Designfax articles from February 2001

Designfax archives from February 2001

Star Power.
February 1, 2001... Deep Future Thinking It is said that, as a group, Native Americans regularly consider how the impact of their actions will affect those who will be born "two lifetimes from now." However, as most people in this industry work to speed...

Risk.
February 1, 2001... Every day we risk something (usually our lives while driving to work). But in the field of design engineering, risk is the fuel of invention at many companies. With high risk comes high expectations and the necessity for innovation and...

Harmonic Planetary Gearhead.
February 1, 2001... Harmonic drive transmissions are noted for their ability to reduce backlash in a motion control system. How they work is through the use of a thin-walled flexible cup placed inside a circular thick-walled rigid ring. An inside flexible spline...

Xerox's Palo Alto Research Center (PARC).
February 1, 2001... The Electronics Materials Laboratory at Xerox's Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) in California announced their development of MEMs-based technology for application in large all-optical switches. The switches are required to transfer data...

Ocean Power Technologies.
February 1, 2001... While toy companies have flooded the market with robot doggies and kitties, another company has developed an artificial eel. Not the latest pool toy, the device, developed by Ocean Power Technologies, Pennington, NJ, and funded by DARPA,...

Lined linear bearings.
February 1, 2001... Tolerating up to 1,500 psi, the expanded series of 148 bonded Frelon-lined anodized aluminum bearings carry between 4 and 8x the load of ball-bearings, while lasting on average 4-8 times longer than ball-bearings. The bearings are...

Dry film lubricant.
February 1, 2001... Applied in multi-layer electro-deposition process to wear surfaces, HI-T-LUBE forms a malleable lubricating surface that maintains a coefficient of friction of 0.03 in temperatures between -360[degrees]F and 1000[degrees]F and compression loads...

Small-bore bearings.
February 1, 2001... With a four-point contact design, the MT series medium duty bearings carry radial, thrust and moment loads simultaneously. They can be an economical replacement for duplexed bearing pairs in kingpost designs. The bearings also incorporate a...

Self-aligning bearings.
February 1, 2001... Combining a non-locating GARB toroidal roller with either a double-row spherical roller or self-aligning ball bearings, the applied load is distributed evenly, reducing vibration, noise and running temperature while increasing bearing life.

Enclosed polymer bearings.
February 1, 2001... Since the inner sleeve functions as the mating surface, this polymer-encased polymer bearing functions independently of the shaft material. The coefficient of friction for the PEP bearing is between 0.12 and 0.2 up to 73 psi.

Split roller bearings.
February 1, 2001... Offering an average increase of 30% in radial and 20% in axial load ratings with no dimensional increase, the 0lE series split roller bearings with split steel cage eliminate cage jointing clips to simplify assembly.

Miniature bearings.
February 1, 2001... Corrosion and heat-resistant miniature ball-bearings made from SV3O steel alloy can withstand heavier loads and operate more quietly than bearings manufactured from conventional stainless steel. The alloy is suitable for applications using...

Pushing the envelope in seal technology.
February 1, 2001... Research into non-traditional materials increases the temperature threshold far metal seals Manufacturers of turbine and rocket engines have an ongoing need to design engines that run at higher temperatures for better fuel efficiency....

Engineering a Sharper Image.
February 1, 2001... A peek into the design side at the upscale catalog company Many consumers are familiar with The Sharper Image, a catalog company that got its start in 1977 when founder Richard Thalheimer decided to independently sell a jogger's wristwatch...

Rotary sensor.
February 1, 2001... Measuring 16.2mm high with maximum receptacle height of 25.9mm, the dual output 9850 Gen II series sensors provide a 30% reduction over previous model profiles for applications with confined areas typically associated with automotive, heavy...

Transducer indicator.
February 1, 2001... The hand-held PHM-l00's peak hold feature captures in less than one millisecond and operates on a 9-volt battery for 60 hours. In combination with the TLL in-line load cell, it forms an economical system for OEM force measurement.

