In most areas of the country when building an inground pool, permits along with inspections are required as with any construction process. Structural, Electrical and Plumbing inspections during construction, and a Final inspection when you finish building your inground pool.

Electrical inspections 

Include the grounding and bonding of the pool walls, coping, anchor sockets, the electrical equipment – and inspection of PVC electrical conduit for the pool lights and the electrical boxes and conduit at the pool equipment pad.

Structural inspections 

Consists of checking that your concrete collar has provided the pool walls with enough support. Schedule this inspection after the concrete collar, or foundation of the pool is poured.

Plumbing inspections 

Permits are not usually needed for pool plumbing lines but would be required for gas piping if you are going to have a gas heater. Part of this inspection may include a pressure test on the gas line so the inspector can see it holds pressure without leaks.

After the pool is built you will need a Final inspection which is basically a safety inspection, that would include things such as pool alarm if required, door or window alarms, and fencing. The electrical inspector may also want a final inspection to make sure everything is wired properly and working. And if gas piping was done a final on that after it has been connected to the heater.

Working with Pool Construction Inspectors

Inspections are usually performed by different inspectors, specialized in the trade of either structure, electric, or plumbing (which includes gas). Inspectors are usually state or local government employed, and are found in the local Building and Zoning Department in your area.

Scheduling inspections should be done ahead of time as in the building season the inspectors are usually backed up and need substantial notice. Remember, if you are not ready you can always postpone an inspection but at least you have an appointment. In my area, inspectors are available to take phone calls for an hour in the morning, and an hour in the afternoon. This is so you can call with any questions or to schedule your inspections. During other times of the day, they are usually out of the office, doing inspections!

Your inspectors can be a good resource for any questions regarding the pool construction process. They may also be able to give good referrals to sub-contractors such as fence, concrete, or excavation companies. Their main purpose [of building inspectors] is to protect the public they serve. Building codes are written and rewritten, to keep our structures, such as pools, safe for use.

Pool Construction Inspection Failure

Most inspections pass without a problem, when you have planned your DIY pool project carefully, and followed the pool construction requirements of the permit agency. SPP pool kit customers have very few problems in this area, if they have taken advantage of our free DIY pool construction support. Here’s some issues I have seen that failed inspections.

You may fail the foundation inspection (the concrete collar), by not having enough concrete around the pool walls to sufficiently lock in the walls. Some people try to get away with only pouring concrete around each A-frame brace but this is not enough. Most inspectors are looking for a completely contiguous “collar” of concrete around the base of the walls.

Electrical inspections can fail by not bonding the pool properly. Requirements vary by region, and even by inspector. Some want every individual wall panel bonded, some will only require 6 or 8 bonding lugs, around the pool. For electrical, it is best to speak to your inspector ahead of time to see what is required in your area.

For gas piping inspections, lack of a shut off valve, or the incorrect pipe size, can doom the gas inspection. For the Final inspection, not having the right safety equipment such as door alarms, or a fence of the proper type and height, with self latching gates.

Surprises can happen

When we built my own inground pool last summer, I had a problem with one of my inspections involving the placement of my pool heater. I knew that it must be located 4 ft from the house, and also 4 ft from any doors or windows, which it was. However, I was only 3 ft from my cellar door hatch, which leads down to my basement and was told I needed to move it another foot away from that also. I could have argued with the inspector, that it was not part of the code, but I have found over the years of building pools that it is better to do what the inspector wants and avoid confrontation – to make the rest of the inspection process go smoothly.

In most cases it is how your inspector interprets the code and sometimes not the actual way the code reads, sometimes it is not always cut and dry. do not forget your inspector has the final say and he can make your pool construction project run into delays and extra expense by making you redo steps you already took.

Final thoughts on Pool Construction Inspections

• When obtaining your permit – get information on the pool inspection process.
• Know what to expect, and ask questions if you have any concerns.
• Schedule your inspections ahead of time, reschedule if you aren’t ready.
• Do not argue with Inspectors, Make them happy instead.

