Designfax articles from July 2000

Designfax archives from July 2000

Texas Children's Hospital & NASA -- A Hearty Combination.
July 1, 2000... Partnership designs out-of-this-world echocardiography lab When the Heart Center at Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, wanted to design the best echocardiogram reading room on planet Earth, it formed a partnership with NASA. "We are...

Notes from a Journeyed Man.
July 1, 2000... I finally had a vision correction procedure this year -- specifically, altering my tunnelvision. I've been perched at my desk for four-and-a-half years, between Himalayas of new product announcements and a flood of e-mail, glibly writing about...

Shielded shrink tubing.
July 1, 2000... Heat shrink tubing is about as innocuous as a dry cleaner's coupon -- it performs the singular task of insulating wires (though there are always clever alternate applications devised), and it does it rather well. There are HS tubing stocks with...

Schindler Management Ltd.
July 1, 2000... Elevator designers are constrained by the weight and strength of steel cables to shafts no higher than 600 meters, with large equipment rooms to contain the massive motor and gear-works. Schindler Management Ltd, Ebikon, Switzerland, has...

Anti-Stokes Fluorescence.
July 1, 2000... While conventional wisdom holds that laser light on an object will cause the object to heat, research at Los Alamos has demonstrated that cooling can occur under certain circumstances. Optical cooling, based on a principle known as anti-Stokes...

Reader CONNECTION.
July 1, 2000... Opening Doors to the Future I couldn't agree with Richard Mandel's editorial more! When engineering shows don't open doors to students, we shut out the young people who are our next generation of engineers. No school has the equipment that...

Leaner Cuisine.
July 1, 2000... Whirlpool Sweden combines DFA training, DFMAAE software and redesign of a product line to create a training program that pays for itself Training is a valuable investment, but companies don't expect immediate profits from the training...

Electronic hardware.
July 1, 2000... Manufactured to U.S. National Aerospace Standards, these components are available in a wide variety of styles, sizes, materials and finishes. Designers can now obtain NAS series 42, 43, 61, 1786, 1829, 1830 and 1831 components with the same...

Gaskets.
July 1, 2000... SOFTSHIELD EMI gaskets are recognized by Underwriters Laboratories as compliant with 94V-0 flammability requirements. The gaskets, consisting of an electrically conductive fabric jacket over soft urethane foam, are designed to meet the...

Heavy-duty plug and receptacle.
July 1, 2000... This premium-quality locking plug and receptacle offers expanded product life and superior electrical conductivity for aecessories powered by 12V, 24V, 36V or 48V DC electrical systems. The ConnectPro features locking blades with the industry's...

Locking DC connectors.
July 1, 2000... These jacks and plugs, consist of two raised strips of metal, positioned 180 deg. apart on the outside of the plug barrel, and are designed to align with two mating slots running through the outside of the jack enclosure When the plug is...

Interconnect for sensors and actuators.
July 1, 2000... The VarioQuick interconnect is a highly flexible easy to-use, time saving interconnect for sensors and actuators in industrial automation. It uses the company's patented Conductor Displacement Interconnect (CDI) technology that makes assembly...

Unbreakable handle.
July 1, 2000... This company reports its patented solid aluminum handle assembly with stainless steel leaf spring will not wear out, warp, break, outgas or burn like conventional plastic handles. The design meets the new IEEE 1101.10 specifications for cPCI...

Quick release connectors.
July 1, 2000... This company now offers a variety of quick release electrical connectors as options for its level switch product line. The connectors provide "fool-proof" wiring, allowing rapid testing and servicing. Using a level switch with an optional quick...

Control grip.
July 1, 2000... This economical -- yet very versatile -- control grip is designed for off-highway, material handling, construction and agricultural related applications. The rugged thermoplastic grips are appropriate for right or left hand operation, and can...

Transducers Put the "Thrill" in Hydraulic-Powered Thrill Rides.
July 1, 2000... Despite contamination and daily high-speed hammering, magnetostrictive linear transducers deliver rapid-fire fun for thousands of visitors When that would happen to riders at the Action FX Theater of Para-mount's Great America theme park...

Linear position sensors.
July 1, 2000... Miniature 9600 Series linear position sensors incorporate reliable analog signal technology in a rugged electromechanical design to deliver precision feedback in delicate laboratory applications or harsh environmental conditions. Compatible...

Rack mounts.
July 1, 2000... The K[mu]DA sensing system is being offered in a 19 in. Eurocad rack that can hold up to four dual-channel measuring modules. The units feature high-performance eddy current sensing technology that makes precise displacement measurements, and...

