Designfax articles from November 2004

Designfax archives from November 2004

Let's call the whole thing off.(Up Front)
November 1, 2004... That's it, everyone, stop what you're doing. Pencils down, close your books. It's time to stop designing. Ridiculous, you say? Have we not heard the hue and cry of the public temper, asking for practical, reliable products against the...

Pneumatic actuator: customizable unit handles large loads in small strokes.(Five star: product of the month)
November 1, 2004... Perhaps the idea came from those "jumping frog" prizes at carnivals, in which a toy plastic frog is spurred into action by a small rubber balloon mounted underneath, filled and emptied via a squeeze bulb at the end of some tubing. At this...

Robo-flytrap.(Technology Spotlight)
November 1, 2004... To survive without human help, a robot needs to be able to generate its own energy. To this end, Chris Melhuish and his team of robotics experts at the University of the West of England in Bristol are developing a robot that catches flies and...

In-situ FEA.(Technology Spotlight)
November 1, 2004... Countless steel and aluminum equipment structures carry or bear heavy loads in construction, transportation, and other applications. The unknown variability of these loads during use pose significant risks, and as a result the structures tend...

Adhesive mixing.(Technology Spotlight)
November 1, 2004... TAH Industries, Robbinsville, NJ, has developed a cartridge platform that eliminates the need for special tools to dispense two-component adhesives. Fitting a standard, single-component caulking gun, the Universal Cartridge stores one component...

Rust preventative.(Top Product)
November 1, 2004... * petroleum-free * 98% humidity protection Gardotect CP 8040 offers an alternative to water- and oil-based rust preventatives. After extended exposure time in 98% humidity and ASTM D 1735 water fog testing, steel panels treated with...

Thermoformed plastic.(Materials)
November 1, 2004... Suitable for high-heat applications, Ultraware thermoformed plastic forms a deep-draw and thin wall at extremely high tolerances with virtually no molded-in stress. The company's Melt-Phase Forming process combines the advantages of...

Overmolding TPEs.(Materials)
November 1, 2004... Designed to bond with a wide range of modified nylon materials, Versaflex OM 6100 series of overmolding TPEs bonds successfully with heat stabilized and/or impact modified nylons. The new grades offer 60 and 75 Shore A hardness values and are...

Part color-coding.(Materials)
November 1, 2004... Offering identification for in-process components and assemblies, this company's service includes spray coating/dipping to electrostatic coating. Pigmented, non-pigmented, water-reducible, optical fluorescents, UV, color sensor and delprodo...

HNBR compound.(Materials)
November 1, 2004... Designed for commercial use in automotive and other applications, this line of hydrogenated nitrile specialty elastomer compounds is used for leak-free seals, gaskets and hoses where resistance to aggressive chemicals and extreme temperatures...

Carbon-fiber compounds.(Materials)
November 1, 2004... Based on chopped carbon fiber, milled carbon fiber and carbon nanotubes, Pre-Elec carbon fiber reinforced compounds increase the flexural modulus, tensile strength and electrical conductivity while reducing shrinkage. They are offered with as...

Machining/welding services.(Materials)
November 1, 2004... This website offers outsourcing custom manufacturing services including precision machining and gear solutions, aluminum die casting, screw machining, welding, complex assembly and NADCAP services. Close tolerance parts and assemblies are...

MnZnFe power material.(Materials)
November 1, 2004... Providing the means to reduce the size of power supplies and transformers while boosting output power, the A041 manganese-zinc ferrite material is designed to reduce power losses in high-temperature power applications, Initial permeability is...

Ceramics technical bulletin.(Materials)
November 1, 2004... The Y2004 Technical Bulletin Al describes a complete range of technical ceramics for applications to 3000[degrees]C. Several standard machinable and fully fired compositions are offered, including aluminum oxide, aluminum nitride, aluminum...

Gasketing.(Materials)
November 1, 2004... Soundfoam C is a family of cellular flexible foam suited for gasket applications. The products are made from either closed-cell sponge or open-cell foams, offered with aggressive pressure sensitive adhesive systems with and without polyester...