At In The Swim, we love hot tubs and spas, and know that a lot of our pool owner customers also own hot tubs. With pool season winding down and hot tub season picking up, our thoughts turn to hot water, very hot water, in this case.

Though it’s not a topic that garners a lot of attention, heat strokes do claim lives. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1220 people in the United States are killed by extreme heat every year. While most heat stroke cases do not occur in a hot tub, it can happen. 

It doesn’t happen all at once, most victims of hyperthermia pass through several stages of heat-related symptoms – heat fatigue, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.

Heat Fatigue

• Excessive sweating
• Cramps, spasm, or pain
• Headaches or light-headedness

Heat Exhaustion

• Cold, pale, wet skin and heavy sweating
• Fast, yet weak pulse
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Strong thirst, difficulty with focus
• Headaches, dizziness, weakness

Heat Stroke

• Hot, red or dry skin
• Fast, deep breathing
• Disorientation or confusion
• Blurred vision, lack of coordination
• Fainting or losing consciousness

What You Should Know

The maximum hot tub temperature for healthy adults is 104° F. Higher temperatures can happen with a malfunctioning thermostat or a homemade hot tub, without proper safety controls installed.

Hot tub temperatures above 104° can raise the internal body temperature too high, and can progress from feeling light-headed or dizzy, to fainting or passing out. Losing consciousness while using a spa or hot tub can lead to drowning.

Using alcohol or drugs while in a hot tub can exacerbate issues of overheating, dehydration and fainting, while increasing heart rates and respiration levels.

Pregnant women should avoid hot tubs due to the effects that high temperatures can have on an unborn child. Use of high temperature spas and saunas have been shown to increase the rates of certain birth defects. Soaking in lower temperature water of 98° – 99° is generally considered safe, however.

Small children should also avoid using hot tubs at 104° primarily because children can overheat and dehydrate faster than adults. Open the spa cover and turn down the thermostat to 100°. After cooling, check your hot tub thermometer before the children enter the water.

Hypertensive people, or those with high blood pressure or heart disease conditions are also encouraged to soak at temperatures less than 100°. Higher water temperatures can elevate blood pressure by dilating blood vessels.

Limited soaking time is the another way to avoid overheating in the hot tub. Hot tub sessions should last no more than 10 or 15 minutes.

Be careful exiting a spa as it is common to feel lightheaded, and cold and uncomfortable when standing up and getting out of a spa. Be sure to use a spa handrail and spa step carefully when your head is light and your legs like rubber!

America has no shortage of natural disasters – Earthquakes in the west, Hurricanes in the south and Tornadoes across the Midwest. Freak fires and floods are frequent, nearly anywhere.

Swimming pools, not surprisingly, are affected by all of these natural disasters. Some effects are minor – while other calamity can spell catastrophe for a swimming pool.

EARTHQUAKES AND POOLS

Often thought to be a west coast concern, specifically California – earthquake risk is high in some surprising parts of the country (see map). They come without warning, and even if you had warning, what would you do?

Earthquake damage to swimming pools is rare. During an earthquake, the pool water shakes and sloshes, but in most cases, the pool will suffer no damage.

There are of course, cases where pools have become cracked, tilted, or suffered broken pipes from strong ground movement around the pool. In 2011, the Trefethen Aquatic Center at Mills College developed a nice crack above the gutter system, after only a 3.2 magnitude quake near Oakland, California.

Also in 2011, across the country in Mineral, Virginia, a 5.8 quake was felt all the way to New York. Verna Rogers, a retired Geologist in Lynchburg, Va, was skimming her pool when the quake began. “I knew immediately what it was”, she said. The pool was fine, just the water was dancing and rippling.

There was little damage caused in general by the Virginia earthquake. Residents of the area were rather unimpressed by the event, although most reported that it was “kinda cool” to experience an earthquake.

