Designfax articles from October 2004

Designfax archives from October 2004

Correction.(Correction Notice)
October 1, 2004... On page 23 of the September issue, the second Wall Clock Time (2 CPUs) was supposed to be 1,107 seconds, not 11107 seconds. We apologize for any misunderstanding or confusion.--rsm--

Happy anniversary, hot stuff.(Layer One)
October 1, 2004... Introduced and patented in 1954 as the first swaged cartridge heater, the Firerod from Watlow Electric Mfg. Co., St Louis, MO, continues in its 50th year to serve the global heating element market, despite competitor imitation of the technology...

Wetware filtration.(Up Front)
October 1, 2004... Because of the volume of data we Western city-dwellers are expected to process in a given day, our brains have built up sophisticated filters to help cope with decision-making. When you drive up to an intersection on a boulevard, with shopping...

Flat panel speakers for PDAs.(Five Star Product Of The Month)
October 1, 2004... Since 1925, when Chester Rice and Edward Kellogg from General Electric published their paper on the basic principles of coil-driven, mass-controlled diaphragm speakers, their design has been the standard for electric speakers. There have been...

Powered flower.(Technology Spotlight)
October 1, 2004... The therapeutic power of flowers takes on new meaning with a Japanese gadget that turns plants into audio speakers, making the petals and leaves tremble with vibrations. Called Ka-on, which means "flower sound" in Japanese, the machine consists...

Hurricane-proof stucco.(Technology Spotlight)
October 1, 2004... With the US receiving three major hurricanes within seven weeks this summer, and Japan experiencing a higher-than-average number of typhoons, hopeful news comes with the announcement of a stucco coating so tough it can resist hurricane-force...

Solar-powered oil skimmer.(News From The Green File)
October 1, 2004... Designed to aid in cradle-to-grave responsibilities, the solar-powered PetroXtractor removes oil, fuel and other hydrocarbons from groundwater using recovery or monitoring wells, which often require operation in extremely remote areas. Since...

Polymer compatible with lead-free soldering.(News From The Green File)
October 1, 2004... Commercial pressures and environmental legislation restricting the use of lead are driving the electronics industry to use lead-free materials in all assemblies. The move to lead-free soldering systems raises both the processing temperature and...

Oil-free compression pump.(News From The Green File)
October 1, 2004... Offering an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional oil-sealed piston vacuum pumps, the ScrewLine SP 630 dry compression vacuum pump is rated for a pumping speed of 371 cfm and 7.5 x [10.sup.-3] torr vacuum. Features include: no...

Glow-in-the-dark polymers.(Top Product)
October 1, 2004... * long-lasting luminescence * flexible or rigid The KelBrite family of polymers glows in the dark for more than eight hours. Because of a combination of a new luminescence agent, polymer formulation and loading, the product can be...

Surface protection.(Materials)
October 1, 2004... Offered in 30, 40, 50 and 100 [micro]m thicknesses, Series 9019 coextruded protective polyolefin film is used to protect polycarbonate, pure polystyrene, PVC and other plastics against scratches and dirt during assembly, handling, storage and...

Polycarbonate.(Materials)
October 1, 2004... Designed for use in applications requiring high heat and impact resistance, Makrolon DP1-1848 copolycarbonate has a notched Izod impact strength of 50 kJ/[m.sup.2] at -60[degrees]C and after heat aging (135[degrees]C for 24+ days), a Vicat...

Insulation.(Materials)
October 1, 2004... Made from borosilicate glass fibers bonded with a thermosetting resin, Valulite Fiberglass Insulation is a lightweight, highly resilient blanket-type thermal and acoustical material effective at temperatures of up to 350[degrees]F. The glass...

Miniature alumina ceramic components.(Materials)
October 1, 2004... These dry-pressed alumina ceramic components are manufactured in outer dimensions ranging from 0.020-to 2-in. They are designed for miniature electronic devices, including telecommunications, appliance and electronic applications. Millions of...

