Designfax articles from September 2002

Designfax archives from September 2002

All you need to know about solenoid valves. (Advertisement).
September 1, 2002... * WE'RE TOUGH. * WE'RE TESTED. * WE'RE QUALITY. * Vaccum to 3,000 psi, direct current to 400 cycles, 1 - 1,000 volts, power requirements from 1/2 watt. * Tens of thousands of body, housing, coil, and manifold mounting options...

Growth report. (Up Front).
September 1, 2002... While attending the wedding of a friend's son not long ago, I heard someone comment to the groom's mother, just before the ceremony began, "So, what's been new?" If this hadn't been stated in sincerity I would have ignored it but, thought I,...

Design software.
September 1, 2002... New sizes just added! Free software is now available that allows engineers to search through thousands of standard retaining rings and wave springs. Utilize interactive design wizards to create custom rings and springs. Input assembly...

The new Spring in Town[R].
September 1, 2002... WAVO[R] SPRINGS are a new round wire wave spring which offer accurate high force loading. Wavo Springs have the ability to fit in tight radial spaces, and have greater deflection than Bellevilles. Stock sizes are available in carbon...

New snap ring series.
September 1, 2002... A single turn snap ring is used in this application to keep the piston secure within the valve body. A Smalley Snap Ring has no ears to interfere with the mating components in the assembly. Stock sizes are available from 1/2" to 11" in...

Alloy-ed forces: combined elements exhibit plastic behavior, amorphous structure. (Five Star Product of the Month).
September 1, 2002... A discussion of futuristic materials technology has a tendency to bring to mind popular Hollywood movies, including "The Graduate" ("Remember one word, my boy: plastics!"), "Star Trek IV -- The Voyage Home" ("Aluminum glass!"), and the second...

Dublin's Media Lab Europe. (Technology Spotlight).
September 1, 2002... Two researchers in Dublin's Media Lab Europe have designed a tooth that could be used to wirelessly receive 3 digital signals from a mobile phone. James Auger and Jimmy Loizeau, who are now researchers at Media Lab Europe, came up with the idea...

Toshiba Corporation. (Technology Spotlight).
September 1, 2002... Toshiba Corporation announced development of the world's first large flexible liquid crystal display, opening the way to the display of images on curved screens and moving toward the long-term goal of foldable LCDs. The new display is a full...

Liquid blackener. (Materials).
September 1, 2002... * low boiling point * meets MIL specs PX-5-L single-component blackening agent for stainless steels -- including martensitic, ferritic, austenitic and Duplex -- also works with cast and malleable irons. This quick-acting blackener is a...

Thermoplastic rubbers. (Materials).
September 1, 2002... Septon 4077, a SEEPS polymer, is suited for compounders seeking soft-touch and good physical properties. The melt-processable hydrogenated styrenic block copolymer exhibits rubber like properties over a wide range of temperatures while...

Tint mix system. (Materials).
September 1, 2002... Specifically designed to meet the demands of stringent application processes and performance specifications, the DynaMatch tint mix system simplifies custom paint purchasing and color formulation processes. Using just one set of 16 high-pigment...

Materials testing CD-ROM. (Materials).
September 1, 2002... The Materials Testing Interactive Training Tool allows users to interact with text and images, follow detailed explanations of material characterizations, and see working demonstrations and video clips from experts in the field. Virtual rooms...

Rapid prototyping for metals. (Materials).
September 1, 2002... This company has introduced Quick Turn prototyping service for its controlled expansion (CE) Al-Si and SiAl alloy machined parts. Five alloy grades are tailored to suit expansion coefficients of typical microelectronic substrates and devices....

Overmolding. (Materials).
September 1, 2002... PolyTect soft molding product line has three new base materials: PolyTack is suited for applications where adhesion to all the components is required for mechanical strength and environmental protection; PolyFlex is designed for situations...

Non-radioactive tungsten. (Materials).
September 1, 2002... Designed for electrode applications, TriMix multi-dopant-blend tungsten takes the best qualities of three rare-earth tungstens and combines them into on new non-radioactive tungsten. The new mix provides reliable arc starting, especially after...