FIRES AND POOLS

Home fires or nearby forest fires can make a real mess of a pool, with ashes and soot – possible debris. But even in fire-ravaged 2012, damage to pools was rare.

Fire is one of the 7 enemies of a pool cover, and sparks and embers could melt holes in nearly any pool cover type.

In a home or forest fire, swimming pools can actually be the hero, and save the day, as happened in Manorville, NY last year. Forest fires approached a home without a nearby fire hydrant, and after the trucks ran out of water, quick thinking West Sayville, NY firefighters began pumping water out of the pool to keep the forest fire at bay.

The owner was grateful that the house remained intact, even though the fire consumed the pool house. The pool was not harmed, just had to refill the 3+ feet removed to fight the fire. Full story here.

You can set up a home fire protection system, using your swimming pool water, in the event of a fire emergency. By switching a valve to pump from the main drain only, and opening another valve once the hose is rolled out, you can have a fire hose on hand, using water from the pool.

Portable pool fire pumps have proven effective at saving millions of dollars in property damage. Your swimming pool could help out in a fire emergency – on your home, or the home of your neighbor. With enough discharge hose, swimming pool fire pumps can put the water where you want it. Portable, gas powered pumps such as these can also be used on a river or lake – any body of water.

My preferred type of pump for this use as a portable firefighting pump would be a small Honda semi-trash pump with 2″ suction and discharge ports, such as this Honda Semi-Trash pump found at Northern Tool., which pumps over 10000 gallons per hour (!).

Setting up your pool filter pump to deliver emergency fire water is also not hard, as described above. You only need a separate main drain valve, or a way to pump the water level below the skimmer, and you can pump 3000-7000 gallons per hour (depending on the size of your pool filter pump). Pump it out through the backwash hose, or connect the hose to a 3-way valve connected between the pump and filter.

FLOODS AND POOLS

Overflowing river banks, tidal floods and hurricane rains can cause severe damage to pools and pool equipment. The most common problem at the equipment pad can be ruined pool pumps and heaters. Rushing waters can sweep away pool equipment, slides or even pool decks!

Flooding waters that enter a swimming pool can bring all types of organic waste, phosphates, nitrates and pollutants. And mud, lots of silty dirt. In a worst case scenario, a drain and clean of the pool may be needed, to clean pool surfaces and replace contaminated waters.

Aboveground pools may have a distinct advantage against flooding, over inground pools, which are less than a foot above the surrounding terrain. These pools here are quite clean during the flood, but imagine the mud and stains when the water recedes. Not a pretty sight. And the pool equipment, at least the pump, is undoubtedly ruined.

If enough water soaks into low lying terrain around a swimming pool – the worst thing imaginable can occur. A 10 ton inground pool can actually be lifted out of the ground, when underground water pressure is greater than the weight of the pool. Flooding is indeed the most serious of all natural disasters to affect swimming pools.

TORNADOES AND POOLS

You’ve seen the destruction of twisters and tornadoes on television. In places like Moore, Oklahoma – and other mid-western cities in “Tornado Alley”, whole neighborhoods are completely destroyed. It must be the most frightening experience to see a dark funnel cloud heading your direction.

The damage caused by twisters are in many cases worse than that caused by other natural disasters. Swirling winds of 100 miles per hour, could completely demolish an aboveground pool, or fill an inground pool with debris from all over the neighborhood.

In this photo, debris fills the swimming pool of Gary and Barbara Tucker in Piedmont, Oklahoma. Their pool may be in better shape than their home, unfortunately.

Tornadoes and twisters can be found in most areas of the eastern two thirds of the United States, when weather conditions are right.

PREPARING FOR DISASTER

What can you do? Nearly nothing. In most cases, it’s best not to put the cover on the pool, which can blow away or be damaged by flying debris, or burned with hot fire embers.

