Designfax articles from June 2004

Designfax archives from June 2004

Patently absurd.(Up Front)
June 1, 2004... You may have run across this commercial on television over the past half-dozen months. With all the subtlety of a bail bonds office across from a courthouse, a Typical Housewife analogue lifts a cookpot from a stove, waves it at the camera and...

Flexible armor.(Technology Spotlight)
June 1, 2004... Flexible armor. Army scientists are working on a liquid body armor for clothing that stays flexible during normal use but can harden to stop a projectile when hit suddenly. Researchers hope the liquid could be used in sleeves and pants--areas...

Data in sight.(Technology Spotlight)
June 1, 2004... Data in sight. US firm Microvision has brought to market a system, licensed from a patent that came out of research done at the University of Washington, that projects lasers directly onto the retina, allowing users to view images on top of...

Cylindrical energy module.(Technology Spotlight)
June 1, 2004... Cylindrical energy module. In the mid-nineties, Design fax ran mention of a novel pump developed at EP Industries in El Segundo, CA. The self-priming, positive displacement unit resembled a six-chambered revolver cylinder, with dual-headed...

Mobile equipment control system: modular approach simplifies custom off-highway machine design.(Five Star Product Of The Month)
June 1, 2004... "As mobile equipment becomes more automated, the electronic control system will determine a machine's performance, reliability, cost effectiveness and position in the market," says Dan Ricklefs, product manager at Sauer-Danfoss, Ames, IA. The...

Polymer resin.(Top Product)
June 1, 2004... * low mold shrinkage * fast solidification Specifically designed for precision components of motion control applications, series 5000 LCP liquid crystal polymer resin offers increased performance and reduced costs in comparison to PPS...

Rare earth magnets.(Materials)
June 1, 2004... The Xtreme Rare Earth Tube magnet circuit, used in tubes, grates and liquid line traps, offers exceptional holding force, gauss rating and separation efficiency. Comparative tests have shown a 12% increase in pull-test strength than the...

Conductive polyamides.(Materials)
June 1, 2004... Rilsan M-BESN Black P 212 CTL meets the conductivity requirements of SAE 2260, as well as the requirements for fuel systems specified by SAE J32260. it is resistant to hydrocarbons, alcohols, vibration, pressure and abrasion, eliminating the...

Custom extrusion.(Materials)
June 1, 2004... This company's multiple extrusion lines accommodate custom specs, including roll stock, thicknesses from 0.005- to 0.220-in., application of films and hot stamp foils on- and off-line, coextrusion, and extruded products up to 72-in. width. A...

Grip material.(Materials)
June 1, 2004... Designed to safeguard mobile phones, PDAs and other handheld electronic devices, egrips thin silicon-based material keeps objects from sliding out of users' hands or off surfaces, and protects the devices from impact damage. The material can be...

Nitinol materials.(Materials)
June 1, 2004... This company manufactures wire, tube, strip, sheet and bar materials and components in both superelastic and shape memory alloy compositions (annealed [A.sub.f] temperatures ranging from -15[degrees] to 100[degrees]C). Surface options include...

Release coatings.(Materials)
June 1, 2004... The Performance Release Coatings brochure describes this company's ability to produce silicone release coatings on film or paper and non-silicone release products for lamination, film casting and plastic processing. Typical film and paper...

Stainless steel tubes.(Materials)
June 1, 2004... These 7RE10 AISI grade 310S/310H stainless steel tubes are available in sizes from 3/8-in. and 6-in. nominal bore schedule pipe and 13.5mm to 114.3mm outside diameter metric tube. Suitable for high-temperature applications such as muffle tubes,...

Machinable ceramic.(Materials)
June 1, 2004... Aremcolox 502-1550 is a low-expansion zirconia phosphate machinable ceramic used for producing specialized brazing fixtures, induction liners, wafer chucks, optical stands and combustion nozzles for applications to 1550[degrees]C. It has an...

