Engineering Reference Tables, Charts and Formula

As a freelance engineering contractor, you are only as good as your last job. So being able to find relevant engineering information quickly and easily is an important skill. The following list of engineering resources in the form of charts, tables, graphs, definitions and links will hopefully make your life easier. If you would like to see a particular topic added to the toolbox then let us know - select the link at the bottom of the page.

Computing

ASCII Character Table - The basic ASCII Character Table for numbers 0 to 127.

Electrical Engineering

Electric Motors - Formulas relating to electric motors

Ingress Protection Ratings - IP Codes and comparisons with the NEMA system

Polarisation Index - Use of Polarization Index for AC & DC drives and generators. Polarisation Index of Electric Windings

Power Factor Correction - Power Factor definition, and how to calculate Power Factor Correction

Temperature Classification - T Class Ratings for hazardous area products. Comparison of European & US ratings

Glossaries

General Engineering Terms and Acronyms - A wide ranging glossary of common engineering terms

Nuclear Terms and Acronyms - Glossary of basic nuclear engineering terms

Hydraulics

Hydraulic Fluid Cleanliness Standards - Current standards used for cleanliness of hydraulic fluids

Hydraulic Fluid Cleanliness Classes - Comparison of ISO and NAS cleanliness classes for hydraulic fluids

Instrumentation

Cable Glands - The selection and sizing of cable glands

Electronic Wire and Cable - Stranding, diameters & areas of copper electronic wire & cable

Ingress Protection Ratings - IP Codes and comparisons with the NEMA system

Pressure Gauges - Selection, installation & use of Bourdon tube pressure gauges

Temperature Classification - T Class Ratings for hazardous area products. Comparison of European & US ratings

Thermocouple Types - Standard combinations of metals and measuring ranges of common thermocouples

Vortex Meters - Installation and straight length requirements for vortex meters

Material Science

Machinability of Materials - Understanding the Machinability Index, and some useful points to note when cutting metal

Stainless Steels - Grades of stainless steels, their compositions and properties

Occupational Safety

COSHH - Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002. COSHH Regs

Noise Measurement - Understanding Sound Pressure Level, decibels, and loud noise.

Physical Properties

Flash Point - Definition, and considerations for handling low flash point liquids

Viscosity - Definitions, units and conversions for viscosity of fluids

Water Hardness - Definition, units of measurement and treatment options for water hardness

Pipes, Flanges & Bolting

Flange Facings - Common terms for surface roughness of flange mating faces

Flange PCD Dimensions - Pipe flange dimensions for common sizes and ratings

Hot Bolting - Hot Bolting is the practice of removing and replacing or freeing and re-tightening bolts on live piping and equipment

Pipe Schedules - Pipe Schedules, wall thickness and weights

Stud and Nut Sizes - Stud diameters & corresponding nut sizes in metric & imperial

Process Safety

ATEX - EU directive 94/9/EC, compliance and equipment markings. Atex Directive

Hazardous Areas - Classification of hazardous areas and a comparison of differing standards

HAZIDs - Hazard Identification studies and HAZID study guide words

HAZOPs - Hazard and operability studies and HAZOP study guide words

Safety Integrity Ratings - SIL definition and how to determine Safety Integrity Ratings

Pumps & Pumping Technology

Pump Affinity Laws - Affects of changing pump speed on flow rate, head and power are explained in the pump affinity laws

Trade and Commerce

CE Marking - Conformity marking in the EU, and application of CE marks

IncoTerms - Rough guide to the meaning of the 13 Incoterms

Transportation of Flammable Liquids - Understanding Flash Point: Essential Knowledge for Goods Handling

Units of Measurement

SI Units - The 7 Base SI Units and the derived units defined and explained

SI Unit Prefixes - Form decimal multiples and submultiples of SI units by using the metric prefixes

Temperature Conversions - Convert units of temperature with our on line conversion tool. Works for all units of temperature.

Valves

Relief Valve Orifice Sizes - API standard Relief Valve Orifice Sizes

Valve Leakage - Valve leakage classes and testing explained

Vessels and Tanks

Vessel Nozles - Rules of thumb for the safe location of nozzles on vessels