Designfax articles from August 1999

Designfax archives from August 1999

Parallel Paths.
August 1, 1999... Stars plot course across desert and space Separated at birth? Astronaut Pete Conrad and Thomas Edward Lawrence, also known as Lawrence of Arabia, may be considered brothers in a parallel world. Both lived a lifestyle of determined bravery...

Wake up kids: you are only responsible for trying -- not succeeding.
August 1, 1999... I need to remind myself of this. Often. Because for many of us, the words don't seem to ring true. We live in a fast-paced world where we spend most of our time working or sleeping while time flies on by, faster and faster, stopping for no one....

Smart sensor has multiple personalities.
August 1, 1999... Software odds new flexibility to sensor system A time-honored method of dealing with certain problems is by throwing "more" at it -- more stakes to hold down a tent against winds, more bracing to strengthen an architectural design, and in...

MIOX Corporation.
August 1, 1999... MIOX Corporation and its parent company, Los Alamos Technical Associates, Inc., both of Albuquerque, NM, have developed a "disinfection pen" for use by individual soldiers in the field. The pen is approximately 6 inches in length, weighs 3...

Dallas Semiconductor's iButton technology.
August 1, 1999... Dallas Semiconductor's iButton technology was last mentioned in these pages as a security device (Jan. 1997). The Thermochron iButton is a time and temperature logger version armored in a 16mm stainless steel package. The device easily attaches...

Optical scanning sensor.
August 1, 1999... The M24 line of high-resolution multi-point sensors for three-dimensional profiling uses 23 lasers. Ideal for height measurement, profile measuring, sizing of material and other applications, it possesses the ability to be multiplexed with...

Laser through-beam sensor.
August 1, 1999... The BOS-18M sensor pairs high accuracy with long-range sensing to over 50m. It can detect objects as small as 0.03mm from a distance of 10-80cm. This makes it ideal for minute part and motion detection, such as bit breakage in robotic drilling...

Sensor-actuator cabling.
August 1, 1999... This cabling provides users with a comprehensive range of initiator cabling so that the necessary links between controls and sensors/actuators can be obtained from a single manufacturer. In addition, built-in LEDs immediately show which system...

Sealed Pushbutton Switches.
August 1, 1999... The Multimec 3E series modular switches are now available with various height actuators. This is particularly useful when pc mounting the switches under an overlay where a specific component height is required. The switch modules are sealed to...

Pressure transmitters.
August 1, 1999... Model PL300 utilizes a piezoresistive sensing element for absolute- and gage-referenced pressure ranges from 100 in. WC to 300 psi. It utilizes a thin film sensor for pressure ranges from 400 to 15,000 psi. Both models feature a highly stable,...

Analog laser sensor.
August 1, 1999... The OADM 20 product family accurately measures the distance to a target based on the triangulation principal, and outputs the measurement either through an analog or a serial interface. Microprocessor technology has been incorporated into the...

Photoelectric sensor.
August 1, 1999... The SL30 and the SLE30 are self-contained, opposed mode emitter-receiver pair sensors in a rugged U-shaped housing. The 30mm wide sensing slot makes these sensors a good solution for numerous clear film detections including gear tooth, edge,...

Magnetic field sensor chips.
August 1, 1999... The 2-D and 3-D line of sensors are intended primarily for mapping of magnetic fields, and 2-D and 3-D angular and rotational position sensing. Other uses include resolvers, SIN/COS detectors, micromotors, tachometers, contactless potentiometer...

Future of Technology: A New Perspective.
August 1, 1999... Voices from the Past and Present provide insights on the future of technology. The editors of Designfax asked questions of industry visionaries regarding the future of technology as we enter the new millennium. We asked people both inside...

MOLDED AND STAMPED RUBBER PRODUCTS.
August 1, 1999... Since 1963 Syntex Rubber Corporation has been engineering and manufacturing high quality rubber products. We offer our customers a broad selection of custom and standard molded and stamped rubber parts for a broad range of original equipment...