For heavy winds or flooding, remove any loose items from around the pool, including cleaning tools, toys, furniture and pool cleaners, and store them safely. Loose skimmer lids can be screwed in place or stored indoors.

If your pool pump is removable, move it to higher ground before the waters rise, to save the expense of motor replacement.

Really, there is little you can do to protect your pool equipment and pool from natural disasters like fires, floods, earthquakes and twisters. Just make sure you keep yourself and your family safe – don’t worry about the pool. It’ll be fine.

Want more? See the sequel post: Floods, Fires & Twisters: Natural Pool Disasters II

Enzymes: Pool Water Treatment

Enzyme treatment of your pool water is a natural way to break down organic material which is one of the many benefits when incorporating it into your weekly maintenance. Enzymes are a catalyst for a biochemical reaction which naturally breaks down certain compounds to their chemical building blocks. This will reserve chlorine to combat harmful bacteria. Enzyme treated pool water can require 50% less chemical shocking. Free Chlorine usage will be ideal and your water quality, filtration, and even staining on the pool wall surface will improve.

Enzymes are present in all living things. Although not considered to be a living organism they naturally feed on oils. They search out oils and simplify the molecules. Enzymes are used in large scale oil spill clean-up efforts when massive volumes of crude oil are dumped into our oceans. Through the help of enzymes, environmental and ecosystem damage is reduced.

We often underestimate what we introduce into our pool water. Suntan lotions, body waste, cosmetics, oils and lotions are among the top elements being left behind from the average swimmer. These residues can coagulate and coat the filter cartridge or other filtration medias. Filter cartridges will have the pores of the fabric clogged which can cause filtration issues and the cartridges will need to be cleaned or replaced. D.E. grids are also subject to becoming damaged while filters with sand or Zeobest can form mud balling. Mud-Balling refers to the media sand becoming clumped up within the filter which leads to less effective filtration.

Excessive organic and oil build up can cause:

A scum line around the perimeter of the pool. A “bathtub ring” that can tarnish and dull the tile line of the pool

•       Chemical odors due to the increase in Chloramines

Filtration media having reduced efficiency which will lead to premature replacement. Cartridges and DE grids as well as filter sand clumping and mud-balling

Poor water clarity. Excessive sun tan lotion can even appear as an oil slick across the surface of the water and organic particles can cause water to be murky

Benefits of using an Enzyme based product:

Reduce Chlorine demand. The water chemistry and contaminants that are introduced will dictate the difference. Enzyme use can lead to 50% or more in a chlorine use reduction

Prolonged filter media. Less cleaning and maintenance. Although effective, cleaning chemicals can shorten the life of a cartridge or grid element

Foaming of the pool water is eliminated. Foaming can be caused by several factors that include lotions, oils and fats from soap

Organic build up on the tile line will be removed and continual enzyme use will prevent a returning “scum line”

Water Clarity can be noticeably better. Organic saturation, which can cloud water with particles that are not big enough to be filtered out, will be eradicated. Enzymes will also soften the water

Pool enzyme products mixed with phosphate removers will stunt algae growth by eliminating the algae main source of food and killing the existing algae spores. Natural Chemistry’s Pool Perfect and Great Lake’s Orb-3 are natural enzyme based formulas combined with all natural botanical extracts that powerfully biodegrade organics in your pool water. These swimmer safe products are used on a large scale around the world at well known water parks and water resorts. Even uncirculated ponds can benefit from treatments to reduce slim and algae build up.

Summer is heading into the homestretch, and with fall on the horizon, now is a great time to think about your pool’s energy efficiency. Why? Well, because October is National Energy Awareness Month — aimed at promoting the importance of energy sustainability. In this article, we dive into a few simple ways to increase your pool’s energy efficiency and reduce its environmental impact. So let’s discuss why having a “green pool” isn’t always a bad thing!

