Designfax articles from October 1999

Designfax archives from October 1999

Design in the Global Village.
October 1, 1999... Combining cell phones and laptops with old-fashioned networking Tim Simon works on a houseboat docked in San Francisco Bay. His tools are a cell phone, laptop computer with Internet access, creativity and the ability to make things happen....

Reader Response (and responsibility).
October 1, 1999... Please allow me to introduce myself. I am your managing editor and have been part of Team Designfax for almost one full year. I've learned bits and pieces about the wide world of OEM design engineering and a little bit more about collective you...

Fluoropolymer-Insulated Aircraft Wiring.
October 1, 1999... The same people who are putting geese out of the parka-insulation business have developed an electrical insulation that may help keep aircraft on the wing a bit longer. W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc., Newark, DE, makers of GORETEX fabrics and a...

Q-Peak, Inc.
October 1, 1999... Since the days of the magic lantern shows, the path of evolution in image projectors has been in the improvement of the lighting source. In recent developments, the use of lasers has been found to produce a huge depth of focus and pure colors,...

QED Services, Inc.
October 1, 1999... A new concept in hydraulic suspension technology, created by QED Services, Inc, Ann Arbor, MI, has applications for the entire motor vehicle industry. The Fluid Spring's primary feature is a biased operation that transmits load variations to...

Reader CONNECTION.
October 1, 1999... Readers Respond to Trilogy Part 1 I rarely have any praise for magazines, but want you to know I found your August issue useful, informative, entertaining and thought-provoking. Thank you. I especially liked the article about Pete Conrad...

Photodiode array.
October 1, 1999... The OSM960 six-element photodiode array is for use in incremental encoder applications. The device provides differential and analog outputs for A and B quadrature channels, plus an index or marker pulse channel. Fast response times and high...

MT-RJ connectors.
October 1, 1999... This high-density small form factor duplex connector system uses 50% less space than SC duplex connectors in panels wall plates and other network applications. Ideal for fiber-to-the-desk applications, these components are used in...

Surface mount LED chips.
October 1, 1999... These chips are suited for networking applications including keypads, handheld wireless products and back-lighting. Available in standard 0603, 0805, 1206, 1210, PLCC and right-angle surface mount styles, features include dual-chip, tricolor...

Fluorine laser.
October 1, 1999... The LPF Fluorine (F2) laser series has the shortest commercially available laser wave-length, 157nm, according to the company. The Photonic Hammer's high quantum energy of nearly 8eV packs quite a blow when interacting with atoms or molecules....

Scotopic illuminance detector.
October 1, 1999... This detector and filter combination accurately measures the perceived brightness of a light source, regardless of color or spectral distribution of the source. The detector weights incoming light in proportion to the effect it would produce on...

Pill-pack VCSEL.
October 1, 1999... This high-speed fiber-optic vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) now comes in a miniature flat-window pill-pack package. The HFE4086-001 is a high-performance 850nm VCSEL that provides a migration path for both high-speen data...

Based LEDs.
October 1, 1999... This company offers LEDs for all industry standard bases including candelabra screw, Edison screw, midget flange, wedge, sub-midget flange, mini-bayonet and telephone slide. These LED lamps are available in all standard domestic and...

Light pipes.
October 1, 1999... Clarex HSOT (high scattering optical transmission) light pipes for edge-lit displays provide nearly twice the brightness of conventional systems. Applications of this material include hand-held TVs, digital cameras and personal organizers. The...

Polycarbonate film for law first-surface gloss.
October 1, 1999... Bayer Corporation, Pittsburgh, PA, has developed a polycarbonate film that retains a low first-surface gloss after forming and molding operations. Makrofol DE VLG 7-1D polycarbonate film, which offers the lowest first-surface gloss available...

Polystyrene resins valuable in large and small appliances alike.
October 1, 1999... Using a new technology for the production of high-impact polystyrene (HIPS), Dow Chemical Company, Midland, MI, is producing a family of resins called STYRON A-TECH advanced technology polystyrene. "Products in this new series will balance...

Melt Processible Rubber (MPR) heats up appliance manufacturing.
October 1, 1999... In 1995, Black & Decker's Home Products division (now Household Products, Inc, Shelton, CT) was challenged to increase sales and re-capture market share. B&D determined that high-end (> $30) steam iron users represented 20 percent of the market...

The State of the Toolbox.
October 1, 1999... In the last fifteen years of product design, we've witnessed what may have been the most profound change since the advent of mass production and the idea of interchangeable parts. Engineers and designers have a singular machine on their desktop...

Office of the Future.
October 1, 1999... Staying awaKe is what it's all about It's not all about image. Sure, these futuristic work spaces may be designed to look cool, but they also are ergonomic, comfortable and, perhaps most importantly, built to increase employee alertness and...

