Designfax articles from February 2003

Designfax archives from February 2003

I'm a CEO--get me out of here! (Layer One).
February 1, 2003... And now for something completely different....Dave Wilson has worked for many years with Design Engineering, a British equivalent of Design fax. We recently came across the following commentary he penned, and with his gracious consent, we offer...

The bling-bling in Winter. (Up Front).
February 1, 2003... The last days of 2002 found me in New York City. There was a family gathering, a celebration, happily; so it was pack-the-car-and-go, an 8-hour jaunt with the missus, the 5-year-old son, and the before-mentioned Cousin Marty (who left a trail...

Selective circuit breaker: individual circuit protection for factory systems. (Five Star: Product of the Month).
February 1, 2003... Classes in basic electricity usually include discussions on the difference between "parallel" and "series" circuits. The example teachers will cite is a set of Christmas lights -- how with the old-fashioned series lights, all the bulbs would go...

Bridgestone/Firestone Vehicle Systems. (Technology Spotlight).
February 1, 2003... Bridgestone/Firestone Vehicle Systems introduced the first aftermarket applications utilizing DUAL RATE Air Spring technology and the Intelliride control-system developed by Firestone Industrial Products. PraxisAdvanced Suspensions allows...

In the 2 January issue of Nature, Philips and the University of Amsterdam describe the invention of the first electroluminescent material that produces either red or green light. (Technology Spotlight).
February 1, 2003... In the 2 January issue of Nature, Philips and the University of Amsterdam describe the invention of the first electroluminescent material that produces either red or green light, depending on the voltage applied to it. Normally,...

New, Harmonic Planetary[R] high precision planetary gearhead.
February 1, 2003... Exclusively from HD Systems, the Harmonic Planetary[R] HPG Series provides the motion control and design engineer with a planetary gearhead that reduces backlash to less than 1 arc-min. This level of backlash is maintained for the life of the...

New, ultra flat gearing components.
February 1, 2003... CSD Series harmonic drive gearing from HD Systems delivers 1 arc-min positional accuracy in a compact package. The axial length of the CSD Series has been reduced by 50% versus the CSF series. This design is made possible by HD Systems'...

New, Harmonic Drive Gearhead, zero backlash.
February 1, 2003... The CSF-2UH series high torque gearheads use HD Systems' patented "S" tooth that delivers more than twice the torque, twice the life, and twice the torsional stiffness when compared to conventional Harmonic Drive Gearing. Positional Accuracy is...

Encapsulating urethane. (Materials).
February 1, 2003... Cable Cast FR is a tough, flame-retardant urethane designed for encapsulating, insulating and providing strain relief on electrical cables and connectors. It forms a tough, flexible jacket or casing with high abrasion, tear, puncture and...

Materials selection. (Materials).
February 1, 2003... Intended to guide the reader through the process of selecting materials on the basis of their design suitability, Materials and Design: The Art and Science of Material Selection in Product Design explores how near-equivalent products win market...

Precious metal analysis. (Materials).
February 1, 2003... X-ray XDAL and XAN fluorescence spectrometers provide a fast, non-destructive and precise determination of the alloy components of gold and other precious metals. In most cases, these spectrometers eliminate the expensive and destructive...

Aluminum fittings. (Materials).
February 1, 2003... Constructed of high-grade aluminum silicon magnesium, the expanded line of KeeLite fittings is strong, light and corrosion-resistant. The contoured design features hidden setscrews and a bright finish for aesthetic appearance. Literature...

Chip-resistant coating. (Materials).
February 1, 2003... Grade TP 1000 protective coating is composed of a cobalt-enriched substrate offering a hard interior and tough surface. The coating is made with the CVD/MTCVD technique. Ti(C,N) produces good adhesion and edge toughness, [A1.sub.2][O.sub.3]...

Non-destructive testing. (Materials).
February 1, 2003... The NDT-RAM (non-destructive testing, resonant acoustic method) system uses an instrumented impact hammer and a microphone to test powdered metals and castings. The system is based on the company's SDC003 LanSharc hardware platform and...

Quiet steel laminate. (Application Xtra).
February 1, 2003... * alternative to cold-rolled steel * can be formed & welded The tranquility of summer weekends is often broken by the noise pollution of lawnmowers. To alleviate some of this problem, Briggs & Stratton includes in its mid-range I/C...