Smart position sensor.
July 1, 2000... Providing an analog output of over 360 degrees with no dead band, the Model 601-1045 Industrial Position sensor requires no external inteface. A 5 VDC low-current supply and absolute positioning output make this device an alternative to...

Closed loop transducers.
July 1, 2000... The LF series is a range of compact transducers which will ultimately offer nominal current from 300 to 2000A, for measuring DC, AC and complex. waveforms in. power electronics applications. Already released isthe LE 505-S and the LF 1005-S,...

Temperature gauge w/sensor.
July 1, 2000... The Series BX 800 Plus combines the easy-to-read local indication of a dial thermometer together with the industry requirement for a thermocouple or Plat RTD, to enable remote indication, control or data acquisition. The Series can be ordered...

Gram sensor.
July 1, 2000... GS Series gram force sensors are available in ranges of 10, 25, 30, 50, 100, 150, 250 and 1000 grams full scale. The sensing end is a 6-32 tapped through-hole providing unlimited attachment possibilities for tension and/or compression from top...

Audio transducer.
July 1, 2000... The specifications and design of the WMX transducers make them suitable for a wide variety of automotive applications, such as warning devices. Sound output is at least 85 dB at 10 cm. Rated voltage is 5V, and rated frequency is 77 Hz. With a...

Remote measuring sensor.
July 1, 2000... The Microgage 1000R is a high-precision measuring and alignment system with a remote compact sensor head suited for displacement measuring in restricted or confined areas. The device measures 0.001 in. displacements, and can be enhanced to...

Selector valve.
July 1, 2000... The SV12-60 solenoid-operated, 12-size, 6-way valve is rated for flows to 15 gpm in selector circuits and flows to 8 gpm in series/parallel drive circuits, at pressures up to 3500 psi. It is a true screw-in cartridge valve that can be included...

PVC Y-strainer.
July 1, 2000... With this see-through strainer, users can see how much dirt and debris have been trapped. The translucent plastic body allows the strainer element to be seen in operation. The standard strainer element has 1/32-in, perforations. The element is...

Diaphragm.
July 1, 2000... This double-coated, fabric-reinforced; fluorosilicone diaphragm is suited for use in dispensing pumps exposed to harsh environments, including solvents, chemicals, petroleum-based oils, ozone and gasoline, over temperature ranges from...

Valves & fittings.
July 1, 2000... The O-Seal System is rated for heavy-duty liquid or gas service. A unique design allows operators to change-out valves and other components for maintenance with the simple turn of a union nut. Two flat-faced fittings are joined with a resilient...

Conductivity switch.
July 1, 2000... The M3850 is a compact, single-point switch designed for food applications in metal-walled tanks or vessels. It can also be used in any conductive liquid application requiring a switch with no moving parts. Contours of the probe's insulator...

Shear seal.
July 1, 2000... A three-part seal design allows for high flow in this company's cryogenic valve series. The design consists of three parts: a plunger, Teflon seal disc, and valve seat. These are positioned in a brass or stainless steel body to handle higher...

Spray nozzles.
July 1, 2000... These solid-cone spray nozzles are suited for use in a range of machinery types and applications. Spray patterns can be engineered to provide narrow or wide spray angles, round or square patterns, fine-droplet atomization or large-droplet...

Sight flow illuminator.
July 1, 2000... This compact product provides glare-free internal illumination of sight flow indicators, pipelines or tanks that are normally closed and not conducive to inspection. Used in conjunction with sight flow indicators or sight windows, these...

Visualfx Program Integrates Resins and "Special Effect" Qualities.
July 1, 2000... As consumer lifestyles become more diverse and consumers demand a wider variety of products to fit their tastes, GE Plastics, Pittsfield, MA, has turned to color and other visual effects as critical product attributes for attracting customers....

Visually distinctive printer launched in record time.
July 1, 2000... Printer manufacturer Tektronix, Inc., Beaverton, OR, partnered with GE Plastics technical resources to create a breakthrough product -- the Phaser 840 Designer Edition color printer. Beyond the printer's distinctive product aesthetics, the...

Tick, tick, tick.
July 1, 2000... One of the company's biggest challenges was the time constraint. In the printer industry, product life cycles are sometimes measured in months rather than years, so there's enormous pressure to get to market quickly. "We took less than 90 days...

Plexiglas Resins Illuminate Lighting Applications.
July 1, 2000... Two specialized Plexiglas acrylic resins for lighting applications were recently introduced by the Atoglas Division of Elf Atochem North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA. Plexiglas Frosted resin is an impact grade acrylic with a unique, textured...