Thermoplastic elastomers.(Materials)
June 1, 2004... RTP 6002 and RTP 6003 have been developed for improved bonding in two-shot or insert over-molded applications. The addition of an elastomer can provide better grip performance, improved aesthetics, sound/vibration dampening, and protection from...

Ultra-thin foil.(Materials)
June 1, 2004... Lead (Pb) Microfoil is more than 99.99 percent pure and available in thinnesses ranging from 0.001 mm to 1.0 mm. It is mounted on a 3.5 mm permanent polyester support. Available for use in research and industrial purposes, lead is one of 31...

Polymer foam.(Materials)
June 1, 2004... AGP polymeric foam is a soft, comfortable material that is water-tight with 30% compression. It contains no plasticizers, has low fogging characteristics and is environmentally friendly. Developed for the automotive industry, AGP is available...

Crosslinking experiments.(Materials)
June 1, 2004... The e-beam crosslinking process is an alternative to engineered plastics. The experiment process involves the evaluation of the base resin and recommendation of an electron beam dose range that will provide coverage to assess the optimum dose...

Seatbelt aid.(Application Xtra)
June 1, 2004... * heat resistant, low-mold temperatures * durable, soft, lightweight Designed by M D Works Inc to aid motorists (especially the elderly, disabled or injured), the Easy Reach seatbelt attachment consists of a flexible flap with four...

Choosing the industrial CPU board: what influences the user's decision?
June 1, 2004... A CPU board can govern functions such as industrial control, communications, data processing, image processing and quality control for a wide range of applications that includes industrial inspection, robotics, surveillance, and medical...

Ball screws.(Innovations)
June 1, 2004... Using elastic spacers to separate recirculating balls inside the nut, this ball screw design achieves extremely fine and consistent slow motion, such as 1 micron/second. Intermittent, short strokes or frequent oscillations--such as what causes...

Precision case shafting.(Innovations)
June 1, 2004... The EZEE precision case shafting for linear motion and power transmission applications is manufactured using the company's electromagnetic-based hardening system, with controlled thinner case and more defined transition to core than comparable...

Motion control.(Innovations)
June 1, 2004... The EPOS 24/1 digital motion controller is capable of position, velocity, and current mode. Available in two versions for brush or brushless motors, the small package size (55 x 40 x 25 mm footprint and 45g weight) and cost-efficient design is...

Transmission speed sensing.(Innovations)
June 1, 2004... The ATS643LSH 2-wire sensor is optimized to address the difficulties of transmission speed sensing, including withstanding dynamic changes in air gap, while maintaining good duty cycle. Packaging integrates the magnet and a monolithic silicon...

64-bit motion controller.(Innovations)
June 1, 2004... The ZMP 64-bit motion controller within the SynqNet family provides a tenfold increase in processing power and double precision math for running advanced control algorithms. Synchronous real-time connection operates at 100 Mbps between motion...

Building the fast weld: robot speeds circuit-breaker panel assembly.(Motion Control Marketplace)
June 1, 2004... When a major manufacturer wanted to move its assembly of circuit-breaker panel covers from manual operation to an automated process to increase productivity and cut costs, it called Dane Systems, an integrator of automation systems in...

Miniature linear guidance.(Top Product)
June 1, 2004... * compact design * variety of options The MINIMODULE line of guideway modules combines the company's MINIRAIL miniature ball guideway with a tooth belt drive. The integrated tooth belt design allows overall dimensions of the module to...

Mini linear stage.(Motion spotlight: positioning components)
June 1, 2004... The MX80S miniature screw-driven positioner is designed for OEM applications that require a very small motion platform to produce reliable linear positioning. At only 80 mm wide by 35 mm tall, the unit can position payloads up to 8 kg within [+...

Linear motor slide.(Motion spotlight: positioning components)
June 1, 2004... Designed to provide direct feedback of the table position through a magnetic linear scale, the Phaser series of linear motor slides features positional repeatability of [+ or -] 5 [micro]m. The speed ripple effect has been reduced, smoothing...

