Designfax articles from May 2002

Designfax archives from May 2002

Envisioning the future. (Layer One).
May 1, 2002... Established in 1925 as a non-profit corporation, Battelle Memorial Institute was formally opened in 1929 by Gordon Battelle as a charitable memorial to his family, which was involved in America's early steel industry. Since then, the R&D...

The counter intuitive software. (Up Front).
May 1, 2002... The noise and glitz of this year's auto show was just winding down when the ad arrived, bundled in the Sunday paper. The first page, opening to 11- x 18-inches, asks, "Where are the cars we were promised?" against a background of a 40's era...

Low-temp power MOSFET: current density doubles for DC-DC converts.
May 1, 2002... Managing heat loads in high-power microprocessor systems is a major challenge when the printed circuit board is the main sink for heat dissipation. Standard SO-8 packages, as well as proprietary derivatives such as the bottomless and leadless...

Chemists at UC Berkeley have developed plastic solar cells. (Technology Spotlight).
May 1, 2002... Chemists at UC Berkeley have developed plastic solar cells that may prove to be a cheaper, more versatile alternative to delicate silicon cells. By dispersing tiny nanorods 7nm dia. by 60nm long in an organic semiconducting polymer, these...

In February we covered optical guitar pickups; now we turn to sound-induced light--sonoluminescence, produced by bombarding liquids with sound. (Technology Spotlight).
May 1, 2002... In February we covered optical guitar pickups; now we turn to sound-induced light--sonoluminescence, produced by bombarding liquids with sound. During the negative pressure phase of the sound wave, pressure drops below vapor pressure and tiny...

Plasma deposition. (Top Product).
May 1, 2002... * increased wearability * eliminates voids This company's proprietary Ionic Fusion process impregnates refractory metals into most rigid or flexible substrate surfaces with a harder material that bonds and strengthens the material...

Plastics website. (Materials).
May 1, 2002... This website highlights Ultraflow technology that adds strength and efficiency, allows thinned wall designs and improves surface appearance. Flow characteristics in Stanyl plastic equal those of LCP. DSM Engineering Plastics, Evansville, IN....

Insert molding website. (Materials).
May 1, 2002... This site provides tutorials, applications and information on the company's insert molding engineering and manufacturing services for high volume electromechanical interconnections and components. Microplastics Inc, St Charles, IL. Free...

Framing materials. (Materials).
May 1, 2002... Series 60 Profiles for framing applications are based on a 60 x 60mm cross-section with multiples thereof. The series features high geometrical moments of inertia. Constructed from 6005T6 aluminum alloy that increases stiffness 10% over...

High-temp coating. (Materials).
May 1, 2002... Designed to improve the thermal efficiency of ceramic and refractory insulated combustion and exhaust pipes, HiE-Coat 840-C high temperature, blackbody coating withstands temperatures to 2500[degrees]F. Aremco Products, Valley Cottage, NY. Free...

Conformal coating. (Materials).
May 1, 2002... Ecoplate metallic conformal coating applies a pure metal layer over plastic or metal electronic housings. Coverage as thin as 12.5[micro]m features no runs, edge pulls, corner puddles or voids. Chomerics, div of Parker Hannifin Corp. Woburn,...

Simultaneous extrusion of rubber and plastics. (Application Xtra).
May 1, 2002... * one-step process * trapped contaminants minimized Guill Tool's Syncroflow series extruding equipment allows simultaneous extrusion of rubber and plastic composite designs. Plastics can be run on the inside or the outside layer...

Reflective color sensors. (Top Product).
May 1, 2002... * superior discrimination * suited for low-power apps Each of these three (red, green and blue) reflective color sensors combines a color LED die and a light-to-voltage converter, with a corresponding color filter in a surface mount...

Position sensor. (Sensors & Transducers).
May 1, 2002... Using Enhanced Magnetostrictive Technology the Micropulse AT linear transducer provides economical non-contact position sensing for many automated applications. Accurate, stable positioning is achievable to

Position and velocity sensing. (Sensors & Transducers).
May 1, 2002... Temposonics R Series Profibus DP sensors now include simultaneous position and velocity sensing capability. Position resolution is down to 5 microns, and velocity resolutions are as low as 0.04 in./sec. MTS Sensors, Cary, NC. Free info--Circle...

