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End of the Road (B-Inge Remix)
We've all had those kind of relationships where we really like the person, we're really comfortable with them and we have so many memories of the good times together that it's nearly impossible to say goodbye. It's not that you no longer like them, it's just that it's not there anymore. Well, that's kind of what happened last week between the Tigers and Brandon Inge.
We've known that something was off with the relationship the last couple years. It just didn't feel as fresh and fulfilling as it used to. Sure, we convinced ourselves that the old magic was still there, hiding someplace. And every once in awhile that spark would rekindle something and we'd see flashes of what used to be there. It's like that magical vacation you take to try and find what used to be there and for a week or so, you rediscover it briefly. But, just like in real life, things soon return to normal and you slowly begin to accept what has to happen.
The thing is, it's hard to leave a relationship like that, especially when you've had so many truly terrible relationships previously. Dontrelle Willis? Mike Maroth? Those two were like the alcoholic chick you picked up at the bar who decided to leave a toothbrush behind the first night and then just refused to leave. But Inge? He was more than a relationship. Even your parents liked him. He played multiple roles and he always seemed to step up and do what was asked of him. He was a metaphor for everything that had happened over the previous five seasons.
But whether the relationship is certifiably insane or has just run its course, the end result is the same. You gotta get out. I'm not saying that makes it any easier. Even though I know dropping Inge was the right choice, it's not like I can just forget him. I'll probably still check his facebook and occasionally look at the photos we took together. Luckily, it's not like we're left all alone. There's a new crush who has caught my eye and he's a real Prince.


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TVS Apache RTR 200 4V: Review
Another streetfighter got debuted under the most desirable flagship brand TVS is nothing but the new Apache RTR 200 4V. This cruisy commuter comes with the all new dynamics with fruitful elements. The bike now appears to be plusher from every dimension. Talking about the performance, it now comes powered with a 4-stroke, single cylinder, liquid cooled, … Read moreTVS Apache RTR 200 4V: Review

subset: commoncrawl


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Discreet look transforms tactical pants
Vertx keeps a low profile with new trouser
By Jeanette Kozlowski
Police1 Contributor
With emphasis being placed more often on discreet wear, tactical pants have undergone a recent metamorphosis. This transformation is most evident in Vertx's latest pants offering.
The Vertx brand began when a federal agency approached David Walsh at Arc'teryx, an outdoor clothing company. The agency sought pants with the strength and durability of BDU (battle dress uniform) pants but appeared to be an everyday pair of khakis. In spring 2008, Arc'teryx partnered with Fechheimer Brothers Company, a Berkshire Hathaway company, to collaborate on the trousers
Launched last July, Vertx's tactical pants ($59.95 MSRP) have been getting a leg up on the competition with a handful of unique features. What makes this brand stand out from the crowd of 5.11s, Blackhawks and Proppers? For one, it's the only tactical pant made with LYCRA, a synthetic fiber. This combination of 2 percent LYCRA and 98 percent cotton gives the pants a slight stretch for comfort.
"It doesn't look like a synthetic pant even though it has some of its advantages with the 2 percent LYCRA," said Walsh, now director of brand management/special projects for Vertx. "It's just enough to make it a more comfortable pant. The quality of the cloth itself is higher than most of the pants in the category—it's apparent as soon as you wear them."
Created for the "operational athlete," the non-pleated pants have nine pockets, yet on first glance it appears to only have four. Made out of 100 percent woven cotton, the pockets are designed to keep gear inside without using Velcro or magnetic closures. Pocket insets allow the wearer to conceal carry with ease, Walsh said.
"[The pants] just don't stand out," Walsh explained. "They don't have a very signature look to them. They're very discreet."
With a 9-ounce fabric weight, the trousers are .5 ounces heavier than most tactical pants on the market today. Available in law enforcement black, desert tan, khaki, navy and OD green, Vertx is the only tactical pant offered in MultiCam, the multi-environment camouflage pattern. Cut for mobility and comfort, the trousers boast a lower rise than others. Its crotch construction touts a gusset that is said to reduce bulking at the seams and increase the range of movement.
Moreover, the pants come in odd size increments including 33 and 35 on a 32-inch seam.
"We actually tried to fit a particular size across body types and made sure it fit all of those body types correctly, which was a big challenge," Walsh said. "And we think we nailed it."
Another body type Vertx wanted to accommodate was the female figure. To accomplish this, the company tossed out the men's pant and started from scratch on a distinctive cut. Working directly with women police officers, they built the women's trouser from the ground up with a lower rise and a finished length.
"Female pants are harder to pattern than men's," Walsh said. "I think that in the market place female officers are kind of left behind in a lot of cases, and they get basically a men's cut."
You can find Vertx tactical pants for sale at tacticalpants.com.
Jeanette Kozlowski is a writer for Cat5 Commerce, a niche retail operator. She spends most days monitoring the wires for new and exciting developments to share on Tactical Pants Blog, an information hub for the law enforcement and public safety industry. Most recently, Ms. Kozlowski completed research on The Ultimate Guide to Tactical Pants.
- Tags
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text: The FBI hatched a "plot to identify and assassinate Occupy leaders"? It'd seem so, according to the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund and civil liberties activists. Information obtained by the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund via a Freedom of Information Act request reveal that the FBI: a) "collaborated with other federal agencies,Continue reading


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by Adam Serfass
I'm sitting in the only room in the house where I can't regulate the temperature. It's hot and getting hotter and I'm reminded of a summer like this one long ago when my pop took me to Yankee Stadium to see the Red Sox.
My family lived in upstate New York for the first 12 years of my life. It was New York Yankee territory. And why not? You can't really blame them: it's New York. They have no idea they're wrong.
But Pop grew up in the Poconos and wasn't attached to any team. He was born in the early 1930s and fell in love with the early Red Sox heroes of the '40s: Bobby Doerr, Dominic DiMaggio, Johnny Pesky and, of course, Ted Williams. He chose the Boston Red Sox. Since he made his pick, my siblings and I were destined to be Red Sox fans, too.
Amy and Aaron, my two siblings, are still diehard Red Sox fans. I am, too, although I've swayed a bit. When the strike came, I stopped baseball cold turkey. The strike lasted only 232 days, but it hurt the 1994-1995 season, and it hurt me. It took years for me to return.
My first wife, Alexandra, didn't know me as a sports nut. We lived in Portland, and I didn't have direct access to any local team. But when I moved here 14 years ago, I got hooked again. The Phillies were making their big move from the Vet to their new home, The Bank.
By the time the Phillies had moved, I had married again. My wife and I decided to get partial season tickets. (We settled on the weekday partial season-ticket package. It's now one of the most sought-after packages in Philly. Who knew?)
But it all reminded me of that summer in Yankee Stadium.
My dad and I arrived at that game early. I was more interested in the popcorn than anything else. I loved the smell of hot dogs in the stadium air and the sticky floors where we would sit.
I couldn't understand what people were yelling, but I remember the vibe. I tried to root for Carl Yastrzemski — when I yelled his name out loud, I destroyed it.
Pop looked down, laughing.
"It's okay," he told me, "I call him Yaz!"
So I did, too. Yaz played his entire career, all 23 years, with the Red Sox. But this story isn't about him. It's about the other lifer: Jim Rice, who played left field from 1974-1989.
Dad and I were in deep left field. The left-field corner in Yankee Stadium rose up at a hefty angle, and we sat at its peak. During warm-ups, Jim Rice was signing autographs, and Pop got his attention. Jim signed a ball and threw it up to us. But instantly, before Pop could even touch it, a Yankees fan came out of nowhere and grabbed the ball.
Even Jim was shocked. He grabbed another ball, though. He signed it, and once again, he got Pop's attention. We walked down to the floor of left field, and he handed Pop the ball.
Pop still has that ball, and I still have that memory. The care and attention the Red Sox showed for their fans made it easy for us to be intensely passionate fans. It made a huge baseball fan of me.
I might not be instilling in my son a love of the Red Sox, but he's getting a healthy dose of Phillies fanaticism at an early age.
Andrin has been to a number of games already. He attended his first game at three months old.
Despite my excitement, I worried about what the fans around us would think of us bringing a 3-month-old to a game. But that opening day, I heard story after story from fans who were doing the same thing.
Where there is baseball there is passion. Where there is baseball, there is love of the game. There are as many baseball stories as there are fans in the stadium.
In the coming weeks, I want to share that passion with you. I have already four people lined up to give me their stories, and there will always be more. A series of stories will appear from fans close to you. Read up: You may learn more about your neighbor.


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Market News
|October 23, 2013
Australians told to flee homes as hot winds fan Sydney fire threat.
|Australian firefighters battled massive wildfires in bushland around Sydney on Wednesday, but hot weather that could have caused a catastrophic mega-fire did not materialize, allowing authorities to tell some evacuated residents it was safe to return to home.
However, the crisis was far from over with new fires igniting and strong winds fanning blazes in the Blue Mountains, a major commuter area of small towns west of Sydney.
Around 60 fires were still burning across New South Wales (NSW) state, with more than 2,000 firefighters struggling to contain them, with more hot and windy weather forecast.
As exhausted firefighters moved from fire to fire, residents used garden hoses to try and save their homes.
More than 200 homes have been destroyed in NSW since last Thursday, when fires tore through Sydney's outskirts, razing entire streets. One man died from a heart attack while trying to save his home.