Smoothing the road: soil compactor eases operator ride and maintenance needs with vibration isolation.
February 1, 2003... Ingersoll-Rand's new line of vibratory rollers, the TF Series, was designed with operator comfort in mind. Using an integrated systems approach, LORD Corporation, Gary, NC, which specializes in vibration, noise, and motion control solutions,...

Tubular solenoids. (Motion Control Marketplace: Innovations).
February 1, 2003... The TSL Series of long life tubular solenoids is designed for both continuous and intermittent application. The units do not use brass or stainless steel for the plunger guides, which are susceptible to premature failure when subjected to side...

Rotary shaft seals. (Motion Control Marketplace: Innovations).
February 1, 2003... Suited for high-intensity operating conditions that challenge most elastomeric type seals for rotating shafts, the Rotaflon series of rotary shaft seals withstands high surface speeds, high temperature and/or high pressure. Rotaflon MC has a...

Torque rods. (Motion Control Marketplace: Innovations).
February 1, 2003... Designed to provide proper suspension movement without any restriction, Uni-Rod torque rods replace the company's fixed-length torque rods in various OEM applications with "perfect fit." The kits use a full, permanently lubricated spherical...

CAD eCatalog for linear motion. (Motion Control Marketplace: Innovations).
February 1, 2003... This linear motion component manufacturer has launched an online 3D/2D-powered solid-modeling eCatalog for finding, configuring, viewing and downloading components in a chosen CAD software format, ready for integrating into customer designs....

Spur gears. (Motion Control Marketplace: Innovations).
February 1, 2003... The SUSL series of Module 0.5, 0.8 and 1.0 stainless steel spur gears features the patented Fairloc integral hub fastening system that eliminates marred shafts. These 20-degree pressure angle precision gears conform to JIS B 1702 Grade 4...

Pouring it on: corn syrup producer enjoys sweet rewards of e-manufacturing solution.
February 1, 2003... Corn syrup, a staple sweetener in today's soft drinks and other sugary goodies, can be one sticky business. Cerestar USA, Inc, Dimmitt, TX, manufactures starches and starch derivatives from maize, wheat, potato, and manioc for use in food,...

Stepping motor control. (Motion Spotlight: Motors & Drives).
February 1, 2003... * high reliability * consistent performance The VXM is a complete controller/indexer/driver/AC power supply with an RS 232 interface. It can be used interactively with a PC or run stand-alone. The microcontroller digitally controls...

Slotless motors. (Motion Spotlight: Motors & Drives).
February 1, 2003... These brushless DC motors are built with high-energy rare earth rotors and slotless stators within a toothless stator ring to eliminate preferred rotor position, reduce audible noise, and maximize torque-to-weight ratios. Reduced winding...

Driver IC. (Motion Spotlight: Motors & Drives).
February 1, 2003... The IR2136 family of 3-phase inverter-driver ICs integrates six MOSFET or IGBT high voltage gate drivers with a range of functions. The chips are designed to decrease the cost and complexity of energy efficient, electronically driven variable...

Low inertia servo motors. (Motion Spotlight: Motors & Drives).
February 1, 2003... In company tests, the 22-100 DSD Series of 3-phase, 540V synchronous servo motors produced 30 to 150% more torque than standard and low-inertia servo motors. Offered in sizes from 22 to 100, the line's torque ratings range from less than 5 to...

NEMA 23 servo motor. (Motion Spotlight: Motors & Drives).
February 1, 2003... Featuring a 1000-pulse-per-revolution incremental encoder, the BLM-N2350-1000 brushless servo motor provides for a high torque-to-inertia ratio. Its smooth, low speed performance and low cogging allows for highly accurate motion profiling at...

Multiple breakpoint chipset. (Motion Spotlight: Motors & Drives).
February 1, 2003... Part of the company's Navigator line, the MC2300 series of two-IC chipset motion processors provides 1,2 and 4 axes of control for brushless motors. Breakpoint programming allows users to create complex profiles through an internal or external...

Brushless DC kit motor. (Motion Spotlight: Motors & Drives).
February 1, 2003... The high performance 000-0326 is designed for low voltage applications where an efficient, high torque motor is required. Designed for 12V battery operation, the motor can deliver in excess of 1 hp of continuous power with a typical efficiency...

