Designfax articles from November 2003

Designfax archives from November 2003

Becalming down.(Up Front)
November 1, 2003... This month's editorial is brought to you by the mind-state of Hawaii. Not a delusion brought on by the consumption of fermented pineapple juice--I'm writing in morning light on the lanai of a bed & breakfast in Kona, on the Big Island. Sunlight...

Terminations: cleaning up industrial wiring.(Five Star Product Of The Month)
November 1, 2003... With few exceptions, products that perform best in the marketplace have a "clean" design, meaning that they appear organized and uncluttered. This protocol goes beyond the product shell--high-end automobiles have engine bays that appear created...

Long distance power.(Technology Spotlight)
November 1, 2003... A 177 km underground power line that started commercial operation in early October 2002 is supplying about 220 MW of power to as many as 120,000 Southern Australian households. The MurrayLink Interconnector consists of two DC cables buried 1.2m...

Sweet power.(Technology Spotlight)
November 1, 2003... Sugars can be converted to electricity with efficiency much higher than previously known, according to researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, in the October issue of Nature Biotechnology. Professor Derek Lovley and postdoctoral...

Slurry piping.(Technology Spotlight)
November 1, 2003... The transportation of particle-laden fluids through piping systems is a critical process in many industries. And every year, thousands of dollars are expended in the repair of pipes damaged by erosion and blockages caused by solid particles,...

Double-clad LCP laminate.(Top Product)
November 1, 2003... * low dielectric constant * high dimensional stability The R/flex 3000 family of thin-film, flexible, adhesiveless liquid crystalline polymer laminates was developed specifically for use as a core for single layer or to build up...

Grip material.(Materials)
November 1, 2003... Previous versions of this company's VynaFoam grip material required grips and sleeves to be produced with an inner line. but a new formulation eliminates the requirement. There is greater uniformity in wall thickness, improving fit. The soft...

Slip agents.(Materials)
November 1, 2003... Kemamide ELO and VO vegetable-based thermoplastic slip agents are designed to satisfy requirements for eliminating animal-derived agents. ELO torque-release agent minimizes the taste and odor effects of ozone sterilization. With no fatty acid...

PTFE fibers.(Materials)
November 1, 2003... The physical properties of Plastolon fibers include thermal resistance up to 550[degrees]F chemical inertness, resistance to intense UV exposure and a low coefficient of friction. Fibers are available in a flat format, or can be twisted in...

PET coloring.(Materials)
November 1, 2003... This company's coloring systems offers a choice of liquid or solid colorant for 24/7 manufacturing of PET CSD and water bottles. Dosing equipment can be added to the package. Soft drink industry approvals are available. An in-house coloring...

Multipurpose mastic.(Materials)
November 1, 2003... Suitable for prototyping and modeling, Easymax hard polyurethane mastic is odorless, fast setting and contains no solvent or styrene. Designed as a simpler replacement for polyester mastic, mixing with a spatula is done at a 1:1 ratio (weight...

Automotive materials specs.(Materials)
November 1, 2003... Designed for the automotive segment of the plastics industry, Prospector Auto Specs database can be searched for approved materials by automotive OEMs. Over 9000 auto specs representing 70 OEMs are listed. Users may search by automotive company...

Brazing filler material.(Materials)
November 1, 2003... Designed for plate-and-fin heat exchangers and automotive components, Nicrobraz 31 nickel-base, high-chromium, oxidation-resistant brazing filler material has demonstrated good capillary flow characteristics, a low braze temperature of...

PPS alloys.(Materials)
November 1, 2003... Rubber modified Xtel XE series PPS alloys feature flexibility and impact strength, chemical resistance and thermal stability. They extend the traditional applications of high-performance PPS through the exact integration of proprietary...

Polymers.(Materials)
November 1, 2003... Kraton A polymer elastomers can be compounded to produce materials that can improve material strength, elasticity, temperature resistance softness, appearance, and grip in applications such as toys, packaging, automotive, sports, and molded and...