Earlier on Wednesday, residents in the Blue Mountains were urged to drive down to the safety of metropolitan Sydney, but by the evening some were returning home.
"If you have been someone that has chosen to depart the Blue Mountains today...(to) be out of harm's way, then it would be safe to head back home tonight because the risk has been averted," said Rural Fire Service (RFS) Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons warned the situation could deteriorate again and urged people to be vigilant.
"There are still fires flaring up, impacting on communities this afternoon," he said. "I won't rest easy until I know things have settled right down over the next 24 hours or so and we start seeing some really good further consolidation of control lines and bringing these fires more under control."
The fires have burned through more than 120,000 hectares (300,000 acres) and have a perimeter of some 1,600 km (990 miles). Firefighters fear strong winds may see three major fires in the Blue Mountains join up in coming days, creating one massive wildfire.
Air pollution in parts of Sydney has spiked with some neighborhoods blanketed in smoke.
The NSW government has declared a state of emergency enabling it to order evacuations, hoping to avoid a repeat of the 2009 "Black Saturday" fires in Victoria state that killed 173 people and caused $4.4 billion worth of damage.
The insurance council of Australia said claims of more than A$93 million ($90 million) were expected to grow.
Police have arrested several children suspected of starting a number of different fires. Other fires were sparked by power lines arcing in strong winds, according to the fire service.
The biggest fire was started during an army training exercise when an explosion ignited bushland.
Record hot and dry weather across Australia and an early start to the fire season in the Southern Hemisphere spring have revived arguments about mankind's impact on climate change.
Climate scientists say Australia is one of the countries most at risk from global warming, with fires, floods and droughts a feature of the continent.
But conservative Prime Minister Tony Abbott has rejected any link between the Sydney fires and rising carbon emissions from the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, a major Australian export.
"Climate change is real and we should take strong action against it," Abbott told local radio.
"But these fires are certainly not a function of climate change, they are just a function of life in Australia."
Elected in September, Abbott plans to repeal a carbon emissions tax installed by the previous government and replace it with a "Direct Action" scheme involving things like reforestation and financial incentives to business to cut pollution.


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DIY: Crazy for Crosshatch
Once you start with this crosshatch pattern, you won't be able to stop!
All it takes is a few minutes and a couple dollars worth of supplies. You probably have most of this stuff hanging around already.
Here are the supplies you'll need:
- something to decorate (card, notebook, etc.)
- cardstock, scissors, pencil OR a pre-made stencil
- painters tape
- ultra-fine point Sharpie
Start by drawing a simple shape on to the cardstock and cutting it out. Or, if you're using a pre-made stencil, just tape that bad boy on to whatever you're decorating.
Make sure you really secure your stencil with painter's tape and start drawing your lines. I'm a jittery person, so I think it looks good when the lines are little wavey. Gives it a hand-drawn look. Also, I can't draw a straight line without the aid of a ruler.
Once you're done filling in the lines in one direction, start on the other way! Btw, if you don't already own an ultra-fine point Sharpie, go get one now! You'll find so many uses for it.
Try not to be too heavy with your Sharpie around the edges of the stencil or you'll get little dots along the edge.
Now peel off the stencil and take a look at the pretty crosshatch pattern you just made.
Repeat the previous steps on everything you own. Just kidding! Well sorta...
I liked how this turned out so much, I immediately reached for a mini Moleskine notebook and stenciled an 'F' for my last name. Sharpies come in roughly ten million colors now, so pick up a couple shades and get going. Stenciling someone's named in multi-colored crosshatches on a card would be a really cool addition to a gift.


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Aerolizer is a long-acting beta-agonist bronchodilator. It works by widening the airways in the lungs, which helps you breathe more easily. Aerolizer is used with a long-term asthma medicine, such as an inhaled corticosteroid, in adults and children ages 5 and older, to control symptoms of asthma and to prevent symptoms such as wheezing.
It is a multi dose Dry Powdered Inhaler.
Foradil Aerolizer consists of a dry powder formulation of formoterol fumarate intended for oral inhalation only with the Aerolizer Inhaler. The inhalation powder is packaged in clear hard gelatin capsules. Each capsule contains a dry powder blend of 12 mcg of formoterol fumarate and 25 mg of lactose (which contains trace levels of milk proteins) as a carrier. Foradil capsules should be administered only by the oral inhalation route and only using the Aerolizer Inhaler.
Source: http://www.merck.com/
Disclaimer: This site is presented for information only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice.
Copyright © 2013 Saralsoft LLC, Inc. All Rights Reserved.


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Boys' Vans Infant & Toddler Ward Velcro Sneakers
In Stock
Kids' Vans Infant & Toddler Asher V Slip-On Skate Shoes
In Stock
Boys' Vans Toddler Doheny Velcro Sneakers
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Boys' Vans Infant & Toddler Ward Slip-On Sneakers
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Boys' Vans Infant & Toddler Ward Zip High-Top Sneakers
In Stock
Boys' Sneakers
When you're young, nothing's cooler than rocking the latest brand-name sneakers. Nike, Vans, Converse, adidas, Fila … you'll find them all at Shoe Carnival! Whether he wants high top Chucks or slip-on skate shoes, you're sure to find his perfect everyday style.
Boys' Tennis Shoes
Help him stay active and healthy with fun tennis shoes. Get your older boys ready for gym class with youth athletic shoes. Little ones will love playing in light-up sneakers featuring their favorite TV characters. Make your mornings easier with Velcro closures and stretchy laces.
Boys' Sports Shoes
Whatever his sport, we have the shoes he needs! Check out boys' running shoes, cleats, basketball shoes, and more, online or at a Shoe Carnival store near you.


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Barrington Office
508 S. Northwest Highway Barrington, Il 60010
Managing Broker
About Barrington
Neighborhood — Located 35 miles northwest of Chicago, Barrington is a charming village with a rich history. The town features tree-lined streets, historic sites, and a vibrant downtown with many shops and acclaimed restaurants, including Barrington Country Bistro and Francesca's. The Barrington 220 School District consists of eight elementary schools, two middle schools and Barrington High School, which has been ranked by Newsweek as one the best public schools in America.
Housing — Barrington boasts the largest residential historic district in the state of Illinois. The town is noted for its late 19th century architectural styles, including Victorian, Victorian Gothic and Queen-Anne . Housing product within the town ranges from condominiums and townhomes to single-family homesand stately mansions.
Lifestyle —The Village of Barrington offers many unique recreation opportunities thanks to its numerous parks, gardens and nature preserves. Citizens Park, one of Barrington Park District's newest and most prized parks, features biking and walking paths, cross-country ski trails, tennis and basketball courts, the Jewel Tea Pavilion and more. Barrington residents also enjoy a number of community events that take place throughout the year, such as Farmer's Markets and the Barrington Art Festival. Transportation is convenient for residents and visitors with the Metra's Union Pacific Northwest Line providing service to downtown Chicago.


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Posted by Chic Aeon in hair, new releases, places on Thursday, May 31, 2012
My outfit releases SATURDAY from EMO-tions. The Mimi set comes with many layers of mix and match pieces which give you a variety of looks -- demure and Victorian to racy. The frilly pants work very well! Yeah. The Daphne hair is an elegant updo with tendrils draping from the sides and back. My collar is an oldie and no longer available.
Pose by: aDORKable
Posted by Chic Aeon in freebies, new releases, skins on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
EMO-tions, Demonica, Robbie conforms to standard sizing S which gives you a better chance at a good fit. Curious, I tried on some mesh garments and some fit perfectly as an "S" some did not, some needed an "M". If you wear a lot of mesh, you know how it goes. Still she is quite lovely. I used a skin from Soulglitter -- *Soulglitter* Skin Lea naturelle smoky eyes as well as blue-black eyes from the same shop. This is part of an avatar pack which includes various shapes, an AO and some PHYSICS for -- it seems -- how much you want your breast to bounce. I had never seen that icon before and so it is a bit of a mystery to me. Being a pretty breastless gal, I didn't worry about it, but still -- interesting.
Lea is free (refund) for 48 hours on the marketplace. There are lots of versions of skin and prim eyes included. This is an especially good deal if you are new or if your alt is in need of a makeover :D. The shapes that come with the Lea pack are no mod.
And here is the Robbie vendor close up with Akeruka Alba skin.
My hair in the lead photo is Raina from Alli&Ali.
Fashion Shoot
Posted by Chic Aeon in new releases on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
There is lots of news over at Amarelo Manga . Mesh goodies galore! While not everything fit me (gotta love that picky mesh), many things did and I am going to show you a few of my favorites. At the top of the list are the Sarouel pants, these in tobacco. Now I admit that I had to work a bit to get these to fit me perfectly, but it was worth it. My waist was a bit too thick and not wide enough. Happily sliders took care of that. I added some of my favorite jewelry now in a folder called "casual ethnic" *wink* and some standby neutral wear; I have a great outfit.
I love rompers and my latest inventory cleaning ( I've made it into shoes now) left me with only one oldie, so this great mesh romper fills in for those departed.
It comes with both gold and silver belts. I will most likely add something more colorful and ethnic like the belt from a bikini I featured last week.
Poses by: Helamiyo (geometry set)
This is the Summer Tunic in orange over the Skirt Fall in blue.