AC gearmotors. (Motion Spotlight: Motors & Drives).
February 1, 2003... Featuring strengthened shafts that mate to a series of long-life GV gearheads, the V Series of gearmotors operates at noise thresholds of just 29 dB. Power output levels, depending on motor frame size, are 6W, 15W, 25W, 40W and 60W. The series...

Digital servo drives. (Motion Spotlight: Motors & Drives).
February 1, 2003... UL-approved DigiFlex drives can operate brushed and brushless servomotors, and support encoder or resolver feedback. A [+ or -] 10V command reference signal can be used to control either torque or velocity, and a CANopen or SynqNet interface is...

Drum motor. (Motion Spotlight: Motors & Drives).
February 1, 2003... Specifically designed for driving conveyor belts in medium- and heavy-duty applications, these motors feature rugged construction. Special packaging allows the motors to tolerate corrosive environments, where caustic materials are conveyed. An...

Pancake motors. (Motion Spotlight: Motors & Drives).
February 1, 2003... Nine versions of the EC series brushless pancake motor are offered, from 30 mW to 90W. Ball or ruby bearings further add to the longevity of the electronically commutated design. Depending on the version, maximum speed is up to 20,000 rpm, and...

42 mm servomotors. (Motion Spotlight: Motors & Drives).
February 1, 2003... Nickel iron laminations produce a 92% efficiency in this servomotor, while slotless, non-skewed windings achieve a total harmonic distortion under 1%. They can be operated as brushless DC motors with block commutation, or as AC servo motors...

DC motors and gearmotors. (Motion Spotlight: Motors & Drives).
February 1, 2003... ELCOM SL 3-phase, 4-pole brushless servomotors feature a slotless stator to eliminate magnetic cogging. Low inductance and high current bandwidth promote precise control, particularly during rapid acceleration in incremental motion...

Linear motor. (Motion Spotlight: Motors & Drives).
February 1, 2003... The 4020-2 direct drive brushless DC motor develops 375 lbs-force at a peak current of 30A and peak power of 5.2 kW. The low inductance B winding provides faster current rise time for high performance incremental motion. Motor position and...

Servo motor and drive. (Motion Spotlight: Motors & Drives).
February 1, 2003... The Smartstep system is ready to run after plugging in and setting rotary and DIP switches on the front panel. Single-phase power input provides greater flexibility than less available 3-phase power. Smartstep features constant torque through...

High continuous torque DC motor. (Motion Spotlight: Motors & Drives).
February 1, 2003... Measuring 2.375 in. dia, the M1600 Series permanent magnet motor is offered in lengths of 4.444- and 4.94-in. Maximum continuous torque ranges up to 36.5 oz in., or a maximum speed up to 5000 rpm. A 5/16 in. dia shaft and 1.00 in. dia pilot are...

Gas springs. (Motion Products: Motors & Drives).
February 1, 2003... This catalog contains detailed technical information and dimensions on the company's entire line of gas springs and cams. The book is divided into seven sections: About the Company, Gas Springs with Standard Mounts, Special Mounts, Hose...

Smart linear actuators. (Motion Products: Motors & Drives).
February 1, 2003... Smart Digit and Smart Bug linear actuators feature an optical encoder, digital servo amp, indexer, local power supply, serial communications interface and optional absolute position. Smart Digit inline actuators are directly coupled to the...

Miniature gearhead. (Motion Products: Motors & Drives).
February 1, 2003... The CSF-1U size 5 gearhead delivers 3 arc-min positional accuracy in a 20 [mm.sup.2] x 47 mm long package. It has a rated torque of 5 in.-lb and a maximum torque of 24 in.-lb. The gearhead has both an input shaft and an output shaft for...

Miniature linear actuators. (Motion Products: Motors & Drives).
February 1, 2003... The LE series of actuators have a total assembly height of just 0.785 in. yet have a load-carrying capability of 6 lbs. The LE2-X consists of a low friction ball slide assembly attached via a common base to an anti-backlash nut and a 0.188 in....