Fine powder.(Materials)
October 1, 2004... Rilsan Active fine powder contains an antimicrobial agent based on the Sanitized Silver technology to produce coatings that offer long-term protection against bacterial growth. Tests conducted in-house and confirmed independently have shown...

Custom plastic parts.(Materials)
October 1, 2004... This company is a ISO 9002 and 14000-certified manufacturer of precision-engineered custom plastic parts. It performs plastic insert and injection molding and overmolding using such resins as Ryton, Xtel, LCP, PBT, PPO, ABS and elastomers among...

Glass-mica ceramic.(Materials)
October 1, 2004... Mykroy/Mycalex inorganic glass-mica ceramic is available in machinable and moldable grades. The former are simple to machine using standard tooling for complex designs. The latter are transfer-molded without any post firing, allowing them to...

Aluminum fabrication.(Materials)
October 1, 2004... This company is capable of many types of aluminum fabrication techniques, including casting, machining, extruding, welding and brazing. Finished end products include cold plates, heat exchangers and other custom thermal management devices....

Precision parts.(Materials)
October 1, 2004... This company manufactures precision parts using high-speed CNC turning and milling machines. They are also capable of jig boring, large-capacity wire EDM processes with auto threading, and surface and cylindrical grinding. With their small- and...

Thermoplastic compounds.(Materials)
October 1, 2004... The Thermocomp HSG thermoplastic compounds are available in lightweight densities ranging from 2.0 to 5.0 specific gravity. They feature a combination of resins and high-density fillers and can be used to produce injection molded and extruded...

Double disc grinding process.(Materials)
October 1, 2004... This double disc grinding process is capable of producing ultra-thin ceramic substrates that exhibit good flatness, parallelism and finish specifications. These products are found in such applications as electrical, electronic, structural,...

Masking caps and plugs.(Materials)
October 1, 2004... This company offers caps, plugs, flange covers and masking products to protect threads, ports and bores from damage during painting, plating, powder coating, shot blasting, shipping and storage. Materials include flexible vinyl, polyethylene,...

Nano stainless steel.(Application Xtra)
October 1, 2004... * formable * harden-able Where competition is fierce and market-share critical for success, innovation and product development are the life blood of consumer product manufacturers. One such manufacturer is Philips, which manufactures...

Couplings for aerospace/defense applications: V-Retainer design endures in high vibration and heat environments.(Cover Story)
October 1, 2004... Today's aerospace platforms present exotic design challenges for designers, from carbon fiber skins, to electronic control systems and high pressure, rapid-duty hydraulics. It's easy, therefore, to overlook the role of humbler components that,...

Miniature controller + driver.(Innovations)
October 1, 2004... A new thumb size controller + driver is the latest addition to this company's miniature motion control product line. Capable of controlling a DC brush motor in position, velocity or torque modes at 1A, 50V with quadrature encoder feedback, this...

Planetary roller screws.(Innovations)
October 1, 2004... The high efficiency and shallow lead design of the NRS roller screw provides very high axial resolution with a large multitude of contact points for carrying large loads. The assemblies feature nuts with threaded rollers, instead of bearing...

Synchronous motor.(Innovations)
October 1, 2004... Setting three stator poles 120 degrees apart in this motor, then building the stator windings with two coils (one connected to a capacitor), creates a geometric shift in stator polarity of less than a 180-degree step. The capacitor creates a...

Linear servomotor.(Innovations)
October 1, 2004... This direct drive device operates via magnetic circuits consisting only of permanent magnets and coils. A coreless construction eliminates cogging, and the absence of friction makes for quiet running. The servomotor has a resolution of 0.14 nm,...

High temperature labels.(Innovations)
October 1, 2004... Jumbo-CelsiDot temperature detectors are easily applied, large-faced excess temperature recording labels available in 40 different levels from 40[degrees] to 260[degrees]C. When a label's temperature rating has been exceeded, the Jumbo-CelsiDot...

