Designfax articles from July 2004

Designfax archives from July 2004

Just doin' it.(Layer One)
July 1, 2004... Eddie Paul was frustrated. Invited to an art museum opening in San Francisco by the head of Pixar Films and a friend from Motor Trend magazine, here he was grounded at LAX because of delays in his flight, with neither sketchpad nor laptop...

Out of a neutral corner.(Up Front)
July 1, 2004... Over the course of the past year, the missus has embraced programming on the Home and Garden TV Network that shows people either redecorating their homes, or preparing their homes for sale. (Subtle hint.) From what I've observed, the chief...

Chip radio.(Technology Spotlight)
July 1, 2004... Chip radio. Two years ago, electrical engineers at the University of Florida, Gainesville, announced the capability of radio communication across the single fingernail-sized chip upon which it was constructed. More recently, the group installed...

Liquid to vapor.(Technology Spotlight)
July 1, 2004... Liquid to vapor. Controlled vaporization of liquids is central to a huge array of products and processes, from air fresheners to microchip manufacturing to jet engines. Traditional methods of vapor generation areas diverse as the applications...

Touch screen.(Technology Spotlight)
July 1, 2004... Touch screen. At the Society for Information Display (SID) conference in May, 3M Touch Systems Inc., Methuen, MA, unveiled Dispersive Signal Technology (DST), which the company has described as "a fundamentally different approach to touch."...

Bar none: reading parts marked for life-cycle traceability.(Five Star Product Of The Month)
July 1, 2004... The concept of bar code technology was visualized as a method of automating data collection into the computer system industry. A rudimentary bar code was first used commercially in 1966, but some sort of industry standard was needed before...

Diesel regulations.(News From The Green File)
July 1, 2004... In May, the Bush administration announced a regulation that within a decade would cut 90% of the harmful pollution from construction equipment, farm equipment and other off-road diesel engines, and 99% of the sulfur from the fuel they use. The...

Maglev coils.(News From The Green File)
July 1, 2004... The Central Japan Railway Company successfully has employed American Superconductor Corporation's high temperature superconductor (HTS) wire in a prototype electromagnetic coil designed for use as the lifting component in JR Central's...

Metal-matrix composite.(Top Product)
July 1, 2004... * custom CTE * low cost AlSiC (aluminum silicone carbide) metal-matrix composite offers a packaging material with a tailored coefficient of thermal expansion for compatibility with various electronic devices and assemblies. The...

Automotive materials.(Materials)
July 1, 2004... Featured in this company's Automotive Solutions brochure are advanced circuit materials, high performance foams, electroluminescent lighting, busbars and NBR floats. They are used in applications ranging from adaptive cruise control, collision...

Sputtered thin films.(Materials)
July 1, 2004... Through magnetron and reactive sputtering processes, this company produces single- or multi-layered vacuum depositions of precious and nonmagnetic metals, alloys, ceramics or compound coatings on various flexible substrate materials. These thin...

Nonwovens website.(Materials)
July 1, 2004... This company has created a website dedicated to its line of nonwovens. Information includes examples of specific product applications and information about custom formulations for specialty applications. Applications listed include general...

Degradable film.(Materials)
July 1, 2004... Cor-Pak VpCI Bubble Bio offers a 100% degradable packaging film for popular bubble wrap packaging. Its Vapor phase Corrosion Inhibition (VpCI) provides clean anti-corrosion protection for metal parts, without leaving residue, such as grease, of...

AIO substrate.(Materials)
July 1, 2004... Rubalit HSS aluminum oxide substrate offers strength a elasticity. Based on the 3-point method for testing bend strength, the substrate measured more than 700 Mpa with a modulus of elasticity rated at 335 Gpa. Bulk density tests at 4.35...

IR/broadband optics.(Materials)
July 1, 2004... Featuring plano convex, concave and meniscus configurations with [lambda]/4 and [lambda]/10 surfaces and finishes to 10-5 scratch-dig, these IR and broadband optics are available with and without A/R coatings. They are fabricated from zinc...

Ultra-thin fluoropolymer film.(Application Xtra)
July 1, 2004... * offers conformal electrical insulation * alternative to injection-molded plastics, coatings Increasingly mobile electronics often include a battery, forcing device manufacturers to search for new materials to provide electrical...

Life at the Network Frontier: new microprocessor families enable "Connection with Protection" for various embedded control applications.
July 1, 2004... Are you exploring the "Frontier?" The Network Frontier is a wild and exciting space populated by designers that have added connectivity to their control-oriented applications--applications that have historically not been connected to a network....