6 Ways to Reduce Energy Costs and Increase Your Pool’s Efficiency

Swimming pools offer enormous benefits to pool owners and are an invaluable addition to anyone’s backyard. Whether relaxing in the sun or spending quality time with family and friends, pools provide people with a way to have fun, stay fit, and wind down.

However, while the advantages of pools are many, it’s important to know that pools can have a significant impact on the environment. From water use to energy consumption, it takes numerous resources to properly maintain a swimming pool. But thankfully, there are quite a few ways to reduce the impact your pool has on the environment, without reducing its well-being.

1. Upgrade to a Variable Speed Pool Pump

Your pool pump is the beating heart of your pool, responsible for circulating the water and distributing chemicals. Without a hard-working pump, your pool will quickly turn into an algae-filled swamp. Ensuring your pool water receives enough circulation is one of the first steps to maintaining a safe, healthy pool. That’s where variable speed pool pumps come into play.

In recent years, single speed pool pumps have been pushed aside in favor of more energy-efficient variable speed pumps. These high-powered, low-energy-consuming pumps allow pool owners to switch between various high or low speed settings. Unlike single speed pumps, which only operate at full speed, variable speed pumps can be adjusted depending on the need.

This feature is particularly beneficial during the hot summer months. While single speed pumps should run 1 hour for every 10°F of air temperature (100°F = 10 hours), variable speed pumps should run roughly 3–4 hours on high, and 8–9 hours on low. So while variable speed pumps may run longer, they use significantly less energy — up to 90% less — because they run on a low speed for the majority of the time.

Still need more proof? Check out our energy calculator! Just plug in your pool’s volume, your pump’s current horsepower, and select which state you live in. The calculator will show you your monthly and yearly energy savings, as well as the total percent savings.

PRO TIP: Want more information on the benefits of variable speed pumps? We have an article for that! Check out 5 Benefits of a Variable Speed Pool Pump for a deep dive into what makes these pumps so great.

2. Reduce Pool Heating Expenses

Don’t worry, we’re not asking you to turn your gas pool heater off completely and swim in a freezing cold pool! But consider only using your pool heater when you use the pool. If you’re the weekend warrior type, keep the heater off during the week and only turn it back on in time to warm the pool for the weekend. Doing so can save you a significant chunk of change on your monthly energy bill.

Or better yet, invest in a heat pump. These units use electricity, refrigerant, and the surrounding air to heat your pool water, which is a fraction of the cost compared to natural gas or propane. However, heat pumps do have a few disadvantages. While they cost much less to operate than natural or propane gas heaters, they’re more expensive to purchase. Additionally, because heat pumps use ambient air to heat the water, most models don’t work well in temperatures below 50°F. They don’t heat the water as quickly as a gas heater for on-demand heating purposes, but work great for maintaining a consistent pool temperature. Some pool owners will use a gas heater for quick heat-ups, then use a heat pump to keep the temperature consistent throughout the week.

That said, the best way to increase heating efficiency and reduce overall heat energy costs is to keep heat in the pool, which brings us to tip #3…

3. Use a Solar Cover

As the ultimate eco-friendly, energy-saving pool accessory, solar covers help conserve water and significantly reduce heating costs. Solar covers absorb and transfer heat from the sun into your pool water, raising the water temperature by up to 15°F on its own. When coupled with a heat pump or pool heater, solar covers trap heat and keep your pool warmer for longer. Most of a pool’s heat is lost to evaporation, and solar covers prevent this by blocking up to 95% of the evaporation from your pool. Aside from saving you money on heat energy, preventing evaporation can save you quite a bit on water and chemical expenses, as well.

4. Invest in a Robotic Pool Cleaner

If you’re looking to increase your pool care efficiency, investing in a robotic pool cleaner is the way to go! Their advanced cleaning abilities and ease of use can drastically reduce the time you spend cleaning your pool each week. Furthermore, unlike suction side or pressure side cleaners, robotic pool cleaners run independently of your pool pump. This means your pump doesn’t need to be running in order for the cleaner to work, which saves energy. As an added bonus, robotic cleaners bring extra circulation and filtration into your pool, resulting in cleaner, clearer water.