Polycarbonate sheet.(Materials)
November 1, 2004... Suited for use in applications ranging from containment to fabricated parts, Makrolon WG polycarbonate sheet ranges in thickness from 0.75- to 2-in. thick. The amorphous thermoplastic exhibits extremely high impact strength and high modulus of...

Improving elastomer chemistry.(Application Xtra)
November 1, 2004... * high heat/solvent resistance * long-term elastic recovery High-performance appliance, automotive and construction applications make increasing demands on material properties. In the search for novel chemistries and processes,...

Deep sea design: high school & college students compete to reach Titanic depths.(Cover Story)
November 1, 2004... The mission was straight forward--go to the stateroom and retrieve a package. Yet, few things in life are truly straightforward. The stateroom was in the wreckage of the Titanic, more than two miles into the inky, cold depths of the North...

Bright LED array.(Top Product)
November 1, 2004... * 16 million colors * 13,300 lumens This ultra-high lumen 860W LED array offers 10 times the brightness of previously demonstrated LED arrays, with 13,300 lumens. The RGB array provides 16 million saturated colors. The proprietary...

Charge pump regulator.(Electrical/electronics: lights, lamps & LEDs)
November 1, 2004... Designed for high accuracy in backlighting for micro color TFT displays, the ADM8845 charge pump regulator drives up to 6 white LEDs, evenly diffusing light across the entire LCD panel. Precision monitoring of each LED current provides current...

LCD microcontroller.(Electrical/electronics: lights, lamps & LEDs)
November 1, 2004... The LCD 8-bit PIC microcontroller family includes 28-pin units for display applications requiring embedded control, and programmable 80-pin units capable of driving 192 segments for touchscreen and segmented LCD displays. The family features...

Right-angle LEDs.(Electrical/electronics: lights, lamps & LEDs)
November 1, 2004... The SSF-LXH4RA series allows LEDs to be mounted at a right angle to the PCB without any additional spacers, mounting hardware or assembly time. They are relampable, allowing standard 2-leaded LEDs to be changed before or after sockets are...

Concave LEDs.(Electrical/electronics: lights, lamps & LEDs)
November 1, 2004... The Concave Cylindrical 5 mm (T1-3/4) Discrete LED emits light that is as bright at its edges as it is in the center. Concave lenses improve light beam quality by spreading out the collimated beam that LEDs typically emit. These high-intensity...

InGaAIP LED.(Electrical/electronics: lights, lamps & LEDs)
November 1, 2004... The Dorado high flux LD701 InGaAIP LED series is designed to operate at forward currents up to 150 mA. The series features a 7 x 7 mm package, 100-degree viewing angle, exposed pad design for excellent heat transfer, and low thermal resistance....

Photodiode.(Electrical/electronics: lights, lamps & LEDs)
November 1, 2004... Featuring excellent responsivity of 400 to 1100 nm, low dark current and an active area of 1.35 x 0.76 mm, the ODD-1 silicon PIN photo-detector is housed in TO-18 packaging for use in standard commercial products and industrial photo controls....

Sunlight readable displays.(Electrical/electronics: lights, lamps & LEDs)
November 1, 2004... Sunlight readable LCD transreflective displays are offered in 3 sizes: 10.4-, 12.1- and 15.0-in. Custom sizes can be built from 1- to 15-in. The transreflective devices use the ambient light and reflect it back in order to improve contrast....

Light-voltage converters.(Electrical/electronics: lights, lamps & LEDs)
November 1, 2004... Providing an analog output voltage proportional to light intensity, the TSL series of light-to-voltage converters integrates the photodiode, transimpedance amplifier and gain setting resistors on a single die. The devices operate in the 3 to 5V...

Electro-luminescent displays.(Application Xtra)
November 1, 2004... * flexible film base * not limited to rectangular shapes One of the greatest challenges to OEMs is the continuing need to find methods of creating points of difference without damaging margins. Yet, given continued downward price pressures,...