Programmable temperature transmitters.
February 1, 2001... Eliminating manual setup, FlexProgramnier links to a PC (Windows 3.11, 95, 98 and NT platforms) to program Kamstrup FlexTop temperature transmitters. These devices accept a variety of inputs, from Ptl00 to RTD, thermocouple, mV and R inputs,...

Magnetic encoder.
February 1, 2001... The SHS 170 servomotor feedback system's large 50mm hollow-shaft bore allows direct mounting of the encoder onto large motors or load shafts. This floating mount prevents excessive shaft loading and misalignment.

Tiny diffuse laser sensor.
February 1, 2001... At 1/8 the size of current counterparts, the OHDK10 has a sensing range between 20 and 100mm and a response time of less than 500 microseconds. Monitoring its own light ouput, the sensor self-adjusts for environmental changes.

Shielded level transmitter.
February 1, 2001... A stainless steel shield protects the elastomeric diaphragm of the KPSI 750 series level transmitter for use in harsh sludge or slurry. With a pressure range from 0-5 to 0-300 psi, the sensing area is 3-in. wide.

Ultrasonic sensors.
February 1, 2001... With microprocessor intelligence, the Diamond 2000 allows filtering of the return signal to descriminate the desired target from unwanted false echoes and ambient noise. It has excellent range and a short dead zone of 6 in. to 25 ft.

Pneumatic cylinder transducer.
February 1, 2001... The BackPack feedback transducer bolts directly onto the housing of pneumatic cylinders for non-contact, vibration-resistant position sensing.. The magnetostrictive positioning is accurate and stable to [less than]2[micro]m resolution.

Calorimetric flow sensors.
February 1, 2001... With no moving parts, Model 4115.30 smart flow-captors are not subject to sticking or lock-up in sludge or brackish media. Flow-captors provide accurate metering of the average flow speed across the pipe of both turbulent and laminar flows by...

Displacement transducer.
February 1, 2001... The DT/DT420 transducer/transmitter attaches to a fixed body with a moving element detecting displacement up to 500 in. accurately to [+ or -]0.1 F.S. The dust-tight design has various output configurations between 4 and 20 mA.

Miniature sensors.
February 1, 2001... The VS2 series self-contained, convergent-mode sensors have a low profile, enabling them to function in confined areas previously accessible by remote or fiberoptic devices. The visible red sensing beam has a 15 or 30mm range.

Low-light image sensors.
February 1, 2001... With high quantum efficiency from UV to near IR frequencies, the S7986 and S7987 back-thinned frame transfer CCD area image sensors are designed for high-speed operation, without the need for external shutters.

Solid-state position sensor.
February 1, 2001... The Quadrant Large Area Avalanche Photodiode (LAAPD) combines a large active area with low light sensitivity. The 2x2 element array has an total active area of 18[mm.sup.2] with independent detector element signals.

Geartooth speed sensor.
February 1, 2001... With zero-speed sensing and self-adjusting range, the GS101202 uses a Hall-effect IC and an internal biasing magnet to sense rotational speed of ferrous gear-type targets. It does not require external signal processing.

Gas pressure transducer.
February 1, 2001... The Model 223 in-line, flow-through pressure tranducer employs variable capacitance technology to provide good zero stability and long-term reliability. It is almost immune to EMI/RFI with a high tolerance of system torsion and welding effects,...

Liquid level indicator.
February 1, 2001... A remote-control continuous liquid level indicator senses liquid in closed containers and tanks, with remote and visual linear indication independent of the shape of the container. There is a constant indication of level inside the tank up to...

Flame sensor.
February 1, 2001... The 5002 series system consists of UV self-check and IR frequency-based flame detectors. Equipped with an internal microcomputer which automatically adjusts sensitivity and allows a variety of signal outputs directly from. the scanner, the...

Pressure transducers.
February 1, 2001... These FP2000 transducers are available to order online with over 20,000 custom family includes gage, absolute vacuum, barometric, and wet/wet or wet/dry differential configurations, with as much as 0.1% accuracy.

Brushless torque sensor.
February 1, 2001... For measuring torque on pulse tools with strong vibrations, Model BLRTSX brush-has 5V full-scale output to ensure accuracy over long cables, even in areas with high RFI emanating from other machinery.

