Designfax articles from May 2001

Designfax archives from May 2001

Nothing But the Truth.
May 1, 2001... The greatest design engineer I never met graced the stage of The Mercury Theater in Chicago during NDES week in March. His thinking and writings were brought to life in the one-man spoken word, multi-media stage performance, "R. Buckminster...

In Memoriam.
May 1, 2001... Last Labor Day weekend, the missus and I flew to Los Angeles, land of our birth, for the funeral of my mother-in-law. A good and noble woman, the last of five siblings, she had lived into her nineties, always trying to bridge between her...

Blind-fit Bellows Couplings.
May 1, 2001... Linking motion with less frustration Designing a coupling component into a motion system should be fairly simple. You take into account parameters like rotational speed, what sort of radius of turn (or radii of offset) is expected, shaft...

Johns Hopkins.
May 1, 2001... Dipping a chunk of gold and silver alloy into an appropriate acid dissolves the silver away, leaving behind a form of gold with a surface filled with near-atomic size pores and voids. The spongelike structure of dealloyed gold has puzzled...

Pavilion Technologies.
May 1, 2001... The Department of Energy recently awarded a grant to Pavilion Technologies, Austin TX, for working with Stanford University's Linear Accelerator Center to upgrade controls on the system. The joint project's first goal is to define requirements...

Solenoid Withstands Aggressive Chemicals.
May 1, 2001... A cost-cutting solenoid coil relies on a high-performance polyamide and thermoplastic encapsulation technology to stand up to the very demanding environment of an inert isolation valve used in laboratory, industrial equipment and...

High density connector.
May 1, 2001... For interconnecting flexible printed circuits (FPC) and/or flat flexible cables (FFC), the Circuit Aligning Restraining Connecting Locking (CARL) Connector features a clamp pressure system that creates a reliable, gas-tight connection. Unlike...

High temperature masking tape.
May 1, 2001... Designed to protect circuit boards from damage caused by harsh chemicals during the plating and stripping of gold finger contacts and other chemical processing steps, Scapa581 withstands temperatures up to 350[degrees]F. Scapa North America,...

Resin adhesives.
May 1, 2001... The Adekit family of adhesives includes epoxy for structural bonding, polyurethane for flexible bonding, and methacrylate resins and composite materials for combining flexibility with mechanical resistance. AXSON North America, Eaton Rapids,...

Adhesive and sealant.
May 1, 2001... For sealing exhaust ducts against corrosive chemicals and high heat, Resbond 907GF 2300[degrees]F cures in 4-12 hours to form a hard ceramic resistant to chemicals, solvents, electricity, and oxidizing and reducing atmospheres.

Compact PCI components.
May 1, 2001... The cPCI-2000 Universal Snapin Card Guides are compliant to IEEE 1101.10 and PLCMG 2.0 CompactPCI specifications. The 150mm cPCI-2000 guide is the first in a family of cPCI components and accessories.

Fasteners.
May 1, 2001... To eliminate tedious spinning, ZipNut quick-change fastening products have Push-on-Threads which allow them to slide into place. A ratchet-like internal mechanism provides positive holding force. Once snugged down by hand, final torque is...

Ceramic adhesive.
May 1, 2001... Ceramabond 569 is a single part, ceramic-filled paste that bonds to both ceramic and metal substrates, with minimal shrinkage, good mechanical strength, and moisture and thermal shock resistance.

Self-tapping self-aligning screws.
May 1, 2001... For electronic circuit boards, these miniature screws have a 0-40 thread size. The slotted head is 0.125-in. dia. by 0.045-in, thick. Thread length is 0.20 in., with a 60 degree gimlet point.

Self-locking plug.
May 1, 2001... For use in temperatures ranging from cryogenic to over 1000[degrees]F, FlexThread provides consistent locking torque up to 100 cycles of reuse. The configuration of the nickel-alloy locking element is highly flexible, floating and...

Transistor insulators.
May 1, 2001... These insulators are designed to separate the mounting screw from the transistor. Parts are molded in Nylon 6/6 material and can be ordered in black glassified nylon upon request.

