% and save significantly on energy costs.

Synchronous belts can be sensitive to misalignment and should not be used on power transmission systems where it is inherent to the drive operation. Misalignment leads to inconsistent belt wear and premature tensile failure due to unequal tensile member loading. Examples include applications where the framework (motor mount, structural support, etc.) flexes under load.

Synchronous belt anatomy
There are four parts that make up the standard synchronous belt:

1. Polyurethane or rubber body: The body protects the tensile member from oil, grease, moisture and other adverse environmental conditions.
2. Tensile Cords: The muscle of the belt, usually a high tensile strength fiberglass or aramid fiber cord that resists elongation, shock and surge loads.
3. Teeth: Perform the function of positively engaging the grooves on the pulley or sprocket. They are precisely formed, spaced and compounded of a high modulus material.
4. Facing: A wear-resistant nylon fabric that acts as a wear surface, protecting the teeth. The facing also helps keep frictional loss to a minimum.

Conclusion

Synchronous belts are a growing factor in power transmission. They can solve tough drive problems. When properly installed, they provide space and weight savings, low maintenance and maximum energy efficiency. In the food and beverage processing industry, synchronous belt drive systems are an ideal replacement for chain, gear and V-belt drives. In addition, synchronous belt drives are clean running systems that require no expensive oil baths or lubrication. When combined with stainless steel sprockets, a synchronous belt drive system has the added advantage of being able to resist chemicals, the buildup of contaminants and caustic wash-down solutions.

Additional resources

Gates Belt Preventive Maintenance and Safety program provides user tips ranging from inspection to installation of V-belts and synchronous belts. Also included is information on reducing downtime, controlling parts replacement costs and increasing energy savings. To schedule a free belt preventive maintenance seminar at your facility, download a copy of Gates 48-page “Belt Drive Preventive Maintenance & Safety Manual”, or sign up for Gates free weekly “Belt Tips” email service, go to www.gates.com/beltpm.

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