A Brief Guide to the Different Cylinder Head Designs

by docgate

Projections show that the global automotive cylinder head market will reach a size of $20.23 billion by 2025.

Advancements in technologies have led to various types of cylinder heads being developed. When buying a new cylinder head, there are plenty of options, so it’s best to know what the advantages of each are before you make your purchase.

For more on the different types of cylinder heads available, keep reading.

What Are Cylinder Heads?

A cylinder head sits on top of your engine block and contains various components. It covers many of the moving parts of the engine, and its design will affect how your engine performs.

Iron and aluminum are both often used to make cylinder heads. The choice of material depends on the application. As a crucial part of the engine, a cylinder head has some properties that must always be present:

  • High ductility
  • High strength
  • High thermal conductivity
  • High creep resistance (under extreme temperatures)
  • Good casting properties
  • Low porosity

Cylinder heads come in a range of sizes and designs, so you should check a cylinder head chart to ensure you get one that is suitable for your car.

Flathead Cylinder Head

These have a simple design and are the oldest type of cylinder head. Made from a single piece of metal, they have no mechanical parts, which makes them the easiest and cheapest type to manufacture. They’re also more lightweight and compact than other types.

The valves cause the intake gas to flow awkwardly at a 90° angle as they’re located on the sides. This results in inefficient combustion and a low compression ratio. On top of this, they can exhibit cooling problems.

Nowadays, these are rarely seen in cars and are generally only found in small engines such as tractors, lawnmowers, and other farm equipment.

Overhead Valve (OHV) Cylinder Head

One of the main differences between this and the flathead type is that the valve train components are contained within the cylinder head, as well as the spark plugs and the intake/exhaust gas passageways.

This setup provides improved performance and efficiency from the exhaust ports. Flathead cylinder heads also heat up much quicker than OHV types. The arrangement of these helps to simplify the drive system, which in turn enhances the timing system.

All of these benefits have led to OHV cylinder heads becoming far more popular than flathead cylinder heads in recent years.

Overhead Camshaft (OHC) Cylinder Head

Like OHV cylinder heads these have the spark plugs, valve train components, and intake/exhaust ports built into their design, and they even contain the camshaft. The camshaft is often located in the center of the cylinder head, but this varies between different models.

Single configuration OHC cylinder heads have a single camshaft that controls the intake and exhaust valves. Dual configurations are also available which have two camshafts – each one operating the valves separately.

Dual configuration models are more expensive to manufacture, but they also perform better.

If you have the budget and want to get the most out of your car, you should look into performance heads.

The Right Cylinder Head for You

It is safe to say that if you’re looking for a new cylinder head, you should avoid flathead models. The decision between OHV and OHC comes down to your needs. An OHV cylinder head will do the job, but if you really want your car to perform, then UHC cylinder heads may be a better option.

If you’re interested in more automotive articles, check out some of our other blog posts.

What Can You Do to Earn After a Music Education Degree?

by docgate

Music is a universal language. And just like any other language, music can be learned by anyone who wants to do so – regardless of their background or natural ability. Music is the best way of entertainment to relax, and it can even be used to help people heal. But the question remains: what does one do after they’ve earned their degree in music?

The options are endless, really. Music education graduates can go on to teach in schools, work as music therapists, or pursue a career in composing or performing. The sky’s the limit when it comes to what you can do with a music education degree. Let’s have a deeper look into all the options.

1.  Teach in Schools

One of the most obvious choices for music education graduates is to teach in schools. This could be at the elementary, middle, or high school level. You could also choose to teach in a special needs classroom, or even start your own music program from scratch.

The beauty of teaching is that there are always options available – even when the job market is tough. If you want to teach in a public school, then you will need to become certified by the state in which you live. This certification process usually involves completing a standardized test and meeting all of the requirements set by the state department of education.

Private schools typically don’t require certification, but they may prefer or even require that their teachers have a degree in music education. If you want to teach in a private school, then it’s a good idea to contact the school directly and ask about their requirements.

2.  Music Therapists

Another great career option for music education graduates is to become a music therapist. Music therapists use music as a form of therapy to help people with physical, emotional, and cognitive disabilities. They may work with people who have autism, Alzheimer’s disease, or Down syndrome, just to name a few examples.

