Events

Basic system design and troubleshooting at Fluid Power Conference & Expo

For the past six years, we have been helping system designers, engineers, and technicians learn more about the technology they use with our Fluid Power Conference & Expo. Our first 2012 edition takes place at WasteExpo, as hydraulics are used extensively in waste reduction vehicles and machinery.

Hydraulics provides the power to  crush cars, shred tires, rip appliances apart, grind stumps, turn trees into sawdust, pulverize rocks into gravel, squeeze plastic, wood, and paper into compact bales, and more.

The Fluid Power Conference & Expo focuses on basic hydraulic knowledge. A complete schedule is below. All sessions are presented by Jerry Auble from CFC-Solar, except where noted. Auble has 43+ years experience working in industrial systems. He spent 22 years as an aircraft repair technician and instructor, worked at Northrop Aircraft and instructed Royal Saudi Air Force on aircraft hydraulics in Al-Kobar, Saudi Arabia. Since 1980, Jerry has been involved in installation/repair, troubleshooting, consulting and instructing in both the mobile and industrial environment, specializing in hydraulics.  He is a member and Accredited Instructor of the Fluid Power Society, holding several certifications.

The next Fluid Power Conference & Expo is slated for June 26-27 in at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. Visit www.fluidpowerexpo.com for more details and registration information.

The following conference sessions are slated.

Tuesday, May 1
10:30 am to 12:00 pm—Introduction to Hydraulics 1: Advantages of hydraulics; system operation; flow, pressure, speed, force, and torque; major components — pumps, valves, conductors, actuators, filters, fluids, reservoirs; symbology (reading schematics) and component interactions.
1:30pm to 3:00pm—Introduction to Hydraulics 2: Discrete, proportional, and servo control; directional, pressure, and flow-control circuits; energy-saving circuits; pump controls; electronic controls and sensors; hydrostatic drives; contamination and filtration.
3:15pm to 4:30pm—Hydraulic Components & Systems 1: A more in-depth discussion of hydraulic components, circuits, controls, and their interactions, with emphasis on contamination control to improve system reliability and reduce machine downtime and operating costs.
Wednesday, May 2
10:30 am to 12:00 pm—Hydraulic Components & Systems 2: Additional discussion of hydraulic components, circuits, controls, and their interactions, with emphasis on system and component troubleshooting and predictive and preventive maintenance to get more work out of equipment.
1:00pm to 2:30pm—Hydraulics in Mobile Equipment: Just about any heavy equipment that moves relies on hydrostatic drives. This session explores the operation of hydrostatic and implement drives excavators, dozers, loaders, and specialized mobile equipment, such as shredders, crushers, and grinders.
2:45pm to 4:00pm—Hydraulics in Stationary Equipment: Hydraulics is essential to the operation of balers, shredders, crushers, grinders, conveyors and other equipment used in waste disposal and recycling. This session examines some of the hydraulic circuits used in these powerful machines.
4:00pm to 4:30pm—Booth Tour: Attendees will be invited to an optional tour of a booth showing the real-world application of hydraulics in waste reduction equipment on the show floor.