Thermal, Electrical And Chemical Properties Of Plastics.
February 1, 2001... Plastics often must meet multiple demands in any one application. Beyond the need for specific physical and mechanical properties such as strength and stiffness (discussed in the previous article in this series), plastics often encounter...

Frictionless Transmission.
February 1, 2001... Electronically-operated brakes and clutches provide contact-free, frictionless torgue transmission. Slip torgue and synchronous torque can be adjusted to any level between zero and the maximum, depending only on the set magnet coil current and...

Linear Gauge Sensor.
February 1, 2001... The compact and lightweight GS-1600 sensor has a waterproof seal with resistance equivalent to IP-64. Using linear glass sealing, the unit has a resolution of I [micro]m and maintains a 3 [micro]m accuracy throughout its 30mm range. The...

Composite Gearheads.
February 1, 2001... These NEMA frame gearheads use a composite gearing -- a pin gear formed by mounting a precision roller chain on a disk -- to provide efficiencies in excess of 95%, with excellent shock load characteristics and backlash as low as 15 minutes. The...

Direct Linear Drive Actuators.
February 1, 2001... These actuators simplify system design by eliminating friction, backlash and the wear problems of ball screws, lead screws and other mechanical transmission systems required with rotary motors. This system is available with magnetically...

Tiny PLC.
February 1, 2001... The built-in 2-color data window of the Visual-KV permits the user to monitor PLC data and change program parameters in real-time. While it is 2/3 the size of conventional PLCs, it maintains a fast 0.7 [micro]s instruction execution time and...

Redefining Robots.
February 1, 2001... (Editor's note: An obscure philosopher once noted that Science serves two purposes: to examine and explain the inexplicable; and to suggest the yet-to-be." At times these two directions converge, particularly when something is created that...

Submersible motors.
February 1, 2001... These stainless motors for deep sea and marine applications are built to customer specifications based on specific application requirements. The oil-filled, pressure-compensated assemblies are being used 2500 feet below the surface in U.S....

Stepping motor with encoder.
February 1, 2001... The PK Series of 2-phase stepping motors are available with an optical encoder. They use a 200 pulse per revolution or 400 pulse per revolution optical encoder to provide the encoder feedback signals to verify step position.

DC motor kits.
February 1, 2001... This line of slotless brushless DC motor kits eliminate bearing, housing and alignment problems. Sizes range 1.3-in. dia to 15-in. dia. Speeds range from less than 1/4 revolution per hour to over 100,000 rpm.

Booster motors.
February 1, 2001... With the release of their software version 1.3, up to four LinMot P industrial linear motors can be connected together to achieve force from 7 to 180 lb-f. The boosters are mechanically attached to achieve the increased force, the software does...

Synchronizing controller.
February 1, 2001... Designed to work with the company's VLT 5000 Series drives, this controller provides speed and position synchronizing, and position synchronizing with marker correction.

Stepper motor controllers.
February 1, 2001... The TMC428 is a complete high-performance, low-cost controller for up to 3 stepper motors. Target position, velocity and acceleration parameters can be modified quickly. No motion control software is required.

Size 23 slotted brushless DC motor.
February 1, 2001... ELCOM ST Size 23 motors are available in a standard 2 in. stack length (in addition to 1/2- and 1-in, lengths). The low-cost design delivers high power, fast acceleration, consistent performance and long life.

Stepper motor driver.
February 1, 2001... The 2.5 Amp CY-45 has a footprint smaller than a playing card. A bipolar, chopper-type drive, it works with 2- and 4-phase step motors in the full/half step mode. It provides an interface to the power supply, motor and signals.

Motor and driver system.
February 1, 2001... The Delta S line of motors and intelligent drives incorporate all digital technology to provide high performance in a small package size. The SERCOS interface uses high speed fiber optic cable to eliminate all analog signals in favor of a...

Adjustable frequency drive.
February 1, 2001... The KBAC-24D adjustable frequency drive is a variable speed control in a NEMA-4X/IP-65 washdown and water-tight enclosure. It is designed to operate 208-230V 3-phase AC induction motors through 3.6A RMS. The sine wave coded, pulse width...