If.
October 1, 1999... If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too; If you can wait and nor be rired of waiting, Or being lied about,...

Tips to Design Engineers:.
October 1, 1999... Machine Controls for the Next Millennium Think mass customization. Recognize the power of the Internet. Ask yourself, "How can I design my machines and controls to mass produce one-of-a-kind products?" This is the culmination of...

WTC, Merits Consulting and The Conference Board announce results from joint new product development survey.
October 1, 1999... Based on responses from more than 130 chief executives, vice presidents and engineers within the telecommunications, automotive, aerospace, consumer goods, high tech electronics, chemical and pharmaceutical industries, this survey captures...

IDSA publishes revamped corporate design study.
October 1, 1999... The Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) has published Influence and Vision -- A Corporate Design Group Study to help members compete successfully in the marketplace. This sixth edition study is an in-depth revised publication with...

Does R&D contribute to profits? Fewer than 40% of manufacturers know.
October 1, 1999... While global competition is forcing companies to reduce product life cycles, most manufacturers have only a rudimentary idea of how to measure their new product development efforts. This finding is from a recent study by the management...

Rapid Revolution: How e-commerce is changing the plastics industry.
October 1, 1999... According to Forrester Research, the business-to-consumer (B2C) electronic commerce transaction value will grow from $9 billion in 1998 to $108 billion by the year 2003. In addition, the Internet and electronic commerce have helped to unleash a...

Skeptic.
October 1, 1999... Far star that tickles for me my sensitive plate And fries a couple at ebon atoms white, I don't believe I believe a thing you state. I put no faith in the seeming facts of light. I don't believe I believe you're the last in space, I don't...

Stable Motion for when the chips fly.
October 1, 1999... Most every facet of semiconductor manufacture has an element of risk involved -- thin, brittle disks of silicon to be moved in and out of machines; atom-scale layers to be built up and etched; layout and connections made on real estate that...

Piezoresistive pressure transducer.
October 1, 1999... The PTU8000 series is temperature compensated and operates from -40[degrees] to 100[degrees]C. Typical non-linearity as well as long-term stability are 0.2% BSL. The unit has pressure ranges from 0-15 psi to 0-500 psi gage, and a small size of...

Cylinder-indicator sensor.
October 1, 1999... The Strokemaster cylinder-indicator sensor provides precision end-of-stroke sensing for hydraulic/pneumatic cylinders, while eliminating post-installation cable management. problems with 305 deg. of rotational freedom on the connector. It...

Level sensors.
October 1, 1999... The KRE series of intrinsically safe capacitance level sensors are for use in hazardous areas. The remote amplifier can be mounted up to 200 meters away from the sensor with coaxial cable, and offers separation distances to 1000 meters. The KRE...

Non-contact rotary position sensor.
October 1, 1999... The RS-50 sensor utilizes reliable Hall effect technology in a hermetically-sealed, fully encapsulated plastic body with custom mounting configurations. The sensor has a programmable rotational range and idle validation, and operates in...

Submersible pressure transducer.
October 1, 1999... The model 274C two-wire transducer is designed for use in wells; tanks and other submersible applications. The 274C is designed and constructed of 316 stainless steel to function trouble free for years in a wide variety of underwater level...

Sealable linear sensor.
October 1, 1999... The SLS 190 is a new design engineered to provide volume production of OEM quantities on very short delivery. Stroke lengths from 25 to 350mm; in increments of 25mm, are held in stock and any configurable option is available for quick ship....

Silicon pressure transducer.
October 1, 1999... Model 6-14, is a 4-20mA pressure transmitter that employs a micro-machined silicon pressure sensing element, enabling the transmitter to deliver more accurate and stable performance in harsh industrial environments, Model 6-14's design isolates...

Brushless DC motors.
October 1, 1999... The two wire design of the MFM line of brushless DC motors eliminates the need to change the drive electronics or cabling when upgrading to high reliability brushless DC. The two wire design allows full servo performance, while eliminating...

Servoamplifier.
October 1, 1999... The model 7429DC servoamplifier drives AC brushless motors rated to 2.5 hp. It is designed to operate with controller cards that issue digital PWM for IGBT switching. Model 7429DC develops two serial, digital monitoring signals proportional to...

Half-bridge motor drive.
October 1, 1999... The IR series of 600V half-bridge gate drive ICs are designed for applications in low cost, variable speed appliance motor drives. This family integrates all the functions needed to interface between micro or DSP controller and the FET or IGBT...

Right-angle gear-heads.
October 1, 1999... The MRA line features an efficient and quiet bevel gear output stage. They mount readily to metric face-and-shaft servomotors. They also can be specified for easy mounting to NEMA size 23,34 and 42 servo or stepper motors. Ratios range from 3...