You are what your wear ... says: integrated garment designed for patient testing.
November 1, 2004... The trend in patient care for the last two decades has steadily been turning towards the treatment of the individual as an individual organism with unique symptoms, rather than some variation of the textbook example. However, the rise in...

Flexible heater.(Editor's Choice)
November 1, 2004... * increased mechanical reliablity * increased length possibilities As an alternative to traditional flat flex heaters (such as conventional polymer thick film ink or etched copper flexible heaters), the Flexible Carbon Fiber Heater is...

Linear actuators.(Medical Products)
November 1, 2004... Environmentally sealed ESLA NEMA 17 and 23 sized linear actuators withstand wash-down and autoclaving. The motor end is sealed with polyolefin shrink tubing and polyurethane adhesive sealant. The non-magnetic polished stainless steel shaft is...

IR detector.(Medical Products)
November 1, 2004... This 3rd generation low-cost infrared detector is designed for such applications as thermal medical imagery. The non-cooled UL02051 microbolometer detector operates at room temperature and provides a 160 x 120 pixel focal pane array with a...

Mini cable carriers.(Medical Products)
November 1, 2004... The E2 micro series of Energy Chains offer minimum inner height of 0.2-in., width of 0.203-in. and bend radius of 0.39-in. Suited for medical engineering devices, various design options include molded cross bars or zipper top, facilitating...

Mini keylock switches.(Medical Products)
November 1, 2004... Suited for medical applications, the JD series of mini keylock switches has a max current rating with resistive load of 4A at 125 VAC or 2A at 250 VAC. Expected life is 6000 cycles at full load. Other electrical specs include an initial contact...

Vacuum pump.(Medical Products)
November 1, 2004... The P3010 pump features the company's COAX ejector design, which integrates the internal components of a multistage vacuum pump into a vacuum cartridge to create a more efficient, compact and reliable system. The pumps are 0.65-in. wide and...

Liquid dispenser.(Medical Products)
November 1, 2004... Featuring disposable medical-grade silicone tubing, this liquid dispenser eliminates potential cross-contamination between batch runs, thus simplifying cleaning validation. The pump heads have been designed to provide consistent accurate fills...

Thermal printer.(Medical Products)
November 1, 2004... Suited for medical equipment applications, the 24V FTP-637MCL401 series of ultra-low profile thermal printer with auto-cutter offers a small footprint and a print speed of 100 mm/ sec, with a print resolution of 8 dots/mm. Various supported...

Medical laser optics.(Medical Products)
November 1, 2004... Standard and custom medical optics can be fabricated from ZnSe and silicon for C[O.sub.2] lasers, Ca[F.sub.2] and sapphire for ER:Yag @ 2.94 [micro]m and Holmium lasers, and fused silica and laser glasses for Nd:Yag lasers @ 1.06 [micro]m,...

Thin-film coatings.(Medical Products)
November 1, 2004... Suited for providing conductive, shielding, electroluminescent, protective and reflective properties for medical applications, single and multiple-layer thin film depositions are produced on a broad range of PET, PEN, polyimide and other...

Epoxy resin.(Medical Products)
November 1, 2004... Specifically developed for medical device applications, medium--to low-viscosity Tra-Bond FDA16 epoxy adhesive is USP Class V! approved. This room-temp-/ heat-curing adhesive offers good electrical resistance, as well as resistance to weather,...

Low-noise/power ADCs.(Medical Products)
November 1, 2004... Unlike traditional precision data-converter solutions that compromise either on power or noise, the AD779x family of 16--and 24-bit [sumation over] [DELTA] ADCs features low 40 n[V.sub.RMS] noise and low 400 [micro]A power ratings. They operate...

OLED modules.(Medical Products)
November 1, 2004... Passive matrix organic LED display modules offer 256RGBx64 dot pixel resolution. Available in full-color and monochrome versions, these OLED modules provide active viewing areas of 2.9-and 3.2-in. diagonal and require no backlight. They feature...