To become a music therapist, you will need to complete an accredited graduate program in music therapy. These programs are typically two to three years in length and will give you the training you need to work with clients.

3.  Composers and Performers

If you’re more interested in the creative side of music, then you may want to pursue a career as a composer or performer. As a composer, you would create original pieces of music for commercials, movies, television shows, or video games. You could also work as a freelance composer, which would allow you to work on a variety of projects.

You can also start sharing your music on platforms like SoundCloud or Spotify, which can help you build a following on SoundCloud or Spotify and eventually land gigs performing live.

The great thing about being a composer or performer is that you can often work from home, which gives you a lot of freedom and flexibility.

4.  Become Session Musician

If you want to perform but don’t want to be responsible for leading the band, then you could become a session musician. Session musicians are musicians who are hired to play on recordings. They may work in a studio or they may travel to different locations to record music.

The nice thing about being a session musician is that you can often work on a freelance basis, which means you can set your own hours and work as much or as little as you want.

5.  Become Recording Engineer

If you’re interested in the technical side of music, then you may want to pursue a career as a recording engineer. Recording engineers are responsible for setting up and operating the equipment used to record music. They may work in a studio or they may travel to different locations to record music.

To become a recording engineer, you will need to complete a training program at a technical school or college. These programs typically last two to four years and will give you the skills you need to work in the industry.

After you complete a training program, you can start working as an intern or assistant engineer. Once you have some experience, you can then apply for jobs as a recording engineer.

These are just a few of the many career options available to music education graduates. With a little bit of research, you’re sure to find a career that’s perfect for you. So what are you waiting for? Start exploring today!

Why Typing Speed Matters For Students

by docgate

When you have completed your education, what can be a greater thing than looking back at the days spent in school and college. Looking back, you will only remember the good memories shared with friends and teachers. But one thing which will make you frown is low grades. In order to maximize your potential, it is necessary to work towards improving your grades. Sometimes, no amount of hard work can do the trick and you need a helping hand to achieve this goal.

One such thing is taking the help of technology to improve your grades is a high speed typing tutor. Are you wondering if there’s any relation between typing speeds and grades? Yes, you are in for an interesting read.

What is Typing? A Brief History

Before we move ahead, let’s get the basics right. Those who want to brush up their knowledge can go through it in a jiffy. Otherwise, skip this part and jump straight on to the next one.

The first computer was invented by Charles Babbage in 1823. It was called the ‘ Difference Engine.’ By the end of the 19th century, typewriters were invented and soon it became a popular device to save time and effort. People started using it for typing documents and letters on papers.

History of Typewriters and Word Processors

In the earlier days, typewriters used to print on paper that had carbon copies. Carbon copies were black sheets or white papers with a layer of carbon below them. This enabled multiple people to make handwritten notes and the last copy would be typed as it was by using carbon paper.

Later, word processors came into existence and changed this entire process. As the name suggests, these devices were capable of manipulating and processing words. However, typewriters continued to exist and still continue to be used as one cannot deny their handiness.

The first word processors were bulky in size and slow in speed. Gradually they started becoming faster and more efficient than typewriters. As a result, these devices slowly replaced typewriters and currently, most people have word processors in their homes.

Is Typing Speed an Essential Educational Skill?

Is typing speed a skill that matters? The answer is a big yes! Believe it or not, but there’s a direct association between typing speed and grades. If you are thinking that this statement has been derived from just an opinion then think again.

According to studies, students with typing speed below 30 wpm get poor grades. Similarly, those who have typing speed ranging from 50-70 wpm get average grades and students whose typing speeds lie in the range of 70-90 wpm get good grades.

How Typing Tests Online Help School Education?

These days, schools are focusing more on technology. With the help of technology, it is possible to get information instantly. This effortless access to information has helped teachers in providing an adequate amount of feedback to students so that they can improve their grades without much hassle.

Nowadays, most of the schools have started using online typing tests for assessing their students. This also helps them in improving the overall efficiency of their work by eliminating any paperwork that they need to do for grading students.

How to Increase Typing Speed?

If you are looking for some shortcuts to increase your typing speed, then you should try a free online high speed typing tutor.

High speed typing trainer is one of the best tools that enables students to enhance their typing skills in minimum time. It offers different lessons which introduce beginners to the basic concepts of typing like how to place fingers on the keyboard and some common rules that need to be followed.