Stainless rebar. (Materials).
September 1, 2002... Several grades of high-strength stainless steel rebar include spiral ribbed rebar to resist corrosion in marine and chemical-plant applications, non-magnetic rebar for electric motors and MRI equipment applications. Four alloys --2205, 316LN,...

Polymers. (Materials).
September 1, 2002... The RP6600 series general-purpose injection molding compound is designed for applications requiring a soft-touch feel and good surface aesthetics and colorability. Facilitating complex mold geometry, four black and natural FDA-compliant grades...

Specular solarlight sheeting. (Application Xtra).
September 1, 2002... * Film eliminates delamination * Can be cut, formed and back-welded One innovative system of natural illumination for household and commercial room space relies on the reflectance of its interior tube material. Recently, various...

High-end design and hand craftsmanship make fast parts: modern design and manufacturing tools give racing team reproducible results.
September 1, 2002... Hendrick Motorsports, started by Rick Hendrick as All-Star Racing in 1984, has grown from a one-car race team to a six-team operation located on a 70-acre racing complex in Charlotte, NC, close to Lowe's Motor Speedway near Charlotte. The...

Ultrasonic distance sensors. (Electrical/Electronics: Sensors & Transducers).
September 1, 2002... * dual output * rugged case Only 4 in. long and housed in a 30 mm threaded stainless steel case, the TS-30S1 line of ToughSonic sensors measures distances from 6 in. up to 14 ft, even in wet or dirty environments. The non-contact devices...

Photodiode array. (Electrical/Electronics: Sensors & Transducers).
September 1, 2002... This monolithic 16 element linear silicon avalanche photodiode array, based on a NearIR enhanced APD processing design, has a spectral response range of 400-1100 am. Each element produces an output of approximately 60 amps per watt at the...

Diffuse sensor. (Electrical/Electronics: Sensors & Transducers).
September 1, 2002... The E3NT-L combines double-triangulated optics and 2-part diodes for true and reliable accuracy that can sense any object, color, texture or glossiness from any direction. All parameters can be programmed through sensor support software. An...

Signal conditioner. (Electrical/Electronics: Sensors & Transducers).
September 1, 2002... Designed for DIN-rail mounting, the Model 682A03 ICP sensor signal conditioner converts analog voltage measurements of industrial vibration sensors into 4-20 mA signals. A choice of rms or peak acceleration, velocity or displacement output...

Miniature prox. (Electrical/Electronics: Sensors & Transducers).
September 1, 2002... The SUPERPROX Model SM300FP Series is a low cost, ultrasonic proximity sensor that combines a small, flat-profile housing with reliable detection of all materials from 0.25- to 4.00-in, from the sensor face. The 30 mm device is rated both NEMA...

Triaxial accelerometer. (Electrical/Electronics: Sensors & Transducers).
September 1, 2002... Measuring simultaneous acceleration signals in three orthogonal axes, the 8290A25 is housed in a cube-shaped package with a notched corner that helps identification of orientation when working in tight areas. A ceramic sensing element is...

Piezo pressure sensor. (Electrical/Electronics: Sensors & Transducers).
September 1, 2002... Specifically designed for cost-sensitive applications, the Model 7280 Series compensated piezoresistive pressure sensor provides calibrated performances over a wide temperature range. Ranges are available from 0 to 5 psi through 0 to 100 psi. A...

Barometric sensor. (Electrical/Electronics: Sensors & Transducers).
September 1, 2002... Designed for high volume, on/off highway applications, the P4050 pressure sensor can withstand high vibrations, submergence in water, electromagnetic noise, and is salt-spray tolerant. The piezoresistive device tolerates temperatures of...

Thin profile position sensor. (Electrical/Electronics: Sensors & Transducers).
September 1, 2002... The Series 7000 angular position sensor measures less than 8 mm thick without housing. The non-contact device features a true 360-degree absolute rotary position feedback in a fully sealed package, with multiple outputs with up to four...