Rollers, bushings.(Innovations)
July 1, 2004... These guide rollers and mounting bushings feature a 90-degree V-groove in the outer race, which allows the rollers to ride on existing V-rails or any square edge. Guide rollers have super-finished bearing raceways for improved noise and...

Windows CE/XP integration.(Innovations)
July 1, 2004... The CeWin version 3.1 real-time extension platform allows Windows CE and XP Embedded to reside concurrently on a single CPU, synthesizing and optimizing both operating systems. This version supports Windows CE 4.2 and features an additional...

Lightweight brake.(Innovations)
July 1, 2004... This company's compact, lightweight 30-degree are spring-applied electrically released brake is 5-in. long, weighs 1.1 lbs, and supplies 90 ft-lb of torque. It is comprised of 4 inner aluminum stationary clear anodized disks with friction pucks...

Miniature encoder.(Innovations)
July 1, 2004... Models R112S and R112B optical rotary incremental encoders are designed for light industrial applications requiring high resolution in a small package. Measuring 122 mm dia. x 25 mm long, these encoders offer resolutions up to 8000 cycles/rev...

Solenoid.(Innovations)
July 1, 2004... The Mecalectro line of solenoids facilitates fast-moving electrically controlled action for industrial, commercial and military applications involving various locking devices and mechanical signaling, among others. The product line extends to...

Rolling through the Brickyard: bearing technology is put to the test at Indy.(Cover Story)
July 1, 2004... The demands placed on automotive systems by competitive racing present some of the most challenging environments for mechanical components. Handling and combating these challenges are imperative to the success and performance of the car. ...

Fully integrated stepper.(Top Product)
July 1, 2004... * single-package design * high continuous torque The ServoStep is a fully integrated motion control system designed around step motor technology. It features a high-torque, 50-pole step motor, motion controller, drive-amplifier and...

Linear phase controller.(Motors & Drives)
July 1, 2004... This controller assembly accepts control inputs of 0-135W, 4-20 mA, 0-5 VDC, 0-10 VDC and potentiometer control PWM inputs are also accepted. Load currents range from a minimum of 0.04A AC up to 100A AC, with load voltages up to 660 VAC...

UL listing for tubular motors.(Motors & Drives)
July 1, 2004... This company's family of linear servo motors have been rated by UL as Class F at 240 VAC. The motors have also received a new insulation system that allows high heat rejection capability. The CLD motor consists of a shaft, containing high...

Brushless DC motor.(Motors & Drives)
July 1, 2004... This low inertia 12V, 2-wire motor was designed as a drop-in replacement of conventional brushed motors, where long life and quiet operation are essential. Suited to portable and battery-operated applications, the motor can support...

Position controller.(Motors & Drives)
July 1, 2004... The EPOS 24/1 digital motion controller is capable of functioning in position, velocity or current mode. Offered in versions for brush or brushless motors, the controller is capable of 1A continuous current and 2A peak current from a supply...

High torque DC motor.(Motors & Drives)
July 1, 2004... PM108 true 1/3 hp compact DC motors are designed to deliver 90 VDC at 2500 rpm and 130 in-lb start/stall. Standard features include a 1/2 in. output shaft and Class B rating with class F insulating materials. The housing is sealed to IP44...

Miniature brushless DC gearmotor.(Motors & Drives)
July 1, 2004... The LB16-120-BB gearmotor has an integral speed control for use in a wide range of industrial and office automation machines. A 120:1 spur geartrain provides a rated torque of 3.5 oz-in, at 100 rpm, achieving a continuous load range of 0 to 6.9...

DC micro motors.(Motors & Drives)
July 1, 2004... With assemblies as small as 3.6 mm dia. x 8 mm, this company is introducing a line of DC motors that includes standard and custom stepper, brushless, precious metal brush, geared and vibration-type micro motors. Options include SMD mounting and...

Sealed induction motor.(Motors & Drives)
July 1, 2004... Meeting NEMA 4X (1P66) specifications, this Size 44 induction motor's housings are made from anodized aluminum and are finished with 3-mil thick exterior grade paint. A flanged mount, custom shaft design and tightly sealed interfaces make this...

Pre-programmed servo system.(Motors & Drives)
July 1, 2004... Simplifying conversion to servodrive, the PosiDrive system offers a multi-axis option enabling up to eight drives to be controlled by one interface. A touch-screen interface guides machine setup, tuning and troubleshooting via pre-programmed...

Motor fixtures.(Motors & Drives)
July 1, 2004... These adjustable fixtures can locate and hold motors up to 6-in. dia while running tests. Lead screw adjustment provides centering for the motor, while the T-Slot Base provides multiple position options for various motor lengths....