High-V potting, encapsulant.(Materials)
November 1, 2003... Solarite SI-200 series of room-temperature vulcanizing, high-voltage electrical potting and casting silicones offer an economical range of features. The two-component silicones are available in hardness ranges from 80A semi-rigid to 00 gel...

Conductive carbon blacks.(Materials)
November 1, 2003... Developed to provide a specific balance of the key criteria for ESD conductive compounds (conductivity, surface smoothness, flexural modulus, dispersability and impact strength), Vulcan XC605 and XC305 create a uniform network of conductive...

Acrylic substrate effects.(Materials)
November 1, 2003... The surface of Acrylite Radiant acrylic sheet shifts through the color spectrum as it is viewed from different angles, using ambient light to provide a mirrorized effect. Thus, specialty lighting is not required to produce eye-catching movement...

Mold release.(Materials)
November 1, 2003... Low styrene resins (VOCs) are typically slower to gel; while semi-permanent mold releases can tolerate increased chemical exposure from longer gel times, the release systems are slick, further aggravating the poor wetting properties of low VOC...

Overmolding material.(Materials)
November 1, 2003... PolyTect soft molding product line has been expanded to include: PolyTack base material, suitable where adhesion to all components is required for maximum mechanical strength and environmental protection; PolyFlex, suited where extreme...

Soft TPV.(Materials)
November 1, 2003... While the softest conventional TPVs are rated around 45 Shore A durometer, Uniprene 2000 series TPVs have durometers of 15, 25 and 35. The highly crosslinked compounds exhibit brittle points below -60[degrees]C and they withstand continuous use...

PAI bushings.(Application Xtra)
November 1, 2003... * withstand impact, wear * withstand high temp When the Houston-based Risi Competizione Ferrari race team became frustrated with having to change the suspension bushings on their three Ferrari 360GTs after every race, shortly before...

Seeing straight: vision sensors improve alignment accuracy of in-mold labels.
November 1, 2003... Pioneered in Europe in the early 1970s, in-mold labeling (IML) is a process whereby a label becomes forged into the wall of a container during injection molding. Over the past few decades, the process has become common practice among European...

Temperature connector-transmitter.(Top Product)
November 1, 2003... * output can be transmitted thousands of feet * transmitter conditions and linearizes output signal The SPRTX Series of high performance, low cost, industrial RTD two wire transmitters feature a hermetically sealed miniature signal...

IR sensor.(Sensors & Transducers)
November 1, 2003... The HOA1180 IR sensor with reflective metal components has a choice of phototransistor or photodarlington output, providing amplified output for easy differentiation between actual signals and noise. The phototransistor provides fast response,...

Flow sensors.(Sensors & Transducers)
November 1, 2003... These remote in-line flow sensors feature a compact housing with stainless steel wetted parts that are available with a 4 or 10 mm inner dia. Flow detection is via calorimetric principles, resulting in a reliable sensor with no intrusive parts...

Photoconductive photocells.(Sensors & Transducers)
November 1, 2003... The CdS series of cadmium sulfide light-dependent resistors offer high sensitivity with high stability. They are designed to sense light in the spectral range from 515 to 730 nm. Resistivity ranges from 3 K[OMEGA] to 240[OMEGA] max @ 10 Lux,...

Laser sensors.(Sensors & Transducers)
November 1, 2003... World-Beam QS30LLP laser sensor provides long-range accuracy of 18m. QS30LLPC models have small object sensitivity (down to a thread smaller than the beam itself), solving problems encountered by traditional photoelectronic sensors with diffuse...

Load cell system.(Sensors & Transducers)
November 1, 2003... Designed for loads from 2000 to 30,000 lbs, the MLC/TM0-1 system combines a mini load column compression only load cell with a 12 VDC amplifier/conditioner module. Several units can be powered by a common power supply. Balance and span pots are...