Bracelets are from RH Engel Jewelry, one of the Southwestern bangles from some time ago.
There are some striking, dark blue jeans that fit me perfectly and some cute shorts, similar in style to the romper bottoms. So my summer wardrobe is underway.
Stop by the shop to see all the
And I am really, really looking forward to summer!
Posted by Chic Aeon in hunts on Monday, May 28, 2012
Lots of guys out hunting and many of them new, and I do mean really, really new *wink*. So I am guessing this hunt made it to the destination guide. Good for the organizers. And, a big gold star to those same organizers who NOW have the names of the stores by the hints in the SLURL list. That helps immensely.
As you can see not everything is really ONLY for guys. I do admit that I had to adjust my shape a bit for these great pants from n-creation to fit. Same actually for Chav (below). The new guys that I spied out hunting will not find these working for them. Short, chunky folks need not apply. But really, really nice jeans from one of my favorite stores? I am a happy gal. My bracelet is an oldie, also from n-creation -- not a plan, just part of an often worn outfit I had on when I started this post.
Poses by: Diesel Works, Vista Animations
Heading towards June
Posted by Chic Aeon in comment on Sunday, May 27, 2012
As you may have noticed, I took today off. But that doesn't mean I wasn't paying attention :D. So here are a couple of thoughts about the state of the blogging community.
First of all, a big thank you to all the designers that send me what I think of as "goodies". These are the guys that have their own blogger groups and especially those that send out review copies from time to time MANUALLY. You know what manually means? It means that they actually thought about who they wanted to send their designs too. I really do appreciate being on your lists.
Secondly, the feeds seem to be in a very messy state of late. Many are not "feeding". It is obvious that someone must have posted SOMETHING between when I check in the morning and mid afternoon. Some aren't even accessible. I am giving those in seemingly dire straights some time and then if they don't show back up deleting them from my sidebar. It is likely that the owners of the feeds aren't the problem, but keeping on top of things is always good.
And thirdly, and this with thoughts of events coming up in the future (Hair Fair, yeah!) -- Bloggers, if you don't have the time to actually BLOG an event then signing up as press is actually a lie. And blogging
six hours shortly before an event ends DOESN'T COUNT!!!! So think about that before you ask to be on an early entry or blogger review copy list. Some of us work mighty hard to publicize worthwhile venues. Think about commitment; it is a good noun.
One last thing. Awhile ago someone posted about a "pay it forward" challenge. I didn't opt in at the time, but I would like to send out a special thanks to Chandra, who in actually is my only designer friend (well there is Sami but she is a friend who happens to design :D). Chandra and I met long ago when I spent most of the day grabbing goodies from her Lucky Christmas boxes and over the years we have kept in touch. We chat about mostly nonsensical things, but it is nice to know that there is someone out there in the ethers that you will never meet but still feel connected to. And how many folks have friends who actually makes a whole outfit for the color "patriarch"? LOL.
That's it. Back soon.
Party Time - Cynful
Poses by: the shopping bag
I did find a couple of prizes but being mesh they didn't fit. I am sure there are some good things on this hunt, but patience will be needed. SO, today's post is brought to you by hair and poses. Chav's hair (that's me remember in guy form) is the new Troy from EMO-tions, just out today. Lani's (and you thought that was me in pale skin I bet) is the famous Wasabi Pills, Shiori style from Culture Shock.
Diesel Works. It is called Groove and is a group gift.
And now I am going to get back to myself and let Lani do the same. This has been way to weird for me. Have a fun weekend!
Pose by: Diesel Works
Winding Down
Posted by Chic Aeon in design, new releases on Friday, May 25, 2012
Gwen Carillon Designs. The wrap skirt is mesh and comes in both sheer and opaque versions in standard sizings. The necklace is part of the set.
The mention of mesh forms a segue into my next topic, a revisitation of the [what next] Charolette release for the fair. I showed you the set and mentioned the great activities animations, but I failed to point out the great prim bargains that form the accessories. The pictures behind me are two prims -- not each, in total! The vase and flowers which I so love in each of the colors available are three.
While most items at the SLH&G are ready-made, there are a few shops that cater to builders. One is Katy's Kreations Sculpties. Now I am guessing that not all of the blogger's wandering through on press day stopped by Katy's. I mean if you don't build, this isn't at the top of your list of stops. But for those of us that did journey in, there were goodies and I was a happy gal. It has taken me a week, but I finally opened one of the sculpt review items and it is very nicely done and simple to use.
An example comes in the pack but I just plopped the sculpt map into the sculpt pane while choosing the appropriate stitching. A few adjustments and a texture and I have a very cute little tray to hold my drinks on my deck. The pack comes with a glass sculpt for a table top as well as a shadow texture. This would also make a very nice plant stand. Note to self: "make a plant stand". :D
Zwicked Textures. Aside from sponsoring a sim, you can choose from a huge assortment of texture sets with 50% of the sale going to RFL.
I was thrilled to add the review copy sets to my collection and was even more impressed to learn that Samantha Zwickel will be donated half of the value of the review sets to RFL. Wow! So while I almost never (well I honestly can't remember any time at all) paste in vendor photos, I am making an exception here.
I know a ton of content creators read this blog, so get out and search through some texture packs now that you have some breathing time!
Poses by: Pffiou and the lounger
Going Goth
Posted by Chic Aeon in design, new releases, sneak peak on Thursday, May 24, 2012
The AD mesh outfit is called Kimono skull black and there is a similar with white accents. The hat is not rigged so I dipped it down very low ala Marlene Dietrich.
Alchemy Immortalis, I want to put in a plug for my friend Sami.
A few years ago Sami had a pose shop as part of her shopping complex, Samara Studios. Some of you old timers might remember that. I modeled there for awhile in my youth. Anyway, while she is retired now, she apparently is also a bit itchy to actually DO something in SL and so she started making shapes again.
This isn't outstanding news really *wink*, but it does get better. First off, she is selling her shapes for $10 with a store name of "$10 Shapes". Shapes are Mod, Copy, NT and include four bra sizes. Her newest addition to the mix is making some of the shapes conform to standard sizing guidelines for mesh.
Click for larger photo.
I think this is a superb idea. Now any of us who try on lots of mesh outfits know that standard sizing doesn't solve all the problems. Even within a design line one can suddenly need a different size. And there are lots of measurements that are not addressed in standard sizing. But, it is a start.
The rest of the story goes like this. I had the new Patrice shape shown above because I am the official photographer for her vendor photos. NO, this is not a new sideline, just helping a friend out. I have a huge collection of great hair and poses as well as very nice skin and she does not. And really, investing in all of that for selling $10 shapes is not good business sense. Anyway, when I tried on the Kimono dress above, it didn't fit all that well. So I thought, "hey, let's see if this helps" as I switched to Patrice. And it did. It wasn't perfect, but a very big improvement over my tall and thin shape. So, You can buy Patrice in world at the very tiny for now $10 Shapes shop. OR see all that she has so far including a standard sizing pack on the Marketplace.
For those of you that rushed over to see the impressive Alchemy Immortalis build and wondered at all the empty vendor slots -- well some are now FILLED. Yeah! So a return trip is in order.
So far I do not see the build for sale and getting it all into a rez box and testing is no simple project, so that may or may not happen in time. Meanwhile, though, for all you builders out there, you can purchase the parts to make your own mountain to the sky at a very reasonable price. I didn't check the permissions so I am guessing that they are no transfer, but take a look.
Also available are some very pretty pillows that go with the RFL chair.
Poses by: aDORKable and Nigotine
I was so very very impressed with these props that I made a film using them all. It was great fun and I am happy to share my findings! The haystack animation goes on for-e-ver. I was amazed. It is so very long that I actually just hit the record button on my computer and went out to the kitchen *wink*. The nuances are superb so if you love props or have a country themed home or shop, be sure and check out things either at the Expo or at the Sandry's main shop.
View the three minute video with THIS LINK.
Making Friends
Posted by Chic Aeon in freebies
My flowered summer dress is mesh and free from G&N Quality Design. It comes with both hat and tennis shoes. Five standard sizes are included in the pack.
Pose by: aDORKable
The Dressing Room
Posted by Chic Aeon in new releases, poses, props on Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Marmalade Jam @ the Expo as it went so well and I still have some Expo goodies to show you.
My daytime maxi dress hales from Apple May Designs and is available in other shades.
Poses by: aDORKable from the Je t'aime set available at My Attic in May
Summer Sizzle
Posted by Chic Aeon in design, freebies, new releases
My swim set in sizzling pink was a Mother's Day gift from Paris Metro. I found it in the archives of a new to me blogger group, so this isn't timely. Still, you might want to pop over and see if it is still around. The bead belt is especially cute and sunglasses are included. My fuchsia Maxine wedges from Baiastice coordinate nicely!
The Beachside Bed has couples poses in the couch / bed and single sits for the deck (click sit on the bench). The deck area is separate from the daybed so you could use that piece on its own (18 equivalents).
A big set of mesh palms are also RFL items.
Click the photo for larger picture.
Poses by: Poise aDORKable and Diesel Works
Trompe Loeil . This Tropical Rope Hammock comes with palm trees and has touch to change pillows that match the Beachside Bed.
And if you want to lounge in those rays, what better way than in this Scoop Bed.
