One of the greatest resources that most New England towns of any size and located near water have are the former mill buildings of the textile industry. Since the domestic textile manufacturers have fallen victim to overseas competition, millions of square feet of facilities sit idle and, in many cases, deteriorating. In this paper, I will discuss reuse of "mill construction" for high tech information technology purposes, specifically data centers, and the features that make this type of facility ideally suited for this use.

Industry statistics point to a large growth in demand for data center space. Many existing data centers are constrained by their building infrastructure in ways that former mill complexes are not.

Definition:
The mill facilities I discuss here are classified as type 4 buildings (heavy timber or "mill construction"). This type of building is characterized by a thick brick shell (usually 4-5 bricks thick) with heavy timbers secured through the brick to support the internal floors. Floor construction is usually 5-6 inches of tongue and groove plank with hardwood on top. Roof construction is tongue and groove plank overlaid by asphalt and gravel or rubber membrane.

Structural
The equipment involved in data center services is typically extremely heavy and trends indicate that this is only going to increase. Cabinets, racks, equipment of higher and higher densities, AC power equipment, DC power equipment and batteries, large and large cooling systems, the weight involved can overwhelm even the most modern of type 1 constructed buildings.

In contrast, mills tend to be vastly over-engineered in terms of structural strength (this presumes that the building has no deterioration issues from neglect). The massive timber supports combined with the thick floors produces a structure that will hold even the heaviest of equipment gracefully, deflecting under the most extreme loads rather than failing catastrophically as some cement floored modern buildings have been prone to do. Note that floors that exhibit issues such as sagging, excessive unevenness, or even movement should be thoroughly examined for integrity before applying equipment loads.

The ease of working with the mill flooring also negates the need for raised floors. This reduces the floor loading (raised floor is extremely heavy), cost, and ancillary expenses (raised floor requires an underfloor fire suppression system, for example). This also improves the quality of the facility as well (no raised floors removes one of the worst causes of equipment failure in the data center, metal whiskers). It's also very easy to coat the hardwood flooring to reduce static electricity, a major requirement for working with electronic equipment.

The integrity of the mill roof is of critical importance. Roof leakage can lead to floor damage, roof structure damage, or damage to data center contents or power facilities.

Power:
Many current data centers are in the unenviable position of having to severely limit the amount of available power per sq ft of space. This has come about because these facilities were not designed with the increasing densities of equipment in mind. This leads to running out of power capacity long before available floor space is exhausted.

Former mills, on the other hand, tend to be equipped with massive amounts of power. On the negative side, not all power types typically found in the mills can be applied without extra equipment.

Typical power encountered is 208Y120, 240D, 480D, and 480Y277 VAC. 240D and 480 were normally used for 3 phase machinery and are not generally useful in the data center without the use of transformers to convert to 208Y120. A notable exception to this are some of the largest DC power plants that use 480 directly.

Fire Suppression:
Fire suppression requirements for a mill based data center are similar to those found in other building types. A well engineered and functional sprinkler system, inert gas system, fire and smoke detection, and alarm system are all appropriate.

Cooling:

Many mills tend to be relatively low structures with vast amounts of flat or nearly flat roof space. This makes it far easier to install cooling systems since the data center is much closer to the roof. Mills also tend to be poorly insulated which is actually a benefit in this case, since even in the coldest of weather, the data center will generally produce enough waste heat to require removing it, rather than heating the space.

Alternative Power:
The large amounts of nearly flat roof space available on the average mill is ideal for alternative forms of power. Wind and solar generation can reduce the operating cost of the data center dramatically. As well as improving the data center operating margin, this allows the data center to claim the designation of environmentally friendly.

Summary:
Communities everywhere are searching for ways to use the vast brick monoliths that were once their economic engines. Millions of sq ft of space sit idle in many of these communities and it has far more potential than it's original manufacturing duty.

Even across all the intervening years, it's easy to see that these mills were the high tech of their time and they are still uniquely suited to serving the high tech of our time.

Those little 115v wire welders that you see at Lowes and Home Depot are selling like hotcakes. Home Depot seems to always stock the Lincoln Electric Weld Pak HD. And Lowes seems to always have the Lincoln Electric Pro Core 125 MIG/Flux-Corded Welder. Every time I visit Lowes or Home Depot, I cant help but notice that the welding supply shelves have grown like crazy in between my frequent visits. My theory is that cable TV shows like Orange County Choppers and Monster Garage and helped to bring welding and fabrication more into mainstream Americana and have even created quite a buzz around welding and fabrication. It seems like every red blooded American male with an ounce of testosterone in his gonads wants to make something out of metal and the only real way to do that is with a welding machine. Having a welder in your garage also gives some serious bragging rights and makes you think you have a lot more friends than you really do, (kind of like having a Bass boat).

