Category Archives: Automotive

Sheet Metal Stamping In The Automotive Industry

Historically, sheet metal stamping has been used extensively to produce automotive body panels. Although sheet metal stamping use has decreased with the advent of fiberglass body panels, sheet metal stamping is still the most popular material for manufacturing automobiles today. The addition of lasers and robotics to the automobile manufacturing process has further expanded the way that sheet metal stamping is processed.

Lasers

Lasers have been used in production facilities since the 1960’s. Today, they are used to cut, form holes, engrave, weld or heat treat sheet metal stamping for use in automotive production.

Lasers are used in applications that rely on precise measurements and exact alignments.

The adjustment of lasers is measured in micrometers, or millionths of a meter.

There are many different types of lasers used to alter sheet metal stamping and plastics in the automotive industry.

Carbon dioxide laser- uses a mixture of carbon dioxide, nitrogen and helium to produce a continuous laser output

Continuous-wave laser- this type of laser produces light beams continuously rather than in controlled pulses

Excimer laser-emits light in a UV spectrum that is used for producing high quality edges on parts that are prone to cracking or thermal damage; it falls into the category of pulsed-gas lasers

Gas laser-any laser that uses a gas mixture as the lasing medium; common gases are argon and carbon dioxide

Pulsed laser-emits light in controlled pulses and is preferred for thin materials ; it can be used to create intricate details and work in tight corners without burning

Ruby laser-a solid state laser that uses a synthetic ruby crystal with a chromium impurity as the lasing medium

Solid-state laser-a type of laser that uses a crystal or glass as the host for an impurity to produce the lasing action; especially useful for precise measuring and spot welding

Yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) laser-ranges in power from a few milliwatts to more than 400 watts; used for cutting, drilling, heat treating and welding operations

Robotics

Robotics are often used for repetitive tasks, monotonous jobs or those parts of the manufacturing process that are physically difficult or take place in environmentally unpleasant conditions. They are directed by computer programs and perform precise operations without human intervention.

Lasers and robotics have significantly increased the speed at which sheet metal stamping can be processed in the automotive manufacturing process. Continued technological advancements in these two areas will further increase the cost effectiveness and productivity of automotive manufacturing facilities.

Pick Up The Phone To Increase Your Auto Repair Shop Profits

You may be surprised to learn just how much financial power rests in the hands of the person who answers the phone at your auto repair shop. As a shop owner, you put a lot of time into getting that phone to ring. The first phone call from a potential customer is your best chance to make a good impression. How is your business first represented to your potential patrons?

Customers needing auto repair have a sense of urgency when they make the call to your auto shop. Transportation is both a necessity and an investment; when they call your business for service, they want to know that their vehicles will be in capable hands. How is that first communicated to your potential clients? If your answering system involves an answering machine or an uninformed receptionist, you may be losing calls and clients by the day.

You may be the best shop with the most skilled mechanics in your local area, but if that is not communicated to your clients on the initial phone call, your business will suffer. The average auto repair ticket is approximately $300. If your phone answering system causes you to lose one call per day, and you are open 5 days per week, your business loses $1500 per week! This adds up to $78,000 annually!

Having a pre-determined script for any type of call that may come into your shop is an ideal way to assure that your receptionist handles inquires in a manner that will convert the call to sales, says Gerry Frank and Keith McCrone, co-owners of Automotive Profit Pro. When this is executed properly, 75% of calls can be converted into appointments.

Customers typically call auto shops for three main reasons:
1.They have a question or problem. This customer usually calls asking if you can fix their air conditioner or if you work on specific types of cars, such as, Do you work on Hondas? They want to know that you can confidently take care of whatever problem or vehicle that they may have.
2.Calling to schedule an appointment. This may be a current customer or a new prospect and they may be calling for either routine service or an emergency. It is important to determine all of the variables of the caller and help them accordingly.
3.To get an estimate. This person is usually labeled as the price shopper. Dont underestimate this caller; more often than not this customer is looking to establish a relationship with you and your auto repair shop.

Each of these phone calls is an opportunity to set an appointment and clinch the sale. Building a relationship with your potential clients as their auto care professional is established through their ability to trust you with their auto maintenance needs.

Major Automotive Service Technician Tools Found In Every Garage

When embarking on an auto career, the first things you learn are the ins-and-outs of using the most popular industry-standard tools. In addition to these, however, there are other major tools not usually found in the garage of the hobbyist, but are absolute necessities for the automotive service technician. These tools are indispensable to building up your business from the ground-up, or becoming a valued member of a pre-existing team.

Tools You Can’t Do Without

Early in your auto career, you’ll come across the full range of electrical issues with the parts of a vehicle. As such, a voltmeter is an essential piece of diagnostic equipment, which drastically cuts down the amount of time you would otherwise spend trying to find shorted wires and faulty connections. Often sold together, a multi-meter for the checking of amperages is just as important.

Because a busy automotive service technician can easily encounter tens-of-thousands of bolts, screws and holes in a short period of time, you’ll find air-powered ratchets, ball drivers and power drills to be merciful instruments of construction and disassembly. They save your joints from inflammation and injury and allow you to easily tighten and loosen disagreeable bolts and screws.