Brushless DC motor series.
February 1, 2001... These NEMA 34 flange mount designs offer all the benefits of DC brushless motor technology and are available in three standard lengths of 2.0 to 3.2 in,, with rear shaft extension as a provision for encoder mounting. Typical operating speeds...

Microprocessor-based servoamplifier.
February 1, 2001... Model 7225X1 servoamplifier incorporates techniques that allow it to drive servo-motors safely to their performance limit. Motorized robotics systems achieve faster acceleration, speed and productivity.

Brushless DC linear motor.
February 1, 2001... Motors in the CLD 4000 & 5000 series have have ring-shaped rare earth magnets arranged in alternating polarity down the length of the shaft. The electromagnetic interaction takes place over the entire surface.

E-Series motion controllers.
February 1, 2001... Designed to reduce extensive wiring and complicated programming in central or bus-based control systems, these controllers integrate Ethernet technology and can be placed next to motors and I/O signals.

Size 23 stepping motor.
February 1, 2001... New motor construction technology lets P21 and P22 high-torque stepping motors produce more torque than similarly sized motors. Increased acceleration and torque are achieved without sacrificing package size or cost.

Micro clutch.
February 1, 2001... Designed for ever increasing speeds of paper tranport drives, the MIC series micro clutch provides increased life and speed capabilities up to 1500 rpm. Custom gears can be designed to meet specific requirements.

Dynamic planetary gearheads.
February 1, 2001... The Equalizer's gearing system allows planet gears to adjust their radial position dynamically through a pivoting link between the mating sun gear and the internal gears.

Motorized pulley.
February 1, 2001... The 4.5-in. dia High Output PowerRoll pulley drives fully-loaded, unit handling belt conveyors up to 430 ft/min, with accurate belt tracking and high reliability, reducing space requirements and increasing efficiency. All rotating components...

Multi-axis control card.
February 1, 2001... With a 500 block/sec execution rate, the PMAC-Pack stand-alone controller's response is enhanced by the 50 ms/axis servo update rates. Using commutation formats to control a variety of motor types, the standard configuration provides four...

Over-current sensing IC.
February 1, 2001... For AC or brushless DC motor drive applications up to 230 VAC input, a 600V over-current sensing IC uses an external sense resistor to report currents that exceed a preset threshold in both positive and negative polarities. The IR2170 sensor...

Jaw-type couplings.
February 1, 2001... Elastomeric jaw couplings have stainless steel hubs produced by either investment casting or sintered powder, thereby decreasing cost over machined bar stock hubs. Standard sizes range from 0.025-to 1.875-in, bores.

Linear actuators.
February 1, 2001... Combining flatness and straightness within 0.0002-in, per inch, TRU-Track linear motion system uses rolling elements and ground rails that provide very low deflection, high moment load resistance, and high payload capacity.

Synchronous belt drive.
February 1, 2001... For synchronous drives running above 500 rpm, the PowerGrip GT2 belt drive system transmits up to 200% more horsepower than first generation curvilinear synchronous belts. This increased capacity allows the belt to be used on narrower...

Keyless locking.
February 1, 2001... The B-209 series of keyless locking assemblies is designed for mounting precision drive elements onto shafts as small as 0.25 in. dia.. These frictional-locking devices deliver zero-backlash, infinitely-adjustable Shaft/hub connections for...

Single-axis motion processor.
February 1, 2001... Offering single-axis control in a single chip, the MC3 110 Pilot motion processor controls brushed servo motors with over 130 commands on its host microprocessor. Driven by the same host microprocessor, the chip accepts input parameters such as...

More of what we do best.
February 1, 2001... Designfax was the first magazine in the horizontal design engineering field to have a regular, monthly column covering the Internet and how to use it. Through Dr. Steve O'Neil's Bird-Doggin' the Internet, we've consistently provided useful...

Downloads, Demos & Deals.
February 1, 2001... A number of websites offer value added content, such as broad based tutorials and web-centric tech tools, to educate designers on the technology's applications and gain a few customers in the process. One such tool is the interactive Center...