Linear sensor arrays. (Electrical/Electronics: Sensors & Transducers).
September 1, 2002... Two longer, faster 200 DPI-configuration arrays can be used in applications such as contact imaging, mark and code reading, edge-detection and positioning, level detection, and linear and rotational encoding. The TSL 2014 (shown) measures 4.4...

Light trailers roll on controlled air. (Application Xtra).
September 1, 2002... * accelerometers improve suspension systems * added service in leveling Suspension systems augmented with pneumatic bladders have been gaining popularity over the years with cargo truck agencies. The improved ride means that products...

SMA mini-actuators. (Innovations).
September 1, 2002... Based on research that has made shape-memory alloy reliable, these nickel-titanium, 125g NM125 mini actuators are reported to be five times more energy efficient with less heat generated, at 5% of the weight and less than 1% of the cost of...

Miniature double nut ball screws. (Innovations).
September 1, 2002... Equipped with a spring preloaded double nut, Series 1510 ball screws effectively compensate for torque variations arising from inaccuracies in the ground thread. The result is highly smooth motion with near-constant idling torque. A secondary...

Infinitely adjustable speed drives. (Innovations).
September 1, 2002... This company's Adjustable Speed Drives provide infinitely adjustable output speed control from 0 to 400 rpm with an 1800 rpm input speed, eliminating the need for expensive AC/DC drives or variable pitch belt drives. They are designed for...

Pneumatic slide & clamp. (Innovations).
September 1, 2002... The Series PS Reach and Pick clamp is powered by only one external valve. Units are available in three standard stroke lengths adjustable from full stroke down to 1/2 in. stroke. The clamp jaws stay open until the slide is fully extended, and...

Non-servo rotary indexer. (Innovations).
September 1, 2002... Designed to provide angular rotation in small increments in either direction without the complication of servo systems, the B*A*S*E Rotary indexer achieves a high level of accuracy with pneumatically-driven shot pins for both driving force and...

Sealed encoder. (Innovations).
September 1, 2002... Designed for use in caustic, fine-dust, saline or similar environments, Model 725 size 25 Superseal optical shaft encoders sport double O-rings in the case seal and two Teflon seals in the bearing assembly. Additional sealing around the cable...

The slow speeds of surgery: surgical robots continue to perform operations and get FDA approvals in this country. Several key components in these robots are motors that provide non-cogging operation even at low speeds.
September 1, 2002... Coronary surgery via robotic manipulators Surgery performed today using the da Vinci Surgical System allows surgeons to perform the most minimally invasive procedures to date. The unit, manufactured by Intuitive Surgical Inc, Sunnyvale, CA,...

Linear motor actuators. (Motion Spotlight: Motors & Drives).
September 1, 2002... * faster than ball screw * greater accuracy than belt drive Using a high-power brushless linear servomotor allows the LMA series to provide a no-load acceleration of 3g and a top speed of 3 m/s, for increased throughput over other...

Adjustable frequency drives. (Motion Spotlight: Motors & Drives).
September 1, 2002... The VLT 4000 VT Series is designed to meet performance and reliability demands of variable torque applications. Features include built-in harmonic distortion protection, and comprehensive protection of the drive, motor and process equipment....

Brushed 26 mm motors. (Motion Spotlight: Motors & Drives).
September 1, 2002... Series 8690 LO-COG 26 mm DC motors feature 7-slot skewed armatures for reduced cogging, plus resin-impregnated windings for enhanced reliability. They are offered in lengths of 1.798-, 1.923and 2.173-in., and can provide continuous torque...

Monolithic motor controller. (Motion Spotlight: Motors & Drives).
September 1, 2002... Based on the company's HCO8 family of flash-based microcontrollers, the MC3PHAC is a preprogrammed, variable speed, three-phase AS motor control unit, designed for industrial and home applications. Features include volts-per-hertz speed...

Brush servoamplifier. (Motion Spotlight: Motors & Drives).
September 1, 2002... The all-digital Junus servoamp reduces the performance gap between brushed and brushless motor positioning systems. Working with the company's CME-2 programming software, the amplifier provides DC drive power for brushed servomotors and modem...