Reader CONNECTION.
August 1, 1999... Intelligence and Emotions I am writing in response to your July editorial "Post Office Parable." You brought up a very good point -- technologists designing equipment to replace human decisions. 1) There are an incredible amount of...

Digital fiberoptic sensor.
August 1, 1999... The CZ series is unaffected by target gloss, light and shading. It can detect targets conventional sensors cannot, as well as provide accurate detection of vibrating targets. It features one-button-sensitivity calibration, digital LCD display,...

Predictions from 3 of Today's Industry Visionaries.
August 1, 1999... An Ambivalent Luddite at a Technological Feast Two centuries ago Luddites in England smashed new automatic machines that, with inferior products, were eliminating their hand loom jobs. With suppression of their rebellion they became a...

Let's Change the Focus of How We Use Technology.
August 1, 1999... We cannot cheat on DNA. We cannot get round photosynthesis. We cannot say, "I am not going to give a damn about phytoplankton. "All these tiny mechanisms provide the preconditions of our planetary life. To say we do not care is to say in the...

Excerpt from Heavy Weather.
August 1, 1999... Novel exploring the not-too-distant future of weather and population control "Well," said Leo, "my friends and I are very interested in dead spots. This is a big dead spot, and that's why we're here. We've put ourselves here quite...

MEMS and Micromachining in the New Millennium: Biomedical Applications Aid Surgery, Diagnosis, Drug Delivery and More.
August 1, 1999... The recent progress in microfabrication and micromachining technologies is transforming the field of solid-state transducers into what has become known as microelectromechanical systems (or MEMS, for short). In general, MEMS refers to the...

Browsing the Looking-Glass Store.
August 1, 1999... DARPA continues lead role in promoting unique engineering DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) held its twentieth Technology conference this past June in Denver, Co, and for a first-time attendee it was three days of casual...

By the CRTs of Babble, There We Sat.
August 1, 1999... In January 1980, eight months after the premiere issue of Designfax, Gernsback Publications' Radio-Electronics ran an article on breadboarding an interface for the TRS-80 that, combined with the appropriate instructions in BASIC, would apply...

"You say you want a revolution...".
August 1, 1999... Online distribution transforms an industry For those of you who don't realize the impact of how immensely your designs affect "the masses," take a look at how the technology behind MP3 is quickly transforming an entire industry--music...

MP3 Distribution: A Financial Perspective.
August 1, 1999... In financial terms, MP3 is just the tip of the iceberg, and the traditional recording industry -- and particularly the middle-men like stores and distributors -- are all aboard the Titanic. Music sold via direct downloading from the Internet is...

The 3 R's. Reluctance, Revelation, Response.
August 1, 1999... * RESPONSE Why Trilogy, you may be asking? Well, it's because the editors of Design-fax care. We care about you. We care about technology. We care about the future. And so do the many people -- visionaries, thinkers, OEM representatives,...

A Primer on Graphics Formats.
August 1, 1999... With the migration of an ever-larger community of engineers, writers, and specifiers to the World Wide Web, expectations of faster communications and instantaneous replies involve increasing levels of sophistication among e-business devotees....

Precision ball screws.
August 1, 1999... Rolled to a [plus or minus]0.001 in/ft accuracy, these ball screws serve as an alternative to ground thread screws where tight, repeatable accuracy is required. Factory-fitted, pre-loaded ball nuts provide a backlash-free system for long life...

Hybrid stepping motor.
August 1, 1999... The VEXTA brand [alpha]Step is a stepping motor system with built-in sensors to detect and correct for missing steps, providing performance on par with servo motors. Having the feedback device built into the windings also eliminates the need...

Bearings on T-slot structures.
August 1, 1999... UniBearings were created through a need to remove or install bearings quickly on an existing T-slotted aluminum structure without need for disassembly of the frame. The modular units are offered in metric and fractional sizes to compliment the...

Zero backlash HD gearheads.
August 1, 1999... The PSA-8 and PSA-l0 compact harmonic drive gearheads provide reliable positioning, even in harsh environments. They can be supplied with low out-gassing or non-lithium grease for cleanroom or semiconductor manufacturing applications. Designed...