Rod/tube components.(Medical Products)
November 1, 2004... Miniaturized rod and tube components from 0.032--to 1.250-in. are manufactured to spec from stainless steel, titanium, Inconel and other exotic metals. They are available in prototype and production quantities in various shaping and finishing...

Pneumatic linear actuator.(Innovations)
November 1, 2004... Featuring a mounting surface suited for a robotic gripper or other end effector, the L130 series of 4 short stroke linear actuators have and anti-rotation guide rod to assure precise positioning. Applications include the automated movement of...

Soft magnetic alloy.(Innovations)
November 1, 2004... Designed to reduce the need for segmented laminations in high-speed electric motors, generators and alternators, and increase motor speeds for magnetic bearings, the wide-width Hiperco 50 and 50-HS alloy strips are available in widths up to...

Frameless pancake resolver.(Innovations)
November 1, 2004... The ULT frameless pancake resolvers are suited for applications in sensitive areas as a substitute for encoder electronics. These applications include systems requiring large through holes with low profile mechanics and limited angle of...

Microlifter.(Innovations)
November 1, 2004... The SLN.090 micro nitrogen gas lifter has a double-keyed guide rod to prevent rotation and Obviate the use of additional guidance components. Suited for progressive tamping dies, two guide rod options are offered for single-/multi-point and...

High output miniature motor.(Innovations)
November 1, 2004... The 2232 SR series motor features a dia. of 22 mm, a length of 32 mm and an NdFeB magnet, with a high constant torque of 10 mNm. An output power of over 9 watts suits demanding applications, and precious metal commutation permits the 2232 to be...

Heavy-duty main power relay: high-capacity relay with integral transient voltage suppression system works from 350 mA to 200A.
November 1, 2004... One of the critical success factors at Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL, is the company's 6-Sigma quality program. It drives much of the decision making involved with manufacturing equipment that is often the best in its class, whether it is...

Fiber-optic rotary encoder.(Top Product)
November 1, 2004... * totally passive * for harsh environments The MR312 ZapFree incremental rotary encoder offers an entirely passive fiber-optic encoder for rotation sensing applications. There are no integral electronics within the encoder housing, and...

Pneumatic actuators.(Motion spotlight: positioning devices)
November 1, 2004... This company's line of pneumatic actuators has been extended with accessories including 3- and 4-way solenoid valves, pneumatic positioners, electro-pneumatic positioners, valve status monitors and proximity position indicators. All accessories...

Position monitoring.(Motion spotlight: positioning devices)
November 1, 2004... The OTT/JAKOB positioning monitoring system with electric analog sensor allows drawbar monitoring for performance and wear. Sensor electron primary coil with constant frequency and amplitude. A demodulator transforms the signal of the secondary...

Food-grade actuation.(Motion spotlight: positioning devices)
November 1, 2004... This company's linear actuators and brushless motors are available with food-grade epoxy coatings and stainless-steel construction, along with IP 65 seal, to make them suitable for wash-down environments. Planetary roller screw design provides...

Rod cylinder slides.(Motion spotlight: positioning devices)
November 1, 2004... The RCS series of rod cylinder slides includes a choice of linear ball and composite bearing models in 5 bore sizes from 20 to 50 mm. Stroke lengths for each size are available in l-in. increments up to 12 in. Standard features include...

Mechanical jacks.(Motion spotlight: positioning devices)
November 1, 2004... Interactive 3D Models created with SolidWorks 3D PartStream modeling program are offered for this company's complete line of mechanical jacks. From the website, engineers can access each basic model for downloading into their CAD designs. Both...

Square rails.(Motion spotlight: positioning devices)
November 1, 2004... DryLin WQ square rails reduce friction and compensate for varying heights. A new polymer material designed specifically for use in linear applications, Iglide J200, reduces friction and decreases wear rates. The square-shaped design ensures...

X-Y stage.(Motion spotlight: positioning devices)
November 1, 2004... The M-684 XY-translation stage is a piezo-motor-driven system for smooth, backlash-free, high-resolution motion. The system includes a joystick and closed-loop velocity controller. The stage has a clear aperture of 66 x 66 mm and a travel range...

