Design News articles from April 2004

Design News archives from April 2004

Comfort camping.(Fact)(Brief Article)
April 5, 2004... Second place winners in our Gadget Freak contest are Bruce Field and his daughter Ellie for their climate-controlled tent, cooled by a compressor. Next up for Field: A solid-state electronic-based cooling system.

Patent primer.(Fact)(Brief Article)
April 5, 2004... The non-profit organization Invent Now, in conjunction with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, offers step-by-step information on how to file for a patent at www.invent.org.

Academic patents.(Fact)(top ten patent receiving american universities)(Brief Article)
April 5, 2004... Top ten universities receiving patents in 2003: * CA Inst. of Tech. (139) * MIT (127) * University of Texas (96) * Stanford University (85) * Univ. of Wisconsin (84) * John Hopkins Univ. (70) * Univ. of Michigan...

Book smart.(Fact)(Brief Article)
April 5, 2004... Best-selling books for inventors on Amazon.com: * Patent it Yourself * How to License Your Million Dollar Idea * Patents, Copyrights, and Trademarks for Dummies

Patent FAQ.(Fact)(frequently asked questions)(Brief Article)
April 5, 2004... FAQ from the Invent Now website: On what subject may a patent not be granted? A patent may not be granted on a useless device, on printed matter, on an improvement in a device which would be obvious to a person skilled in the art, or on a...

Hot Dog Cookers, drink mixers, & more.(My View)
April 5, 2004... HAT'S OFF TO GARY LAU. YOU, THE READERS OF Design News, selected Gary as your favorite Gadget Freak of the Year for his very unusual "Lightening Dog Cooker," invention which we featured in the 12.01.03 issue of Design News. Actually, it is a...

Lowdown on downloads: many sites are making it easy and fast for engineers to incorporate cad models into their designs.(Web Log)
April 5, 2004... FOR MANY ENGINEERS, THEIR FIRST ACTION after getting a cup of coffee when they get to work is to check their email and their company's intranet to find out the status of the projects they're working on. Later, they'll browse for parts and...

Remember the process: forming processes affect materials.(Insight from Insiders)(Interview)
April 5, 2004... Knowledge of materials and materials-processing technology is critical for engineers, says Moldflow's Peter Kennedy. But sometimes materials data sheets don't necessarily provide enough information. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] What are the...

Visual bender.(Research for the Real World)(Zheng-Hong Lu's research on light emitting diodes)
April 5, 2004... Given the cost and fragility of glass Professor Zheng-Hong Lu is pioneering the field of flexible organic light emitting diodes (FOLEDs). With two patents pending, his flexible screen technology could provide consumers with devices like a...

Models for the masses: dimension reports that its new lower-cost rapid prototyping machine has been monstrously successful in the market.(Heard on the Street)(Dimension Group)(Brief Article)
April 5, 2004... Affordable rapid prototyping equipment has always been a kind of Holy Grail for design engineers, who recognize the benefits but have found the hefty price tag often too difficult to justify. With the introduction of a $24,900 rapid prototyping...

Lots of cool ideas at NDES. Here's one: big 'fridge' and flying 'ass' attract attention to booth.(Heard on the Street)(National Design Engineering Show)(Big Ass Fan Co.)(Brief Article)
April 5, 2004... What could be more magnetic than fridge magnets? Try the whole fridge. Chicago's favorite refrigerator--former Chicago Bears player and Super Bowl champion William "The Refrigerator" Perry--continued to draw crowds to the Big Ass Fans...

Gadget Freak Workshop storms DN booth: bobble heads lure attendees.(Heard on the Street)
April 5, 2004... This year's National Manufacturing Week show attendees went "back to school" during the Gadget Freak Workshop at the Design News booth. Those attendees who participated in a four-task challenge using relays and switches received a bobble-head...

Get your motor running: Ferrari and SKF show leading-edge vehicle design.(Heard on the Street)(SKF Group, Ferrari Automobili)(Brief Article)
April 5, 2004... Courtesy of Ferrari bearing supplier SKF, visitors to the Design News booth at the National Design Engineering Show had a chance to see six-time World Driving Champion Michael Schumacher's Formula 1 Ferrari. The 2001 car embodies the most...

Minisub inspector.(New and Notable Product Design)(Brief Article)
April 5, 2004... VideoRay 2002 Remotely Operated Vehicle. Three Pittman[R] LO-COG[R] brush dc motors power this 8-lb camera-toting minisub geared for commercial operations and recreational use. Two of the direct-drive motors are in side-mounted tubes for...