Nano-positioning.(Motion spotlight: positioning components)
June 1, 2004... These digital piezo nanopositioning controllers and nanopositioning/scanning stages provide sub-nanometer precision and scanning rates of several hundred Hz. They are available in 2- and 6-axis versions. Rather than relying on indirect position...

Linear cable encoder.(Motion spotlight: positioning components)
June 1, 2004... The LCE linear cable encoder offers precise linear measurement in tough environmental conditions. The retractable stainless steel cable offers flexibility over typical rotary shaft encoders. Its integral AccuCoder provides reliable digital...

Linear actuator.(Motion spotlight: positioning components)
June 1, 2004... The high-force Size 14 hybrid external linear actuator replaces motor, coupling, lead screw and nut. Resolutions from 0.00012- to 0.00192-in./ step are available, with thrusts up to 50 lbs. Standard visible screw length is 4 in., but lead screw...

Cantilever slides.(Motion spotlight: positioning components)
June 1, 2004... Series SxH cantilever slides are available with travel lengths up to 8 in. They feature precision-machined, high capacity TC fluoropolymer composite bearings and are available in 5 bore sizes: 8, 10, 14, 20 and 32 mm. Slide bodies incorporate...

Lift table.(Motion spotlight: positioning components)
June 1, 2004... The Pneumatic Lift Table is a short, stable cylinder that incorporates 4 guide shafts for maximum rigidity. Available in 3 bore sizes--50, 80 and 125 mm--the table can produce 1900 lbs of lifting force at 100 psi. It is designed for lifting...

Positioning system.(Motion spotlight: positioning components)
June 1, 2004... Using planar motor technology, the Cartesian X-Y system is a true direct drive single plane positioning system. The 2-component system consists of passive, magnet-free stationary platen, constructed of lightweight composite materials and dual...

Position sensor.(Motion spotlight: positioning components)
June 1, 2004... The Temposonics G series linear position sensor offers multiple external programming methods, including inline pushbutton, PC software via serial communications and PDA via infrared communication. Other features include improved linearity EMI...

Dancer roll potentiometer.(Motion spotlight: positioning components)
June 1, 2004... This heavy duty, high precision, geared potentiometer is designed to produce dancer roll position feedback signals. The input shaft handles up to 80 lbs radial load. Since it does not contain internal stops, the unit cannot be damaged by...

Gap-distance monitor.(Motion spotlight: positioning components)
June 1, 2004... The PS Series part-seated monitor continuously monitors part-to-nozzle distance in applications such as gap detection, workpiece positioning, part present and part distance measurement. Operating on ifm effector inc, Exton, PA Circle 154,...

Position transducers.(Motion spotlight: positioning components)
June 1, 2004... Featuring a standard M 12 connector, the LWG Series of position transducers combines linearity of [+ or -] 0.05% with resolution better than 0.01 mm. The potentiometric units feature backlash-free pivot heads to provide free movement. Standard...

Linear encoder.(Motion spotlight: positioning components)
June 1, 2004... The LE50 optoelectronic incremental linear scale is designed for measuring lengths from 3 to 30m in harsh environments. Various index options are available--including distance coded reference marks--and the standard accuracy level is [+ or -]...

Linear encoder.(Motion spotlight: positioning components)
June 1, 2004... The Kubler linear measurement system is a high-resolution linear encoder that measures linear position or speed without contact between the sensor head and scale. Resolutions can be specified as either 20 or 100 microns. Rated to IP67, the unit...

Split ring encoder.(Motion spotlight: positioning components)
June 1, 2004... Custom split ring magnetic encoders are based on this company's standard K and EK series magnetic encoders. They are available for shaft sizes from 1/2- to 10-in., and operate at speeds up to 4000 rpm with resolution up to 4500 cpr in oil, dust...

Rolling ring drives.(Motion spotlight: positioning components)
June 1, 2004... The Model RG 40 mm rolling ring drive provides automatic reversal without programming or electronics, while traveling at linear speeds up to 0.6 m/s. At greater speeds, the drives will still automatically reverse without clutches, cams or...