5. Upgrade to LED Pool Lights

A typical 500-watt halogen or incandescent pool light consumes 0.50 kilowatts of electricity every hour of operation. If you have the light on for 3 hours every night, it would use 10.5 kWh per week. LED pool lights, on the other hand, use as little as 14 watts, or a little over 0.1 kilowatts of electricity per hour. At 3 hours per night, that’s only 2.1 kWh per week — a pretty impressive difference!

However, keep in mind that the price per kilowatt hour ranges from 5–50 cents, depending on where you live. So, while upgrading to LED lights may not drastically increase your pool’s energy efficiency, it will still make an impact. Depending on the upgrade, pool owners can save as much as 85–90% on pool light expenses just by upgrading their halogen or incandescent bulb to an LED light.

6. Switch to a Cartridge Filter

If you have a sand or diatomaceous earth (D.E.) filter, you may not realize just how wasteful these filters can be. Upgrading to a cartridge filter can save you lots of money on water, but can also help maximize the energy efficiency of your pool pump.

When it comes to water savings, cartridge filters can save you thousands of gallons of water per year. Whenever the pressure gauge on a sand or D.E. filter reaches 8–10 psi higher than normal, you must backwash the filter to clean and clear out the system. This process can waste upwards of 500 gallons of water, depending on how long the backwash cycle takes. On the other hand, you don’t need to backwash a cartridge filter — simply take the cartridges out and either hose them down or soak them in a cartridge cleaning solution. Either process uses significantly less water than a backwash cycle.

The pleated cartridges inside the filter housing also provide a high surface area, which helps to increase water flow. This setup ultimately puts less strain on the pump. When cartridge filters are used with a variable speed pump, the lower speeds and increased filtration area helps maximize energy savings, and can also improve filtration for cleaner, clearer water.

And there you have it! These 6 ways of reducing your pool’s energy consumption can even save you a few dollars along the way! In fact, most of the upgrades listed above will pay for themselves very quickly, over the course of a pool season or two. But there are many more ways you can save money on pool care while also helping the environment. For more ideas, check out the Eco-Friendly Pool Tips category in our blog!

• Premium goat leather construction
• Fixed breathable water resistant membrane
• Padded knuckle
• Hook and Loop wrist closure
• Pre-curved fingers
• Leather and aramid palm reinforcements
• Cable wrap / glove holder included

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We all require a little boost of income every now and again, and getting your hands on some quick cash is not always easy. For those who may struggle to borrow money via more traditional means like personal loans and credit cards, borrowing from a friend or family member can take the pressure off but it does come with its challenges.

Money can be a tricky subject, and it’s not always easy to talk about it – even with your closest allies. If a friend or relative comes to you and asks to borrow some money, what would you do? It can be a real test for your relationship, and it’s always better to be prepared. Here are our essential tips for lending money to loved ones, whether they’ve asked you for a small amount or for something more substantial.

Think about it carefully

If you are asked to lend money to someone, it can be easy to feel pressured and to want to help – especially if you are very close to the person in question. Before you say yes however, it’s important to think about it for a while first. Consider whether you are financially able to lend the money above all else – if it will make things difficult for you then it will only create further hassle and costs down the line. You must also consider the possibility of not getting part or all of your money back – how will that affect your finances and your relationship with the borrower? If you have any doubts, you can always say you are not in a position to lend to them, and perhaps offer support in other ways.

Agree on terms and stick to them

If you’re happy to lend money, make sure the terms of the loan are completely clear and fully understood by both of you. Ensure the amount is agreed upon, as well as a timeframe for paying back the money. It’s important to be practical, and to take their ability to pay into consideration: there’s no point asking for all of the money back in a short space of time if the borrower won’t be paid enough by then, for example. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about their finances and what they can manage, as this will help to focus your expectations.