Photoelectric sensors.(Sensors & Transducers)
November 1, 2003... The CP018 series photoelectric sensor is constructed from a threaded, one-piece polycarbonate housing with either cabled or quick-disconnect styles. Available in convergent, diffused, retro-reflective and thru-beam modes with sensing ranges...

Vibration sensors catalog.(Sensors & Transducers)
November 1, 2003... This catalog details industrial vibration monitoring instrumentation and features products such as accelerometers, 4 to 20 mA vibration transmitters, and signal conditioning equipment for machine condition monitoring and predictive maintenance...

Vibration/temperature transmitter.(Sensors & Transducers)
November 1, 2003... Model 972 solid state loop powered sensor/ transmitter continuously monitors both vibration and temperature, transmitting data directly into a PLC, providing level monitoring, alarm and shut-down capabilities. The sensor provides two isolated 4...

IR temperature sensors.(Sensors & Transducers)
November 1, 2003... The MI-200 series non-contact infrared sensor is programmable via hand-held module, and is CE approved. The MI-N200 model operates in ambient temperatures up to 70[degrees]C with high-resolution optics. Models MI-S200 and MI-GA200 meet...

Signal interfacing.(Sensors & Transducers)
November 1, 2003... The model CPA limit alarm trip and model CPT temperature transmitter and signal isolator/converter accept a direct signal input from a wide array of sensors and other analog devices, with 20-bit input resolution. Input devices include 23 RTD...

Ultrasonic sensor.(Sensors & Transducers)
November 1, 2003... With sensing ranges from 50 to 510 mm, the Virtu ultrasonic proximity sensor operates on 10.8 to 26 VDC and provides both a sinking (NPN) and sourcing (PNP) output. Its teach-in window capability requires no downtim for sensor recalibration...

Magnetic proximity sensor.(Sensors & Transducers)
November 1, 2003... Tim MP1014 series Hall-effect magnetic proximity sensor is suited for space-limited applications with its 3.3 mm high package. Whereas typical magnetic proximity sensors are encapsulated in rigid epoxy, this company uses a low-pressure...

3-axis accelerometer.(Sensors & Transducers)
November 1, 2003... The 8798A accelerometer series employs an annular shear sensor element that exhibits high immunity to base strain and transverse acceleration. This Ceramic Shear design enables precise vibration measurements in three mutually perpendicular...

Pressure transmitter.(Sensors & Transducers)
November 1, 2003... Designed to meet high specifications for mechanical stress, EMC compatibility and reliability, the 511 series OEM pressure transmitter is rated for FS pressure ranges of-14.5 to 8700 psi. The ceramic design resists extreme temperatures, and a...

Pressure sensor.(Sensors & Transducers)
November 1, 2003... Model P4050 OEM pressure transducer is designed for operation in space-constrained applications where accuracy and repeatability over a temperature range of-40[degrees] to 100[degrees]C are important. The sensor operates on 5 VDC and provides a...

IR photosensor.(Sensors & Transducers)
November 1, 2003... The QSB34 PIN photodiode sensor has a large surface area of 3 x 3 mm and reception angle of 120 degrees. Its packaging creates an integral transparent daylight filter optimized for reception of 880 to 940 nm light. The diode's low 25 pF...

Hybrid photodiode.(Sensors & Transducers)
November 1, 2003... The AD 500-1.3G-MINI hybrid photodiode combines a 500-[micro]m dia. Silicon Avalanche photodiode with high-speed transimpedance amplifier, all housed in a miniature hermetically-sealed TO-18 can. Responding to light in the 350 to 1000 nm range,...

Color mark sensor.(Sensors & Transducers)
November 1, 2003... Designed to detect any color mark printed on any color background on continuous webs, the Markeye Pro sensor offers very high-speed color detection, suitable for form-fill seal machine applications. High-resolution detection using a white LED...