But the thing that scares me a little and should scare a lot of folks is that there is no welding police. No one to blow the whistle and stop people from welding stuff they shouldnt oughta weld. Its kind of like a sixteen year old being free to stroll into a motorcycle shop and ride off on a crotch rocket that will do 180 mph. I guess that is part of living in Free America.

What a country!

These little wire welders do have some limitations. Lets be clear about that. There are just some jobs you should not tackle with a 115v mig welder.

But take heart. There are many jobs that you can do, and do well with one of these 115v welding machines.

The purpose of this article is to explain how to get the most out of your 115v wire feeder welding machine and to make sure you are getting proper penetration in what you are welding.

First off, if you are going to weld a thin sheet metal quarter panel patch for a Nissan Altima, no worries. Penetration will be the least of your concerns. But if you are thinking about welding something heavier like a home-built Hummer Kit using 3 inch square tubing with 3/16 inch wall thickness, that is something else entirely. This is a situation where you will really be pushing the limits of any 115v wire feed welder.

I think anytime something is welded that that would probably injure someone if the welds fail, a 220-230v MIG welding machine should be used. That said there are still going to be occasions where people will need to push the limits of their 115v MIG welding wire feed welders.

Here are 7 things you can do that will help to increase your chances of penetration when you really need it.

1. Use flux core wire like Hobart Fabshield 21b and set the machine to max voltage, then adjust wire feed accordingly. Flux core just plain penetrates better that bare wire on 115v wire feeders. Make sure you follow the recommendations on the wire for polarity. A lot of disappointment has come from not changing the polarity when required.

2. Plug into a dedicated 20 amp circuit. Most household circuits are 15 amp. You might have a 20 amp in your garage. If not, consider getting one.

3. Do not, I repeat, do not use an extension cord. If you must use one you better use the shortest and thickest one you can find to avoid a power drop. Even then your machine will probably weld like it has been castrated. Get it? No balls. Ok moving on to #4.

4. Preheat the joint even if it is with a little propane torch, warming a joint up to even 150 degrees is like having another 10% extra amperage.

5. Do not weld downhill. Instead, weld uphill. Vertical uphill welds get more penetration than any other position joint because gravity keeps the puddle behind the arc.

6. Clean the metal with a grinder. Not having to penetrate through hot rolled mill scale, rust, or paint will greatly increase your penetration.

7. Get some small pieces of metal of the same thickness as the welding task at hand and weld a T joint. Then break it with a vise and a hammer. If it breaks easily you have problems and need to adjust the machine and/or technique until you can weld several joints that either do not break, or if they do break, show good penetration in the corner of the joint.

If you follow these 7 welding tips for getting better penetration with your 115 volt wire feed welder, you will be getting the most out of your mig welder.

It is a well-known fact in the warehousing industry that a telescopic forklift truck has the highest operating efficiency. These trucks have been in operation for some time and have been immensely successful in achieving their target of high density and highly economical utilization of warehouse space. These telescopic forklift trucks have been improved to a great extent when compared to the initial models. The ease of utility makes sure that their demand in the market never ceases.

There are various top companies across the globe that deal in these forklift trucks. Amongst the major brands, JCB telescopic forklift trucks are undoubtedly the best. Their efficient and very effective design makes sure that these trucks do the required task in the most economical way. Other major competitors in the market are the Manitou telescopic forklift trucks and the forklift trucks that are manufactured by Toyota Industries in Japan. Besides the above mentioned, various other automation companies have ventured into the field of forklift trucks. Some of these companies are the KION group from Germany, the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries from Japan, and the Nissan motor company from Japan. It should be noted that a good telescopic forklift truck must essentially have a solid frame along with a good overhead guard. Both of these are extremely important to the proper functioning of the truck. A general advice for all is to not use these trucks beyond their rated load capacities as such an event may lead to considerable damage to the equipment. Also, the rear wheel steering should also be utilized carefully for it is of utmost importance in determining the ease with which a driver can handle and move the truck.

The telescopic forklift trucks are found in almost every warehouse irrespective of the part of the world that you are in. There extensive usage can be attributed to various factors including their ability to minimize the total warehousing cost. These trucks have also been known to help in the effective management of space. As a matter of fact, the entire space usage can be improved by approximately 21 percent by using caterpillar telescopic forklift trucks as compared to the regular counterbalance trucks.