Single component adhesive.
May 1, 2001... Designed for bonding, sealing, impregnation and coating applications, the low viscosity, one-component epoxy resin EP19HT cures readily above 350[degrees]F and has a shelf life up to 3 months.

Electrical insulation tubing.
May 1, 2001... This company provides custom small diameter, spiral-wound electrical insulation tubing made from paper, resin, impregnated paper, heat shrinkable and non-shrinkable plastic films, and extruded plastic. Tube diameter sizes range from 0.026- to...

Cable-tie holders.
May 1, 2001... The PEM TY-D Mount self-clinching cable-tie holders are designed to provide secure attachment points for mounting wires to electronic chassis or enclosures without the problems associated with traditional mounting methods.

Polyurethane adhesive.
May 1, 2001... Combining flowable viscosity that facilitates application with good sag resistance that inhibits run-out, Arathane AW 8680/HW 8685 polyurethane is flexible and impact resistant at temperatures down to -40[degrees]F and prevents read-through.

Mechanical tensioner.
May 1, 2001... This 22-in. thread, 34-in. dia. OD mechanical tensioner creates over 6 million lbs of bolt tension. The tensioner eliminates the long tedious process of heating the tie-rods to pre-load them, saving days in installation time, cost and size over...

Microswitch handle.
May 1, 2001... Designed for high-density packaging needs in the telecommunications market, the Schroff Compact PCI injector/extractor handle has a depth of 0.55 in--two-thirds less than the standard in deep IEEE 1101.10 handles--to increase useable enclosure...

Vibration control pads.
May 1, 2001... Standard and custom vibration control pads are offered in various sizes. They can also be integrated into a wide range of machine mounts for all types of equipment.

Knobs and handles.
May 1, 2001... These black plastic knobs are either made from thermoplastic or with a cushion grip material for added comfort and durability. Both have a textured non-slip, non-glare finish, with a molded-in brass insert for superior thread strength.

Lever.
May 1, 2001... Designed as a replacement for jacking screws and traditional panel fasteners, the built-in lever-assisted mechanism on this Ejector Lever easily ejects and injects modules with connector pins. Its 5:1 mechanical advantage provides the force...

Clamps for safety harnesses.
May 1, 2001... Bridge and building construction workers walking structural steel beams use portable harnesses to prevent dangerous falls. Safe Approach, Auburn, ME, provides a movable, adjustable safety device that attaches to the flanges of I-beams to secure...

By-Wire Technology Creates New Car Concept.
May 1, 2001... A car concept that uses by-wire technology to operate steering, accelerator, brake, gear change and clutch systems was unveiled at the March 2001 Geneva Motor Show. Developed by SKF, Goteberg, Sweden, and Italian car manufacturer Bertone, the...

Plastic tubing and molded parts.
May 1, 2001... These lower-cost, process-enhanced tubing and parts achieve high thermal stability and stress cracking resistance for automotive under-the-hood applications. The company treats plastic tubing and molded components using an environmentally...

Hose assemblies.
May 1, 2001... This company offers custom fabricated high purity braided stainless steel hose assemblies featuring Teflon or stainless steel internals and a selection of end fittings for cryogenic, vacuum, semiconductor and clean room applications. Integra...

Fittings.
May 1, 2001... PURE-LOC molded compression fittings are easy to disconnect and reuse. Precisioned to exacting tolerances from chemically-inert PFA, they are used in medical, pharmaceutical, semiconductor and other industries.

Non-spill couplings.
May 1, 2001... ChemQuik CQN08 Series quick disconnect couplings are designed for high flow, ultra-pure aggressive chemical fluid applications. They feature a non-spill design that allows safe, instant line disconnects and a metal-free, spring-free flow path.

Formed elbow tubing.
May 1, 2001... This tubing provides a convenient alternative to right-angle fittings. One simply cuts the ends of the tubing to the required length on each side of the elbow and installs with applicable fittings.

Tubing, cord and extruded profile products.
May 1, 2001... This brochure outlines the high-performance properties and characteristics of Stevens TPU, and provides technical specs for representative tubing sizes. The tubing is widely used for industrial pneumatics; fuel lines in engine driven equipment...