Custom technical diagrams. (Motion Products: Motors & Drives).
February 1, 2003... Designers considering a "rolling ring" linear motion assembly can submit application requirements via an online form and receive, in turn, custom specifications and diagrams. Technical details include assembly dimensions, linear drive size,...

Linear actuator. (Motion Products: Motors & Drives).
February 1, 2003... This environmentally sealed linear actuator is designed for extremely harsh operating conditions. Various sizes of hybrid linear actuators are particularly suited for military applications. Forces up to 500 lbs are available with step...

Brake actuators. (Motion Products: Motors & Drives).
February 1, 2003... The self-contained Electrastar actuator is powered off a battery, and uses a microprocessor and decelerometer to sense the amount of braking generated by a towing vehicle. The unit automatically adjusts its output so the amount of trailer...

Right angle gear box. (Motion Products: Motors & Drives).
February 1, 2003... The G14 single worm reduction right angle gearbox is suited for applications requiring high output torque and dependability. The gearbox has a continuous torque rating to 60 in.-lbs and speeds to 350 rpm. Features include grease lubrication,...

Motion processor chips. (Motion Products: Motors & Drives).
February 1, 2003... This company has added Acceleration Feed Forward to its software-compatible Navigator family of motion processor chips. The family provides trajectory generation, servo control, pulse and direction generation, commutation and other...

Peripheral connections. (Motion Products: Motors & Drives).
February 1, 2003... The Serial to DeviceNet Gateway allows existing serial ASCII devices (such as motor controllers) to be connected to DeviceNet. Data can be read/written using either polling or explicit messaging and COS. Setup is simple and intuitive. The...

Rotary encoder. (Motion Products: Motors & Drives).
February 1, 2003... Size 21 RCM2l commutation encoder combines 3-phase brushless motor commutation pulses, 2 data channels (in quadrature) and once-per-revolution reference index pulse in a single optical encoder. One push of the patented slide/lock mechanism...

Rectifiers. (Motion Products: Motors & Drives).
February 1, 2003... Designed for use on the company's line of armature-actuated electric brakes, AAB rectifiers now include Quick Set and Quick Set/Release products that reduce brake set time or armature attraction time for specific applications. An optional...

Gearhead. (Motion Products: Motors & Drives).
February 1, 2003... Taking the place of cylindrical output shafts commonly seen on gearboxes associated with low backlash planetary gear drives, a rotating flange output shaft is used with the Type BDB gearhead. Elimination of the long output shaft omits torsional...

Hysteresis clutches. (Motion Products: Motors & Drives).
February 1, 2003... These permanent magnet hysteresis clutches transmit rotational torque while allowing precise overload slipping. The flexible design allows unlimited torque adjustment while accommodating proper heat dissipation. The hysteresis design eliminates...

AS-i master and PLC. (Motion Products: Motors & Drives).
February 1, 2003... The Controller-E high-speed AS-i master and PLC integrated into a compact housing can be used as a gateway to higherlevel bus systems or as a standalone PLC. It fully supports all AS-i 2.1 specifications, provides detailed diagnostics on its...

Programmable controller. (Motion Products: Motors & Drives).
February 1, 2003... The MRl3 3-channel multi-input, multi-range user-programmable controller can be used as a 3-zone controller, follower controller or cascade control. Incorporating Expert PID, the unit suppresses hunting caused by overshoot or process...

Low-temp encoder. (Motion Products: Motors & Drives).
February 1, 2003... Model 755A round series Accu-Coder encoder has an extended low temperature capability down to -40[degrees]C. The size 15 encoder can be ordered with an upper temperature limit of 70[degrees]C. This model offers resolutions up to 30,000 cycles...

Pressurized machine framing. (Top Product).
February 1, 2003... * eliminates extra hoses * rated to 150 psi Designed to replace separate airlines or hoses running alongside existing machine frames or workstations, these modular T-slotted aluminum extrusions can also act as a manifold, by capping...

Metric tubing & luer fittings. (Fluid Power: Tubing, Hoses & Connectors).
February 1, 2003... This company has expanded its lines of metric tubing and luer fittings. Tubing is now available in ether-and ester-based polyurethane, vinyl and Vyplas in ID from 1.5 to 6.5 mm and OD from 3.0 to 10.0 mm. Quick-Disconnect Swivel luer fittings...