High-resolution micromotor. (Motion Spotlight: Motors & Drives).
September 1, 2002... Despite its 10 x 14.6 mm size, the AM 1020 two-phase stepper motor delivers 0.23 oz-in. of holding torque, with a temporary boost capability of 0.34 oz-in. Useful torque at 20,000 rpm is 0.02 ozin., with each full step of 18 degrees. It is...

Microdrive. (Motion Spotlight: Motors & Drives).
September 1, 2002... Dependable for variable speed industrial applications such as material handling, fans and pumps, the MD6O offers V/Hz operation from 1/4 to 5 HP. Available in 115-, 230- and 460-VAC ratings, the drive features a built-in LED display and keypad,...

Linear drive assembly. (Motion Spotlight: Motors & Drives).
September 1, 2002... This drive assembly automatically adjusts the tool head stroke length and reversal without programming or complex controls. Designed for use in high-volume production and in assembly lines where it is necessary to gradually increase or decrease...

Compact planetary gearmotors. (Motion Spotlight: Motors & Drives).
September 1, 2002... These 16 mm gearmotors have a speed range of 7 to 3,000 rpm, and can be ordered for voltages from 1 to 36 VDC. Torque ranges are from 1 to 30 oz-in, with up to 90% efficiency. The 1.5 oz units are offered with 1, 2, 3 or 4 stages in standard...

Linear actuator. (Motion Spotlight: Motors & Drives).
September 1, 2002... The LC series is sized at just 15 mm, with a step increment of 0.02 mm. Delivering over 4N of thrust, this device is suitable for applications such as office equipment, optics, machinery automation, medical instrumentation and other automated...

Control module. (Motion Spotlight: Motors & Drives).
September 1, 2002... Offering dual-axis control for brush, brushless (AC servo) and AC induction motors, the SB1292D combines advanced programmable motion control and an all-digital drive. The SB Series has a multiprocessor, distributed-control design with a 20 MHz...

Motor speed control. (Motion Spotlight: Motors & Drives).
September 1, 2002... The Model WMC140 Series DC control is designed for use with battery-powered, brush-type, permanent magnet motors, where forward and reverse control is required. The unit provides precise variable speed operation through MOSFET "PWM" technology....

Drum motors. (Motion Spotlight: Motors & Drives).
September 1, 2002... Explosion-proof internally-powered motors are available for belt conveyors in mining industry operations. The 12.5-in. dia. units feature cast iron external components to resist corrosion and contamination, plus a 30 HP motor and a standard...

Piezoelectric motors. (Motion Spotlight: Motors & Drives).
September 1, 2002... The HR-V and HR-UV Series motors are suited for service in vacuum environments. Capable of driving linear or rotary stages, the -V units are rated up to [10.sup.-7] Torr, while the -UV motors are rated up to [10.sup.-10] Torr. Sizes range from...

Abrasive dust-proof motors. (Motion Spotlight: Motors & Drives).
September 1, 2002... These motors are sealed with built-in O-rings, and include an air fitting for up to 15 psi of pressurization to lock out contamination. A shaft slinger keeps abrasive dusts attacking the shaft seal material. The motors are offered in industry...

Controller/driver. (Motion Spotlight: Motors & Drives).
September 1, 2002... The SMC-32 is an integrated controller/driver that can handle any 4-, 6- or 8-lead two/four phase stepping motor with currents up to 3A per phase, and at supply voltages up to 48V. The unit provides stepping rates up to 50,000 steps/sec, with...

High-force actuators. (Motion Products).
September 1, 2002... The Digit-HT series of compact linear actuators provides up to 440 lbs of force using a 35 VDC driver at 1.7 to 3.4A. Available in 2-, 4- and 8-in. stroke lengths, the actuators can travel at speeds up to 14 in./sec. The repeatability of these...

Potentiometer wipers. (Motion Products).
September 1, 2002... Sold as "do-it-yourself" kits, these element and rotor wiper assemblies provide 100,000,000 revolutions, offering smooth precision sensing with high resolution. The kits require no shaft housings or bearings, so their reduced size is only...