Subminiature encoder.(Motion spotlight: positioning devices)
November 1, 2004... The model R22i commutating encoder achieves both brushless motor commutation and incremental position in a package size of 0.866-in. dia by 0.59-in. long, making it suitable for mounting to 22 mm outside diameter brushless PM motors. A 3 phase...

Servo couplings.(Motion Products)
November 1, 2004... The EK1/800/B servo insert coupling offers a high-torque version of the company's Servomax coupling, handling loads up to 2150 mm with zero backlash and radial flexibility up to 0.2 mm. Torsional stiffness is 66,080 Nm/rad static and 180,100...

Digital AC servo drive.(Motion Products)
November 1, 2004... The ACS200 series of low voltage brushless amplifiers uses a DSP-based architecture to provide software selectable Torque, Velocity or Position Mode operation. Sine wave commutation allows for smooth torque at low speeds. The ACS200 achieves...

Motors with controllers.(Motion Products)
November 1, 2004... On-Motor controllers can be custom-designed to fit completely within this company's brushless DC motor frames for reduced bulk and enhanced motor performance. The controllers enable conversion of multiwire motors to two-wire, single polarity...

Servo controller/driver.(Motion Products)
November 1, 2004... The SilverDust compact servo controller and driver module is used with a high-resolution encoder and 2-phase microstep NEMA 17 or 23 stepper motor to create a precision 4-quadrant servo system. It achieves 3.5A continuous and 4.5A peak per...

Torque actuator.(Motion Products)
November 1, 2004... The 4EX BTA series brushless torque actuator features a max 35-degree rotary stroke, allowing tailoring to spec. They provide low bounce for improved positional accuracy and high-speed operation. The internal design offers high starting and...

Sinusoidal movement.(Motion Products)
November 1, 2004... The Sinusoidal Move command, an added feature for the RMC100 controller, eliminates the need for an externally generated sine wave while providing position, velocity and acceleration feed-forward parameters for more precise closed loop...

Winding controller.(Motion Products)
November 1, 2004... Designed to replace high-tension, high-inertia rolls in drag brake schemes, Model CX 1102 2-axis unwind/dancer/ wind controllers calculate diameters automatically to provide constant line speed to fragile web, non-woven, fibers and thin film...

Radial fans.(Top Product)
November 1, 2004... * low noise * speed controlled The KH series of low-noise, high power density radial fans features free-running impellers for ventilation of air and non-aggressive vapors and fumes. The external rotor is 100% speed-controlled and new...

Hot swap handle.(Mechanical: enclosures & fixtures)
November 1, 2004... Designed for AdvancedTCA boards, this hot-swap injector/ejector handle addresses the requirements of the PICMG 3.0 specification. The intuitive open/close mechanism separates the switch actuation of the hot-swap microswitch from the...

Battery straps.(Mechanical: enclosures & fixtures)
November 1, 2004... A variety of 9V insulated battery straps is manufactured in 3 types to accommodate most applications. The models include Premium straps featuring T or I configurations, Economy types with similar configurations, and pre-wired Dual straps...

Fire enclosure.(Mechanical: enclosures & fixtures)
November 1, 2004... The E-30 enclosure complies with all fire certification requirements under DIN 4102 part 12 and provides ingress protection up to IP66. The unit is suitable for use in emergency lighting to ventilation systems under mountains, rivers or lakes....

Bellows skirting.(Mechanical: enclosures & fixtures)
November 1, 2004... Duratite heavy-duty bellows skirting protects lift mechanisms against contamination and personnel against pinch-points. The manufacturing process used to make the skirting produces 4 rigid sides without stitching or metal wires. Unlike...

Thermal controllers.(Mechanical: enclosures & fixtures)
November 1, 2004... The PRONTOflow thermal controller accepts single or dual voltage inputs and is configured to accept 36 and 60 VDC, providing voltage regulation for a system of up to 9 fans. Full communication to a host system is via both 12C and RS232...