Rotary encoder.(Motion spotlight: positioning components)
June 1, 2004... The RCM15si 1.5-in. dia. rotary optical encoder with commutation and serial interface combines brushless motor commutation pulses and incremental position feedback into a single encoder. The RS485 serial interface facilitates motor-controller...

Linear actuators cut sawmill problems.(Application Xtra)
June 1, 2004... * accurate positioning * eliminate oil issues Linear actuators provide an ideal replacement for hydraulic cylinders typically used for positioning in sawmills. Whether canter saws or edging saws, robust actuators can survive the rugged...

Steppers et al.(Motion products: positioning components)
June 1, 2004... Offering stepping motors, commercial switching power supplies and wiring harness assemblies, this company's brochure provides tutorial information including diagrams, operating principles, formulae and solutions to common problems. Complete...

Motion controller.(Motion products: positioning components)
June 1, 2004... Based on 32-bit ARM technology, the MC302-K "Drive-in" Motion Coordinator offers 64 MHz performance for its integrated BASIC language based Motion Perfect development software. The 1 1/2 axes motion controller incorporates camming, electronic...

Torque sensor.(Motion products: positioning components)
June 1, 2004... The 01267 Rotating Torque Sensor is capable of withstanding very high radial loads to the rotating shafts structure. It incorporates a robust bearing design that allows for high radial loads, yet also offers sensitivity to low torque...

Hydraulic pumps.(Motion products: positioning components)
June 1, 2004... The TDS hydraulic pump line uses a variable displacement axial piston design and includes 3 displacement sizes: 10, 13 and 18 cc/rev. They are rated for input speeds from 600 to 3600 rpm and provide flows up to 17.1 gpm. A cylindrical roller...

Regen drive.(Motion products: positioning components)
June 1, 2004... The regenerative RG60U drive series now incorporates the RG60U-T with speed/torque control adder card for a full-featured Regen drive. In torque mode, the R60U-T is useful for applications such as tension control. Enable and inhibit terminals...

High-torque brushless servo.(Motion products: positioning components)
June 1, 2004... The TG2300 series NEMA 23 frame BLDC servomotor offers a peak torque of 574 oz-in, for quick acceleration/deceleration of heavy loads up to 7200 rpm. The high-efficiency electromotive coil design eliminates the need for gearbox reduction in...

Miniature AC motors.(Motion products: positioning components)
June 1, 2004... Dynamically balanced ball bearings and tight stator/rotor tolerances offer long life to the AC65 compact AC motors, designed to resist damage caused by heat buildup and dirty-voltage spikes from low speed operation under torque load. The motor...

Shaft hp meters.(Motion products: positioning components)
June 1, 2004... The MCRT shaft hp/kW-h meters have full-scale ranges from 5 to 76,000 hp and can accumulate virtually unlimited net energy. They output [+ or -] 10V analogs of power, torque, speed and energy as well as data in engineering units via a resident...

Aluminum framing.(Motion products: positioning components)
June 1, 2004... The Series 60 aluminum framing system offers a high-strength 60 x 60 mm cross section, and multiples up to 120 x 240 mm that provide the necessary stability to overcome/ counteract high moments of inertia typical in linear motion and robotic...

Stepper driver.(Motion products: positioning components)
June 1, 2004... The SND100 NanoDrive 2-phase nano driver is a uni-polar constant current 24 VDC stepper driver. When partnered with the company's Size 17 & 23 motors, the driver can reach 200,000 steps/rev. A Resolution Selection dip-switch offers 16...

Set-point controllers.(Motion products: positioning components)
June 1, 2004... Adjustable for all types of analog devices, this company offers 1 set-point on the SPC-701 and 4 set-points on the SPC-704 controller models, each having a form C relay output and a 0 to 10V analog output. They are compatible with sensors and...

AC servo drive.(Motion products: positioning components)
June 1, 2004... The Bassoon off-line digital servo drive delivers up to 1 KW continuous power (2 KW peak). Incorporating intelligence, programmability and high power into a 4- x 3- x 2-in., 12.3-oz package, it includes an integrated power supply that controls...