Weld-proof sensor coating.(Application Xtra)
November 1, 2003... * outperforms thermosets, thermoplastics * resists buildup "The conditions present in resistance welding applications are extremely harsh. Weld slag, high heat and physical contact lead to high rates of sensor failure," says Craig...

Cooling from the outside-in: non-invasive hypothermia-inducing device mimics water immersion.
November 1, 2003... The induction of mild hypothermia (lowering a patient's temperature from 37[degrees]C to between 32[degrees] and 35[degrees]C) after cardiac arrest was proposed in the 1950s in an effort to protect the brain against global ischemia, which...

Visible fiber laser: high-power operation with perfect beam quality in the red spectrum.(Editor's Choice)
November 1, 2003... Designed for easy integration into medical instruments, scientific experiment devices, OEM machines or automated production lines, the Visible Model ELP-775 fiber laser is reputed to be the first single-mode laser of its kind to provide high...

Cordsets & receptacles.(Medical Products)
November 1, 2003... The 26- and 28-pin M27 connector can be used for various industries, including pharmaceutical, replacing DB25 and DSUB style connectors where DB25 connectors are limited to 30V and low current. These cordsets and receptacles are rated for 150V...

Tiny oscillator.(Medical Products)
November 1, 2003... Purported to be the world's smallest 2.5V oscillator, the F340 series measures 3.2 x 2.5 x 1.2 mm and consumes half the power of previous oscillators, which typically operate at 3.3V. The HCMOS oscillators are available in frequency stabilities...

Medical device materials.(Medical Products)
November 1, 2003... The Handbook of Materials for Medical Devices provides an in-depth review of materials suited for the challenging environment of the human body. Application areas include orthopedics, cardiology, surgical instruments and restorative dentistry....

Stainless steel threaded products.(Medical Products)
November 1, 2003... This company has expanded its standard materials for precision inserts nuts and threaded products to include stainless steel. The material provides high strength and corrosion resistance for wet and acidic environments. At high temperatures,...

Simulation software.(Medical Products)
November 1, 2003... Designed specifically to aid FDA certification for new medical designs, this company provides virtual biomechanics simulation and FEA software, as well as human modeling, data management, design & engineering and collaboration software....

Modular lighting.(Medical Products)
November 1, 2003... Modular lighting for medical equipment offers custom configuration for products requiring built-in lighting. A QuickDetach model features a detachable lamp-head for illuminating hard to-reach areas. Various configurations include flexible...

Frameless motors.(Medical Products)
November 1, 2003... The ULT direct drive frameless motor span sizes from 50 to 350mm dia., with axial lengths as small as 2.5 mm. Torque output extends from 0.25 to 6000 lb-in. All motors offer a large through-hole in the rotor and can be purchased with or without...

Circular DIN connector.(Medical Products)
November 1, 2003... This series of circular DIN connectors are IP68-rated watertight and fully shielded for EMI protection. Available in 10 different pin configurations up to 12 positions, options include in-line cable-to-cable, front and rear panel mount with...

Wire, cable interconnection.(Medical Products)
November 1, 2003... This company provides contract manufacture of wire and cable assemblies for medical applications. Products include coil cords, wire harnesses, custom connector systems and specialty cables for applications such as PulseOx, electrosurgery, vital...

Positioning stages.(Medical Products)
November 1, 2003... Reliable, high-precision X, Y, Z and ~ positioning stages provide quiet function for various medical and lab applications. Resolution is from nm to pm. Other attributes include cleanroom compatibility to Class 100, vacuum compatibility to E7...

Dual gauge steel.(Medical Products)
November 1, 2003... Designed to provide flexibility to use dual gauges of stainless steel in products such as tweezers, forceps and scalpels, this company's steel processing uses electron beam welding to join two different gauges of stainless steel together to...

