cable assembly A collection of cables, bundles, and the structural support, that forms the wiring harness for a building, vehicle, or large piece of equipment
cable gland A device for enclosing a cable as it passes through a wall, sealing the hole, and relieving strain on the cable
cable hoist A relatively small device, consisting of a cable threaded over a suspended pulley (or around a pair of blocks of pulleys), for lifting and lowering heavy objects
cable reel A coiled up bobbin of electric cable, convenient for transporting, and then deploying in the field
CAD CAM software Computer software for computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacture (CAM)
CAD software Computer software that allows engineering designs to be built up, and possibly simulated, in computer memory, by a process called computer-aided design (CAD)
calibrator A device that presents a standard value (of some parameter), so that measuring instruments can be adjusted to give the correct reading when measuring that value
capacitive sensor A sensor that measures the strength of an electrostatic field between a electrical plate and the surface whose height is being measured, in order to calculate distance between them
capacitor An electronic device consisting of two plates, of large surface area, separated by a thin, insulating dielectric. Used for storing charge, or for allowing AC signals to pass while blocking DC ones
cartesian robot An automatic system (a robot) in which the manipulator can be positioned independently in the X and Y directions (usually using overhead tracks)
cartoner A machine for constructing cartons around products (or for constructing the cardboard box and then inserting the products)
cartridge heater A heating element in a housing (usually cylindrical) that can be removed as a self-contained unit when the heating element needs replacing by a new unit
caster A small swiveled wheel on the base of a mobile object
CCD camera A digital camera that has array of photoelectric charge-coupled device (CCD) sensors that acts as its retina, turning the impinging image into a corresponding sequence of electrical pixel levels
chain conveyor A system of pulleys for supporting containers carried on a chain, organized as a continuous loop, for conveying material from one place to another (around a factory or warehouse, for example)
chain hoist A relatively small device, consisting of a chain threaded over a suspended pulley (or around a pair of blocks of pulleys), for lifting and lowering heavy objects
chamfering machine A machine for cut a groove (an inward facing slope) within the edge of a sheet material
check valve A non-return valve with a spring that holds the valve closed, and does not open to allow fluid to flow until a preset pressure (in one direction only) is applied
checkweigher Apparatus for checking the weight of packaged goods
chromatograph Apparatus for tracing the pattern of chemical bands that result when the components of a liquid mixture trickle through a column of absorbing substance at different rates
circular connector A connector for an electric cable, with a cylindrical shape (and hence a circular cross-section). The individual pins are arranged within the circular housing, with at least one for each core of the cable
circular saw blade A circular disk with saw teeth around its circumference, that is rotated by a fast-turning motor, for sawing into material tangentially to the disk
clamp A mechanical device with two parts that can grip tightly enough together to fix any intervening objects in place
CNC grinding machine A grinding machine (typically on the factory floor) that is controlled by a computer: computerized numerical control (CNC)
CNC lathe A lathe (a machine for turning, typically on the factory floor) that is controlled by a computer: computerized numerical control (CNC)
CNC machining center A machine, or a set of machines, under computerized numerical control (CNC), capable of being configured for a variety of machining operations (milling, turning, drilling, etc); complete with other accessories for protection, monitoring, measuring, etc
CNC milling machine A milling machine (typically on the factory floor) that is controlled by a computer: computerized numerical control (CNC)
CO2 laser A laser system based on the stimulated emission of light properties of a sample of carbon dioxide
coaxial cable A cable with a central copper core, covered by a layer of flexible insulating material, and then by a flexible web of copper mesh. It is used for carrying radio frequency electrical signals with the mesh providing the earth screen, and return lead for the electrical signal
coaxial connector An electrical connector (either the plug or the socket) for coupling two coaxial cables, or one coaxial cable and the input or output port of a piece of electronic equipment
cogeneration plant An electric generator plant (site, building and equipment) that simultaneously supplies energy in other forms, such as heat (in the form of hot water)
colorimeter Apparatus for comparing intensities of different wavelengths of light
compressed air dryer Apparatus for removing the moisture content from a stream of compressed air
compressed air filter A filter for removing impurities from the fluid of a pneumatic or other compressed air system
compressor Apparatus for taking fluid in at its inlet, compressing it to a small volume, so as to give a supply of the compressed fluid, at a very high pressure, at its outlet
condenser A device for taking a vapor from the inlet, and cooling it to produce a liquid at the outlet. (There would normally also be an inlet for cold cooling fluid, and an outlet for warmed cooling fluid)
conductivity meter Apparatus for measuring the electrical conductivity (the reciprocal of resistance) in the insulator between the two test probes
connector A coupling (permanent or temporary) between two electrical conductors
Alphabetical list of product definitions
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