Bandwidth and Security.
February 1, 2001... For several years we have been waiting with baited breath for the Bandwidth Fairy to visit our computers and give us the speed to accomplish fast Internet access, download usable video and audio clips, and give us the ability to move large...

Wiring harness development.
February 1, 2001... Registered members of this web community have access to a team of designers, suppliers, manufacturers and troubleshooters to streamline wiring harness design tasks. Software is supported by Linius EMbassy.

Product development service.
February 1, 2001... This company's on-line design service has been certified for the STEP AP 203 standard, an international file format that permits the exchange of digital information during design and manufacturing processes.

Motor testing.
February 1, 2001... A platform for development and testing of electric motor and power systems is offered at this site. The GUI allows local user input, with a command processor responding to commands in real-time. Not to be confused with remote computer...

Flow control library.
February 1, 2001... Clicking on Library at this site provides access to extensive applications and selection data for pipeline strainers, plastic valves and other flow control products. The material is generic rather than manufacturer-specific, for complete...

Web-enabled debug.
February 1, 2001... RabbitLink allows users to compile, run and debug programs through a network-connected PC running Dynamic C 7.02 or later, when attached to an Ethernet and a Rabbit microprocessor-based system. The card also permits programming and...

Oil wiper packing.
February 1, 2001... "OT" wiper packing for reciprocating compressors utilizes the naturally occuring sticktion forces, which normally create problems in a valve environment, in order to provide a true non-lube seal in the packing. Traditional oil wiper packings...

EMI/RFI air filters.
February 1, 2001... Conductive silver/copper adhesive caulk fully bonds EMI mesh to aluminum filter frames to promote enclosure grounding of EMI noise. Gaskets can be installed around the perimeter conductive to the enclosure.

Miniature O-rings.
February 1, 2001... MicrOring seals are from 0.039 down to 0.008-in. ID and cross section, reportedly the world's smallest O-ring. Microminiature composite seals combine the structural advantages of metal or plastic with the sealing performance of elastomers.

Coalescing filters.
February 1, 2001... Balston filters have been redesigned to include two differential pressure indicators built into the head of the filter for 360-degree viewing. A quick release, bayonet bowl design and pressure-release valve allow tool-less maintenance. These...

Fastener seal.
February 1, 2001... The NYPLAS process applies a Plastisol material under the heads of fasteners, pop-rivets and double-ended flanged screws to seal out water, dust and air. The black sealant meets major automotive specifications and also provides noise-dampening...

Ceramic-sealed connector.
February 1, 2001... The SHV Coaxial Connector uses ceramic-to-metal sealing technology and mates with a standard 10 kV SHV plug. The SHV connector ground is maintained through the center contact mating cycle. The receptacle has an operating temperature range of...

Liquid filter bags.
February 1, 2001... Polypropylene and polyester filter bags have welded seams along the bag fabric and around the ring seal to provide no-bypass filtration. The ring seal is self-energized, strengthening as the pressure differential increases.

Pickup filters.
February 1, 2001... Mounted on the end of tubing,, these filters protect liquid, air or vacuum mechanisms from contamination. Porous units have a weighted ball to provide full submersion, while offset feet prevent tube blockage.

Gasket and seal materials.
February 1, 2001... Coated fabrics made from a variety of substrates and rubber compounds feature nitrile elastomers for gas metering applications that conform to current standards for liquified petroleum gases used in motor vehicles. Other materials include...

Research Project Requires Special Anodizing Treatment.
February 1, 2001... The mission of the Main Injector Neutrino Oscillation Search (MINOS) experiment at Fermilab is to prove neutrinos have mass. Scientists will use the lab's NuMI -- Neutrinos from the Main Injector -- beam to search for this phenomenon. (See...

Constrained layer composites.
February 1, 2001... Noise, vibration and heat problems may be solved using the Polycore family of products. QuietSteel is a damping material sandwiching a viscoelastic core between metal skins of steel, stainless steel, aluminum, galvalume or other substrate....