Custom medical products.(Medical Products)
November 1, 2003... This company provides development and production of custom medical products, including balloons, catheters, bladders, bags, sheaths, covers and specialty items. Custom tubing with wall thicknesses between 0.004 to 0.50 in. is offered in any...

Precision miniature parts.(Medical Products)
November 1, 2003... This company manufactures precision miniature components, such as surgical staples, contacts and delicate wire forms. Capabilities range from narrow wire and strip components to assembled bandoleer carriers of pre-positioned and specially...

Leveling casters.(Medical Products)
November 1, 2003... The Flexello UTP series of twin-wheel leveling casters is suited for use on medical carts. Load capacity is 330 lbs on the 2 5/8-in. dia. Nylon 6 wheels. Height adjustment range is from 4 15/16 16 to 5 1/2 in. Swivel radius is 2 1/8-, tread...

Acceleration sensors.(Medical Products)
November 1, 2003... Featuring dynamic and static acceleration data suitable for sensitive medical devices, the adaptive ACA302 acceleration sensor is equipped with an integrated amplifier circuit. The 3-axial device can replace two 2-axis sensors and handle...

Indicating desiccant.(Medical Products)
November 1, 2003... Indicating Silica Gel desiccant changes color from yellow to green as it adsorbs up to 35% of its own weight in moisture, and, unlike cobalt chloride, is biologically harmless. Capable of being regenerated and fully reactive by heating it to...

Silicone substitute.(Medical Products)
November 1, 2003... With low price and absence of chlorine and polar plasticizers, Thermoplast K TPE offers an alternative to silicon and PVC for soft medical components. The transparent material permits steam sterilization at 138[degrees]C without collapsing...

Power transformers.(Medical Products)
November 1, 2003... The SPWC-4500 series of chassis-mount power transformers has 0.187-in. quick-connect terminals. The series is UL and CSA certified. All units have dual winding primaries and secondaries, providing an input voltage of 115/230V 50/60 Hz, and...

Power supplies.(Medical Products)
November 1, 2003... The OFM/M series of medically approved ultraminiature open frame modular switching power supplies provides output over the 5 to 15W range. Universal input from 85 to 265 VAC is accepted and 21 models provide single and dual outputs of 3.3 to 24...

Plated shaft collars.(Medical Products)
November 1, 2003... Designed for use consumer products such as fitness equipment, medical and laboratory instruments, the Solution series of chrome-plated shaft collars features a bright finished appearance and a smooth bore to protect expensive shafts. It is...

Microscopy stages.(Medical Products)
November 1, 2003... The P-733.DD direct drive piezo stages are purported to be the fastest closed-loop microscopy stages currently available. The 2.3 kHz resonant frequency is 4x higher than conventional stages. The parallel kinematics layout allows both the X-...

Precious metal braze alloys.(Medical Products)
November 1, 2003... Gold, palladium and silver braze alloys offer chemical inertness, high electrical conductivity, increased mechanical strength and resistance to high temperatures. Standard braze alloys are available in wire, foil, washer and paste forms. For...

Solenoid valves.(Medical Products)
November 1, 2003... Pure-Chem miniature solenoid-operated valves meet processing needs for handling and dispensing high-purity, aggressive and corrosive liquids. They feature high cycle life, low power consumption and minimal dead volume. Both stand-alone and...

Stepping up without a lead: solving difficulties with repetitive short-distance positioning, quietly.(Application Ideas)
November 1, 2003... Rapid, short distance, high accuracy moves are notoriously difficult to achieve. Precision positioning and scanning applications in medical/biotech instrumentation typically require stepping in rapid succession through a sequence of precise X...

Direct-connect I/O racks.(Top Product)
November 1, 2003... * solves individual I/O control access * eliminates mass termination connectors Most industry standard I/O module mounting racks require ribbon cable to connect the control signal lines. However, there are a limited number of I/O rack...