Watertight induction motor.(Motion products: positioning components)
June 1, 2004... The Size 44 Induction motor meets NEMA 4X (IP66) enclosure specifications with a flanged mount, custom shaft design and tightly sealed interfaces. Dynamically balanced rotors with calibrated bearing pre-load provide extra smooth, stable...

IC controller.(Motion products: positioning components)
June 1, 2004... The IC-based Magellan Family of motion processors in 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-axis configurations control brush/brushless DC, micro-stepping and pulse and direction motors. They also provide profile generation, servo loop closure, PLC-style signal...

Gear reducer.(Motion products: positioning components)
June 1, 2004... The Dodge E-Z Kleen Tigear-2 family of single-reduction right angle worm speed reducers is designed specifically for wash-down environments. Available in sizes 13 through 40 in Quill, Adaptable or Separate Input configurations and solid/hollow...

5-phase hybrid motor.(Motion products: positioning components)
June 1, 2004... The miniature 5-phase hybrid Nanostep CFKII motor measures 0.79 in. sq. and 0.11 lbs, producing 3.2 oz-in, of holding torque. Packaged with a high-resolution microstepping driver, the system offers extremely low velocity vibration. Positioning...

Industrial shock absorbers.(Top Product)
June 1, 2004... * high-energy absorption * suited for confined spaces The MA 30M adjustable and MC 30M self-compensating miniature industrial shock absorbers provide rugged, high-energy absorption in confined spaces. The MA 30M model offers an...

Miniature valves.(Fluid power: valves & cylinders)
June 1, 2004... Series 50 ELW and ELLW low-wattage miniature explosion-proof valves, with encapsulated coil, work as general-purpose valves for pneumatic and hydraulic conditions. ELW operates on 1.8W AC/DC, while ELLW is 0.5W DC, with response time ranging...

Ball valves.(Fluid power: valves & cylinders)
June 1, 2004... Designed for a range of applications handling water, air, food products, gases, petroleum products or aggressive chemicals, these ball valves are made in sizes from 3/8- to 6-in., and are available with pneumatic actuators, electric motor...

Union ball valve.(Fluid power: valves & cylinders)
June 1, 2004... The Type 375 True Union Ball Valve is suited for applications that require a durable, compact industrial ball valve in a viscous chemical or water environment. The corrosion-resistant valve is NSF 61 certified for potable water usage....

Custom chemical valves.(Fluid power: valves & cylinders)
June 1, 2004... With expertise gained from the polymer industry, this company offers custom valves adapted for extreme, complex or hazardous environments. Valve types include piston/disc tank-bottom, multi-way jacketed and sampling valves. Materials vary from...

Safety relief valve.(Fluid power: valves & cylinders)
June 1, 2004... Figure 50 series bronze and aluminum body safety relief valves offer pressure relief of low-pressure air, gas, vapor and powdered solids service to atmosphere. Features include compact design, a tamper proof spring setting that cannot be...

Solenoids.(Fluid power: valves & cylinders)
June 1, 2004... The 300 series of direct-acting solenoid valves have a wide range of options. The multipurpose, 3-way valves offer widths of 199 to 25 mm and flow rates from 0.14 to 1.0 [C.sub.v]. Valves of the same series can be mounted in-line or in a...

Position feedback cylinders.(Fluid power: valves & cylinders)
June 1, 2004... Suited for applications where traditional magnetic position sensing is not acceptable, the PFA series of economical pneumatic linear actuators contains internal Linear Resistive Transducers (LRT) for extremely accurate piston position sensing....

Mini diaphragm valve.(Fluid power: valves & cylinders)
June 1, 2004... The Microvolume diaphragm valve is available in 3 configurations: a 4-port internal loop sample injector, a 6-port external loop sampling/switching valve, and a 10-port multifunctional diaphragm valve. Lifetime can exceed 1 million cycles at...

Valve tester.(Fluid power: valves & cylinders)
June 1, 2004... The Stroke-Test device allows testing of critical valves during process flow, without requiring shut down. The system operates on the principle of 'valve partial strike testing,' which allows a safety system to close a valve only partially. The...