PVC hose. (Fluid Power: Tubing, Hoses & Connectors).
February 1, 2003... Vardex PVC hose offers kink and crush resistance with flexibility. The clear material compound allows visual contact with the flow. The wire-reinforced material combines the abrasion resistance, durability, smooth surface and clarity of PVC...

Pneumatic hose. (Fluid Power: Tubing, Hoses & Connectors).
February 1, 2003... Designed for use in flexible cable carriers, Chainflex pneumatic hoses resist high abrasion, oil and coolant, and offer excellent flexibility. They have been tested for over 10 million cycles at a bend radius of 10 times OD inside the company's...

TPU tubing. (Fluid Power: Tubing, Hoses & Connectors).
February 1, 2003... Estane ETE (easy-to-extrude) TPUs eliminate the die build-up (also known as freezing) problems typically associated with extrusion of high hardness TPUs. This line provides an alternative to conventional material grades at Shore hardness levels...

Tube fittings. (Fluid Power: Tubing, Hoses & Connectors).
February 1, 2003... T series tube fittings and speed controllers feature lightweight components and a compact design which maintains quality performance. Maximum service pressure for these components is 150 psi, and service temperature ranges are 32 to...

Sanitary tubing, hose, fittings. (Fluid Power: Tubing, Hoses & Connectors).
February 1, 2003... This brochure provides an overview of the company's sanitary tubing, hose, fittings and assemblies. Fittings are clearly identified with photo and label, showing the quality of the fittings -- no burrs or rough edges. All layers of each hose...

Heavy duty threaded fittings. (Fluid Power: Tubing, Hoses & Connectors).
February 1, 2003... Schedule 80 threaded fittings are manufactured from glass-reinforced polypropylene for strength and durability. The fittings are chemical resistant to most acids, have an operating temperature range from 10[degrees] to 180[degrees]F and are...

Teflon tubing. (Fluid Power: Tubing, Hoses & Connectors).
February 1, 2003... Designed to transport hot and cold fluids and powders or act as a conduit in harsh environments, this extruded Teflon tubing operates in continuous temperatures from -450[degrees] to 450[degrees]F, and is chemically inert and nonflammable. They...

Plastic manifold. (Fluid Power: Tubing, Hoses & Connectors).
February 1, 2003... The LNM series of lightweight, compact manifolds is available in various materials, including nylon, natural or black Delrin, Teflon, natural or black polypropylene, Kynar, and white or gray PVC. Flow can be diverted to many ports while unused...

Reinforced hose. (Fluid Power: Tubing, Hoses & Connectors).
February 1, 2003... RFH wire-reinforced thermoplastic rubber hose is manufactured without solvents, chemicals, or adhesives that can break down when exposed to extreme temperatures or chemicals. Capable of operating over a -60[degrees] to 325[degrees]F range, this...

Protective hose sleeving. (Fluid Power: Tubing, Hoses & Connectors).
February 1, 2003... ProGard nylon sleeving provides mechanical protection of hoses and cables. Dense construction and a tight weave of high denier nylon yarns prevents chafing, cutting and abrading in rugged environmental conditions and extreme temperatures (up to...

Knurled hose parts. (Fluid Power: Tubing, Hoses & Connectors).
February 1, 2003... This company specializes in custom precision miniature parts. This application shows a brass alloy end fitting on a metal hose designed for conveying a gas. The parts measure 1.440 in. long with 0.440 in. maximum OD shaft and a 0.028 in. dia....

Corrugated tubing. (Fluid Power: Tubing, Hoses & Connectors).
February 1, 2003... The Corrugated FEP Texflon tubing provides a non-stick surface for easy cleaning, is chemical resistant and offers excellent dielectric properties. Featuring corrugations that allow small bend diameters, this flexible tubing can operate...

Tube mounting collars. (Fluid Power: Tubing, Hoses & Connectors).
February 1, 2003... This line of two-piece, clamp-style collars features two flats on the outside dia. of each collar, drilled and tapped for attachment to each other, along with a countersunk hole on the bore for mounting. Permitting easy repositioning and...

Enclosure ventilation. (Top Product).
February 1, 2003... * easy to install * cost saving assembly Featuring a molded-in gasket that ensures a tight seal and eliminates the loose, separate gasket required in older models, this enclosure ventilation device provides the same mounting hole...