Micro linear actuator.
August 1, 1999... Based on the smoovy 5mm gearmotor, the model APH5900l linear actuator permits precision adjustment of the unit's speed from a stepping mode up to 12 m/h. The bi-directional actuator is standard-equipped with ball bearings and a flexprint...

Ball screw.
August 1, 1999... The XC series of ball screws utilizes a rigid stainless steel cam that automatically rotates and produces higher axial rigidity without sacrificing life, torque or positional accuracy. The Active CAM design, which replaces older spring loaded...

Cycloidal speed reducers.
August 1, 1999... Transcyko cycloidal speed reducers are available in a wide range and combination of sizes, ratios, input power, mountings and configurations. Reduction rations range from 6:1 through 119:1 per state-through 7569:1 double and 658,503:1 triple...

Bearing mounted clutches.
August 1, 1999... The BEC & SEC series is available in six sizes with torques from 2.5 through 600 in. -lbs., and 75 to 1800 in. -lbs. Respectively, allowing the rotor assembly to rotate with the drive shaft at high speeds. The rotor assembly is supported with...

Fractional horsepower gearmotors.
August 1, 1999... The Mity Drive line of AC gearmotors is custom designed for each specific application. Engineering assistance is provided to enable customers to specify the gearmotor best suited for each function. Maximum torque is 50 in.-lbs. with a speed...

Light load gearmotors.
August 1, 1999... This gearmotor package is designed specifically for slow belt speeds, light conveyor loads, or applications with smaller motor size restrictions. Fixed speed and variable speed models are available for bottom, top or side mountings, and all are...

Clean room gearheads.
August 1, 1999... The Ultra True line is precise and compact, and is ideal for water polishing, chemical mechanical planarization equipment, chemical or plasma deposition equipment and wafer cleaning equipment. It is offered in either in-line or right-angle...

Spiroid gearboxes.
August 1, 1999... Spiroid gearboxes offer high power in a small package. Spiroid designs can be found in thousands of applications in a wide range of industries, from aerospace to medical equipment to factory automation. The gearing design flexibility ensures...

Motion control kit.
August 1, 1999... The DeviceNet compliant MVP motion control modules come in a complete kit form. Included in the kit is a module with integrated linear or PWM amplifier, power supply, demo software, instruction manual, all necessary cabling, and gearmotor and...

Polymer bearings.
August 1, 1999... The PEP line of bearings are for rotary movement. This closed bearing design allows the bearing to function with any type of shaft material. The inner sleeve of the bearing acts as the mating surface, allowing the coefficient of friction and...

AC driver.
August 1, 1999... The CY-42 stepper motor driver maybe powered with any low-cost 24-48 VAC secondary transformer. The unit's built-in DC-DC converter derives logic power from the motor supply with negligable losses. The control interface, an opto-coupled 1.6 mA...

Positioning stages.
August 1, 1999... The Micro Plus line of stages was designed for high speed, long travel applications. It features an optional integral motor design to decrease overall system size. Its recirculating linear ball-bearing provides exceptional load carrying...

Microstepping motion controller.
August 1, 1999... The MC2400 series is available in 1-, 2-, and 4-axis configurations. By directly outputting PWM or DAC-compatible motor command signals that drive the windings of the stepping motor, it eliminates the need and cost for external microstepping...

Rotary encoders.
August 1, 1999... In addition to standard data channels, the RCM and RCH series of encoders are able to provide output signals, which can be used for commutation of brushless motors. The optically-derived commutation signals provide rotor position far more...

Linear motion components.
August 1, 1999... These motion components are aimed toward designing a customized system. Its split-tail gantry enable users to assemble a system that allows work to be accomplished between the rails. For other uses there are complete lead screw assemblies....

EPM programmer.
August 1, 1999... This tool is used with the SCF series variable frequency drive, which has the drive's digital memory in a small package called an EPM that plugs into the face of the drive. Removing the EPM from the drive face allows it to be programmed by the...