Stage system. (Motion Products).
September 1, 2002... The EasyLinear Profiled Rail Stage System is designed to use any brand of preferred profiled rail. Numerous drive options are offered, including multiple ballscrew leads, acme, hi-helix multi start, and lead screws with acetyl and polymatrix...

Self-contained encoders. (Motion Products).
September 1, 2002... This company has added 4 self-contained optical encoders to their product lines. The RHS15, RCH20 and RCH are hollow shaft units in sizes 1.6-in., 2.0-in. and 2.5-in. OD, with maximum resolutions of 1250, 8192 and 6000 pulses per revolution,...

Prox sensor control. (Motion Products).
September 1, 2002... This electronic rotation control (CRTP) measures the time gap between two signals supplied by a proximity sensor reading a revolving or cycling mechanism. When the time gap becomes greater than the preset value, the device activates. This...

Locking cylinder option. (Motion Products).
September 1, 2002... The VDMA (ISO) locking cylinder comes as an option on the company's externally powered Direct Connect thrusters and base slides. Bore sizes offered are 32, 50 and 63 mm, and the head and the locking device are built into a common block for a...

Dynamic brakes. (Motion Products).
September 1, 2002... A steel brake housing and additional mounting options are available for the 320 Series of armature-actuated electric disc brakes. The 320 is offered in three sizes -- Size 1.2, with a static torque rating of 3 lb-in.; Size 1.8, for 42C frame...

I/O controllers. (Motion Products).
September 1, 2002... A digital electronic I/O module can replace traditional relay logic to drive on/off solenoid or proportional solenoid circuits, including starter motors, brakes and hydraulic valves. Features of these modules can include valve drivers, safety...

Automotive torque sensors. (Motion Products).
September 1, 2002... The MCRT 27000V Series torque wheels accurately measure wheel torque and speed during driving, braking and coastdown maneuvers. Integral signal conditioners eliminate the need for external amplifiers, and the devices are waterproofed to permit...

Linear encoder. (Motion Products).
September 1, 2002... The accuracy of this long stroke, 100 mm linear encoder is better than one micron, with a resolution equal to 0.05 micron. Digital signals from the probe interface coordinate with a PC/PLC, digital probes or a variety of digital readouts. The...

Gas pressure monitor. (Motion Products).
September 1, 2002... The APM-3000 Automatic Pressure Monitor is designed for nitrogen gas systems. It includes 15 ft of hose and a female quick disconnect that can attach to the manifold or control panel. With the monitor, if pressure drops below a preset lower...

In-cylinder sensor. (Motion Products).
September 1, 2002... The TDP-100 hybrid sensor uses high-resistivity conductive plastic bonded to a precision wire-wound element to provide absolute analog output and 0.15% linearity, with no additional electronics required. The device safely within cylinders...

Nanomechanical testing. (Motion Products).
September 1, 2002... The Nano Bionix/UTM device combines the company's load actuation and displacement sensing technology for extremely accurate dynamic testing with very small forces. Targeted at polymer and biomaterial applications where very small forces create...

Stepper/servo brakes. (Motion Products).
September 1, 2002... Offered in sizes NEMA 23 and NEMA 34, the FEB (Front End Brake) Line is a compact power-off brake designed to be mounted on the front end of stepper or servo motors as a safety feature or load-holding. It is suited for such applications as...

Custom lead screws. (Motion Products).
September 1, 2002... This company offers a wide variety of custom products in addition to their lines of non-ball lead screws. Their standard product line experience includes standard diameters from 1/8- to 15/16-in., with standard leads from 0.02- to 3-in,...

IMTS Manufacturing Conference, McCormick Place, Chicago, Sept 4-11, 2002 (Designfax booth CL-80). (Product News: IMTS Show Preview).
September 1, 2002... Planetary gearboxes, Booth D-4222 GTM gearboxes mount directly to servomotors for high precision applications. The small internal cavity of the unit reduces noise to 10 dB lower than its nearest competitor. A large taper bearing allows high...

Taking the heat, clearly: redesigned medical thermometer withstands wash-downs, simplifies factory calibration. (Application Ideas).
September 1, 2002... The Fastemp Electronic Thermometer, manufactured by Kendall LTP, Hazelwood, MO, consists of a probe connected by a coiled cable to a handheld instrument with associated electronics and display. The original interconnect design had a form...