Scaffolding is a temporary framework used in the construction or repair of high rise buildings and other large structures. Usually scaffoldings are made using metal pipes or bamboos. Metal pipes are the preferred material, if the construction site is very high. In Britain, the metal used for scaffolding purpose are called tubes. Bamboos are still popular in Asian countries due to its easy availability and cost effectiveness. The main purpose of scaffolding structure is to provide a safe working place for workers who are involved in working in high rise structures.

Other types of scaffolds are:-

- The birdcage

- Independent scaffold

- Single pole scaffold

- Swingstage

- Suspended scaffold

- Hanging bracket scaffold

- Cantilever scaffold

Scaffolding works are abide to certain safety obligations and the minimum requirements are set out by the authorities. The key elements of a basic scaffolds are:- Ledgers, Standards and Transoms.

Standards are vertical tubes which are used to transfer the entire weight of the structure to the floor where the scaffold rests. These are also called uprights. Ledgers are horizontal poles used to connect between standards. Transoms are always kept in the way which make the right angle with the ledgers. It is a common practice to place main transoms next to the standards to hold the standards in place and to provide extra support to the boards. Main transoms will be connected by intermediate transoms to provide extra support to the boards as well as the scaffoldings.

In order to become a scaffolding success, good foundations are absolutely essential. Even though scaffoldings can be used without foundations, in some conditions such as concrete or similar hard surfaces, it is highly recommended to use base place irrespective of the condition of the floor. The working platform should also meet the safety requirements. These platforms must be close boarded, have enough space and have double guard rails. Since almost all the scaffoldings are dependent structures, the different frameworks used should be tied and fixed to provide stability and security to the scaffoldings.

Different types of ties such as through tie, box ties, lip tie and anchor tie are used in the scaffold construction in accordance with the nature of the structure. While constructing a scaffold, the supported scaffoldings materials such as platforms, legs, poles, frames, brackets, posts and other rigid supports also comes into the scenario. The most common and easy to use scaffolding is the all purpose scaffolding unit. It consists of one horizontal and two vertical cross bars, sockets couplings and ledger pipes. To ensure security, a scaffold should be assembled in accordance with the scaffold plan and installation. When selecting scaffolding, many things such as the shape, design and location of the building should also be considered.

Chances are you have seen the bright orange plastic barriers on the streets or at a special event. You have probably seen them many times because they are used in a number of areas by traffic departments, special event arenas, the military, government agencies and in public and private parking lots.

The highly visible barriers are welcomed by pedestrians and motorists simply because they make it clear which way to walk or drive. There is no confusion over direction. The barriers can help reduce confusion, add site safety features and create identifiable areas for traffic or pedestrian flow.

The plastic barriers are actually made out of a heavy duty polyethylene that can withstand a significant impact like a car slamming into a wall. They are almost as impact resistant as concrete barriers, but cost much less. What people do not know is that they get their incredible stability from being filled with water or sand. They look like plastic, but have the strength and core stability of a much stronger barrier material.

The plastic barriers are actually made in a variety of colors. You can choose a color that coordinates with the area or theme. For example, a university can select barriers for the parking lot that reflect school colors. The plastic barriers used at theaters, arenas, coliseums, civic centers and so on can choose a color that doesn't clash with the scenery surrounding the building and yet is highly visible for safety reasons.

The plastic barriers are manufactured in a variety of heights and widths. They are easily connected together like puzzle pieces and are just as easily moved by personnel. These features make it easy to install them where needed and them move them as circumstances change. For example, the barriers are perfect for directing traffic around road work and crews. As sections of the project are completed, the plastic barriers can be moved to the next phase of the project. They are easily lifted by two people making them easy to re-arrange also.

Everyone knows when they see the brightly colored barriers that they need to use caution. The barriers can be used for a number of purposes: perimeter control, parking lots, construction sites, traffic direction, road work, special events, building security, disaster areas, and even temporary sidewalks.

The military uses the plastic barriers for a number of reasons including their great visibility, flexibility and reasonable cost. The barriers can secure areas, or to direct military vehicles. The barriers can be ordered in a neon color or a military green.

Plastic barriers are manufactured in several heights to accommodate many different needs. For traffic safety and control the barriers with extra height (tall model) are ideal. The higher barriers block distracting sights such as oncoming traffic or construction work. Before the use of safety features like brightly colored plastic barriers traffic accidents were frequent at construction sites.

Whether you choose the high or low plastic barriers, you get the same durable quality. The barriers are weather proof and color proof. The can handle high impacts, freezing weather and the blazing sun without cracking or warping. Once they are in place, they are there to stay until you decide to move them. Plastic barriers are practical, economical, portable and highly visible. If you are looking for a way to secure an area or to direct traffic, the barriers offer the best solution. Unlike the heavy concrete barriers, you can set the plastic barriers up yourself if you so choose.