Clear PVC tubing.
May 1, 2001... Made from non-toxic ingredients that conform to FDA, 3A and USDA standards, Nelco's NewAge Clear flo PVC Tubing features glass-like clarity, a mirror-smooth surface to provide superior flow characteristics.

High-pressure tubing.
May 1, 2001... The tubing's structure allows for a very high pressure rating of 60 psi and exceptional 99.5% flow rate stability in pumps handling products for clinical, diagnostic, laboratory and medical applications.

Nozzle.
May 1, 2001... This component's low flow design separates atomizing and fan air lines to provide fine control of drop size and coverage without affecting liquid flow rates. The Titan features low air consumption and yields reduced maintenance and operating...

Zero permeation pigtails.
May 1, 2001... 316 SS Pigtails are engineered for strong, safe and flexible operation in demanding specialty gas environments. Its high purity, zero permeation characteristics allow no gas or atmospheric conditions to pass through its wall.

Teflon tubing.
May 1, 2001... This standard and thin wall tubing can be precision cut for use as spacers, standoffs and for handling fluids. Offered in TFE, FEP and PFA formulations, sizes range from 0.010- to 0.015-in. ID and AWG #30 to AWG #0. Chemically inert and...

Fluid Power X-tra.
May 1, 2001... Quick Tips for Specifying Tubing and Hose It's easy to order hundreds of feet of plastic tubing or hose, only to find it isn't really the best product for your particular application. An open dialogue with your supplier, as well as a...

Changing the Way Boats Are Built.
May 1, 2001... Virtual Engineered Composites (VEC) is a breakthrough technology being used by one boat manufacturer to radically change the boat-building industry. This fiberglass molding process uses a computer-controlled, closed-mold process that forces...

Mapping the North Atlantic.
May 1, 2001... Like few other hostile environments for industrial components, the deep sea is a forbidding place to launch a motion control application. Frigid waters, the corrosive effects of sea water and extremely high pressures combine to create an...

Battery Isolator for Marine Applications.
May 1, 2001... Solid-state switches by Cole Hersee Company, South Boston, MA, are deal for boats using a standard battery to start the vessel and a second battery to run bilge pumps, winches, blowers and equipment. The battery isolators direct charging...

Polyurethane Goes Sailing.
May 1, 2001... by John Roderick, Mearthane Products Corp., Cranston, RI Polyurethane is frequently selected for manufacturing a wide range of elastomeric components because the material is exceptionally versatile, and may be custom-formulated over a wide...

Submarine dump valve seal.
May 1, 2001... The dump valve on a submarine is used to discharge waste products that have accumulated aboard the vessel. A 10-in, diameter graphite-impregnated ball valve seal is a critical component that prevents sea water, at pressures up to 900 pounds per...

Self-lubricating wear parts.
May 1, 2001... Because polyurethane has an extremely low coefficient of friction when wet, it can make exceptionally good self-lubricating wear parts below the waterline. A prototype, single-piece polyurethane cutlass bearing (used to support the propeller...

Sailboat deck accessories.
May 1, 2001... Polyurethane can be formulated for hardness, abrasive resistance and weatherability. For example, UV-resistant polyurethane is used in end stops for sheet travelers. These extruded aluminum parts allow lines attached to a track to follow the...

Power relays.
May 1, 2001... Using force-guided contact sets that fail in a predicted mode, the Safe [T.sup.2] relays are designed to prevent damage to equipment and injury to people. The multi-pole relays handle up to 10 amps with high dielectric strength. Maximum...

Miniature switch.
May 1, 2001... With a height of 1.7mm, the 4mm micro-miniature FSM series tactile switch retains a cycle rating up to 100,000 cycles. The switch is supplied with gull-wing style surface mount leads. Contacts are rated at 20mA at 15 VDC. The switch is...

Terminal switches.
May 1, 2001... "3-in-1" Combi-Terminal switches have 0.250 quick-connect, solder lug and screw terminal options. This flexibility is available on 1-3 pole rocker and toggle switches. 10A/250 VAC, 15A/125 VAC and 20A/125VAC ratings are available.

Custom membrane switches.
May 1, 2001... This company manufactures multiple switching elements--including in-mold keypads and integrated assemblies--with custom graphics that meet aesthetic, image, usage, size and technical design requirements.