Right-angle gearhead.(Top Product)
October 1, 2004... * efficiency >96% * backlash The HG+ right-angle gearhead solves longstanding inefficiencies associated with right-angle applications. Shifting into single-stage gearing technology, the HG+ achieves an efficiency above 96% with...

BLDC gearmotor.(Power Transmission)
October 1, 2004... Offering up to 300 lb-in. of output torque over a variable speed range of 1 to 30 rpm, the GF-bldc gearmotor combines a heavy-duty GF gearbox with a 2.25-in. double ball bearing BLDC motor featuring quiet operation, extended life and high...

Induction/reversible gearmotors.(Power Transmission)
October 1, 2004... This company has expanded its SEI lines of AC induction and reversible gearmotors to include 4, 6, 10, 15, 40, 60, 90, 120 and 140W motors (44 models) integrated with 3:1 through 180:1 ratio gearheads (22 different ratios). Torque ratings from...

Drive system.(Power Transmission)
October 1, 2004... The Drive One product line is available as a Complete Drive System for conveyor applications. Offered in 9 sizes of pre-engineered assemblies, all are mounted on a common swingbase, which is shaft mounted via the company's TA Taper bushing...

Speed reducers.(Power Transmission)
October 1, 2004... Designed for applications that experience aggressive washdown, heavy shock loading or frequent motor changes, the QC700 series worm gear speed reducer uses a quick-connect coupling system to enable the motor to connect/disconnect from the...

DC micro gearmotors.(Power Transmission)
October 1, 2004... Suited for robotics and compact applications, the 12GN series of 12 mm geared DC micro motors offer high torque in a small size. Measuring 12 x 10 x 29 mm from terminals to tip of shaft, and weighing 8.7g, they offer a starting torque of 300...

Oil-shear clutch/brakes.(Power Transmission)
October 1, 2004... Economically delivering near-servo speed and precision, the Posidyne X Class oil-shear clutch/brakes provide 24/7 reliability and up to tenfold service life over dry-clutch brakes. They are available in 4 model sizes fitting drives up to 10 hp...

Combination clutch-slip device.(Application Xtra)
October 1, 2004... * protects operators * protects drive gears When Bosch created a new line of professional hedge trimmers for the vast hedgerows that populate the UK and European countrysides, it needed a tool that was both powerful and safe. One of...

Gearing up-front: engineering thermoplastics offer cost/weigh savings and design flexibility.
October 1, 2004... Plastic gears first emerged into large-scale use in the 1950s and soon became economical and functional alternatives to metal gears. Early plastic gears had diameters of 2 in. or less and were made of inexpensive commodity plastics for use in...

Linear actuators.(Motion Products)
October 1, 2004... The Portescap 20DAM Series of digital linear actuators provides linear force up to 108 oz, linear step resolution of 0.001-, 0.002- and 0.004-in., and 2.5W of power for fast response times and precise positioning accuracy. The devices are...

Stand-alone driver/controller.(Motion Products)
October 1, 2004... The R164 is capable of producing up to 1.5[A.sub.PEAK] current with a power supply input of 12 to 40 VDC, and step resolutions from 1/2 to 1/64. The driver/controller features fully programmable ramps and speeds, software selectable hold and...

Single axis controller.(Motion Products)
October 1, 2004... The SRCD controller features three conventional operating modes--program operation; operation by specifying points from a PLC; and operation by command from a PLC--plus enhanced operation via inputting a pulse train, which allows for broader...

Motion processor developer's kit.(Motion Products)
October 1, 2004... An integrated board and software package permits designers to evaluate and exercise this company's Magellan family of motion processors for advanced control applications. After interfacing to an external amplifier and motor, the user can apply...

Miniature linear servo motors.(Motion Products)
October 1, 2004... The LEU Series of ironless core, brushless linear motors produces up to 26 lbs of peak force, with an overall width of just 18 mm. They are offered in two coil heights--15 mm for the LEU-15, and 30 mm for the LEU-30. The LEU-15 has coil lengths...