Types of Typing Practice Tests

After you have learnt the basics, it’s time for you to move towards more challenging typing tests. Understanding the different types of typing tests is necessary if you want to get a grip on your skills and achieve your goal fast.

Type 1: Quiz Based Tests

In quiz based typing tests, you will be asked a question on the screen and as soon as you open it, four or five answer options will appear. You have to select the correct answer within 3 seconds. Your answer selection time is monitored by the software program so that your respective scores can be recorded.

Type 2: Personalized Typing Tests

This technique is helpful for improving your typing skills as it records your keystrokes and offers detailed analysis. This provides you with real time feedback so that you can know immediately whether you are making mistakes or not.

How Many Words Per Minute is a Good Typing Speed for Students?

Ideally, a student should have a typing speed of at least 50 wpm. However, it can be difficult to achieve this mark initially as you will need some time to master the skills. With proper practice and perseverance, one can easily increase their typing speeds within a matter of a few days. There are many online free tools for students that increase words per minute typing speed through which they can become an expert typist.

Can a Student Get a Part Time Job by Increasing Typing Speed?

Yes of course! Nowadays, employers and companies prefer applicants with good typing skills. This is because they get irritated when you submit your work at a snail’s pace. You should know that time is money for them so they cannot afford to wait until you type everything.

However, if you want to get employed quickly then you need to increase your typing speed to a level where you can comfortably type up to 60 wpm. This will increase your chances of getting hired by 10%.

How Do Schools, Colleges and Universities Test the Speed of Their Students’ Typing Skills?

It is common for schools and colleges to perform online typing tests or assessments because it saves them a lot of time that they would otherwise need to spend on grading each student manually. Moreover, schools that are hooked up to the internet can do this at any point of time without requiring students’ presence in their institutions.

How To Run A Successful Trucking Company?

by docgate

The logistics industry in general, and the trucking industry in particular, is usually the major factor driving the economy.

Although some states require a Dot Number, Trucks have been delivering more than 70% of cargo from one state to another in the United States. You can get a Wisconsin Dot Number easily from the website. They will handle all your paperwork to make it easy for you to get the Dot Number.

Trucking companies transport goods from suppliers to factories and then deliver manufactured goods from producers to the customers. The economy will actually cease moving if these regular flows are not maintained.

That’s why, despite the fact that many other firms were forced to close during the COVID-19 lockdowns, the trucking industry remained mainly operational, with even more work than before the pandemic.

Here are some tips to run a successful trucking company

1.  Meet the legal requirements

To succeed, a company should be trustable and legal. Your company should meet the following requirements to operate in different states of the USA.

  • You must have a DOT (department of transportation) number to operate intra-state. This indicates that the drivers of a company are eligible and experienced enough to drive heavy vehicles and transport goods.
  • If you are transporting hazardous material, the driver must have a DOT number as well as safety permit to travel across the states.
  • Size and weight restrictions, EPA or air quality regulations, and safety guidelines are among the various federal and state laws that need to be met when operating a trucking company.

2.  Have a fixed per-mile rate

You must have seen brands with fixed prices. Only cheap brands offer bargaining. To run a successful trucking company, choose a proper per mile rate and keep it high enough to earn profit but not too high. High rates will not attract customers.

Perform a market research and determine what other companies are costing per mile. Keep your services a bit lower in cost than your competitors. But not too low, otherwise your services will look cheap and less qualitative.

3.  Work on your balance sheets

Having a reliable and transparent strategy to manage income and costs is very important when running a logistics company.

This is especially essential for transportation businesses because payments are usually made weeks or even months after shipment, making it impossible to manage expenses while being on the road.

Subscribing to accounting software or hiring an experienced accountant is one of the best options. You, as the owner, must be well-informed of when and how you will be paid for the shipment.

Payment is usually due 20 to 70 days following delivery under most shipping contracts.

Keep an up-to-date record of receipts, invoices, and check slips on hand in case you need to verify your spendings. Keep separate business and personal bank accounts.

4.  Bad Management Make Bad Decisions

A lousy management may make or ruin your transportation company. It’s critical for top management to clearly define and discuss their requirements. Both the company and the employees should be included in these objectives.

Choose the best manager for the job. This is, without a doubt, a difficult assignment.