PCI controller.
October 1, 1999... The DMC-1800 series of motion controllers is available in 1- through 8-axis formats, which enable control of both step and servo motors on any combination of axes. It includes features such as uncommitted analog inputs for interface to external...

PC bus controllers.
October 1, 1999... The PPC line of high speed cards for ISA-Bus (PC/AT Expansion Bus) systems gives designers the ability to perform point to point positioning, linear interpolation (2- to 4 axes), zero search, and midpoint interrupt movement profiles. The axes...

Cylindrical roller bearings.
October 1, 1999... The Link-Belt N-EC series of roller bearings are avail able in 200 or 300 series bearings with bore diameters ranging from 25- to 90 mm. Standard features include bronze roller cages for roller guidance, low noise and added durability....

Switching power supply.
October 1, 1999... The ISP300-4 is high efficiency, 75 VDC, supply that delivers 6A of continuous current. It is capable of driving up to 3 microstepping drivers. The unit was designed to provide power to DC servo motors and other inductive loads such as stepping...

Axial piston pumps.
October 1, 1999... The PVT line of pumps now incorporates three models with displacements of 4.88-, 6.10-and 7.93-cu. in./rev. All three models are rated for operation at 4000 psi continuously, 4350 psi intermittently, and 4750 psi peak. They are rated at 1800...

Miniature gas pump.
October 1, 1999... Designed for fluid delivery and transfer applications in analytical and medical instruments, model LC miniature pumps are also ideal for a wide range of general automation applications. Model LC pumps are diaphragm type and feature...

Stainless steel gear operator.
October 1, 1999... The Series 4 gear operator is a quarter-turn stainless steel gear operator designed for manual control of valve position. The Series 4 provides on-off and throttling service for 1- to 16-in. butterfly valves. The weatherproof stainless steel...

Polypropylene valves.
October 1, 1999... This polypropylene ball valve was designed specifically for use with ultra-pure liquids. The natural unfilled polypropylene provides purity levels similar to high grade valve materials, at lower cost. The homopolymer resin contains no...

Manifold-mounting hand pumps.
October 1, 1999... Whether used as the primary pump for a hydraulic system or as standby pumps for emergencies, these pumps furnish reliable hydraulic power to operate presses, valves doors. safety locks and other devices. They are complete pumps with suction and...

Toggle valves.
October 1, 1999... The Minimatic valve line now includes four new toggle valve models. These models feature a 1/8 NPT inlet, enabling orientation of the outlet and toggle. The 1/8 NPT thread may also be used for mounting in manifolds or subplates. As with all...

Flow control valves.
October 1, 1999... The 5000 psi VFC series maintains oil flow to 10 GPM, enabling systems to maintain high flow rates while preventing damage to pumps, cylinders and other components. The two VFC series valves, models 1 and 2, provide repeatable oil flow control...

Government Resources.
October 1, 1999... Engineering and scientific researchers, as well as technical librarians, were shocked when Secretary of Commerce William M. Daley announced on August 12th that plans were underway to shut down the National Technical Information Service (NTIS)....

Composite disc couplings.
October 1, 1999... Drive trains in paper converting, food processing and printing systems often are subjected to changing loads that create shock and vibration. Zero-Max CD Composite Disc couplings handle these changing loads by damping shock and vibration. The...

Pneumatic couplings.
October 1, 1999... These couplings feature a non-marking polyurethane cover that protects finished surfaces in assembly applications. The E-Z-mate coupler is an exhaust-style, push-to-connect coupling that is compatible with industrial interchange nipples. The...

Metric set screw collars.
October 1, 1999... These collars are offered in both carbon steel and type 303 stainless steel, with bore sizes from 4mm to 50mm. Also available are one- and two-piece clamp-style designs with bore sizes from 3mm to 80mm. All collars are single-point faced and,...

Flame-retardant polyurethane.
October 1, 1999... Estane 58244 thermo-plastic polyurethane (TPU) is a V-O rated, 90A polyether material that exhibits limited smoke and toxicity generation, and good flame retardancy. The material contains no halogens as additives in the compound, providing an...

Slurry aluminizing process.
October 1, 1999... Serm Alcote offers an alternative to many industria1 pack and vapor-phase aluminizing processes used for producing protective coatings on gas turbine hot section ponents. SermAlcote-based processes have be developed to meet common commercial...

Flexible epoxy coating.
October 1, 1999... BIO-GARD 257 is a two-part epoxy with internal Kevlar microfibers that provide strength and durability. The product is non-Haz-Mat and does not contain methyleneadinaniline (MDA). The coating can be applied and will cure underwater. Unique to...

New Material for DVDs.
October 1, 1999... Brings Down Production Cost CYRO Industries' research and development program has introduced a new molding compound for the future of DVDs. The world of information will be given a view of the future for new DVD formats and their...