Magnetic reed switch.
May 1, 2001... With a typical breakdown voltage of 600 VDC when specified at 20A turns, the GR20 magnetic reed switch is designed for triac gating. Measuring 14mm long by 2.24mm dia., it can be operated via non-contact magnet.

Electromechanical relays.
May 1, 2001... This series of electromechanical relays provides up to 12A switching for use in light industrial controls. The FRS-8 series relays are 15mm tall and feature 4,000 VAC dielectric strength. The relays are offered with coil ratings from 3 to 48...

Subminiature switches.
May 1, 2001... This sealed snap-action switch measures 13.3 x 6.5 x 5.3mm, allowing it to fit in tight spaces. The D2HW's switching capacity is 5-30 VDC and 0.1 to 2A for resistive load. Flexible mounting and termination options are available.

Sealed rocker switches.
May 1, 2001... Designed with an aesthetic bellows design, the 1930 series sealed rocker switches provide an integrated seal for dust and splash protection to IP 65. These switches fit the 22 x 30mm industry standard cutout.

Keylock switches.
May 1, 2001... Designed for long operating life, the CKM series of high security, anti-static keylock switches has a 16mm five tumbler locking mechanism with self-cleaning, sliding contacts. The bushing and housing are constructed of fiberglass-reinforced PBT...

Pushbutton switches.
May 1, 2001... Series 95 pushbutton switches allow snap-in mounting before soldering, eliminating the need for positioning tools. Switches are available either 19.05mm square for up to three user-supplied LEDs or 12.7mm square for 2 LEDs. EAO Switch...

Sealed miniature switches.
May 1, 2001... Designed for closed waterproof systems, this miniature switch is completely sealed, including the terminals. Its simplified design eliminates 6 or 7 parts found in conventional snap-action switches. Micro Contacts Inc, Hicksville, NY.

Safety switches.
May 1, 2001... Combining two self-checking touch buttons with a 22.5pmm wide DIN-mount controller, the 24V AC/DC Two-Hand-Control System is designed to provide safe machine cycle initiation while helping to eliminate repetitive stress injuries associated with...

Weather Balloon Control Panel.
May 1, 2001... * Tethersonde Meteorological Towers, made by Finland-based Vaisala, are portable devices used for gathering atmospheric boundary profile data. Up to six tethersonde sensor systems are attached at various points along the tether line of a...

Breezing into Power Generation.
May 1, 2001... Coupling design aids development of giant turbines for windpower In this current age of raging blackouts caused by the halted development of traditional power plants, environmentally-friendly wind farms are gaining popularity. Increasingly...

Polyurethane.
May 1, 2001... Durethane C is a machinable, solid thermoset polyurethane that can be custom-formulated in wide ranges of conductivity and durometer. Available in sheets, bars, rods and tubes, the material is also available as custom-manufactured components...

Custom parts.
May 1, 2001... This company engineers and manufactures quality molded and stamped rubber parts to meet demanding dimensional and functional requirements. Design assistance is provided on custom parts for appliance, automotive, hardware, aerospace, toys, e/e...

PEEK part.
May 1, 2001... This redesigned truck cooling fan's float seal assembly includes a seal that was previously machined from carbon. The redesign included injection molding a float seal to a finished net shape of PEEK, eliminating expensive machining.

Custom molding.
May 1, 2001... This company provides complete services for the creation of rubber goods, including in-house CAD work, material mixing and CNC grinding. They are capable of producing pump diaphragms and impellers, rollers and roller assemblies, cleaning...

Extruded dense fluoroelastomer.
May 1, 2001... This 70-durometer dense fluoroelastomer compound can be extruded into intricate profiles. They can also extrude into thin wall hollow tubes with distortion-free legs and flanges. Lauren Manufacturing, New Philadelphia, OH.

Castable urethane compounds.
May 1, 2001... Flexane Liquid is a 2-component, medium viscosity urethane compound. It cures to a semirigid rubber material that returns to its original shape after 650% elongation. Applications include flexible molds, dies, cast parts, holding fixtures, and...