Only one out of every ten people is born with the talent to lead, but two out of every ten have the potential to grow a business. Senior management should always do thorough background checks on potential managers, just as they would when hiring new staff.

Managers should be trained and educated on what great performance is and what it implies.

5.  Meet Customer’s Expectations

You should consider what your consumers really want. What exactly are their expectations?

The last thing your clients want is an overload of unshipped inventory in their warehouse. This not only takes up too much warehouse space, but it also has an influence on the taxes they pay.

Rather than spending too much time on their shelves, they want to have things delivered to them on demand. If trucking businesses make on-time deliveries, they can assist them in achieving this goal.

Transport that is both safe and secure. Customers want their packages to arrive safely. You are not offering the finest customer service if you have to contact them to inform them that their cargo has been stolen or has been lost in an accident.

How to Repair a Stripped Thread in an Engine Block

by docgate

How much work you need to put into these problems will depend on the nature of the damage itself and sometimes major replacements will be inevitable, but not in all cases. In the specific case of stripped threaded bolt holes in engine blocks, the problem often has a very specific cause.

However, repairs are usually completely possible and not too difficult to do, just as long as they’re done with mechanically sound repair options kept in mind. This is what we’re now going to cover.

A Rundown of the Hard and Soft in Engine Thread Damage

Decades ago, engines and many other industrially cast manufactured parts were more often than not incredibly hard creations of hardened steel alloys. At one point in time, the use of these metals extended to many parts of a car, including engine blocks, heads, manifolds, housings, brackets and even automotive frames. This applied particularly to bolt holes in steel and iron parts, which would conserve their thread integrity quite firmly despite heavy use.

Over time, hard steel and cast iron were increasingly replaced by aluminum alloys whose hardness ratings were well below those of previous steel parts. Thus, whereas iron and steel parts with Brinell Hardness (HB) ratings of 150 to 300 could be seen in one part of a car, aluminum parts with HB ratings of between 20 and 150 started to become more common. In the case of engine blocks, aluminum alloys with a hardness rating of 150 can be found, but sometimes they’re lower.

Bolts on the other hand often remain much harder, in the 150+range. As a result, where the aluminum alloy of the engine block has a hardness rating that closely matches that of its steel bolts, internal threads often hold firm for much longer. However when steel bolts with 150+ hardness ratings are matched with engine blocks of lesser hardness, thread stripping is suddenly a major, common risk.

Replacing Soft Threads with Hard Threads

Because so many of today’s engine blocks come manufactured with softer aluminum alloy materials, thread stripping has in some cases become more common than ever. What’s more, even though many manufacturers pre-install hardened threading in certain high-stress parts of an engine, the vast majority of threaded holes in an aluminum alloy engine block will come right out of the factory without reinforced bolt hole threading.

This will at some point often cause you to have an engine block stripping problem. The easiest way to fix it is by adding your own hard threads right off the bat.

Hardened Metal Thread Inserts

By simply drilling into your engine block holes with a mechanical drilling tool that slightly expands their width, you can then follow up by adding in hardened steel thread inserts of your own that completely lock into place and reinforced the original hole with a new layer of steel that matches or exceeds what bolts offer.

By doing this, you ensure that your engine block threads get an entirely new lifespan with far harder internal protection. The threads will even feel much more solid than the original threaded hole, especially if its original threading had already started to strip.

The metal thread insert process of repairing engine blocks can also be used as a preventative measure, which is what makes it so great. Thus, instead of using your engine block until its factory-made threads finally fail and possibly cause far worse damage, you can pre-drill them to wider diameters, add in hardened carbon steel threads of your own and firmly have them ready for years of use that forestall deeper damage.

Avoiding Engine Replacement

In the very worst cases, if your engine block has already gone through a process of thread stripping, then thread hardening might not be enough. It usually is, and even a majority of badly stripped engine block bolt holes are remarkably repairable with the right kinds of  steel threaded inserts for metal. However, in situations where stripped threads have loosened the integrity of the entire head gasket and other parts attached to an engine block, stress deformities and cracks can form. If these occur, the entire replacement of your engine block suddenly becomes a necessity.

For reasons of repair effort, time and sheer cost, thread-reinforcing your engine block is something you’ll definitely want to do instead of waiting for its bolt threads to cause a catastrophic failure. Carbon steel thread inserts for engines are extremely hard, built to last and provide tremendous, long-term reinforcement.