Instrumentation chassis. (Mechanical Spotlight: Enclosures & Fixtures).
February 1, 2003... The GT7700B is said to be the only platform than can accommodate ISA, PCI and cPCI on a single chassis. It contains 4 PCI or cPCI slots and 8 ISA slots, and can be expanded to accommodate up to 38 PC cards using an expansion chassis. The...

Three-lobe knob. (Mechanical Spotlight: Enclosures & Fixtures).
February 1, 2003... The TRIAD clamp knob offers soft PureTouch thermoplastic elastomer covering over glass-filled polypropylene body for comfort and secure grip; sides are textured and the top is smooth. A wide range of colors includes metallic finish and...

Lithium coin cell holders. (Mechanical Spotlight: Enclosures & Fixtures).
February 1, 2003... A series of holders for installation of 2032 lithium coin cells in high-density applications is offered in thruhole (part #1059) and surface mount (bulk, part #1060 and tape-and-reel part #1060TR) versions. The rugged holders are suited for...

Fireproof plastic safe. (Mechanical Spotlight: Enclosures & Fixture).
February 1, 2003... The seamless Media Vault safe is rotationally molded from cross-linked polyethylene to secure objects from fire, water, heat, humidity and theft. The design permits fire-retardant soda ash to be injected into the gap between the double walls...

Hydraulic clamping. (Mechanical Spotlight: Enclosures & Fixtures).
February 1, 2003... StrongHold clamping systems include swing/pull clamps with holding capacities up to 4500 lbs and "live roller" swing clamps for increased service life in tough applications. Most workholding components have SAE ports and are accompanied by a...

LAN station organization. (Mechanical Spotlight: Enclosures & Fixtures).
February 1, 2003... These modular LAN Stations provide scalable workstations to configure integrated, adjustable work surfaces, cabinets and shelving. Vertical channels in the uprights allow infinite adjustment of work surfaces and shelving for ergonomic use by...

Snap bushings & dome plugs. (Mechanical Spotlight: Enclosures & Fixtures).
February 1, 2003... Designed for large size or heavy-duty electrical housings and motor enclosures, 5- and 6-in, snap bushings and dome plugs fill unneeded chassis holes. They provide abrasion resistance to routed cables, conduit, hoses and support lines. They are...

Enclosure design tips. (Mechanical Spotlight: Enclosures & Fixtures).
February 1, 2003... The Enclosure Design Tips Handbook serves as a reference guide for designers and systems integrators. Summarizing the more important issues of packaging for electronic systems and products, the book enables users to evaluate options quickly and...

Low profile enclosures. (Mechanical Spotlight: Enclosures & Fixtures).
February 1, 2003... Designed to provide a clear line of sight across a factory floor, the A26 low-profile disconnect enclosure has a 60-in. maximum height with 38 models and 10 sub-panels for flexible setup. The UL/NEMA Type 12 flange-mounted disconnect units have...

PCI enclosure. (Mechanical Spotlight: Enclosures & Fixtures).
February 1, 2003... The AdvancedTCA 12U 14-slot development system meets the forthcoming PICMG 3.0 specification. It incorporates a full mesh 14-slot backplane installed on a 12U 84HP subrack and is designed for heat dissipation up to 120W per board, with 3...

Control knobs. (Mechanical Spotlight: Enclosures & Fixtures).
February 1, 2003... With a black, phenolic plastic body and zinc plated steel and molded-in hub insert, these 5-lobed control knobs have a revolving handle constructed from black phenolic plastic with a zinc plated steel spindle. Intended for use in light to...

Console enclosures. (Mechanical Spotlight: Enclosures & Fixtures).
February 1, 2003... Type 0335 SNP series single- or double-door consoles range in size from ~20- x 38- x 19-in, to ~39- x 38- x 19-in. The console material is 16 GA cold-rolled steel for the body, 14 GA for the top and 12 GA for the mounting plate. Single door...

Remote latch control. (Mechanical Spotlight: Enclosures & Fixtures).
February 1, 2003... E-Line electronic latches occupy the same space as mechanical latches with conventional keys, and offer enhanced security and data collection. The S2001 server for these devices enables users to manage remotely a network of latches using a web...