Brushless 57 mm gearmotor.(Motors & Drives)
July 1, 2004... This DC gearmotor is available in both long and short stack configurations with parallel shaft gear-boxes, integral electronics and encoders. The gearboxes offer high strength, heat-treated steel spur gears for long life and are available with...

Right angle gearmotor.(Motors & Drives)
July 1, 2004... The G250 Series uses a bevel gear input to achieve a 90% efficiency, allowing for higher torques with smaller motors in a very dependable rugged design. Torque ratings are to 250 in-lbs, with speeds to 180 rpm. The gearmotors are available with...

Size 11 stepper.(Motors & Drives)
July 1, 2004... The 1.8-degree, NEMA size 11 bipolar stepper is designed for flexibility in applications with limited space. The motor measures 1.1-in. sq., and is offered in three lengths--1.24 in., 1.75 in. and 1.99 in. Depending on package length, maximum...

High force linear actuator.(Motors & Drives)
July 1, 2004... This non-captive size 14 actuator has a lead screw running axially through the center of the motor--for proper operation, and long linear travel, the screw is restrained from rotating by attaching it to a non-rotating member of the mechanical...

Servo motors.(Motors & Drives)
July 1, 2004... The BSM series of servomotors includes standard and low inertia models to provide ideal inertial matching for machines. Both models can be provided with a wide variety of feedback devices and other options, and use resolvers as the prime...

Inverter duty motor selector.(Motors & Drives)
July 1, 2004... An updated version of the downloadable RPM AC Motor Wizard software includes a duty cycle calculator. Version 2.1, for selecting motors from 2 to 1000 hp, allows the user to input values of load torque vs time, and the Wizard will compute the...

One to the heart: new system magnetically directs coronary catheter.
July 1, 2004... Cardiac catheterization involves passing a thin flexible tube through an artery or a vein up to the heart, and into a coronary artery. Also called right heart catheterization, the procedure produces angiograms of the coronary arteries and the...

Magnetic latching valve.(Editor's Choice)
July 1, 2004... * small package size * low coil heating With pressures to 500 psi, this low-cost magnetic latching valve is designed for use where power is limited or coil heating is undesirable. The small package can be used in tight spaces and...

Board-to-board connectors.(Editor's Choice)
July 1, 2004... MEG-Array mezzanine connectors meet the signal density and data transmission requirements of CT scanners and MRI systems. The array offers 80 usable signals per linear cm, for board space optimization and signal routing flexibility. Cross-talk...

Powder-liquid mixer.(Editor's Choice)
July 1, 2004... Designed for pharmaceutical applications the MHD powder-liquid mixer disperses solids into liquids in a single-step operation that eliminates excess aeration. It can process solids concentrations up to 90%, as well as extremely viscous liquids,...

Compact batteries.(Editor's Choice)
July 1, 2004... Suitable for medical applications, the Lithium Primary batteries are available individually of in custom packs, with varying lithium chemistries to match the energy density, discharge rate and life requirements of the applications. Major...

Medical rectifier.(Editor's Choice)
July 1, 2004... The SM3FG surface mount rectifier is a high voltage diode with gull wings that further apart on the PC board for increased creep-age resistance. Peak inverse voltage is rated at 3000V, with a low forward voltage drop and an average forward...

Medical light.(Editor's Choice)
July 1, 2004... The Lustre Star medical light offers flexibility and cool, focused light for examination applications. The light is double filtered to provide ultra-cool light, and its 28-in. dual/flex vinyl-covered arm can be positioned within 2-in. of the...

Micro adapters.(Editor's Choice)
July 1, 2004... MicroTees, MicroCrosses and MicroTight adapters offer direct connection of 1/32-in. and 360 [micro]m OD tubing without using sleeves. Made entirely of chemical-resistant PEEK polymer, the adapters provide true zero dead volume connections...

Air filters.(Editor's Choice)
July 1, 2004... Designed for medical electronics, WrapAround air filters offer the company's Quadrafoam filter media coated with flame-resistant coatings and anti-microbial additives with a fungus growth rating of zero. The "frame 'n pane" configuration...

Metering pumps.(Editor's Choice)
July 1, 2004... The D10 series of metering pumps offers [+ or -] 1% steady state accuracy, repeatability and linearity. The design features elimination of troublesome cups, packings and seals, suiting it for caustic, abrasive and acidic solutions from 0 to 480...

Medical-grade prototyping material.(Editor's Choice)
July 1, 2004... A polycarbonate material has been developed that is suitable for food-, pharmaceutical- and medical-equipment modeling. Available in either translucent or white color, PC-ISO can be sterilized using either gamma radiation or ethylene oxide...