Interchangeable heads. (Sensors & Transducers).
May 1, 2002... The ZX laser measurement sensor's amplifier can interface with three red through-beams and eight visible red displacement sensor heads. Direct PC connectivity enables users to monitor operations, gather data and change operating values. A...

Photoelectric sensor. (Sensors & Transducers).
May 1, 2002... This 30mm dia. sensor features a stainless steel housing, a tempered glass lens cover to protect against abrasion, and a Viton seal to ensure resistance to harsh chemicals. High excess gain penetrates dust, steam and grime. Suited for abusive...

Transducers. (Sensors & Transducers).
May 1, 2002... These compact, external-mount transducers offer positioning linearity to 0.5% and repeatability of 0.0001 in. Designed for travels of 0.5- to 78-in., the low-profile devices are sealed to 1P66 and 50G shock resistance. Transducers Direct,...

Reflective optical sensors. (Sensors & Transducers).
May 1, 2002... The ERT-3280 Series of sub-miniature high-speed sensors combines a high-output GaAs IRED with a high sensitivity phototransistor. Optimum sensing distance is 1mm, with switching speed times of 30 [micro]sec rise and 25 [micro]sec fall. Elekon,...

Industrial pressure transducer. (Sensors & Transducers).
May 1, 2002... The Model DCT transducer applies digital compensation against the effects of temperature and pressure changes, creating a high level of accuracy and reliability. It accepts regulated and unregulated excitation voltages, and provides output...

Machine safety sensor. (Sensors & Transducers).
May 1, 2002... A magnetic latch between sensor and coded actuating magnet provides easy mounting and good misalignment tolerance, with positive latching capability as found in mechanical latches. Elobau Sensor Technology, Hainesville, IL. Free info--Circle...

Linear image sensors. (Sensors & Transducers).
May 1, 2002... The S8380 and S8381 NMOS sensors feature high sensitivity in the IR and soft X-ray regions. Operating from 200 to 1000 nm, both have peak sensitivity wavelength of 750nm and very wide active areas. Hamamatsu Corp, Bridgewater, NJ. Free...

Pressure sensors. (Sensors & Transducers).
May 1, 2002... Suited to monitor pressures in sanitary environments such as food, beverage, dairy and pharmaceutical applications, these sensors have 316 stainless steel housings. They feature a universal, patented thread style that will accept a variety of...

Coping with collaboration: software helps parties communicate a product to market.
May 1, 2002... Every design team has experienced the difficulty of collaborating with different in-house departments and outside vendors. There are usually numerous CAD systems in use and, as Murphy's Law would have it, your next project relies on one with...

Analog trends: observations on changes affecting seimconductor needs in personal applicances.
May 1, 2002... As end-systems evolve in product design, boundaries between traditional classifications are rapidly eroding. Integrated cell-phone/PDAs, PDAs with GPS capabilities, notebook PC with integrated web-cameras, and set-top boxes with integrated...

Medical equipment certification standards. (Tech Upgrade).
May 1, 2002... A white paper from Planar Systems, Inc., discusses in detail important new developments in electronic medical equipment certification, and its implications for manufacturers and medical customers alike. We excerpt part of the paper here, to...

Spline shafts. (Top Product).
May 1, 2002... * low cost * accurate positioning Designed for light load applications where low cost, low friction and long life are critical design considerations, this spline shaft series is suitable for any application that requires rotary drive...

Mounting system. (Couplings & Adapters).
May 1, 2002... The compact TorqLOC keyless hollow shaft mounting system features delivers maximum torque and shock load capability while dependably supporting the hollow shaft reducer on the solid shaft. It can withstand harsh environments. SEW-Eurodrive,...

Fine-adjust stop collars. (Couplings & Adapters).
May 1, 2002... Suited for robotic end-of-arm tooling applications, this line of fine-adjust stop collars features a threaded design, allowing for easy and precise stroke adjustment for linear sliding guide rods or shafts. Precision Pneumatics, Ronkoakoma, NY....