Miniature two-phase stepping motors.(Motion Products)
October 1, 2004... The PK25 series of miniature stepping motors have a 1.97 in. frame size, and are available in lengths of 2.03- and 3.19-in. These motors produce holding torques of 119 and 220 oz-in., respectively, in bipolar excitation mode. With 48 VDC and...

AC induction motor.(Motion Products)
October 1, 2004... This size 39 frame inverter duty motor operates at 230 VAC with a standard phase inverter drive. Variable speed operation from 550 to 4400 rpm optimizes control. Configured in 2- and 4-pole designs, power output is rated at 1/6 to 1/2 hp, and...

Low profile DC motor.(Motion Products)
October 1, 2004... Designed for applications where high torque needs to be produced in a limited space, the 000-0317 brushless kit motor can deliver in excess of 75 oz-in, of torque from a 0.51-in. profile and a 3.77-in. dia. Operating voltage is 12V, and...

Linear/servo drive.(Motion Products)
October 1, 2004... The SimpliIQ drive family has been enhanced with the addition of the SIN/COS feedback with internal interpolation. The freely adjustable interpolation function multiplies the analog encoder signals by 4x to 4096x, producing high resolutions for...

Heavy duty actuators.(Motion Products)
October 1, 2004... A line of AC and DC actuators and integrated modular actuators can handle load ranges up to 2000 lbs. The linear actuators are offered in a 1500 lb range, in both 115 VAC and 12 VDC, with standard strokes of 3-, 6-, 12- and 18-in. Integrated...

Piezo motor for linear or rotary.(Motion Products)
October 1, 2004... The HR Series of piezoelectric motors offers a speed range from several microns per sec to 250 mm/sec. Size ranges from a single element that can provide 0.45 kg of force, to an eight element motor capable of providing 3.6 kg of force. The...

Open-loop stepping system.(Motion Products)
October 1, 2004... The SureStep family of products includes four standard motors, a "one-size-fits-all" step motor drive, and a power supply. With holding torques ranging from 83 to 434 oz-in, in NEMA size 17, 23 or 34 frames, the motors handle a wide range of...

Resolver-compatible servo amp.(Motion Products)
October 1, 2004... Resolver sensors deliver absolute motor position feedback, from which commutation commands can be derived, permitting replacement of both encoder and Hall sensors. They are also suited to harsh environments. Xenus amplifiers, for driving brush...

Pipings & fittings.(Top Product)
October 1, 2004... * resists acids and solvents * handles wide range of temperatures Designed as an alternative for applications where high grade metals fail and PFA/PTFE are too expensive, Halar pipings and fittings offer a material composed of a...

Convoluted PTFE tubing.(Tubing, Hoses & Connectors)
October 1, 2004... Produced to MIL-T-81914/variants 1-6 in both standard and extra flexible, this convoluted PTFE tubing protects wire harnesses, tubing, hose and cable. It is lightweight and resists abrasion. Continuous operating temperature is -454[degrees] to...

Component catalog.(Tubing, Hoses & Connectors)
October 1, 2004... This manufacturer's 2005 Components Catalog offers stock and custom-made OEM disposable components, including luers, ports, caps, Touhy-Borst adapters, USP Class VI tubing, spikes, instrument guards, drip chambers, filters, hemostasis valves,...

Ultrapure flexible tubing.(Tubing, Hoses & Connectors)
October 1, 2004... Designed for high-purity applications, Sygef PVDF HP Flex tubing offers an economical alternative to PFA and FEP resin based tubing systems. Available in 1/4-, 3/8-, 1/2-, 3/4-and 1-in. sizes, the tubing can handle 150 psi and high temperatures...

Tubing.(Tubing, Hoses & Connectors)
October 1, 2004... This CD-ROM catalog describes the company's complete line of fluoro-plastomer tubing. The tubing is used in medical, automotive, chemical processing, aerospace and fiber optic applications. In addition, fluid handling tubing ranges in size from...

Multi-barbed fittings.(Tubing, Hoses & Connectors)
October 1, 2004... Offered in 5 plastics--nylon-6, high-density polyethylene, PVDF, natural polypropylene and black polypropylene--Thermobarb multibarbed fittings are precision molded and provide high impact strength and excellent chemical resistance....