Always stick with cash or bank transfer

The next thing to consider is how to get the money to them. There are a number of ways you can do this, but giving cash or paying via bank transfer are the most sensible. Never give away your credit card to be used by someone else, as not only is this illegal in practice, it also risks your credit rating, and it could land you with expensive charges and repayments.

Depending on the amount, you should be able to make a bank transfer using your online banking facility, or alternatively you can withdraw the cash and either pay it straight into the recipient’s account, or give it to them in person.

Be prepared for hiccups

Always be aware issues can arise during the loan term, and it’s important to be prepared and have a contingency plan. Do not rely on the money being repaid for your essential expenses, as a failure to pay could land you in financial hot water. What happens if the person you lent money to loses their job, or their car breaks down during the repayment term? Discuss the possibility of problems with them and lay down ground rules so it doesn’t negatively affect your friendship. It’s easy for relationships to break down over money, and the preservation of what you have is an essential consideration.

Always put it in writing

To ensure all details are clear and understood, you should always put the loan in writing and make sure each of you has a copy. Both of you should sign the paper. You can find blank loan agreements on websites such as Law Depot, which could offer you some legal protection in the future in the case of non-payment. This step can also give you peace of mind the borrower fully understands the terms, and serves as a reminder to both of you this is something to be taken seriously and not done in haste.

Consider alternative ways to help

If you feel uneasy about lending money to your friend, or if you are financially unable to help them, there are other ways you can offer support. Why does your loved one need to borrow from friends and family? Perhaps it’s because they would be turned down for a more conventional loan on their own merits – their credit score may be bad, for example. In this case, there are other avenues to try.

If they have any valuables they’re willing to part with for a short time, a pawn loan could be the right solution for them. With a pawn loan, your credit rating is not checked as part of the application process, as the security for the loan rests within the value of the item used. If this sounds like it could be helpful, direct them to us here at H&T for more information. Alternatively, they can drop in and see us at any of our 250+ UK branches.

Don’t let it take over your life

While the loan is still being paid back, try to act as you usually would around your friend, and never ask them about it in front of others. While it can be easy to scrutinise their spending over this time, try to remain relaxed and trust the agreed terms will be met. If you have communicated your expectations properly, and you’re confident they are able to pay you back within the timeframe, then there’s no need to let it affect your day-to-day interactions.

Arrange as part of the deal to meet up every so often to have a private chat about how it’s going, and their ability to pay the next installment. Keeping the lines of communication open and being upbeat can really lessen the chances of issues forming, and will preserve your relationship for many years to come.

本教程适用版本：WPS 365 点击免费使用

在我们日常使用excel表格中，经常需要合并几个单元格的内容。很多人面对这种情况都会选择一个个复制粘贴，今天我们教给大家一个非常快速的办法，那就是用&轻松合并单元格内容。它是如何操作的呢？下面我们一来学习一下。

首先我们打开一个excel文档，看到其中有一些个人信息，我们要在D列输入具体地址，也就是合并B、C列内容，在F列输入QQ邮箱：

>>免费升级到企业版，赠超大存储空间

我们点击D2单元格，在其中输入=B2&C2：

>>免费升级到企业版，赠超大存储空间

此时我们看到D2单元格已经完成了内容合并：

>>免费升级到企业版，赠超大存储空间

鼠标移动到D2单元格右下方，待光标变成黑十字，拖动鼠标进行填充，这样所有单元格都完成了内容合并：

>>免费升级到企业版，赠超大存储空间

在F列，输入“=E2&”@qq.com””，需要注意的是，所有的符号要是英文输入下完成：

>>免费升级到企业版，赠超大存储空间

点击回车，最终完成了单元格和输入内容的合并：

>>免费升级到企业版，赠超大存储空间

按照上面的方式拖动鼠标，最后完成所有单元格内容的合并：

>>免费升级到企业版，赠超大存储空间

以上就是我们今天学习的Excel表格技巧中用&轻松合并单元格内容的技巧，看起来是不是很简单，大家学会了么？

Nowadays, with more complex machines being introduced, it brings greater challenges to the manufacturing industry and machine makers. The complexity of manufacturing is also more and more obvious. Many excellent manufactures have seen the value of digital production, then they decide to fully integrate all resources to realize the digital production while boosting quality, reducing the time to market, and improving the delivery timeframes.

