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Are lead times for portable machine tools causing you problems?
So you’ve done your research, you’ve found the right in-situ machine and the price is well within your budget. Now you just want to get your hands on your shiny new kit and get your machining...
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What equipment is needed for machining compact flanges?
Above: A Mirage compact flange facing machine making a test cut on an angled surface.Earlier this year we posted an article covering the benefits and applications of compact flanges. This time we...
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Understanding API 6A Gate Valves - Infographic Guide
This infographic is designed to provide an overview of API 6A gate valves and includes gate valve basics, what the API 6A standard covers and why valves fail.
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9 essential portable machine tools every wellhead maintenance engineer should...
There are many reasons why in-situ machining of wellhead components is required. They normally fall into one of three categories: it could be part of a preventative maintenance programme, when...
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Wellhead valve repair using a hot tapping machine
Following our recent infographic blog post coveringAPI gate valves, this time we take a look at the VHT range of valve hot tapping machines, which are designed for oil and gas high pressure maintenance...
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Why do oil prices fluctuate?- An insight for oil and gas engineers
Many of Mirage's customers are on-site engineering service companies, who use our portable on-site machining products for a wide range of oil and gas machining projects. The recent collapse in oil...
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Using an external threading machine on a wellhead extension project
Above: The internal casing cutter in action in use before the threading machine.The expression ‘shifting sands’ is used to describe something that is constantly changing, especially unpredictably and...
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Orbital milling machine applications: ship thruster flanges
Above: An Azimuth Thruster. Image source: Wikipedia https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=397859Mirage orbital milling machines are used across a variety of industry sectors, especially...
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On-site machining: power plant project list
When you consider the demands that turbine components in power plants are exposed to, it comes as no surprise that eventually many components will wear out and operate less efficiently. With steam...
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Portable milling machine used for a turbine casing project
In our previous blog post we listed a number of in-situ machining projects relating to power plant maintenance. This time we take a look at one of these in more detail, to and cover the equipment used...
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How to measure RTJ flange grooves
Ring Type Joint (RTJ) flanges are typically used in high pressure and/or high temperature services above 800°F (427°C). Together with a ring gasket, the RTJ groove helps create a tight seal between...
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The biggest wind turbine contracts awarded in 2016
If you're a regular reader of the Mirage Machines Portable Performance Blog, no doubt you'll be aware of our orbital milling machines used by wind turbine manufacturers for machining turbine blades...
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Portable gantry milling machines. An overview
Portable milling machines are available in a wide range of sizes to suit in-situ machining projects with the stroke capacity of up to 3m length. But what can you do if you need to open up the working...
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10 of the world's weirdest machines and gadgets
A new year is often a time people take stock and consider how the world has changed over the past few decades.With this in mind, we've taken a break from our usual blog topics that cover subjects such...
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How wind turbines work
The windmill has been with us for centuries, used initially for milling grain and for pumping water. The first wind turbines used to generate electricity date back to the late 19th century, thanks to...
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ID Mount Flange Facer. A visual guide to the key components
If you're interested in finding out how flange facers are constructed and learning what each component does, we've designed an infographic to help you understand the basics. This example explains the...
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How to machine an ASME B16.5 flange finish
Finding information on the correct ASME specifications for flange surface finishes is easy enough, but how do you actually machine the correct flange surface finish you need?The principle of surface...
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16 petrochemical on-site projects and the field machining equipment needed
During their career, the more experienced field machinist will come across many different projects across a variety of industries, but for those new to in-situ machining, having a clear idea of what...
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Video round-up: clamshell cutter and diamond wire saw
See which machines are used for cutting through large pipes and heavy wall casings in the oil and gas industry. For your convenience, this page brings together videos of machines suitable for pipe...
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How to align a portable gantry milling machine
A few weeks back, we published an overview of portable gantry milling machines that explained the main machine components and the different types of milling rail available.This time we go a stage...
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