Stopcock valve.(Fluid power: valves & cylinders)
June 1, 2004... This company's new line of stopcock valves is manufactured for use in low and medium pressure lines using fluid or gas. They are suited for vacuum and pressure applications up to 50 psi. The flow-through design limits restriction through the...

Custom electrical rotary valve.(Application Xtra)
June 1, 2004... * 32 positions * handles wax, aggressive fluids A manufacturer of a cell analysis instrument required a custom 16-port electrical rotary valve, with four of the ports capable of handling a wax material at 70[degrees]C and the remaining...

Threaded inserts.(Top Product)
June 1, 2004... * low cost * high strength DeltaForm threaded inserts for plastics can provide reliable and reusable threads at half the price of standard metal inserts, and offer twice the torque-out strength of thread-forming screws without the...

Hex thumbscrews.(Mechanical: fasteners & adhesives)
June 1, 2004... The Key Drive Series of thumbscrews offers a dual locking and adjustment system. Each particular screw size a hex equivalent to that of a standard socket head cap screw, so no special tools are required for installation. The knob portion is in...

Conductive epoxy.(Mechanical: fasteners & adhesives)
June 1, 2004... The 2-component, nickel-filled EP76M epoxy adhesive is room temperature curing and electrically conductive. Volume resistivity is 5 to 10[ohms]-cm and thermal conductivity is 8 to 9 BTU/ in./[ft.sup.2]/hr/[degrees]F. The epoxy has low...

Ratcheting rivets.(Mechanical: fasteners & adhesives)
June 1, 2004... Ratcheting Action Rivets offer four new sizes, ranging from 1/4- to 9/32-in. dia., with a grip range of 0.256- to 1.375-in. The rigid design provides an outstanding bond created by the action of the interlocking gripper teeth. With the larger...

Epoxy.(Mechanical: fasteners & adhesives)
June 1, 2004... Bond-It 7056 400[degrees]F instant epoxy can be used up to 400[degrees]F and has high temperature bond strength and stability, and excellent electrical, thermal and chemical resistance. A durable, plastic bond forms and cures in as little as 4...

Retaining rings.(Mechanical: fasteners & adhesives)
June 1, 2004... This company's retaining rings offer ROW rings-on-a-wire as an alternative to loose packaging, which can lead to tangles and mixed parts. The in-line method of producing the rings keeps the units stacked on wire feeds through lugholes; heat...

OEM zippers.(Mechanical: fasteners & adhesives)
June 1, 2004... The Zipper Development Kit offers samples and ideas for extending the use of zippers beyond the apparel industry into design engineering applications. Features include crosswise strengths up to 270 N/cm, heat resistance, non-conductivity and...

Epoxy resin.(Mechanical: fasteners & adhesives)
June 1, 2004... NASA-approved for space applications, FH-5313A meets the adhesive requirements of General Electric Spec. M-2820-CR. The resin is optically clear and has chemical resistance, mechanical strengths and electrical properties. Pot life is...

Insulating film adhesive.(Mechanical: fasteners & adhesives)
June 1, 2004... Featuring both thermally conductive and electrically insulating properties, T2531F high-performance, B-staged film adhesive offers a low coefficient of thermal expansion, high glass transition temperature and solid adhesion to various...

Keyed lock screws.(Mechanical: fasteners & adhesives)
June 1, 2004... The Keyed-Lok socket screw offers different, randomly selected and exclusive socket geometry for each customer. Each tamper-proof keyway is licensed. Screw sizes range from #2 (2.5 mm) to 5/8-11 (14 mm) in truss or flat heads. Materials...

Adhesive tape.(Mechanical: fasteners & adhesives)
June 1, 2004... Designed to replace rivets, screws and welds, 3M VHB tape can join dissimilar materials, like plastic/ metal, glass/ metal, aluminum/steel, etc., more easily and tightly. The tape disperses pressure evenly along the entire length of the seam...