There are various colors of wicker to choose from and the pillows and mattress change colors on touch.
Click for a larger photo.
Country Gal
Posted by Chic Aeon in new releases on Monday, May 21, 2012
But when I opened up the Casey Halters (this one in chili) I was definitely in love. I am always happy to see items from JANE come in because they almost always fit me well. The detailing is excellent of course. It's good to be a country gal.
Poses by: Torridwear (NLA)
SL Home and Garden Expo - Serenity
Posted by Chic Aeon in design, hunts, new releases
The immanently useful standing shelf in the background is from Tranquility Way Station, part of the Brentwood Living Room Set. But before I show more of the retro in tans grouping, let's get to the fashion section of this post. Both the mesh leather pants and this very nice mesh Crocodile Travel Bag hale from [Amarelo Manga].The very cute summertime vest (only very brave gals will wear this without a bra *wink*) is one of several styles available from Secrets on the marketplace. Five standard sizes are included. I am wearing small.
For info on the house from Funky*Junk see last eve's post.
RFL hunt going on at the Expo. You can pick up a notecard with a list of participating merchants here. This is not a free hunt but your lindens go to a good cause. The desk and chair including four poses / animations is the prize from Clutter. Definitely relaxing with my feet up.
[CIRCA] and choose from a large collection of prim flowers. There are plenty of styles to suit your decor.
One last note and I am definitely taking some time off.
Here is the music for the day at the Expo:
Monday, May 21
Sim 2–6 pm Ganjo Mokeev
Sim 2–7 pm Phemie Alcott
Sim 2–8 pm Kellee Blaylock
Sim 5–4-6 pm DJ Mac Ronas
Sim 8–8 pm DJ JL Zinner
DJs on Main Stage:
3 pm: DJ bball Braveheart
5 pm: DJ Jennie Republic
Poses by: aDORKable and the furniture
SL Home and Garden Expo - Funky Junk
Posted by Chic Aeon in design, new releases on Sunday, May 20, 2012
My outfit is an adaptation (I left off the skirt prims) of Paris METRO Couture: Artist Series Vasiliki Kappa Outfit. Thong (mine by WoE) not included.
here. At only 3 prims it is a great outdoor addition. Edit: Found it. Home Expo 4 - 118, 94, 23).
Pose by: Diesel Works
SL Home and Garden Expo - Pink!
Today's Expo post is brought to you by the color "pink". Now this very stylish Charlotte set from [what next] (mesh) comes in two other color palettes, but I chose the pink version. My choice partly reflected pragmatism as it matches this new Warm Paisley Kisses dress from Paris Metro so well. The other is that it is gray and rainy in my corporeal world and pink made me feel happy!
The couches feature an extensive animation menu including "Friends", "Alone", "Couples" and my favorite "Activities". You can knit or play guitar, phone or read -- the list goes on. You can purchase these pieces separately also and VIP members get a hefty discount on the complete set so check on that if you are an avid shopper. There are coordinating lounge chairs in the RFL vendors. The detailing is lovely as you would expect.
Urbanized went fittingly pink for the Expo with lots of pretty girlie items including this mannequin which acts as a pose prop; poses by Glitterati. The painting (part of a set) is one of the RFL items and the hanging flower basket rotates slowly.
My matching green and pink pumps hale from uRbAn GiRl which has a GREAT logo!
Most items (not the mannequin) come with color change menus where you can choose various tints and tones to coordinate with your styling palette. Shades of pink as well as off white are in the mix.
These birdcage candle holders are an example of some of the shades available.
Pose by: aDORKable and the furniture.
You might be wondering about the abode in these shots. See, I knew that! It is the 53 prim vista house from barnesworth annubis. It and the immensely impressive mullholland house (previously featured) are available at the Expo this week. So get over there and take a look!
And here is the exterior shot. Great angles and good proportions make this a stylish starter home -- or one for those of us that actually "like" smallish *wink*.
SL Home and Garden Expo - Kid's Stuff
InteriorAddiction has this very cute (and pink so both genders are covered in this post) "My First Outdoor Slumber Set". You can play Monopoly, a game which looks like it will have staying power of a century at least) while you drink you milk and nibble on cookies. There is a place for a friend of course.
MudHoney. So very nicely textured with lots of great details. Garden party anyone? THIS is kid sized while the other items shown are more adult friendly *wink*.
MAIN store landmark.
This is EMO-tions TYRA in dark brown. Very sophisticated. My top is by SLC (previously featured) and my mini skirt is from JANE (older release). My earrings, sadly, are no longer available.
Poses by: LAP and the furniture


text: The Panorama Suite provides generous living space for voyagers. Located on deck 9, the Panorama offers all the comfort and attention to detail that you can expect aboard. A generous expanse of interior comforts — elegant décor, stunning marble bathroom and ample seating area, make this a cosy home away from home. The seating area of the Panorama Suite has plenty of room to relax, while large picture windows frame panoramic ocean views.


text:
Orbital Welding in Compliance with the New ASME Bioprocessing Equipment (BPE) 1997 Standard
Orbital welding in compliance with the new ASME Bioprocessing Equipment (BPE) 1997 Standard
ISPE's 1999 Pharmaceutical Engineering Article of the Year
This article discusses ASME's BPE-1997 Standard that relates directly to orbital welding of tubing which directly or indirectly come into contact with the product. This includes weld criteria, weld documentation, inspection and qualification of welding procedures to the Standard. The article also addresses other parts of the standard such as material selection, surface finish of tubing, and dimensional tolerances of fittings to be installed by orbital welding.
Figure 1. Welding operator on site at Fiocruz Instituto de Technologia in Brazil using an orbital tube welder in the fabrication of a facility for the production of vaccines. A water cooling unit, placed underneath the power supply, is used to cool the weld heads during welding.
Standards are important determinants of quality in fabrication. A decade ago, welding for pharmaceutical applications would have simply been qualified to ASME Section IX of the Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code with reference to ASME B31.3. This assured the structural integrity of the weldments, but was not specific as to the quality of the weld surface on the inside of tubing which is essential for bioprocess applications. The 3A Sanitary Standards, first implemented by the Dairy industry in the US in the 1950s, offered guidelines for materials and fabrication techniques that mandated fully penetrated welds in sanitary piping systems, and attempted to set guidelines for workmanship and quality control in recognition that weld quality was a determining factor in the ability to maintain a piping system in a sanitary or hygienic condition. However, with the emerging biotechnology industry, it was felt that new standards were needed to meet the higher quality demands for the more complex, often delicate, and very costly bioengineered products. In particular, it was felt that there was a need for design criteria for equipment to enable it to be effectively cleaned and sterilized, and an emphasis on assuring weld surface quality once the requirement for strength was met. A need for standardized definitions also was recognized as well as the need to integrate existing standards for vessels, piping, appurtenances, and other equipment for the bioprocess industry without infringing on those other standards. In response to the special needs of the biopharmaceutical industry, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) has developed a new standard to provide guidelines for the design and fabrication of facilities in which pharmaceutical products are manufactured by means of bioprocess technology.
Figure 2. An orbital weld of two electropolished 31 6L stainless steel tubes. The tubing was 2.000 inches (SQ8 mm) OD with 0.065 inch (1.65 mm) wall.
The weld bead is fully penetrated to the ID of the weld joint. The weld bead is uniform in width without arc wander and the weld profile is fairly flat on the OD and ID. There are no visible cracks or porosity. Light oxidation can be seen in the Heat Affected Zone (HAZ) of the weld. The oxygen level of the argon ID purge was 8 ppm.
The purpose of this discussion is to familiarize the reader with the concepts and intent of the BPE Standard, and the rationale for the use of orbital welding in the fabrication of bioprocess equipment and piping systems. It also is intended to guide those wishing to qualify orbital welding procedures to this Standard. It is not intended to be complete, nor to cover all parts of the Standard which pertain to welding, nor topics covered by the Standard but unrelated to welding, nor to be a substitute for the Standard which can be obtained from the ASME.1-4
The new ASME Bioprocessing Equipment Standard, ASME BPE-1997, was released in October of 1997, but the process of writing this standard began much earlier when individuals at the 1989ASME Winter Annual Meeting determined that there was interest in the industry for such a standard, and approached the ASME Council on Codes and Standards to develop a standard for the design of equipment and components for use in the growing biopharmaceutical industry. The project was approved by the Council and a directive issued to the Board on Pressure Technology to initiate the project. The scope of the proposed standard included the design, materials of construction, inspection, testing of vessels, piping, and related accessories such as pumps, valves, and fittings for use in the biopharmaceutical industry. The ASME standard was not intended to replace existing standards, but wherever possible, the new ASME standard was expected to reference existing standards that are applicable to biopharmaceutical equipment design and fabrication. Throughout the writing of the standard, close relationships were established with other standards groups including the European CEN, ASTM, and 3A Dairy Standards.
The writing of the standard was accomplished by a Main Committee and several subcommittees which met several times each year until the standard was completed. These subcommittees were: General Requirements; Design Relating to Sterility and Cleanability of Equipment; Dimensions and Tolerances; Material Joining; Surface Finishes; and Seals.