Producing medical parts efficiently with EDM: Al-based software, CMM help contractor produce parts from limited data.
September 1, 2002... New Jersey Precision Technologies Inc, Mountainside, NJ, gives design engineers an assist from software that automatically interprets a customer's CAD data and runs the shop's CNC EDM machines and machining centers. The 25-person shop performs...

Dual-channel converter: Space-efficient converter reduces power usage and board area requirements. (Editor's Choice).
September 1, 2002... "High performance combined with low power expenditure and a small footprint are 'must-have' features for the most demanding applications in the medical imaging [industry]," says Kevin Kattmann, product line director for high-speed converters at...

Thermistors. (Medical Products).
September 1, 2002... This company has introduced a complete line of thermistors including both positive (PTC) and negative (NTC) temperature coefficients, offering a selection from interchangeable, point-matched, surface mount and thin film models to life sciences...

Medical coatings. (Medical Products).
September 1, 2002... BioLAST specialty medical coatings are designed to be solvent-free, environmentally friendly, and easier to use than comparable products. All coatings within the BioLAST platform can be customized to meet specific needs, such as lubricity,...

Piston compressors. (Medical Products).
September 1, 2002... The 2660 series of WOB-L piston compressors have a one-piece cast aluminum head design that eliminates leakage and greatly reduces sound levels. The series is suited for medical equipment such as nebulizers, oxygen concentrators, surgical...

Head space gas analyzer. (Medical Products).
September 1, 2002... Designed to measure [O.sub.2] or [O.sub.2][CO.sub.2] in medical device packages, including those with very low headspace, CheckMate head space gas analyzers provide reliable, reproducible and failsafe testing and documentation to eliminate...

Wire coiling services. (Medical Products).
September 1, 2002... This company has advanced coiling machines for custom medical coiling with multi-axis controls and custom tensioning systems. Laser welding systems are capable of producing weld spot sizes as small as 0.0014-in. dia. Laser welding of exotic and...

Piezo switches. (Medical Products).
September 1, 2002... Designed for use in harsh applications, including medical equipment, the PBA series of piezo switches is offered in NO, NC, NO (pulse) and NC (pulse), and programmable output pulse length models. They have a life expectancy in excess of 50...

Pumps. (Medical Products).
September 1, 2002... Designed for medical applications where an economical positive displacement pump is needed, the UGP gear pump line is compact, allows complete mounting flexibility and requires no maintenance. Standard specifications include flows up to 0.5...

Pharmaceutical grade compounds. (Medical Products).
September 1, 2002... Three additions to the Chemraz family of perfluoroelastomers -- SD505, SD585 and SD605 -- are pharmaceutical grade compounds for seals and components. They have been tested to comply with requirements for low contamination in the form of...

Power supply. (Medical Products).
September 1, 2002... The FPFM600 600W switch-mode DC power supply has an AC input of 85-264 VAC, 47-63 Hz single phase and output of 24 VDC at 25A. It has power factor correction to EN61000-3-2 Class A and EMI filtering. The unit is fully enclosed in a compact 12-...

Medical adapter. (Medical Products).
September 1, 2002... Providing a reliable adapter with low leakage current, the PSS22U adapter switching power supply has a leakage current of less than 0.1 mA at 264 VAC. The adapter delivers up to 24W of power with many standard models with output voltages from...

Inert solenoid valve. (Medical Products).
September 1, 2002... Model PKV-2R molded inert isolation valves are molded of PPS and feature a PTFE isolation diaphragm and FPM valve seat seal. The two-way, solenoid-operated valves have a 6 mm orifice size and are well suited for controlling waste fluid lines on...

Inert connectors. (Medical Products).
September 1, 2002... These inert color-coded PTFE connectors have zero dead volume and are available in bore sizes of 0.03-, 0.06-and 0.19-in. Tubing sizes between 0.04-and 0.43-in, can be connected using either 0-rings or PTFE cones, and adapters are available to...