Enclosure fan.(Mechanical: enclosures & fixtures)
November 1, 2004... The OA109AP series of 115 and 230 VAC fans can increase airflow up to 30% above comparable fans. The efficient capacitor-run induction motor delivers 130 cfm airflow in a 120 mm housing (38 mm thick). Applications include electronics...

Panel meter enclosures.(Mechanical: enclosures & fixtures)
November 1, 2004... Pre-punched with 1/8 DIN holes to simplify installation, these panel meter enclosures are offered in plastic, NEMA 4 steel and NEMA 4X stainless steel designs. They can house 1 to 6 Trident meters. Most models are available with hinged doors...

Designing 'inside the box' with clinch hardware.(Application Xtra)
November 1, 2004... * permits disassembly * offers versatility Adhering to the principles of DFMA and DFS, fastening and joining methods must deliver assembly efficiencies, ensure end-product integrity, and provide access to components when necessary. In...

Piezoelectric pump.(Top Product)
November 1, 2004... * long life * low power The DTI-200 series of miniature pumps use piezoelectric crystals formed and bonded to a metal diaphragm to flex the diaphragm when an electric field is applied. Two opposing umbrella type check valves respond...

Spring energized seals.(Fluid power: pumps, filters & seals)
November 1, 2004... TV series Spring Energized Seals provide service in severe operating conditions. The U-cup seal design is made from PTFE and other polymer alloys, and is mechanically actuated with a corrosion resistant, V-shape cantilever beam spring....

Valve seals.(Fluid power: pumps, filters & seals)
November 1, 2004... Designed to replace more absorbent standard rubber seals in high pressure gas applications, these EPDM seals are available for most of the company's valve lines, particularly models in the 20, 30 and 50 series. The high-durometer material...

Liquid diaphragm pump.(Fluid power: pumps, filters & seals)
November 1, 2004... Offered with either brush or brushless DC drive, the light and compact LTC series of pumps are designed to handle a wide range of liquid and gas media, particularly due to the absence of metal in the flow path. The company's FluidBlok...

Seals, clamps & actuators.(Fluid power: pumps, filters & seals)
November 1, 2004... The Presray Pneuma Seal Design Guide offers standard and custom elastomeric pneumatic seals and actuators for doors, fast-action clamps and actuators in material handling, workholding, airframe fabrication and printing machinery. The guide...

Tubular membrane filter.(Fluid power: pumps, filters & seals)
November 1, 2004... Designed within the Inside CeRAM tubular membrane line, food-rated Isoflux solves the problem of non-uniform trans-membrane pressure, for applications including milk sterilization, sugars, gelatins and broth. They are available in 1-in. dia....

Diaphragm pump assist.(Fluid power: pumps, filters & seals)
November 1, 2004... Designed for their hydraulically actuated diaphragm pumps, the Start-Up Assist valve provides a bypass for the hydraulic fluid to preposition the diaphragm automatically at the rear while the pump is still at rest. Reducing torque requirements...

Pre-energized seal.(Fluid power: pumps, filters & seals)
November 1, 2004... The Pre-Energized Vee Packing seal does not rely on the packing material to swell to achieve a seal. The proprietary geometry provides a tight seal upon installation, with no requirement to tighten a packing gland against the seal or use...

Roller pumps.(Fluid power: pumps, filters & seals)
November 1, 2004... Diamond Series 4400 roller pumps offer flow output to 6.5 gpm at 1800 rpm (electric motor) or 9.2 gpm at 2600 rpm (gas engine) at pressures to 150 psig and temperatures to 140[degrees]F. Ultra-rollers provide smooth high performance and long...

Seal-compatible coating.(Fluid power: pumps, filters & seals)
November 1, 2004... Designed to replace carcinogenic hexavalent hard chrome coatings, HVOF high velocity oxygen fueled coatings deliver superior wear, fatigue and impact resistance over chrome while reducing environmental and health risks. While traditional hard...