Tough chuck. (Couplings & Adapters).
May 1, 2002... The Production-Chuck 210 is designed to extend the range of the company's Integrated Tooling System (ITS) to close the gap between the PowerChuck P and the larger Universal Power Chuck. EROWA Technology, Arlington Hts, IL. Free info--Circle...

Integral shanks brochure. (Couplings & Adapters).
May 1, 2002... Three Combimaster shanks are described in a two-page data sheet with detailed specifications. Designed for use with the HSK63, BT40 and Cat 40 spindles, these shanks provide high rigidity during machine operation. The data sheet contains...

Serviceable servomotor couplings. (Application Xtra).
May 1, 2002... * Backlash free * Misalignment compensation Servomotors are usually mounted to a gearbox or other drive element with either a rigid quill mount or a coupling inside a flange. Using a metal bellows coupling compensates simultaneously...

Hitting the jackpot: rubber and epoxy molds rev-up production. (Revisionx).
May 1, 2002... Manufacturer of casino gaming equipment, Tripp Plastics, Sparks, NV, uses rapid part production techniques to produce components for its Addams Family slot machines. Al Grinsell, project manager at Tripp Plastics explains, "We don't have the...

Cartridge bellows seals. (Top Product).
May 1, 2002... * high heat dissipation * increased product circulation Designed for ANSI rotating equipment, Ansitec cartridge bellows seals have high-radial clearance to provide efficient heat dissipation and product circulation for long seal life....

Manifold mounted filter. (Filters & Seals).
May 1, 2002... PL series filters mount directly to the manifold and are suitable for working pressure to 4500 psi. They consist of synthetic micro-fibre with Bx = 200 and ISO 16889-compliant high dirt holding capacity. UFI Hydraulic Division, Twinsburg, OH....

Silicone seals. (Filters & Seals).
May 1, 2002... This company designs and manufactures silicone seals and sealing devices, and can produce food-grade or medical-grade parts conforming to high performance tolerances, using compression, transfer or computer-controlled LIM. Apple Rubber Products...

Thermoplastic seals. (Filters & Seals).
May 1, 2002... Designed for sealing applications in extreme temperature, pressure and chemical environments, UltraCOMP thermoplastics provide higher-than-normal tensile and flexural strength and resistance to creep and fatigue. Parker Hannifin Seal Group,...

Air filters. (Filters & Seals).
May 1, 2002... Fungus-resistant Quadrafoam air filters satisfy Telecordia GR-487-CORE requirements for outdoor enclosures. They are flame-retardant and corrosion-resistant. Filters are custom-designed and manufactured made-to-spec. Universal Air Filter Co,...

Cast nylon key to high-capacity filtration system. (Application Xtra).
May 1, 2002... * non-corrosive material * minimal machining needed The Ultrazur 450 water filtration system, manufactured by Aquasource, Toulouse, France, processes over 10,000 cubic meters (2.6 million gal.) of water per day. Raw water arrives...

Thermal fluid calculations. (The Engineer's Toolbox).
May 1, 2002... Critical data for thermal fluid systems can now be performed at this company's website. There are 2 modules -- one for physical property vs. temperature, the other generating a custom report. Paratherm Corp, Conshohocken, PA. Free info--Circle...

Interactive process documentation. (The Engineer's Toolbox).
May 1, 2002... Now available for SolidWorks users, IPA Publish3d leverages data contained in assembly drawings to generate a 3D interactive web page that can be distributed as an e-mail attachment or published to a web site. Immersive Design Inc, Acton, MA....

VX Version 6. (The Engineer's Toolbox).
May 1, 2002... This product now includes improvements to its surfacing ability such as a highly visual curve editor and significant enhancements to lofting and point cloud functions. A complete milling solution, called VX Quick Milling Suite, offers dramatic...

Electromagnetic field analysis. (The Engineer's Toolbox).
May 1, 2002... Version 6.0 features a powerful geometric modeler and plug-ins to other 3D Solid Modeling CAD packages. Tools for creating a device's physical geometry include 2D mode and surface definition. Integrated Engineering Software, Winnipeg, AB. Free...