Rotating tube connector.(Editor's Choice)
July 1, 2004... The ABS Twin Tube connector offers quick coupling of dual tubes with no orientation required for proper connection. The free rotation of the coupling body and insert eliminates kinked tubing. The ABS construction offers chemical resistance,...

Biocompatible dielectric material.(Editor's Choice)
July 1, 2004... This company's high-strength, toughened fluoropolymer is a biocompatible dielectric material suitable for electrophysiology devices. Through manipulation of PTFE's microstructure, the material offers enhanced mechanical and electrical...

Designing safe, simple drug dosing: integrating materials selection, construction and production.(Application Ideas)
July 1, 2004... Looking like a device from a science fiction movie, the Duoject Inter-Vial and Inter-Vial Plus medicine delivery systems reconstitute powdered drugs safely and simply, providing accurate dosing. Based in Canada, Duoject is a research and...

Stackable interface connector.(Top Product)
July 1, 2004... * configurable active elements * for buffering, level shifting or signal processing A proposed Active Configurable and Stackable Interface surface mount connector contains internal circuits that buffer and process signals as they...

Machine lighting.(Lighting & Wiring)
July 1, 2004... High-intensity LEDs in these lighting units provide excellent illumination with low power consumption, low heat and low noise. Designed for machine tool, process, inspection and image processing industries, the lights have anodized aluminum...

Autocoupler for rotary tables.(Lighting & Wiring)
July 1, 2004... The current incarnation of this company's Autocoupler works with pallet applications [greater than or equal to] 400 mm for horizontal machining centers, to provide electrical and pneumatic feed for rotary tables. One side of the coupler is...

Coax adapter.(Lighting & Wiring)
July 1, 2004... Suited for RF laboratory testing and production applications, as well as field use, this company's part #194400 is a 7-16 Male to N Female adapter made from silver-plated brass. Operation parameters for the RF devices are DC-to-8 GHz bandwidth,...

Light-to-voltage converters.(Lighting & Wiring)
July 1, 2004... These three light sensing devices consist of a photodiode, a trans-impedance amplifier and gain setting resistors on a single die, minimizing noise and saving board space. Portable and non-portable applications include lighting controls and...

Backlit logos.(Lighting & Wiring)
July 1, 2004... MicroLens molded light guides with embedded logo graphics save the extra step of adding an overlay and adhesive for product identification. Uniformly illuminated logos can be designed with virtually any text or image for applications such as...

Bright blue LEDs.(Lighting & Wiring)
July 1, 2004... A combination of InGaN materials with a SiC substrate, in a geometrically enhanced vertical chip structure produces luminous intensities of up to 12000 mcd, up to 50% brighter than products currently on the market. The package is offered in 5...

Polymer proven for connector material.(Application Xtra)
July 1, 2004... * improved ductility * reduced warpage A "workhorse" grade of DuPont Zenite LCP liquid crystal polymer resin promises more strength, toughness and precision for electronic connectors and other molded components. "Tests demonstrate...

Hydraulic pump.(Top Product)
July 1, 2004... * electronic sensing & control * PC interface The XL-75 cc/rev displacement pump is available with optional integrated digital electronic controls for pressure limiting, load sensing, displacement control, torque limiting/summing and...

Piston pumps.(Pumps & Lines)
July 1, 2004... Powered by 12 or 24 VDC permanent magnet motors and incorporating heavy-duty pump components, the 327 series of WOB-L piston oil-less pumps are designed for long life in mobile use. The pumps provide up to 25 in.-Hg of vacuum or 150 psi of...

Plastic fittings.(Pumps & Lines)
July 1, 2004... Offering durable connection for applications where aggressive hot- and cold-water conditions cause standard metal pipes and fittings to corrode DuraproPoly fittings are assembled easily with the company's Dura-Pex pipe using crimp tools, rings,...

Miniature gear pump.(Pumps & Lines)
July 1, 2004... Offering dosage accuracy within [+ or -]1%, these micro annular gear pumps feature high precision rotors that provide tight flow rate control, even at differential pressures as high as 1160 psi. These rotors allow the pumps to dispense volumes...

Tubing strengthening.(Pumps & Lines)
July 1, 2004... This high-energy e-beam process cross-links polymer molecules to provide a permanent 3D molecular structure with high tensile strength, durability, and high temp-, creep-, fatigue- and abrasion-resistance, The molecular structure of...