What is Digital Part Production?

Digital Part Production (DPP) is a kind of advanced production technology, firstly proposed by Siemens, which provides a fully connected thread that realizes the big merging of the digital and physical world. This process is dynamic which can continuously send digital communication and feedback loop to parts manufacturers understand each update to the parts influences the large production process.

Some manufacturing processes are very complex, then the parts manufacturers usually rely on integrated digital solutions. The method is based on an overall digital twin, which enables machine builders to not only master the precision of the production of the part but also improve the efficiency of operation and the ability to manage the shop floor. In other words, digital parts production offers the new engineering and manufacturing practices to follow the ever-growing complexity, driving the highest production output and high-quality part production. It connects the overall production process with the digitals, thus upgrading the coordination and automation between the shop floor and manufacturing.

This approach is based on the combination of comprehensive digital twin and production digital twin, realizing the highest quality while optimizing the resources and controlling the costs of production, thus promoting the automation of the parts from developing to producing. Those digital twins allow the company to carry simulation design and manufacturing before the materials are cut and the fixtures are installed. Now, it can fully connect the overall production process, reduce the data transmission and repetition, upgrade the cooperation and automation in all-around aspects.

To accomplish this goal, digital parts production has three key differentiating factors that enable to create the perfects with high-quality and accuracies:

Define your digital part production process with highly automated CAM 

As we know, highly automated CAM can repeatedly re-use the verified data to automatic programming and improve the machining process to produce the same results, upgrading the quality and accelerating the time to market.

Synchronized parts manufacturing can increase the effectiveness

Synchronized parts production is greatly improving the whole operation efficiency by using one unified system to design, simulate and make the parts.

Additive manufacturing enhances the digital part production and design

It’s hard and impossible to make the parts with the creater complex geometries. Additive manufacturing can overcome this challenge. Besides, these complex geometries are tougher and lighter compared with their counterparts with the traditional methods. 

Outstanding companies found that the future of digital part production adopts the new software tool that connects various applications and processes by the use of the digital twin. Digital part production connects the production process, reducing the data transmission rate replication, strengthening the cooperation, automating the engineering and machining procedures.

More importantly, digital parts production comprises information-sharing loops across the whole organization, constantly improving and becoming more simplified.

How to Realize the Precision of Perfect Part Through Digital production

To remain competitive in the forceful machinery industry, the manufacturers usually seek the last solution to size the market quotation and delivery the innovation in the shortest time. The customers are desired to get highly customized products to meet their specific needs, and one size doesn’t work anymore.

Higher Operational Efficiency Overcomes the Complexity 

DPP builds a bridge that connects the digital, which can help you to incorporate your digitals and physical process. In the closed-loop, you can know the all details of each part’s production, once you find out the error, the results can be updated timely. It can connect your whole operation and production, automating all produce, improving efficiency, and making your manufacturing smoother and easier.

Fully Merging the Digital and physical process to promote innovation

DPP has a strong belief that helps the machine builders to solve the difficulties, enhancing operational efficiency and shop management. Digital part production( DPP ) is a powerful platform that allows you to fully merge your digital resource and physical process. It combines engineering with the manufacturing plan, which makes the independent team can easily access similar information, helping you to deliver high-quality products, optimizing the process, and shortening the time to market.

Conclusion

If you are looking for machining services, or need to manufacture perfect prototypes and parts, welcome to upload your CAD files and our team will give you fast feedback and the best services. 

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