The BPE Standard applies to all parts of equipment and piping that contact either the product, raw materials, or product intermediates during process development, scale-up, or manufacturing and all equipment systems that are a critical part of product manufacture. This includes systems such as water-for-injection (WFI), clean steam, purified water, ultrafiltration, and intermediate product storage. Piping systems or parts of the system that do not contact the finished product are not covered by the BPE Standard. Pressure vessels, and steam-sterilized systems or any other systems which require pressure operation must conform to all applicable requirements of ASME Section VIII and ASME B31.3, Process Piping. Qualification to the BPE Standard does not exempt users in any case where municipal, provincial or federal codes regulating pressure vessels and piping are in effect. The requirements of these codes must be met. Welding is used as a joining method throughout biopharmaceutical plants. It is used in the construction of pressure vessels and bioreactors as well as in the joining of piping systems. Orbital welding, which uses the Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) process, is not used for pressure vessels or tanks as other welding processes are more suitable for this purpose. However, the GTAW process is frequently used for the product contact side of a vessel because of its high quality while faster methods are typically used for subsequent passes.
In this standard, tube and pipe are differentiated with tube referred to by its nominal OD, and pipe referred to by diameter and schedule. Orbital welding may be used to weld either tube or pipe. The dimensional tolerances of tubing makes it more suitable for autogenous orbital welding, but autogenous orbital welds of schedule pipe are practical for wall thicknesses of up to 0.154 inches (2 inch schedule 40). Orbital welding of pipe on applications requiring the addition of filler to the weld can be done using equipment with wire feed capabilities in sizes from 1/2 inch NPS and up. Orbital welding is commonly used to join tubing in piping systems for WFI, clean steam, and product lines. It also is used to connect tanks and vessels to the piping systems in the construction of equipment such as multi-effect stills as well as to connect bioprocess equipment mounted on skids. Typical tubing diameters for biopharmaceutical applications are 1 to 4 inches, but 1/2 inch OD instrumentation tubing (or smaller) may be orbitally welded and autogenous orbital welds with enclosed weld heads can be done on tube diameters up to 7 inches OD. Autogenous orbital welds of tube sizes up to 8 inches have been done for pharmaceutical installations using the more complex orbital welding equipment with filler wire capabilities which is generally used for larger diameter pipe. This type of equipment can be used for autogenous welds on pipe sizes up to 14 inch schedule 10. The decision on whether to use tube or pipe for a particular application would be based upon the pressure requirements of the system, surface finish requirements, availability of fittings with the proper end-preparation for orbital welding, etc.
Figure 4. Fermentor used for the production of antigens installed in a Class 100,000 fermentation room in a facility for the production of vaccines. Orbital welding was specified for the WFI piping, chilled water air and clean steam. Photo courtesy of Fiocruz Instituto de Tecnologia em Imunobiologicos in Brazil.
Design Concepts for Cleanability and Sterilizability
A key feature of the BPE Standard is the concept of hygienic design where hygienic is defined as "of or pertaining to equipment and piping systems that by design, materials of construction, and operation provide for the maintenance of cleanliness so that products produced by these systems will not adversely affect human or animal health." In keeping with this concept, the Design Part of the Standard had as its objective to describe and outline accepted practices which have been shown to result in the fabrication of bioprocessing equipment that is both cleanable and sterilizable. It makes the distinction between preferred, recommended, and not recommended designations for particular designs and fabrication practices.
Bioprocess equipment is generally designed to be cleaned-in-place (CIP) rather than being disassembled for cleaning (cleaned-out-of-place or COP). The BPE Standard addresses only automated or manual CIP processes and automated steam-in-place (SIP) processes, but not hot water, 176°F (80°C) sanitizing, or other methods of sterilization. In order for CIP and SIP to be effective, the inner surfaces of piping and equipment must be smooth and free of crevices so that it is cleanable and resists to the extent possible the colonization by microorganisms. Equipment also must be designed and fabricated so that deadlegs are held to an absolute minimum where a deadleg in a piping system is defined as a pocket, tee, or extension from a primary piping run that exceeds a defined number of pipe diameters (L) from the ID of the primary pipe (D). For bioprocessing piping systems an L/D ratio of 2:1 is considered to be achievable for most valve and piping configurations. A deadleg is undesirable because it provides an area of entrapment which may not be reached by cleaning or sterilizing procedures and thus leads to contamination of the product. It has been shown that it takes more heat over a longer period of time to achieve sterilization in an air pocket than in spaces that are reached by steam since moist heat is much more effective in achieving sterilization than dry heat.12 Cleaning solutions used for CIP must be able to reach all parts of the system at sufficient velocity to ensure the removal of soil or deposits by chemical and/or mechanical cleaning, and all joints must be capable of being CIP cleaned and SIP sterilized.
Figure 3. Concepts of the BPE Standard place an emphasis on design for drainability and sterilizability of bioprocess systems to prevent growth of unwanted microorganisms. An illustration of this concept is shown in the vessel which features a sloped rather than flat bottom for ease of draining. Piping is also sloped to allow draining by gravity alone.
Drainability is important for maintaining bioprocess systems in a clean and sterile condition. Fluid remaining after draining becomes a colonization site for bacteria or other microorganisms creating an unacceptable bioburden to the system. Sites where fluid accumulates also may become a corrosion-initiation site adding additional contaminants to the system. The design Part of the BPE Standard calls for holdup volume, or that amount of liquid which remains in the system after draining is complete, to be minimized by design. For a piping system to be drainable, lines must be sloped to no less than 3 inches per 50 ft (75 mm per 15 m) or 0.5% as a minimum with a recommendation for 1/4 inch per foot (20.8 mm per m) or approximately 2% for short runs and 1/8 to 1/16 inch per foot for field runs, skids, and transfer panels.
Connections to equipment shall use acceptable hygienic design connections as agreed to by the owner/user and the manufacturer (contractor) which means that threaded connections must not be used where they would come in contact with the process since the machined threads are likely to entrap soiled material and provide areas that cannot be reached by cleaning. Similarly, the number of bolts must be held to a minimum.
The optimum design for cleanability and sterilizability of bioprocess systems will have a minimal number of connections. For those connections that are required, buttwelded connections are to be used wherever possible since welded connections present the lowest risk of contamination. For welding of biopharmaceutical tubing in the US, the ends of the tubing are mechanically squared, butted together, and typically joined in an autogenous weld using automatic orbital tube welding equipment. An autogenous or fusion weld is one which is fused without the addition of filler metal. Welding is not limited to tube-to-tube welds, but is used to join tubes to fittings and is recommended for joining all hygienic valves into the process line.
Figure 5. A small orbital weld head being used to weld 1/2 inch diameter tubing on a bioreactor skid. The tubing supplies gases such as oxygen to the reactor. Photo courtesy of B. Braun Biotech.
When ferrules and ferrule connections are used, it is recommended that they be as short as possible to ensure that deadlegs are minimized. Any fittings used must be designed so that the interior is of a flush design or with a bulge concavity not exceeding 5% of the wall thickness so that a readily cleanable and drainable surface is exposed to the bioprocessing fluid.
Although welds are the most secure type of joining method, the surfaces of the weld bead on the inside of the tubing must be smooth and crevice-free in keeping with the concept of hygienic design. Any lack of fusion, porosity, or excessive buildup of material on the ID may provide a site which is inaccessible to cleaning or sterilization procedures. While hygienic systems can be achieved with manual welds, orbital welds are generally smoother and much more likely to provide a crevice-free surface on a repeatable basis.
For bioprocessing systems, the materials of construction for product contact surfaces must be fairly inert so as not to contaminate or otherwise affect the integrity of the product. The materials must be compatible with the bioprocessing environment including the temperatures reached during steam sterilization which are saturated steam at a minimum temperature of 266°F (130°C) for a duration of at least 100 hours under continuous steady state conditions. The materials also must be able to withstand high operating pressures and endure harsh chemical and mechanical cleaning procedures. The material recommended for use in bioprocessing systems is type 316 stainless steel (UNS 31603), or where it is to be welded, type 316L. Other higher alloy materials such as AL6XN or 2205 duplex may be used where higher corrosion resistance is needed, or other materials may be used as agreed upon by the purchaser and manufacturer. However, materials shall be identified by an industry recognized standard. Type 316 and 316L belong to the 300 series of stainless steels which are included in P number 8 according to the classification in ASME Section IX BPVC in which base metals with similar properties are grouped. The 300 series was selected by 3A for use in the dairy industry because it was cleanable and reasonably corrosion resistant, and that standard has been applied by the pharmaceutical industry. Although type 304 was the most commonly used alloy in the past, it has gradually been replaced by types 316 and 316L for hygienic applications because these alloys, although very similar to 304 in chemical composition, contain 2-3% molybdenum which significantly increases the corrosion resistance. Fluids used in bioprocess systems are frequently high in chloride concentration presenting a challenge to the corrosion resistance of stainless steel systems.
Figure 6. An orbital weld of a short sanitary ferrule to a pulled tee on 316L stainless steel tubing. The use of short welded ferrules is recommended to keep deadlegs to a minimum and this is easily accomplished with orbital welding technology.
The choice of 300 series was fortuitous for welding since it is easily weldable and machinable. Compared to higher alloys, the loss of corrosion resistance by autogenous welding for 316L is minimal. Autogenous welding is less costly than welding with filler not only because the expense of filler is avoided, but also because orbital welding equipment for autogenous welding is less expensive than orbital welding equipment which has the capability of adding filler wire to the weld. Thus a material that can be autogenously welded is an economical choice. Furthermore, welding procedures are fairly simple since no preweld nor postweld heat treatments are required. These properties make 316 stainless steel a practical and cost effective choice for bioprocess systems.