Heat-shrinkable tubing.(Tubing, Hoses & Connectors)
October 1, 2004... Polyolefin heat shrink tubing is offered in 14 expanded sizes ranging from 3/64- up to 4-in. dia., with shrink ratios from 2:1 to 6:1 for accommodating irregular shaped objects and large in-line connectors. Suitable for protecting, insulating...

Ring sensors.(Tubing, Hoses & Connectors)
October 1, 2004... Suited for use in part detection through feeding and tubes systems or parts ejection control, the Ni100R-S32XL-VP44X-H1141 inductive ring sensors offers a 100 mm dia. ring and a 4-wire 10-55 VDC sensor with integral circuitry to protect against...

Pressure-reducing regulators.(Tubing, Hoses & Connectors)
October 1, 2004... Ten models of pressure-reducing regulators offer accurate, consistent pressures to processes and equipment. Available in a variety of piston- and diaphragm-type designs, all models feature a t captured inlet gauze-type filter and fine pitch...

Reinforced flexible hose.(Tubing, Hoses & Connectors)
October 1, 2004... RFH Plus hose is a thermoplastic rubber coated polyester fabric hose that features a reinforcing wire helix and will not flake during repeated flexing. Operating at -60[degrees] to 325[degrees]F, the hose resists punctures, tears, most...

Quick-connect fittings.(Tubing, Hoses & Connectors)
October 1, 2004... These fittings combine the easy functionality of the company's Push Quick series with the flexibility and security of the MJQC Quick Connect line with no circuit interruption. Suited to provide an easy connection point for a temporary function...

DIN fittings.(Tubing, Hoses & Connectors)
October 1, 2004... Available in over 260 popular styles and sizes, these DIN hydraulic fittings are manufactured for extreme pressure applications. These DIN fittings are manufactured to high standards and consistent quality. They are approved by all major...

Foam fastening: pneumatic tool offers alternative to adhesives for mattresses.(Tech Upgrade)
October 1, 2004... Typically, foam layers in pillow-top mattresses are stacked one by one, with adhesive or glue applied between each layer. After the layers are joined, setting and curing is often required. The use of hot-melt glues and adhesives are common...

Liquid riveting.(Top Product)
October 1, 2004... * reduces manufacturing costs * increases quality bonds As an alternative to conventional riveting, liquid riveting "shrink-locks" small components, creating a strong mechanical bond. Molten zinc alloy offers high tensile and shear...

Food-grade epoxy.(Fasteners & Adhesives)
October 1, 2004... The dual-component EP48 low viscosity epoxy adhesive/sealant/coating fully conforms to FDA 1-175-105 and 1-173.300 for food applications. The epoxy features high physical strength properties. It can withstand prolonged immersion in water,...

Coiled spring pins.(Fasteners & Adhesives)
October 1, 2004... The 316 stainless steel coiled pin is suited fur highly corrosive environments, including marine and petrochemical applications. As compared to 302/304 stainless, 316 offers high nickel content and molybdenum alloy to increase corrosion...

Screw system.(Fasteners & Adhesives)
October 1, 2004... The StickScrew system provides a fast, accurate and efficient method for small-screw insertion. Sticks of up to 110 serially connected hex-head screws, in thread sizes #0-80 to #8-32 and M2 to M3, are inserted via the company's lightweight...

Adhesive curing.(Fasteners & Adhesives)
October 1, 2004... The DryIR Model 6030 heater can concentrate infrared heat directly to the desired area, resulting in immediate evaporation. The dryer is suited for water- and solvent-based drying as well as adhesive curing. The non-contact heat source targets...

Plastic welding.(Fasteners & Adhesives)
October 1, 2004... The K35-XT ultrasonic plastic welding system combines a rigid cast alloy column for weld consistency with automatic tooling protection. Computer control, position sensing and precise servomotor control work in unison to prevent accidental...

