Stop By and See Us!

This upcoming month, Live Design International (LDI) will be celebrating its 25th year as the leading tradeshow and conference for live design professionals in North and South America. As we have been for the last 25 years, James Thomas Engineering will be there to greet the over 8,000 attendees the event usually brings in – and we hope to see you there!

The exhibit will be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada from Friday, October 19 until Sunday, October 21, 2012. As a manufacturer of a full range of Aluminum Trussing, Towers, and Lighting Fixtures, James Thomas Engineering will be available to participate in face-to-face discussions about our equipment and your upcoming needs.

From Trusses such as the Supertruss, Pre-rigged, Moving Light Truss, General Purpose, Superlite, Ground Support Towers and Roof Systems, to Lighting Fixtures like PAR Lanterns, Cyc Lights and Spot Banks, we do it all. Be sure to come check out what we have to offer at Booth 507, just to the left of the main entrance!  Then come out on Saturday, October 20th to support James Thomas Engineering President, Tray Allen. You can find him on the panel for “Temporary Structures: Production Basics for the Human User” in Room N241 from 1:30PM - 3:00PM.

Individuals from 72 different countries come out each year to the Live Design International to view the latest gear in action, refresh their knowledge and replenish their creativity. We here at James Thomas Engineering could not be any happier to have been a part of it for so many years and we’re excited to have another opportunity to exhibit our work this upcoming October. Mark your calendars and we’ll see you at Booth 507!

Our Contribution to a Piece of New York History

It’s been a very busy and exciting few weeks for the Truss Manufacturers here at James Thomas Engineering.  Just recently, we have had the privilege of developing a Batten Truss for Pook Diemont and Ohl (PDO), a full service company for theaters, auditoriums, broadcast studios, entertainment facilities and more. This was then installed in none other than the famous, Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

This new Batten Truss updates an older system to provide Radio City with 420 total feet of truss to hang from. The new system has a controls system that monitors the loading as well as the horizontal location of the trusses.  Overall, this allows for safer loading on these 4 new trusses.

James Thomas Engineering and our Truss Manufacturers greatly appreciated the opportunity to provide products and services to a building such as Radio City Music Hall. So much of this building has significantly contributed to the history of New York and America alike and we look forward to any future projects that we may be able to lend our services to.

The Effects of Lubrication on Fastener Torque

As a Truss Manufacturing Company, James Thomas Engineering, LTD. has been providing countless truss systems for corporate events, as well as the most innovative concerts and productions since 1977. From Lighting Trusses and Aluminum Trusses to HD Trusses of all shapes and sizes, our engineers have the knowledge and experience to provide you with the highest quality materials available.

Often times while consulting with a client on a particular truss, we are asked for its proper torque setting. Though we can provide you with a general answer for each truss that we manufacture, it is important to keep in mind that the use of a lubricant on your fastener torque can change everything.

Torque is defined as, “A force that produces or tends to produce rotation or torsion”, and it is absolutely essential when installing a truss system. For example, for every section of General Purpose Truss purchased, James Thomas Engineering will provide 4 nuts – 5/8” x 11 (grade 8), 4 bolts – 2” in length 5/8” x 11 (grade 8) and 2 mild steel washers. Without the use of lubrication, the torque settings for this non-permanent installation would be 80 to 110 foot pounds, adding up to balance at the middle.

Because the use of lubricant makes it easier to turn the bolt, less torque is going to be needed. Thus, if you lubricate the bolts – especially on one section alone – it is going to offset the other sections as well. In this, as well as the permanent installation process of your General Purpose Truss, (where the recommended minimum torque setting would be 110 foot pounds) the balance must always be even. Once secure, we highly recommend that a Loctite compound such as 290 be used. This will ensure that the fasteners will not vibrate or lose clamping force.

The amount of torque used in the installation of any kind of truss is once again crucial to its stability. Though you may think that you know the proper torque settings for your project, it is imperative that you make necessary adjustments if you plan to use a lubricant to make bolt tightening easier. The excellent customer service team here at James Thomas Engineering is more than happy to answer any questions you may have so be sure to contact us today for any of your Truss Manufacturing needs.