Thermoplastic vulcanites.
May 1, 2001... This new formulator and producer of TPE (thermoplastic elastomer/vulcanizate) manufactures materials in natural, black and colors under the Nex-Prene name. The company expects to double its production facilities and unveil state-of-the-art...

Gap fillers.
May 1, 2001... These provide a thermal path between heat sources and heat sinks. Used in electronic and telecommunications applications, TC2000 allows intimate contact between components where a large gap is generated in assembly design.

Thermoforming rubber.
May 1, 2001... Alcyrn MPR is a melt-processible rubber that delivers the durable performance characteristics of rubber, and easily processes on conventional plastics equipment. It does not require vulcanization pre-drying or any compounding before processing....

Light Rail System Safeguards Electrical Circuits with Help from Thermoplastic Elastomer.
May 1, 2001... The nation's fifth-largest public transportation system is upgrading the infrastructure of its light rail system by installing conduit clamps made with plated steel or stainless steel and Dytron XL thermoplastic elastomer. The clamps protect...

BIRD-DOGGIN THE INTERNET.
May 1, 2001... Collaboration Tools In these days of climbing travel costs, falling corporate profits, and a penchant for all but the savviest companies to cut R&D dollars to enhance short-term profits, an increasing amount of attention is being paid to...

SolidDesigner 2001.
May 1, 2001... The latest release of this mechanical CAD package adds Dynamic Drag & Design and Dynamic Pick & Place to 3D modeling. Mold Design Advisor optimizes injection molding design with automated core and cavity creation.

CAD data enhancement.
May 1, 2001... EnCapta software allows the capture and communication of specialized non-geometric design data for product definition. Information such as design details, cost estimates and ECOs can then be managed as objects.

Solid imaging.
May 1, 2001... The Viper si2 system combines the versatility of high-end rapid prototyping units with the affordability of an entry-level industrial device. It offers standard and hi-res build modes, builds parts as large as 10 cu. in., and runs on a Windows...

Digitizing camera.
May 1, 2001... The VIVID 300 digitizer converts objects into 3D surface geometry and color texture data for input into a PC or laptop computer. The portable device is faster than tape- and pen-type sensors. Minolta Corp, Ramsey, NJ.

Automation design.
May 1, 2001... This software package is designed specifically for drawing pneumatic and hydraulic automation systems and their controls. A collection of up-to-date libraries (including an Allen Bradley Ladder Logic library) and modules supply current ISO...

Electromagnetic design.
May 1, 2001... Version 5.2 of Amperes and Coulomb 3D electrostatic design and analysis software offers an improved GUI and simplification of geometry definition procedures.

Process management.
May 1, 2001... Web-based product and business tools for complex automation projects address the needs of a distributed team. Vendor-neutral Automation ProjectNet synchronizes with Microsoft Outlook and Palm/CE devices.

Tooling design.
May 1, 2001... QuickConcept allows tool designers to address critical tooling decisions, perform qualitative analysis and conduct collaborative design review independent of CAD system. The action of the completed tool is rendered as a 3D digital mockup.

Seal design.
May 1, 2001... EASi-SEAL v.2 can assess multiple seal concepts. Once the user imports seal geometry and material definition, the software performs nonlinear FEA and provides information on compression load deflection curves, seal deformation, stresses and...

Switching tracks.
May 1, 2001... Changing workholding systems accelerates railway switch production Railway switches for moving trains from one set of tracks to another are formed from very hard alloy steel. Cuts range from 5/8-in to 7/8-in deep and range from 16 to 40...

INJECTION MOLDING AND DESIGN WITH PLASTIC.
May 1, 2001... Previous articles examined design considerations for injection-molded parts (August 2000), the physical and mechanical properties of plastics (November 2000), and thermal, electrical and chemical properties of plastics (February 2001). ...

Operator panel.
May 1, 2001... Designed for the factory floor, webLink 12 is a flat-panel that includes an embedded analog resistive touch screen and operates with Windows 98, WindowsNT or Linux. The web browser supports Java and JavaScript. Ann Arbor Technologies, Ann...

DC interface panels.
May 1, 2001... This company added a series of standard and custom DC power breaker interface panels that can include high or low voltage cut-off protection, EMI noise suppression, individual position monitoring and control. Spectrum Control Inc, Fairview, PA....