Information sharing. (The Engineer's Toolbox).
May 1, 2002... With the SpinFire solutions, anyone who needs to participate in the product design and manufacturing process can have access to native 2D and 3D CAD designs without requiring a full-featured CAD system or workstation. Actify, San Francisco, CA....

CAD editor. (The Engineer's Toolbox).
May 1, 2002... Imagenation 7.0 3D+ offers 3D CAD model viewing, markup and measurement capabilities for CATIA, Pro/Engineer, SAT, STEP and VDA-FS formats. Large-format scanner drivers and native file support for JPEG 2000 and LizardTech's MrSID format have...

Wide format printing. (The Engineer's Toolbox).
May 1, 2002... The KM-P4850w and the KM-P4845w 600 dpi printers are for documents up to 24- x 36-in. Both take two 500-in. paper rolls, with an option to fit a third. The machines also accept the 600 dpi KMS4850w scanner. Kyocera Mita America Inc, Fairfield,...

Pressure vessel design. (The Engineer's Toolbox).
May 1, 2002... Design and evaluation can be carried out on pressure vessel models, including linear static stress analysis. A modeling wizard permits parametric vessel design, and it supports modeling of tapered cylinders. Algor Inc, Pittsburgh, PA. Free...

Robotic motion verification. (The Engineer's Toolbox).
May 1, 2002... This product sheet describes how PLC Verification shortens time needed to commission a robotic workcell. Controls, tooling sequences, safeties and interlocks can be programmed and validated before the tool build is completed. Workspace View...

Mock-up. (The Engineer's Toolbox).
May 1, 2002... Functional Prototyping provides insights to a product's intended function through synthesizing behaviors and product structure. It applies hundreds of "what if" scenarios, reducing costly physical prototypes and reducing error. Centric Software...

Auto electrical simulation. (The Engineer's Toolbox).
May 1, 2002... Simplorer 5.0 provides large-scale simulations electrical/electromechanical systems, and power-electronic and drive applications for power-distribution systems, electric and hybrid vehicles, and more. Ansoft Corp, Pittsburgh, PA. Free...

Fluid flow and heat transfer simulation. (The Engineer's Toolbox).
May 1, 2002... CFdesign, a multi-purpose simulation package, is now offered as an integrated application for users of Autodesk Inventor. When CFdesign is launched within Inventor, the component or assembly that has been designed will automatically be prepared...

Embedded board. (Product News).
May 1, 2002... The 3.5-in, disk-size Socket 370 Celeron/Pentium III-based EBC-7850 embedded board has an Intel 815E system chipset, built-in VGA with shared memory architecture, 10/100MBps Ethernet, AC97 audio and an optional TV-Out function. Arista Corp....

Caster. (Product News).
May 1, 2002... Featuring a kingpin-less-style design, the Endurance series of casters is manufactured from hot-forged steel. They accommodate both thrust and radial forces, swiveling more easily under extreme loads (up to 3,000 lbs). Hamilton Caster & Mfg Co,...

Tension clamp. (Product News).
May 1, 2002... Suited for radiator and heater hose applications, the Normaclamp FBSC constant tension clamp compensates for changes in hose diameter due to significant fluctuations in temperature. It comes pre-opened to speed assembly. A chrome-free coating...

Ergonomic enclosures. (Product News).
May 1, 2002... The XP and XPL enclosures are designed for housing handheld instruments, controls, testing equipment and other portable electronic devices. Both sizes are available with or without 9V battery compartment. PacTec Corp, Concordville, PA. Free...

Engineering chain catalog. (Product News).
May 1, 2002... Available on CD, the Engineering Chain General Catalog provides detailed specifications for engineering class chains, sprockets and power transmission components for heavy industry. A cross-reference guide is included. US Tsubaki Inc, Wheeling,...

Bellows and boots. (Product News).
May 1, 2002... This company produces high-volume rubber bellows and boots. Production rates on their high-speed dip-molding machines run up to 10 times higher than those of rubber compression molding machines. The PVC construction resists cracking,...

Fast toys, fast: winning in toy competition depends on speed. (Just One More).
May 1, 2002... The American International Toy Fair, a make-or-break event for toy makers, loomed on the horizon a short five months away. Mattel's project designers were tasked with the challenge of developing a new line of Hot Wheels vehicles that would...