The chemical composition of type 316 stainless steel is specified by ASTM 269, Seamless and Welded Austenitic Stainless Steel Tubing for General Service; ASTM A270, Specification for Seamless and Welded Austenitic Stainless Steel Sanitary Tubing and ASTM A 312/A 312M, Seamless and Welded Austenitic Stainless Steel Pipes. The L version of 316 has a lower carbon content which is 0.035 rather than 0.08% in standard 316. The low carbon version is preferred for welding because it reduces sensitization or carbide precipitation which may occur in the heat-affected-zone (HAZ) of welds during welding. In the temperature range of 800 to 1500°F, which occurs at some distance at either side of the weld, carbon comes out of solution in the austenite grains and migrates to the grain boundaries. Chromium migrates from the grain boundaries to combine with the carbon as chromium carbide leaving the grain margins depleted of chromium. Since the corrosion resistance of austenitic stainless steel depends upon a uniform distribution of chromium throughout the metal, depletion of chromium at the grain boundaries makes it susceptible to corrosion. The reduced carbon version of 316 does not completely suppress the formation of chromium carbide, but results in less loss of chromium during welding, and therefore, less loss of corrosion resistance.
Figure 7. Left: The element sulfur has a profound effect on the fluid dynamics of the weld pool. When sulfur is in the medium to high range of AISI 316 SS, heat from the arc is transferred downwards in the weld pool resulting in good penetration. When the sulfur content is below 0.008 heat is transferred towards the edges of the weld pool resulting in shallow penetration with a tendency towards OD concavity.
Right: When one heat is low in sulfur and the other is in the medium to high range, the arc may deflect towards the low sulfur heat In extreme cases, the weld bead may miss the joint on the ID.6,9
The element sulfur, which is present as a contaminant in stainless steel, has a significant effect on weldability as well as on the quality of surface finish that it is possible to achieve on any particular heat of base material. Although the sulfur content of AISI 316 and 316L stainless steel has a maximum of 0.030% sulfur, the BPE Standard has limited the sulfur content for weld fittings and tubing to between 0.005 and 0.017%. The reasons for this restriction are complex. Sulfur at higher concentrations promotes a tendency towards cracking and gives a rough appearance to the weld bead. Sulfur combines with manganese in the base metal to form manganese sulfide inclusions. During processing, these inclusions are rolled out and appear in scanning electron micrographs as "stringers." Corrosion tends to occur preferentially at the inclusion sites and when the inclusions are removed during electropolishing or passivation they leave a pitted surface.7 For this reason, tubing manufacturers which have to meet stringent surface finish requirements for the semiconductor and bioprocess industries prefer materials which are very low in sulfur. However, when the sulfur concentration gets into the very low levels, i.e., less than 0.005%, the material often becomes difficult to weld. The fluid dynamics of the weld pool changes when the temperature coefficient of surface tension goes from positive to negative at low sulfur concentrations.6 This has the effect of transferring heat in the weld pool outwards from the center of the weld so that when heat is applied the weld pool becomes wider before becoming deeper and the weld is shallow with a tendency to form a concave weld bead. With higher sulfur concentrations, heat is transferred in an inward direction resulting in deeper penetration with a narrower weld bead which is desirable. The higher sulfur concentration makes it easier to get a satisfactory weld.
In compliance with the BPE Standard ASTM has added A270-95a Supplementary Requirements, S2 Pharmaceutical Quality Tubing 316, a supplement to ASTM A270 which limits the sulfur content to between 0.005 and 0.017%. This is a compromise which avoids the very lowest sulfur material which is difficult to weld, but restricts higher sulfur contents which are known to result in higher non-metallic inclusions and lower corrosion resistance. Users should be aware that welding of very low sulfur heats of material to heats in the intermediate to high levels of sulfur may result in deflection of the welding arc towards the low sulfur heat.9 This may result in a weld bead that fully penetrates the low sulfur side, but misses the weld joint. This problem is minimized by the sulfur requirements of the BPE Standard, but users should be aware of sulfur contents when welding unmatched heats together such as would be the case for the welding of tubes to fittings or to valves.
Surface Finish
The Surface Finish Part of the BPE Standard defines the criteria for the specification of interior surface finishes for vessels, distribution systems, and other components having contact with the product. Surface anomalies which would be detrimental to the process are defined and classified as a basis for acceptance or rejection of the material. Type 1 anomalies are those caused by an inherent property of the material such as non-metallic inclusions, while anomalies of Type 2 are caused by inadequate control of processing which would include scratches, grind marks, localized corrosion from inadequate removal of residuals, etc. Tables with acceptance criteria for the various anomalies are presented. Welds are classified according to whether the interior is to be ground smooth and flush on the ID with removal of visual pits and defects, ground smooth but not flush with the pits and defects in place, or as-welded with no grinding.
The smoothness of the surface finish is quantified by Ra measurements using a profilometer. For tubing Ra Average is used which is derived from readings taken at four cross sections approximately 90 degrees apart. The Ra, or roughness average is the log of the arithmetic mean of the surface profile. It is usually expressed in µ-inches (or µ-meters) where the Ra of As-Drawn and/or Mechanically polished tubing may be from 20 µ-inches (0.5 µ-meters) to 30 µ-inches depending upon the classification group with an Ra max of 30 - 45, µ-inches again depending on the classification. Tubing that has been mechanically polished followed by electropolishing will have an Ra of from 10 µ-inches up to 20 µ-inches depending on the classification with an Ra max of 15-30 µ-inches. Similar tables of readings for fittings and valves are presented.
It should be noted that welds on mechanically polished and electropolished tubing invariably have a rougher surface than that of the unwelded base metal. Although the smoothness of the ID weld surface is somewhat material dependent, orbital welds will in most cases be considerably smoother than manual welds on the same material.
Dimensional Tolerances (DT) for Automatic Weld Fittings
The DT Part of the Standard includes tables showing acceptable dimensions for stainless steel hygienic clamp type fittings and 316L tube fittings to be joined by automatic welding. Fittings for automatic welding of pipe sizes are not included. The specifications for the dimensional tolerances for weld fittings to be used for orbital welding are important because the production of consistent high quality orbital welds depends upon consistent fit-up between tube and fitting in the orbital weld head. Good fit-up in turn demands consistently good end preparations of tubing and fitting as well as consistency of wall thickness and diameter.
Figure 8. An example of an orbital weld of a tube-to-an-elbow for use in a bioprocess application.
Photo from B. Braun Biotech.
Fitting tangent lengths for orbital welding were based upon dimensions of the weld heads of the various orbital welding equipment manufacturers. Ideally, the straight length of the fitting should be long enough to reach from the outside edge of the tube clamp inserts which hold the tube or fitting in the weld head to the center of the weld head where the tungsten electrode is typically positioned. With some orbital weld heads, it is possible to relocate the tungsten closer to the edge of the head to accommodate fittings with shorter stick-out.
The fitting ends must be square cut without burrs or breaks. Squareness is measured as a distance from a line drawn perpendicular to the tangent plane to the edge of the fitting which is 0.005 in (0.127 mm) for a 1/4 inch tube and .008 inches for a 2 inch tube, etc. If tube or fitting ends are not square, there will be a gap between the ends when they are positioned in the weld head, and the resulting weld may appear concave or, in severe cases, the arc may completely fail to fill the gap.
It is expected that the nominal wall thickness of the fitting be the same as that of the tube it is to be welded to. Welding current for orbital welding is based upon the wall thickness of the weld joint with approximately 75 amps of primary welding current and 25 amps of background current in the first level for a wall thickness of 0.065 inches. Inconsistent wall thicknesses will result in inconsistent welds. The wall thickness of fittings outside the control portion, such as the outside radius of an elbow, shall have at least 65% of the nominal wall thickness. The OD dimension is important since if the OD of the fitting is different from that of the tube, there will be a ridge on the ID of the weld that may interfere with drainability of the system.
When welding is used in the manufacture of fittings for this standard, the welds must meet the weld criteria of the Standard. Fittings, whether welded or not, must meet specified pressure ratings. Buttweld fittings made to this Standard would be 316L stainless steel unless otherwise agreed to by the owner/user and contractor. Weld fittings must be labeled with the heat number of materials used to make each part of the fitting. This is important to know in case of incompatibility between heats when welding tube to fitting. If the fitting is small, code numbers may be used for heat identification. The surface finish specifications for weld fittings must be in compliance with the surface finish part of the Standard, and fittings are to be protected by either sealed plastic bags or end caps and shrink wrap for shipping and handling.
