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June 2011 - Issue 121
e-news for Flow Control Solutions
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Featured Product: Model #154 and Model #191
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Flanged AND Side Seal options in one valve
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 Need a flanged AND side seal valve option for your application? Look no further than Model #154 and Model #191, which combine both features in one small valve.
Newly introduced to our line of Series 100 Specialty Valves, these two options are designed to be easily inserted into 5/8” device. The external o-ring side seal keeps the valve in place, while also providing an extra barrier against leaks.
Typically used as pressure relief valves, Model #154 is designed as an inlet and Model #191 as an outlet. Both valves work with a wide variety of liquids and/or gasses, and are capable of producing five times more flow than our Model #122 and #132 options.
Model #154 is available in Polypropylene, Nylon, Acrylic, Polycarbonate, Ultem®, and ABS. And, we recently completed testing on Model #191, which is now available in these same plastic body materials, as well as PVDF.
Both the #154 and #191 have o-ring options in Buna-N, Ethylene-Propylene, Viton®, Silicone, and Fluoroslicone, as well as opening spring pressure ranges from 0.11 to 8 PSI.
For more information about Model #154 or #191, call a Product & Application Specialist at (800) 338-0404.
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Injection Molding at Smart Products
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We produce precise parts via top notch machines
and quality assurance control
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 When engineers see our valves for the first time, a common question is: “how do you make them?” And, the answer is injection molding. Since we began operations in 1985, we have used injection molding to create all of our valves and pump bodies.
Over the years, our machines have vastly evolved from manual hydraulics to our current top of the line all electric units. And, we do it all in-house at our Morgan Hill, California location.
Our current injection molding machines are precise, energy-efficient, and super fast. We use a variety of molds that vary with one to eight cavities, and this feature enables us to produce thousands of valves per hour. Capable of running, 24/7, our injection molders ensure we live up to our standard two week lead time for your valve and pump orders. If needed, we are also able produce parts via injection molding in our class 10,000 clean room.
Once you order, we clean and prep the machine specifically to meet your valve and/or pump needs. This process entails inserting the mold and plastic body material pellets, followed by setting up the machines based on the needed size, amount, and injection speed for a particular job. The machines’ processors ensure a precise mold every time, and they have the capability to automatically shut down once the job is completed or if the particular specs are not being produced. For maximum control over parts produced, we generally have a tolerance (allowed deviation) of +/- 0.005 on most dimensions and +/- 0.002 on critical dimensions.
Once a job cycle starts, we ensure an accurate valve or pump body is produced by taking several steps via our Quality Assurance Team.
First, we throw away the first two cycles produced by a machine. In our experience with injection molding, the first shot does not produce a 100% accurately molded part. The second shot does better, but we aren’t fully confident in it. Thus, we rely on the third shot to produce a truly perfect part.
Next, we take a sampling from each cycle every hour for evaluation. For the first few hours of production, we do an extremely thorough visual analysis of the parts under a scope where we look at every angle, as well as conduct a leak test. Additionally, we continue to sample parts every hour with a basic measurement evaluation, and we also continue the leak test process. Thus, we have set our own standard (documented by our ISO certification) to evaluate and leak test every cycle of valve or pump bodies produced by our injection molders.
After testing is complete, we feel confident in sending our parts on to assembly for their o-rings and springs, which will cover in the next SmartTalk.
Because of these rigorous standards, we have a greater amount of control over producing quality, precise parts for your specific application criteria. For questions, call us at (800) 338-0404.
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Beyond the Business of Valves and Pumps - CEO Mark Jernigan Restores Harley Davidson Motorcycles
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 A true engineer at heart, Smart Products CEO Mark Jernigan has never lost the curiosity for how things work – especially when it comes to motorcycles. In his spare time, he can often be found working on several projects including motorcycle restoration.
Jernigan has held an interest in motorcycles since the age of 15, but has only been able to pursue it with zeal in the last 12 years.
“I got my first job at 15 as clean up boy for a meat market in Cupertino, CA, which was part of the excuse to get the license and motorcycle. This plan did not work out well as an introduction to driving on the road, and I quickly racked up about a half dozen accidents. I figured this was going to kill me and gave up motorcycles for cars until about 1999. After 20 years and kids I thought I might have enough sense to ride sensibly. So far that has been the case and I have been accident free. ” says Jernigan.
Beyond just riding a motorcycle, Jernigan has an intense interest in the inner working of everything from clocks to airplanes, and this curiosity has led him to rebuild and ride several really cool motorcycles.
 Jernigan continues, “As CEO, I no longer directly do things such as working hands-on with the valves – I direct others to do them, and then I go back to my paperwork. My hobbies all tend to produce some sort of tangible result that I can hold or play with; a personal feeling of accomplishment. Also, strange as it may seem, as CEO, I don’t really get to do things my way. A successful company cannot be run as a dictatorship. It is more a case of managing agendas and priorities to achieve the end result. I don’t have that issue in my workshop, so it helps me relax.”
Self taught, and with the occasional help from the knowledge of others, Jernigan has rebuilt several Harley Davidson motorcycles. His first was a 1968 Harley Davidson Sportster, which was bought in several different boxes. Over a period of time, Jernigan managed to figure out where everything went and got it running. Then, he sold it for his next project: the chance to work on a Big Twin engine with the purchase of a 1988 Harley Davidson Softail.
“I was so proud of the Softail that as I fired it up in my driveway, my neighbor came over to check it out and pointed out that both of the head gaskets were blown – I hadn’t noticed. So, I spent that first weekend tearing the motor apart to fix it. But, I learned an awful lot in a short amount of time,” recalls Jernigan.
Next, Jernigan found a good deal on a 1993 Harley Davidson Electra-Glide, which he went through by exploring and rebuilding everything from tip to tail. After the fun of exploring the Electra-Glide was over, it was on to a 1999 Harley Davidson Dyna-Wide Glide, as well as his current project: a 1977 Sportster – in a box.
“The Sporster has been a real challenge; it has the most busted up engine I have ever seen. It finally stopped, literally, when the front piston melted. I had to have the cases welded in 12 or 13 places. And, I have no idea if it will hold oil when I do start it. I also need to finish the fabrication work on the frame, do the wiring, and fire it up. If it all works when I get to this point, I will tear it down for paint, says Jernigan.”
The only non-Harley Davidson bike currently owned by Jernigan is post World War II Dnepr from Russia.
With motorcycle restoration as a hobby, Jernigan also has the opportunity to explore first-hand how well Smart Products’ valves work in anything from the bike’s fuel injection to brake systems.
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New catalogs are here!
Email info@smartproducts.com with your mailing address to request a copy.
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This Issue