Guided screw actuator.
August 1, 1999... The Axidyne GSA series offers a variety of sizes and options with high thrust capabilites and a wide selection of motor drive and control choices. They are available in four body sizes, from 0.75 to 2.00 in. with a choice of reverse parallel or...

Switching power supply.
August 1, 1999... The ISP3004 is a high efficiency, 75 VDC, switching power supply that delivers 6A of continuous current, and is capable of driving up to 3 IM483 microstepping drivers. It was designed to provide power to DC servo motors and other inductive...

Servo drive.
August 1, 1999... Each module accepts commands via RS-232 interface and provides motion control for a single brushless or brush-type motor, along with logic control for 7 inputs and 5 outputs. The drive can deliver up to 12A @ 24 to 80V peak power, and features...

Industrial encoder.
August 1, 1999... The series FM20 is heavy-duty encoder, which can be mounted on any shaft up to 1/2 in. in diameter. It has fewer parts than coupled encoders, and is ideal for rugged uses where modular encoders cannot be used. It is CE certified for OEM or as...

Two-wire brushless DC motors.
August 1, 1999... This line of motors are drop-in replacements of conventional brush type DC motors. Available in frame sizes 8, 10, 12 15, 18 and 33, these motors can be supplied with ferrite, alnico, samarium cobalt or high energy neodymium-iron-boron magnets,...

Micropositioner.
August 1, 1999... The Arc, series of X-Y micropositioners has a detachable are assembly that provides 140[degrees] of rotation about one axis, for orienting crystals, mirrors, and other precise positioning requirements. The unit can be positioned by hand and...

Microstep controller.
August 1, 1999... The MAX-420 is a dual axis microstep subsystem that incorporaes AMS' proprietary Variable Resolution Microstep Control Technology. This advancement in indexing technology was developed by the manufacturer to provide accurate and repeatable...

Gearbox.
August 1, 1999... The GB7 gearbox is ideally suited for use in door opening systems, bath lifts and other light industrial applications. The GB7 features 16w noise characteristics and a compact, lightweight design with no loss of strength. The high efficiency...

Anti-backlash nut.
August 1, 1999... The HBN series eliminates backlash between the leadscrew and nut interface. The series is designed specifically for the company's external linear actuators. The actuators have an integrated leadscrew so there is no need for a bulky coupler. The...

Concentric speed reducer.
August 1, 1999... The Maxum speed reducer offers increased horsepower and high torque rating for greater concentricity. Fractional to 1600 HP, with ratios from 2.25 to 194.6, it meets or exceeds the latest AGMA standards for proven reliability. They are...

Magnetic particle clutches.
August 1, 1999... The Tork line of clutches and brakes is designed for light- to medium-duty applications. They range in diameter from 2.1-to 6.2-in. and are particularly suitable for light tensioning applications, soft starts and stops, indexing/cycling and...

5-Phase Stepper Motor Driver.
August 1, 1999... The PSU50-133 5-phase stepper motor driver is ideal for OEM applications such as robotics, pick-and-place, and semiconductor manufacturing. This driver has an on-board power supply and can be connected to a 115 VAC bus or directly to a 115 VAC...

High pressure valve.
August 1, 1999... The CV series is capable of continuous operation to 10,000 psi. The internal volume of fluid does not change when the valve is switched, nor does it trap fluids as a ball valve does. The CV valves can be placed in ovens, if required, while the...

Plastic flow switch.
August 1, 1999... Model 2100 is constructed with polysulfone and is used for detecting insufficient flow rates in liquids. It incorporates a low flow orifice and adapter assembly which makes the flow switch capable of set points as low as 1 cc/min. in water....

Fluid process control head.
August 1, 1999... The type 8630 integrated control head unit is for easy on/off or continuous process control. Built with a decentralized intelligence, these compact, stand-alone control modules function as a position sensor, micro-processor controller and pilot...

Flowmeter.
August 1, 1999... Series VFF Visi-Float flowmeters allow the user to set the flow rate while visually monitoring it. These small, durable instruments, designed to handle pressures up to 100 psi and temperatures up to 150[degrees]F, can be used to control and/or...