Regulatory Watch Appliance Industry Seeks Next Blowing Agent.
July 1, 2000... As manufacturers of home refrigerators prepare to select the next-generation blowing agent to use with polyurethane foam after 2002, Bayer Corporation, Pittsburgh, PA, is providing original research on blowing agent options, and is offering the...

New Formulation Technology Adds Fragrance to Traditional Polyethylene Applications.
July 1, 2000... Fresh ground coffee. Smooth, supple leather. Fragrances that capture the attention and stir consumers to action. How often has the I comment been made, "If only I could bottle that scent?" Clariant Masterbatches Division, Brussels, Belgium,...

Adhesive Replaces Mechanical Fasteners in Consumer Products.
July 1, 2000... Cabinetworks, a custom cabinet manufacturer in Miami, FL, prides itself on providing consumer customers with a wide choice of materials and designs to suit their needs and budgets. All design work originates with shop owner John Hendrix who is...

MotionShop.com.
July 1, 2000... MotionShop.com offers a complete guide to products and services within the motion control industry. There are pages linking to online catalogs, data sheets, trade publications and trade show news, as well as sources for distributors and...

Amacoil.com.
July 1, 2000... Amacoil.com allows OEM design engineers, MRO personnel and others with linear motion applications to complete and submit sizing and specification forms for linear actuator systems online. Access to the specification forms - one for spooling and...

PHD Web Store.
July 1, 2000... The PHD Web Store - phdwebstore.com - offers industrial automation solutions online. OEM designers can order products and services over the Internet and still have local distributor support. The site offers the latest developments from PHD, the...

Control.com.
July 1, 2000... Control.com is a worldwide community forum site where automation professionals communicate with other professionals in the industry. There are active discussion groups in 14 automation control areas, including: PLCs, sensors, software, HMI and...

Galil Motion Control.
July 1, 2000... Galil Motion Control has completely revamped its website. At galilmc.com, engineers will find a wealth of motion control information, including: "Jacob Live" weekly web conferences with company president Jacob Tal; Web-based motion control...

Servovalve.com.
July 1, 2000... Servovalve.com functions as portal to a state-of-the-art engineering knowledge base. Constructed as a complement to the Moog website, the portal combines published technical bulletins and articles with direct links to other sites where...

WAP -- Wireless Application Protocol: Commercial business implications for designers.
July 1, 2000... One of my favorite corporate performers, Larry Ellison, Chairman and CEO of Oracle, noted in kicking off their Portal-To-Go suite, that while 140 million people worldwide access the Internet, more than 400 million use cell phones. Well, folks,...

Midplane meshing heals gaps.
July 1, 2000... The midplane meshing feature in this design package converts thin, solid parts, such as car body panels, into plate/shell elements using the midpoint of the surface elements. This significantly reduces the number of elements in the model, heals...

Valve and connector software.
July 1, 2000... Version 2.0 of Instrumentation Valve and Connector in-PHorm software is available free as a CD or via Internet download. Built-in tools prohibit improper selection of components and seal materials that fall outside operating conditions. A Valve...

Project communication software.
July 1, 2000... ActiveProject v2000/E is a web-based software that enables corporations to set up their own project extranets for sharing information with an extended team of suppliers, subcontractors and internal staffs. Authorized users can access...

AutoCAD 2000 reference.
July 1, 2000... A handy guide for the most widely-used design program, "AutoCAD 2000 in a Nutshell" contains alphabetically arranged descriptions of every command and variable, including toolbar and command line launch options. Important command dialog boxes...

CAD comparison.
July 1, 2000... This software identifies geometrical differences mathematically between two sets of surface data that are representative of the same part. QuickCompare then marks these differences and documents them in a CAD file. This allows tool designers to...

Scan to web.
July 1, 2000... The eScanner Series offers large format scanning-direct-to-web solutions. The 40-in, wide color scanner comes fully equipped with web-enabling scan and view software packages. All scanned images are archived, indexed and easily retrievable for...

Parametrics added.
July 1, 2000... CADKEY 99 and CAD KEY Design Suite can now benefit from a parametrics add-on. CADKEY Parametrics fully supports complete parametric definition and editing of dimension-driven solid models with the company's freeform 3D automation tools that...

Online FEA rental.
July 1, 2000... MSC.visualNastran FEA for Autodesk Inventor and MSC.visualNastran FEA for Mechanical Desktop is available at the Autodesk Point A Web site. Rental is by the month. The FEA packages have two components, one standalone and one embedded into the...

SR motor design.
July 1, 2000... CAD software is available for designers working on switched reluctance motor configurations. The Windows-based design simulation program includes design of the basic operating parameters of the SR drive and its control. A template editor...