Heat pipe cooling.(Enclosures & Fixtures)
November 1, 2003... This company produces a broad range of heat transfer devices for sealed enclosures, incorporating air-to-air heat pipe technology. Besides cooling and recirculating the clean air within a cabinet, it also maintains the enclosure's seal against...

Slide for heavy equipment.(Enclosures & Fixtures)
November 1, 2003... The 3507 slide offers full extension with 2 in. of over-travel, and accommodates 4U to 8U rack-mountable chassis. The full-ball-bearing unit, available in even lengths of 16 to 30 in., safely handles a 200 lb load. Additional features include...

Enclosures catalog, database.(Enclosures & Fixtures)
November 1, 2003... This company's 500-page catalog presents their full range of enclosure products including cabinets, cases, sub-racks and front panels, as well as AdvancedTCA, CompactPCI, PXI, VME and VME64x systems and backplanes. The on-line database, when...

Enclosure lock.(Enclosures & Fixtures)
November 1, 2003... Well-suited for enclosures in data centers, this Electronic Locking and Monitoring system has been enhanced with the ability to send an alarm message to a cell phone. This situation can occur in such instances as when a door is opened or the...

Card cages.(Enclosures & Fixtures)
November 1, 2003... Custom-made card cages and sub-rack chassis are offered with a guarantee of an exact fit while meeting nearly any board standard. Cages can be any length, width, depth or spacing. Industry standards such as EIA, VME, VXI and Compact PCI can be...

Thermoelectric cooling.(Enclosures & Fixtures)
November 1, 2003... In this company's latest equipment catalog is the introduction of the MPA series of plate-to-air cooling assemblies, which are suited to the cooling and heating of various materials or flat surfaces. Other products include thermoelectric,...

Drain vent.(Enclosures & Fixtures)
November 1, 2003... A composite fiberglass drain vent protects electrical equipment from moisture and water accumulation from inside the enclosure cavity. The non-metallic component is currently the only one of its kind to carry a UL type 4X rating. Typical...

Lift table enclosures.(Enclosures & Fixtures)
November 1, 2003... Accordion-style enclosures are custom-made to provide a physical barrier to help prevent personal injury and protect the lifting mechanism from contaminants. Constructed from vinyl-coated polyester, one-, two-, three- and four-sided enclosures...

Computer cabinet.(Enclosures & Fixtures)
November 1, 2003... This enhanced computer cabinet is designed to protect PCs, terminals and peripheral equipment located on the manufacturing floor, auto service areas and aircraft hangers. A pull-out drawer accommodates ergonomic keyboards, and the monitor door...

Vortex tube cooling.(Enclosures & Fixtures)
November 1, 2003... This 1000 Btu/hr cabinet cooler uses a vortex tube to cool an ordinary supply of compressed air to 20[degrees]F. A distribution kit circulates the air through the enclosure, while providing a constant purge to keep the panel free of dust and...

Thermoplastic tanks.(Enclosures & Fixtures)
November 1, 2003... Molded or hand-fabricated polyethylene or polypropylene, this company's containers are designed for flexibility and durability. Vessels can be produced in sizes ranging from small, fabricated motor housings, to rinse stations for carboys or...

Continuous hinge site.(Enclosures & Fixtures)
November 1, 2003... This company's redesigned web site allows visitors to download blueprints of its standard hinges, its production tolerances diagram, and its reference guide, Design Engineering with Standard Continuous Hinges. The drawings and reference guide...

Mesh backplane chassis.(Enclosures & Fixtures)
November 1, 2003... A test and development chassis is available for applications using CompactPCl Serial Mesh Backplane (CSMB) architecture. The T-Frame system has 8 slots in an open frame design that provides easy access to front and rear boards for probes and...

Compact air conditioner.(Enclosures & Fixtures)
November 1, 2003... The K400F has two completely sealed air circuits to provide closed loop cooling for isolation of a control cabinet's interior from ambient conditions. The 1260 Btu, 370W capacity unit uses R134a refrigerant, and has a patented evaporator to...