Precision dispensers.
August 1, 1999... The STH, STQ and RH line of dispensers integrate valve-less piston technology with precision stepper motor control. The dispenser features one moving part -- a ceramic piston which rotates and reciprocates within a precision ceramic liner --...

Electro-pneumatic valve.
August 1, 1999... The Sentronic valve is an electro-pneumatic pressure regulating valve with a pressure range from vacuum to 725 Psi. The unit offers many different configurations that can be used with water, air, inert gases and some specific explosive gases....

Solenoid valves.
August 1, 1999... This line of general purpose solenoid valves is available in brass, 316 stainless steel, electroless nickel plated and delrin. The valves are available in sizes from 1/8- to 2-in. as 2-way NC or NO. They have a maximum operating pressure...

Ringless clips.
August 1, 1999... This series of ringless panel mount clips are designed to provide a cost effective installation option for a variety of electronic devices, including power supplies, modems, computer peripheral devices and other electronic equipment. One-piece...

Snap-fastener.
August 1, 1999... This clever snap-fastener instantly fastens small, frequently changed tool components, including logos, bottom inserts, access plates and more. Unlike screws, which often require added skill and accessibility to install and remove, Snap Locks...

Robertson head screws.
August 1, 1999... This company offers combination slot and #1 Robertson head screws, as well as traditional combination slot and #2 Phillips head screws for many of its specification grade electrical connectors, plugs, receptacles, inlets and outlets. With the...

Blind rivets.
August 1, 1999... This company offers a broad line of blind rivets including its SureSet and LockRivet lines. These easily installed fasteners are available in diameters ranging from 3/32- to 1/4-in. and offer exceptional clamp in a wide range of materials...

Metric drive studs.
August 1, 1999... Drive studs are headed, knurled fasteners used to assemble components where the cost of hole preparation and assembly make threaded fasteners undesirable. These metric drive studs are installed in standard drilled or molded holes without...

Conduit clips.
August 1, 1999... These molded plastic fasteners slip over the outside diameter of metal conduit and have an integral wire holder. Conduit clips can be installed with one hand, and are easier to install than cable ties. Wiring can be snapped into the wire holder...

Taptite fasteners.
August 1, 1999... These fasteners roll-form threads as they are driven. They feature a tri-lobular thread form, tight dimensional tolerance controls and a consistent thread profile. Benefits include the elimination of tapping costs and resistance to vibration...

Alloy powders.
August 1, 1999... This company offers researchers almost any composition of alloys in small or large quantities. The company uses a number of methods for the manufacture of alloys, the composition of which can be specified in atomic weight or weight percent,...

Medical grade titanium.
August 1, 1999... Low weight, high strength titanium is the metal of choice for practically 100 percent of implantable devices such as pacemakers and bone growth stimulators. This manufacturer produces closures and other precision parts made of titanium and...

Thixo-forming process.
August 1, 1999... This company manufactures high density, complex shaped components from light metal alloys such as magnesium, zinc and aluminum. Thixo-forming utilizes the semisolid nature of heated materials, to assist in microstructure refinement and enhanced...

Gasket metal.
August 1, 1999... This manufacturer produces gasket metal used in making petrochemical processing valves with the required bevels and grooves already formed on the edges. Finished shapes are available in long continuous coils. They can be manufactured in carbon...

Stainless steel alloy.
August 1, 1999... According to the manufacturer, project 7000 stainless type 416 gives 2 fabricators 25 to 50% greater productivity over that possible with generic stainless type 416. The expected gain may be measured in terms of any one or more of several key...

Improved Air/Hydraulic Precison Slides.
August 1, 1999... Catalog depicts eight new precision slides with stroke lengths to 32" and cylinder bores to 4". Accessories include reed and hall switches, proximity switches, bumpers, cushions and shock absorbers. Stainless variations are available in fixed...

Cambridge Software Company Launches Computer-Aided Engineering Selection.
August 1, 1999... The next software tool? In twenty years, PC-based design software has progressed from CAD, CAE and CAM, to finite element analysis and design aids like DFM and those created by Invention Machine. Now, Cambridge Engineering Selector (CES3),...