For big jobs that involve razing down the thick metal of a car, cutting and making adjustments are easily handled by this next popular tool of the automotive service technician: the plasma cutter. Reaching temperatures hot enough to ionize the surrounding air, this is essentially the perfect knife and slices through hardware like butter. The plasma cutter is an indispensable welding tool that will serve you well in your auto career.

A work light is an absolute must. Even during the brightest day, there are nooks and crannies in the back of the garage where darkness dominates, and it is crucial that you see what you’re doing. Work lights come in super-bright halogens and low-energy LEDs, where the lack of an extension cord and power adapter proves handy.

Extensions and swivels are mechanical tools that allow you to reach and manipulate hard-to-reach bolts, which are either deeply-embedded in some corner of the car, or surrounding by too many other machine parts at an awkward angle.

Jacks and jack stands are instruments of dual-importance, so much so that they’re sold as the feature of many starter packages for the beginning auto mechanic. The jack is for removing car wheels safely, by allowing you to slide underneath the multiple-ton vehicle to inspect the underbelly.

These represent just slightly more than a handful of the essential tools you’ll encounter in auto careers, and serve as the bare minimum for a serious mechanic. Vehicles develop all kinds of problems through wear-and-tear, and these tools help you effectively apply your knowledge in finding solutions for satisfied customers as an automotive service technician.

Selecting A Good Quality Pre-owned Car

Ways To Choose A High Quality Used Car

And with a financial savings like that it truly is amazing that any person buys new cars anymore. This post will look at some things to seek out when shopping for a used car.

Of course the first thing you want to seek out is any rust on the exterior of the vehicle. And we are not only looking for visible rust but rust that could be hidden under the paint. How you can tell should there be rust under the paint is by looking at the finish. If you find bubble spots on the paint, then there is a possibility that rust is ready to come through. Even though you see just a bit rust, proceed to the next car since it will probably get worse in a few years.

An additional area to look at for rust is inside the trunk of the car. That is an area of the car that lots of people forget to look at. Any small rust inside the trunk will spread to the rest of the car. Plus you won’t want to put anything in that trunk as it may end up suffering from water damage as the water can come through rust spots.

The next phase is to check the internal of the car. In the event the interior of the automobile is clean there is a pretty good chance that the person who owned it took good care of the vehicle. When the seats and carpets are tainted or torn there is a good chance that the previous owner didn’t conserve the car and he probably didn’t conduct the scheduled maintenance either.

Now when you are inside the vehicle check all the controls, this consist of windows, door locks, heater and everything else the car has. The last thing you want to do is to buy a car in the summertime and then figure out the heater doesn’t operate when winter hits.

Now look at the tires to find out if there is tread on the tires and if you can find any uneven wear. If you observe that the tread on one side of the car has significantly less wear than the other side, then there can be some issues with the car. It may just need an alignment, but then again it could be an issue that could run thousands to repair. In the event that there is any type of uneven wear on the tread, don’t give it an extra thought, move on to the next car.

The very last thing you should do is to get the car for a test drive. You want to be sure that the car turns well without issues and the brakes will work well and not soft. If you take the car for a test drive you will find a way to find out if there are and clunks or other troubles.

Advantages Of Purchasing Utilized Chevy Parts Online

Closest of all, extra parts and devices are rich, provided the number of dealerships that sell Chevy components. If you wish to have your vehicle mended or if you desire to mount additional elements, you won’t have problem finding solution centers, regardless of your area./p>

Chevy Truck Components

Chevy vehicles are massive obligation cars efficient in going across negative roadway health conditions as well as carrying heavy lots. The trucks, despite their premium roadworthiness, might sustain damages with continual usage. In this situation, Chevy vehicle components are sold at official branches, dealerships, and even solution. Repairs and upkeep come easy, especially with the most preferred versions, like the Uplander and the Blazer. Plainly, you could acquire truck back in to activity in no time at all.

Chevy Auto Components

Chevy has gone far for itself not only for developing some of the globe’s best autos, however likewise for the availability of automobile parts. Other than a physical search or checking the directory, the web hosts fairly a variety of dealerships, suggesting you can purchase Chevy components online. Purchase your preferred components and add-ons via your bank card or an online money moving solution, such as Paypal and E-pass.

The Chevy Solution

The prices can be pretty inexpensive for some repair work facilities, however they aren’t the most excellent places to have your vehicle mended, especially for heavy obligation devices, like vehicles and tractors. A Chevy solution center has initial components, even more tough compared to the universal ones mounted by repair work shops. The Chevy solution center plainly provides the better deal.

Closest of all, extra components and devices are rich, offered the number of dealers that sell Chevy components. Chevy vehicles are hefty obligation automobiles qualified of passing through negative road conditions as well as holding massive lots. In this situation, Chevy vehicle components are marketed at main branches, dealers, and even solution. The rates could be quite cheap for some repair facilities, however they aren’t the most excellent locations to have your vehicle repaired, particularly for massive duty equipments, like tractors and vehicles.