Material Joining (MJ)
The MJ Part of the Standard applies to the joining of bioprocessing equipment which includes pressure vessels, tanks, and any vessels designed and built to the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section VIII, Division 1; piping built to ASME B31.3; tubing and fittings, and is intended to be used in conjunction with these standards as they apply. The MJ Part, as with the other parts of the Standard, covers only those process systems which contact bioprocessing products or product-process streams. For the purpose of this discussion, only those systems which can be orbitally welded will be considered. Although joining methods other than welding are mentioned, at this point the MJ Part is concerned almost exclusively with the welding of 316L stainless steel. Where weld surfaces that contact the process are to be finished after welding, welding processes are limited to the arc or high energy beam (electron beam and laser beam) processes defined in ANSI/AWS A3.0. Where weld surfaces that contact the process are to be used as is, that is in the as-welded condition, welding processes are limited to the inert-gas arc processes (such as gas tungsten arc welding and plasma arc welding) or the high energy beam (electron beam and laser beam) processes. The Standard recommends that every effort be made to use an automatic or machine welding process such as an orbital tube welder. However, where size or space does not permit access with the weld head, manual welding may be used, but only by agreement between the owner/user and contractor. All welding processes are to be qualified to section MJ-8 of the BPE Standard.
Weld and finish samples are recommended before a job is begun to demonstrate that the desired quality can be obtained. The use of test coupons was recommended by the 3A standards in the 1950s and such test results demonstrated that the manual welder had the skill to make an acceptable weld. The use of test coupons is important for orbital welding because with orbital welding, it is possible to establish weld parameters to obtain an optimal quality weld on a particular heat of material that once established can be repeated with a high degree of accuracy from weld to weld indefinitely. Because of heat-to-heat variations in stainless steel, it is recommended that weld samples be done on the actual heat of material to be used on the job. For example, the degree of smoothness of the weld bead, the amount of weld bead penetration at a particular current setting, and even a tendency towards discoloration during welding is influenced by the quantities of trace elements in the base material.
Although the degree of repeatability is assured by the accuracy of the power supply, other factors which affect the weld also must be controlled in order to obtain weld consistency. These include consistency of tube and fitting end preparation, dimensional tolerances of tubing and fittings including valve stubs, cleanliness of materials, geometry and condition of tungsten electrodes, and workmanship standards. The standard provides for sample welds to be made on a regular basis as decided upon by the owner/user and contractor to demonstrate that the orbital welding equipment has been set up and is functioning properly, and that the purging procedures are effective. It is recommended that sample welds be made at the beginning of each work shift, whenever the purge source bottle is changed, and when the automatic or machine welding equipment is changed in some way such as by a change of weld head.
Acceptance criteria for welds on piping must be in accord with ASME B31.3 paragraphs 341.32 through 341.34 and Table 341.32A. For hygienic tubing and fittings, visual weld acceptance criteria including acceptance criteria for borescopic examination are detailed in the MJ Part of the Standard. Again the emphasis is on weld qualities which are consistent with the concept of hygienic design. Discontinuities such as cracks, voids, porosity, or joint misalignment that would promote contamination of the product are disallowed. Radiographic inspection is not a requirement of this Standard unless agreed upon by the owner/user and contractor or unless it is specified by another applicable code. Radiography is recommended for all joints which have been welded using consumable inserts to assure complete fusion.
All butt welds must have full penetration of the weld bead to the ID. Lack of penetration where the weld bead is incompletely fused on the ID would create a crevice condition. The ID weld bead should be straight and uniform in width without indication of arc wander or erratic bead placement. The Standard specifies that for welds that cannot be inspected on the ID, that a minimum width of the OD weld bead must not be less than 50% of the widest part of the weld bead. However, if there is much variation in weld bead width on either the OD or the ID when using an orbital welding machine, this would indicate that the weld schedule needs further adjustment to assure uniform penetration of the complete weld joint from weld to weld. If pretacking is done, the tacks must be fully consumed by the weld. If the weld ID is not purged with inert gas during the tacking procedure, the welding arc may detour around the tacks resulting in a lack-of-penetration.
Alignment of tubing or other parts must be accurate so as to prevent a ridge that would lead to an unacceptable hold-up volume which would contribute to product contamination. This means that fittings and tubing must conform to dimensional tolerance standards and be installed by personnel trained in good workmanship practices. A maximum misalignment of 15% of the nominal wall is allowed.
The weld bead profile of an autogenous weld should be flush on the ID and OD surfaces. Welds done with filler wire should be slightly convex, never concave, on the OD. Autogenous welds of pharmaceutical type tubing are usually flat on the OD unless excessive heat is applied in which case they will be concave on the OD with excessive penetration on the ID. The BPE Standard has a generous allowance for OD concavity allowing as much as 10% of the wall (0.0065" for an 0.065 wall tube) around the entire weld circumference or as much as 15% of the wall for up to 25% of the circumference. While orbital tube-to-tube welds are usually flush, it may be more difficult to do certain types of tube-to-fitting welds without some OD concavity. Excessive purge pressure on the ID will cause the weld bead to be convex on the OD and concave on the ID. Concavity on the ID of the weld bead is limited to 10% of the nominal wall. OD convexity is limited to 0.015 inches. OD and ID concavity combined must not reduce the wall thickness of the weld joint to less than the minimum specified design thickness for the tube or fitting.
Discoloration of the weld and HAZ may occur during welding as a result of oxidation. Oxidation, or heat tint as it is sometimes called, is known to cause a reduction in the corrosion resistance of stainless steel in proportion to the amount of oxygen contamination of the ID purge gas. The BPE Standard calls for the amount of discoloration of the ID surface to be minimized such that the weld bead is free of color, but with some light discoloration of the HAZ accepted provided that it is tight to the surface. The amount of discoloration to be allowed is subject to agreement between the owner/user and the contractor. It should be noted that color-free orbital welds are the norm for the semiconductor industry that routinely purifies purge gas to the low parts per billion levels of contaminants. The standard argon purge gas supplied for welding generally contains trace amounts of oxygen in the low parts per million range which should be no greater than 7 ppm, and also contains minimal amounts of moisture. In Europe, the standard for hygienic tubing discoloration is "light straw color" which occurs at about 20 ppm oxygen in the ID purge gas. It is possible to obtain color free welds on many lots of material with good purging techniques with standard argon purge gas with 1-2 ppm of oxygen and moisture. However, on some heats of material, particularly in the larger sizes, there is often a light blue "halo" or yellowish tint in the HAZ. It is more difficult to purge larger diameter tubing, and also more difficult to purge mechanically polished tubing than tubing that has been electropolished.10
The inert gas shield provided by an enclosed weld head offers more protection of the weld OD from oxidation during welding than an open frame type of head. It also protects the ID of the weld since the tubing ends may separate somewhat during the welding process allowing the exchange of gases between the ID and OD of the tube. If the tubing OD is open to atmosphere rather than to an inert gas environment provided by an enclosed head, there is a greater potential for contamination of the weld.
In the semiconductor industry and increasingly in biopharmaceutical installations, the use of gas purifiers and an oxygen analyzer to verify that the ID purge gas has not picked up contaminants before reaching the weld joint has become an accepted practice. Many mechanical contractors have experience in both the semiconductor and bioprocess industries, and are very familiar with high-purity purging techniques. This is an area that will need further attention in the future. The semiconductor industry is concerned enough with loss of corrosion resistance and contamination to experiment with heats of stainless steel with low manganese in order to prevent the precipitation of manganese on the HAZ which is associated with some of the discoloration. There is no clear standard in any industry for detecting color on welds since it may be visible in some lights but not other. One semiconductor manufacturer inspects their orbital welds with specified intensities of visible light and also with blacklight to detect discoloration. The biopharmaceutical industry has not yet reached this level of concern, and perhaps for many applications, it is unnecessary. However, it is important to understand that the technology is already in place for achieving a very high level of weld quality which will result in the optimal corrosion resistance for the material.
Figure 9. Acceptable and unacceptable weld profiles.
Weld Inspectors and owner/users are to be allowed free access to work areas while work assigned to them is in progress as well as relevant certifications and documentation. An inspection plan, including the types of examinations to be made, shall be agreed upon in advance of the job by the owner/user and contractor. Inspectors who perform borescopic examinations are required at the owner/users' discretion to meet the requirements of ASME B31.3 paragraphs 340.4, 342.1 and 342.2, and may be certified as an AWS-QC1 Certified Welding Inspector. All welds are to be visually inspected on the OD and at least 20% of the welds selected on a random basis for each section are to be inspected on the ID either directly or with a borescope. Random inspections are important since welds of tube-to-fitting in which different heats are welded together are more likely to present a problem than tube-to-tube welds. Welding defects which may be repaired by rewelding include lack-of-penetration for which one additional pass is permitted and lack-of-fusion. However, it should be noted that each successive pass on a weld adds to the heat input and may result in a significant loss of corrosion resistance.
Other defects must be cut out or otherwise repaired at the owners' discretion. Experienced contractors have been able to reduce orbital weld reject rates to very low levels. One mechanical contractor was able to reduce the reject rate for orbital welds in bioprocess applications over a period of several years from 1.8 to 0.2%.
Weld Qualification to the ASME BPE-1997 Standard requires that the welds be certified to ASME Sect. IX of the BPVC, and meet the requirements of B31.3 Process Piping. For this, there must be a QA manual and a QA program in effect as well as a set of general weld standards which reference the BPE Standard. Qualified weld procedures must be developed, preferably on the actual heats of materials to be used. The orbital weld schedule which lists weld parameters such as welding currents, pulse times, rotational speed, and times is frequently used as part of the Procedure Qualification Record (PQR).