Convoluted tubing.(Pumps & Lines)
July 1, 2004... Chemical-resistant and non-flammable Precision Fluoroplastic Tubing operates continuously up to 500[degrees]F and offers excellent dialectric properties. Available in PTFE, FEP, PFA, ETFE and ECTFE, the tubing can be supplied with no cuff,...

High-temp hose.(Pumps & Lines)
July 1, 2004... Offered in 1- and 2-ply styles, Silicone Fiberglass series hoses are designed for ventilation and fume removal in temperatures from -75[degrees] to 600[degrees]F. The SF-2 2-ply hose features a smooth inner ply for minimum friction and is wound...

Fittings.(Pumps & Lines)
July 1, 2004... Designed for use in pneumatic and water circuits, WeldFit metal fittings provide system protection from weld spatter and are nickel plated, with silicon-free O-rings. Suitable for deployment in compressed air and water media, the fittings are...

Flexible tubing.(Pumps & Lines)
July 1, 2004... Polyurethane, vinyl (PVC) and vyplas tubing is produced with strict tolerances in increments from 1/16- to 1/2-in. ID. Coiled tubing in working lengths from 5 to 20 ft is offered in all standard colors of polyurethane. Metric sizes are offered...

Pneumatic fittings.(Pumps & Lines)
July 1, 2004... These push-to-connect pneumatic fittings require no tools. Available in various body designs and configurations from 1/8- to 1/2-in. dia., the fittings are offered in both poly and nickelplated brass. They are also offered for metric tubes with...

Cable wrap.(Pumps & Lines)
July 1, 2004... The Heli-tube spirally cut TFE cable wrap is expandable for bundling and protecting wires, cables and hoses, additionally functioning as strain-relief without sacrificing flexibility. Suitable for use in enclosed environments where sparks may...

Torque limiters.(Top Product)
July 1, 2004... * precise, accurate * high torque capacity Designed to protect rotating machine components and machines from damage or destruction resulting from jam or overload conditions, the type BD ball detent torque limiters easily adjust for...

Clutches.(Drive Elements)
July 1, 2004... This line of long-life clutches includes torque ratings from 25 to 75 lb-in., with an improved bearing system designed to increase reliability in machinery with high hour or high input revolution requirements (up to 100 million revolutions). A...

Flexible servo couplings.(Drive Elements)
July 1, 2004... Fleximite couplings are especially designed for precision instruments, encoder drives, robotics, aircraft equipment, computers and remote controls. Offered in four types and four sizes (bores ranging from 0.0625- to 1.00 in.), the flexible disc...

Closed loop conveyor belt.(Drive Elements)
July 1, 2004... With closed-loop ends, the C-Cure Edge open-mesh, stainless steel wire belting eliminates tangling and minimizes the risk of accidents from sharp or burred open ends. These belts can run side by side without snagging, and can be installed on...

Belt driver.(Drive Elements)
July 1, 2004... The 138EMB belt driver consists of a 60 x 60 mm solid stainless steel square shaft extension that fits standard modular belt sprockets and can be installed easily on the shaft without extra tooling or modification. It delivers up to 0.5 hp and...

Shaped rollers.(Drive Elements)
July 1, 2004... Self-lubricating U- or V-shaped plastic rollers replace metal rollers in applications where rail wear, noise and lubrication are of concern. Static and dynamic load, rolling speed, roller size, temperature and other parameters are used to...

Coupling family.(Drive Elements)
July 1, 2004... Paradrive oldham couplings facilitate blind assembly and are well suited for handling misalignment, particularly large amounts of parallel offset, without stressing bearings and seals. They feature zero backlash with light bearing loads....

Conveyor selection.(Drive Elements)
July 1, 2004... This company's website offers a Conveyor Selector tool that asks 10 questions about an application, including desired belt width, speed, load capacity, drive motor location, etc., and supplies spec sheets for the conveyors that most closely fit...

Compact conveyor.(Drive Elements)
July 1, 2004... The CSR20 series of super-compact, round-belt conveyors employs two 2 mm dia. round belts and are suited for moving small parts, such as thin, card-shaped items that can not be carried stably by a flat belt conveyor. Standard belt lengths...

Dynamometer coupling.(Application Xtra)
July 1, 2004... * quick connection/disconnection * radially flexible yet torsionally rigid In motor and engine testing with high performance dynamometers, mechanical interface can be a critical design aspect when it comes to obtaining accurate...

Backpressure regulators.(Product News)
July 1, 2004... Backpressure regulators, Booth 1511 Available in piston- and diaphragm-type models, these backpressure regulators offer consistent control for various analytical and process instruments. The KCB compact version features high sensitivity for...