Mold design and manufacturing.
July 1, 2000... VX Vision Mold Edition is a specially configured version of VX Vision optimized for the design and documentation of injection and blow molds for plastic parts. Using solid and surface modeling and integrated manufacturing tools, the software...

Acoustic analysis.
July 1, 2000... SYSNOISE Rev 5.5 delivers new modules and enhancements for noise and vibration analysis. Created in collaboration with leading engine manufacturers, the software allows engineers to quickly analyze and refine their products for optimal acoustic...

Calculation and analytical software.
July 1, 2000... Mathcad 2000 Premium speeds technical design, documentation and communication using the latest in math, engineering and Internet technologies. This edition provides users with advanced solving and optimization capabilities, full 2-D parametric...

Liquid vinyl PVC.
July 1, 2000... Plastisol is a specialized liquid vinyl dispersion of PVC, which can be fused to a fastener by externally applied heat When applied to the underside of screws bolt heads and rivets it not only seals out solids liquids and gases but also...

Ceramic components.
July 1, 2000... This company engineers and manufactures ceramic components for appliance applications. Among these are components for cable connectors, sensors, thermal protectors feedthroughs and electrical insulators. Materials and processes are designed to...

High specific gravity composites.
July 1, 2000... Thermocomp HSG composites are produced In 14 resins with specific gravities ranging from 1.7 to 10. These "heavy" composites enable designers to specify weight in addition to mechanical and thermal property performance in a variety of...

Closed-cell foams.
July 1, 2000... Minicel and Volara foams can hold unusual shapes, making it possible to turn out prototypes and finished products quickly. Cross-linking of the foam bonds the molecules of the polyolefin resin into a structure that gives the polymer increased...

Polyethylene resins.
July 1, 2000... These new grades of high-density resins are specifically designed for telecommunications conduit. Improvements to Fortiflex TC46-25 increases extruder throughput of small diameter conduit. TC46-20 is designed for large diameter conduit where...

TPE compound.
July 1, 2000... Multi-Flex TPE A 7606 HF and 6221 A are two high-flow, injection grade compounds designed for ease of processability in interior automotive applications, such as mats used for auto consoles and dashboards. The products' high flow...

Resin families.
July 1, 2000... This comprehensive, 112-page manual, "Designing with Celanex, Vandar, Impet and Riteflex Thermoplastic Polyesters," provides details on product properties, part design, molding, assembly and finishing. It gives designers and engineers the...

Ceramic.
July 1, 2000... Aremcolox 502-1550-MD is an 80% dense machinable ceramic material based on a barium-zirconium-phosphate composition. A low coefficient of thermal expansion ensures that as a part experiences thermal shock, the mechanical stress caused by its...

Nylon resin.
July 1, 2000... MINMAX industrial-grade resin compound is designed for cost-sensitive applications. Nylon 6 and 66. resin are offered in a range of custom-compounded grades. These include unfilled, glass-filled, mineral-filled, and glass- and mineral-filled...

Snap rings.
July 1, 2000... The snap rings offered by this company are manufactured by coiling flat wire of carbon steel. This results in a ring with no protruding ears or burrs to interfere with performance. Diameters range from 1/2- to 11-in, with special designs up to...

CD/DVD package.
July 1, 2000... The Pull Pack is a CD/DVD package for the audio, video and computer software OEM industries. Its unique design allows it to open and close like a drawer. Made of polystyrene, medium impact polystyrene and polypropylene, the 5.640 in. L x 4.920...

Spring washers.
July 1, 2000... This expanded line of wave-type spring washers in stainless steel or beryllium copper obtain required loading when the allowable amount of axial space in a mechanism is limited. These washers are often used as cushion springs or cushion spacers...

Fluid coupler.
July 1, 2000... This coupler latch holds coupler handles in a closed position until release. Designed for the company's polypropylene and glass-filled nylon couplers, the one-piece, resilient nylon device adds security in applications subjected to vibration...

Trims and seals.
July 1, 2000... A large line of extruded vinyl and rubber trims and seals are available for finishing, protecting, sealing, and for decorative applications with mylar inserts or covers. The PVC material used lends itself to an array of textures and colors, and...

Safety relays.
July 1, 2000... The PNOZ line of pluggable safety relays simplify wiring for series applications, with plug-in terminals help reduce downtime. There are units in various sizes and configurations with pluggable terminal blocks, as well as pluggable versions for...

Nylon/Steel Gears Used in Electric Power Steering Design.
July 1, 2000... Practical electric power steering (EPS) for automobiles is nearing completion to a production level. EPS systems would eliminate the traditional hydraulic system's power steering pump, hoses, hydraulic fluid, and drive belt and pulley on the...