Test coupons must be generated and subjected to destructive testing. Although existing standards have been used to qualify systems which have been installed by orbital welding, those standards were written with manual welding in mind, and this has lead to some confusion when qualifying autogenous orbital welds. Autogenous orbital welds are expected to be flush on the OD and ID, and do not require grinding in preparation for destructive testing. The tests include bend tests over a certain-sized radius in which two each of root and face bends are required to determine the ductility of the weldment. The test coupons must be carefully inspected after bending for cracks in the weld or HAZ. Tensile testing must be done to demonstrate that the base material still meets the minimum tensile strength (PSI) specified after welding. If the test specimen breaks in the weld, but still meets the PSI rating for the material, the weld is considered good. The limits of the weld range are determined by taking the minimum wall thickness qualified and then allowing up to two times the thickness with an unlimited diameter range. Radiography is not required by the BPE Standard unless it is required for another applicable standard.
Figure 10. Weld qualification and quality control for orbital welding involves the use of sample welds known as test coupons made before the start of a job and at specified intervals during the job. Once acceptable procedures have been developed for orbital welding, consistent high-quality welds can be produced with a high degree of repeatability. Photo courtesy of Binsky and Snyder Mechanical Contractors.
When satisfactory test results have been obtained, the results must be recorded on the Weld Procedure Specification (WPS) Form QW-482, and the PQR Form QW-483, or equivalent forms. For welder certification, each welder must submit either 6 inches of linear weld (a 1.000 inch OD weld is 3.14 linear inches) for testing or multiple coupons, but no more than 4. Welder test results must be recorded on the Welder Performance Qualification form QW-484. Signatures of test personnel and a supervisor are required in confirmation of test results. Forms are available from the ASME. Each time a new welder is certified, he or she must repeat the above procedures for each and every weld which may be evaluated by either a bend test or X-ray.
Very little attention is directed towards passivation by this standard. It merely states that passivation of all welded systems shall be done after cleaning and prior to use if agreed to by the owner/user and the manufacturer. Passivation is typically done to improve corrosion resistance which is accomplished by the removal of any free iron or other contaminants that remain on the product-contact surface after fabrication and welding. Passivation is done according to ASTM 380 which specifies the procedures used to treat the completed system with a nitric acid solution or a proprietary mixed chelant formulation. Passivation of welded surfaces is important because welding disturbs the passive film on stainless steel which is responsible for maintaining the corrosion resistance. During welding, the chromium in the weld area is greatly reduced, while the iron content is increased which disturbs the favorable chrome/iron ratio. Passivation restores the natural chrome/iron ratio, and much of the corrosion resistance that is lost by welding.10 However, passivation only affects the outer 50 Å of the weld surface. Deep heat tint, which has been correlated with a considerable loss of corrosion resistance which occurs when the ID purge gas contains oxygen above the low parts per million range, cannot be removed by passivation. For optimal corrosion resistance of welded tubing systems, the best possible purge should be used on the weld ID followed by a proven passivation procedure.
Documentation of weld qualification results including the WPS, PQR, and welder WPQ are to be presented to the owner/user at the completion of the job and retained for a period of at least 3 years. In addition, weld maps of bioprocessing components and weld inspection logs which must include the type of inspection and the date must be maintained, and the welder identification must be recorded either on the weld inspection log or on the weld map. This type of information as well as the serial numbers of the weld head and power supply may be entered into some orbital welding power supplies and printed out on the weld schedule sheet and used as part of the documentation. Similar information is frequently recorded on the OD of the tubing or pipe next to the weld and used in conjunction with the weld log in case of a question at a later date. Other records, such as Material Test Reports (MTRs) listing the chemical composition and test data of the heats of materials used, surface finish test reports, and results of pressure testing, passivation, and other documentation required by the Section on Design, also shall be presented to and retained by the owner/user for the required period.
Figure 11. Orbital welds for biopharmaceutical applications are inspected visually on the OD, while a borescope is used to inspect a specified percentage of welds on the ID. On the above installation a videoendoscope was used to store video images of the welds for FDA documentafion. Photo courtesy of Pfizer Animal Health.
Although it has been released, work on the BPE Standard is far from over. A Main Committee meeting as well as subcommittee meetings were held in March in Philadelphia to coincide with INTERPHEXUSA'98. Addendums for the Standard are planned for October of 1998 and 1999 with a new addition expected by the year 2000. The meetings were well attended attracting new recruits to expand and modify the Standard in response to industry needs. Whereas earlier codes and standards were written with manual welding in mind, other standard writing groups are now in the process of updating their standards to include references to orbital welding. The Baseline® Pharmaceutical Engineering Guide, Volume 4: Water and Steam Systems Draft of October 30, 1997 includes recommendations for orbital welding, and the AWS standards writing group also will reference orbital welding. Orbital welding has become the accepted joining technology for the high purity industries, but its suitability for other industries, such as the food, dairy and beverage industries which have in common the need to eliminate bacterial growth and minimize corrosion, should be apparent.
1. ASME Section IX of the Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code.
2. ASME Bioprocessing Equipment Standard (BPE-1997) available from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 22 Law Drive, Box 2900, Fairfield, New Jersey 07007-2900. Tel: 800-843-2763; Fax: 201-882-1717; E-Mail: firstname.lastname@example.com.
3. ASME Section VIII.
4. ASME B31.3, Process Piping.
5. ASTM A270, Specification for Seamless and Welded Austenitic Stainless Steel Sanitary Tubing.
6. Burgardt, P. and C.R. Heiple. Interaction Between Impurities and Welding Variables in Determining GTA Weld Shape. The Welding Journal, June, 1986.
7. Burton, C. Effect of Stainless Steel Melt Methods on the Corrosion Resistance of Welds in UHP Gas Lines. Presented at Semicon West, San Francisco, California, 1997.
8. Cohen, R. M. Identifying Trace Elements Affecting the Weldability of 316L Stainless Steel Tubing. FUTURE FAB International Volume 2., 1997.
9. Fihey, J.L., and R. Simoneau. Weld Penetration Variation in GTA Welding of some 304L Stainless Steels. Presented at the American Welding Society Conference, Kansas City, MO., 1982.
10. Grant, A., Henon, B.K., and F. Mansfeld. Effects of Purge Gas Purity and Chelant Passivation on the Corrosion Resistance of Orbitally Welded 316L Stainless Steel Tubing. Pharmaceutical Engineering, Jan/Feb, Mar/Apr, 1997.
11. Pollard, B. The Effects of Minor Elements on the Welding Characteristics of Stainless Steel. The Welding Journal, September, 1988.
12. Young, J. The Engineering of Sterilization and Decontamination. Presented at the ASME Bioprocess Technology Program, Bioprocess Equipment Technology, Bioprocess Equipment Design. University of Virginia, 1992.
This article was adapted from a presentation conducted at the Primer Simposium Internacional de Soldadura '98. Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. March 14, 1998.
About the Author
Barbara Henon is Manager of Technical Publications at Arc Machines, Inc. Dr. Henon received her Ph.D. in biological sciences from the University of Southern California, and did postdoctoral research in neurophysiology at the Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope in Duarte, California. An AWS member since 1988, and a member of ISPE, she also is active in the ASME and is the former Chairman of the ASME Bioprocess Engineering Subdivision. Dr. Henon has been a member of the ASME Bioprocess Equipment Main Committee and Material Joining Subcommittee since 1989 which, in collaboration with other subcommittees, recently published the new ASME BPE-1997 Standard for the design and fabrication of bioprocessing equipment and piping systems.
Her primary responsibility at Arc Machines, Inc. is writing articles on customers' applications of orbital welding in a variety of industries which have in common a need for high quality and high purity piping systems. Dr. Henon is experienced in welding education with 12 years of field experience training orbital welding operators.
- Butt Welding with Filler Material
- Fixed Automation
- Narrow Groove Welding
- Socket or Fillet Welding
- Fusion Butt Welding
- 1,776 Joints Welded at Staples Center
- 316L Stainless Steel Tubing
- A Guide to Codes and Standards
- ASME Compliance
- Bioprocess Piping Applications
- CBERS Propulsion System
- Christmas Tree Assemblies
- Cleanroom Fabrication
- Corrosion Resistant Materials
- Delivers Treatment Plant on Time
- Draft Beer
- Duplex Stainless Steel Tubing
- Effects of Sulfur
- Hygienic Piping System
- IBM Semiconductor Process Tools
- ID Pressurization
- Improvements in Installation
- Improving Hygienic Design
- Installation of Pharmaceutical Process Piping
- Leak-Free Tubing
- Manufacturing Facility
- Matsushita
- Orbital Welds Take Flight
- Pfizer Animal Health Group
- Pharmaceutical Piping Systems
- Plutonium-Bearing Containers
- Powdered Milk
- Purge Gas Purity
- Record Keeping and Data Aquisition
- Reducing Costs and Improving Quality
- Sanitary Process Piping
- Semiconductor Process Gas Lines
- Small Diameter Tubing
- Soldadura y tecnología del siglo XXI
- Soudage TIG orbital du système de propulsion d'un satellite
- Stainless Steel Pipe for Water Systems
- Stainless Steel Tubing
- Ultra High Purity Stainless Steel
- Vaccine Production Plant
- Weld Overlay or Cladding
- ID Welding/Cladding
- Tube-to-Tubesheet


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Available in either black or white leather, the time is spelled out using words instead of numbers, making it one of the easiest-to-read watches in Tokyo Flash's shop. [Tokyo Flash]
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