Adhesive melter.(Fasteners & Adhesives)
October 1, 2004... DuraBlue100 adhesive melters offer full feature control for automatic dispensing applications. The 100-liter melters feature preset speed AC motors with high-output gerotor gear pumps fur low maintenance hot melt adhesive application. A...

Double-ended studs.(Fasteners & Adhesives)
October 1, 2004... Offered in various materials--such as alloy steel, MP35N, MP159, Aerex 350, Waspaloy, H-11, A286, Alloy 718 and titanium--in strength levels from 160 to 200 ksi, these double-ended studs are available in sizes from #10 to 1-in. dia. These...

Sub-zero adhesive.(Fasteners & Adhesives)
October 1, 2004... Exhibiting exceptional bond strength at sub-zero temperatures Tra-Bond 724-14C polyurethane adhesive can be used for tacking wires or as a protective coating. The adhesive bonds to various substrates, such as aluminum, steel, solder, nylon and...

Sandable adhesive.(Fasteners & Adhesives)
October 1, 2004... Plastic Welder SD sandable adhesive bonds PPO, PVC, various polyesters, polycarbonates, styrenics and composites where filler material must be sanded to a smooth nonporous finish. Its low exotherm formula exhibits no expansion or foaming, and...

Tack-free adhesives.(Fasteners & Adhesives)
October 1, 2004... These low-energy single-component light cure adhesives are specially designed or plastic and metal/ glass bonding, Loctite 3944 fluorescent light-cure adhesive obtains a tack-free surface in Henkel Corp., Rocky Hill, CT Circle 222, or...

Light-cure materials guide.(Fasteners & Adhesives)
October 1, 2004... The Guide to Selecting and Using Light Curing Materials includes sections on choosing a light curing adhesive or coating, typical product properties, comparative advantages/disadvantages vs other assembly technologies, selecting curing...

Miniature fasteners.(Fasteners & Adhesives)
October 1, 2004... This company's BLUE nylon self-locking patch can be applied to fasteners as small as #00 and M1.0, to make the miniature fasteners vibration resistant. The pre-applied elements provide a reliable hold suitable for the needs of information...

Fail-safe fastener.(Application Xtra)
October 1, 2004... * mechanical locking * no reported failures "The fatal flaw in too many production lines is failing to protect the critical joints with suitable fasteners. Companies will spend tons of money bulletproofing major components, yet neglect...

POL DC/DC converter.(Top Product)
October 1, 2004... * quiet operation * plug-and-play The LSA 10A series of 10A non-isolated point-of-load DC/DC converters have the standard 6-pin SMT form factor. Shipped in the standard tape-and-reel packaging for high-speed automatic assembly onto...

Transformers.(Power Sources)
October 1, 2004... This company's high isolation voltage transformers--RF transformers and inductors, gate drivers, uni- and bi-polar transformers--are designed for BIL ratings up to 60 kV and for corona inception/extinction voltages to 40,000 [V.sub.RMS] at 60...

Rectifiers.(Power Sources)
October 1, 2004... A line of Schottky barrier rectifiers is now packaged in a high current PowerDI 123 compact power package, offering a highly thermally efficient component. The package offers interlocking-clip construction and flat lead frame heat sink solder...

Film capacitor.(Power Sources)
October 1, 2004... Designed specifically for high power DC filter applications, the UL31 ultra-low inductance film capacitor series offers superior electrical and physical properties. The thermoplastic enclosure results in improved thermal conductivity and...

Switchmode transformer.(Power Sources)
October 1, 2004... The SPP-3003 printed circuit mount transformer for AC/DC converter applications is designed for use in conjunction with the TNY254 Tiny Switch integrated off-line switching power supply chip. Applications include inputs of 85 to 265 VAC and 2...

High-current inductors.(Power Sources)
October 1, 2004... Designed to prevent overheating and subsequent poor performance, the LL low loss series of high current toroid power inductors incorporates a Magnetics Kool M[micro] or equivalent toroid core. These distributed air gap cores are made from...