Projecting well.(New and Notable Product Design)(Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co's new product)(Brief Article)
April 5, 2004... 3M Bravo Projector. Seeing that its customers wanted to look good in all aspects during presentations, 3M's developers coordinated a rapid 10-month design effort from Austin to Italy (as well as Japan, China, and Germany) resulting in a stylish...

Be seated.(New and Notable Product Design)
April 5, 2004... Dahti Technologies Herman Miller Mirra[TM] Chair. Use of DSM Engineering Plastics' Arnitel[R] EM400 thermoplastic copolyester-based elastomer (TPE-E) to encapsulate the elastomeric-mesh seat carrier was critical to this chair's design. Molded...

Plastic bearings dish the dirt.(Designer's Corner)(Brief Article)
April 5, 2004... The 24 pick arms around each large pick wheel on a Harriston Industries potato planter each pivot from 12 to 20 times a minute to plant seeds. But separate problems arose with the original arm bearings (oil-impreganted brass-bushings with...

Steppers tailored to applications.(Designer's Corner)(MAE series)(Brief Article)
April 5, 2004... Hybrid stepper motors combine the smaller step angles possible with variable reluctance motors with the higher torque produced by permanent magnet motors. Motors in the MAE[TM] series feature step resolution of 1.8 degrees (200 steps per rev)...

Drive mates with standard sprockets.(Designer's Corner)(Brief Article)
April 5, 2004... By re-engineering a belt-drive design, Interroll engineers eliminated the need to heavily customize a drive to fit and retrofit modular, easy-to-clean plastic belt applications seeing increased use in the food industry. [ILLUSTRATION...

Seal secures high- and low-temp fluids.(Designer's Corner)(Interface Solutions Inc.)(Brief Article)
April 5, 2004... Many automotive gaskets may see coolant temperatures of "only" 110C (220F). But radiant heating, especially after shutdown, can drive temperatures at thermostats, exhaust-gas regenerator components, and water manifolds upwards to 150C. ...

Learn to fly.(News)(Space Technology Center)(Brief Article)
April 5, 2004... The new Space Technology Center, located in Mountain View, CA at NASA Research Park near the NASA Ames Research Center, opened in February as a consortium of academic, industrial, and government partners. The partnerships will focus on...

Weakening U.S. grasp on innovation.(News)(Brief Article)
April 5, 2004... Engineers already know firsthand that their jobs are being outsourced overseas, but wonder what President Bush is hearing for advice on what to do about it? The President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) released a report...

Data.(22 million manufacturing jobs disappeared between1995 and 2002)(Brief Article)
April 5, 2004... 22 (Million) manufacturing jobs disappeared between 1995 and 2002 Source: Office of Science and Technology Policy

Products, job outlook, and buzz: see what you've missed besides conferences, exhibits, and a Scottish bagpipe troupe.(National Manufacturing Week)
April 5, 2004... Nearly 19,000 visitors attended the 2004 National Manufacturing Week (February 23-26) to see the wares from more than 1,000 exhibitors. The number of visitors was within 400 of last year--a strong performance in an era where most industry trade...

Newcomers.(News)(product introductions)(Motor Decisions Matter)(Brief Article)
April 5, 2004... Some hot products at National Manufacturing Week, 2004 * MDM's motor-management software. The 1.2.3 Approach package from Motor Decisions Matter (http://rbi.ims.ca/3847-520) can help facility managers reduce downtime and save energy by...

Industry forums abound.(Electronics)(Brief Article)
April 5, 2004... Arrow Electronics is hosting a series of seminars covering application and market specific technical solutions, with the first series focused on motor control applications. Industry leaders from STMi-croelectronics, Texas Instruments, and...

Support for your OS.(Electronics)(Operating System,)(Brief Article)
April 5, 2004... The EDA Consortium has produced the first EDA Industry Operating System (OS) Roadmap, designed to enhance planning for OS support, migration, and end of OS support. The Roadmap offers recommended OS support timelines and a webpage that links to...

Save old equipment.(Electronics)(Brief Article)
April 5, 2004... The assumption has been that as computer chips get smaller, the need for new production equipment becomes more urgent. Not so, according to National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) researchers. Current equipment uses 193-nm...

EMC comes to the fore: high-speed industrial systems push enclosure shielding needs.(Enclosures)(electromagnetic compatibility)
April 5, 2004... As more high-speed electronics find their way into industrial applications, electromagnetic interference is becoming a bigger issue. Enclosure makers are adding shielding to a number of their products, helping system designers meet regulations...

Cleaner snow mobiles.(Materials + Joining)(Brief Article)
April 5, 2004... Colder Products Company is a sponsor of the fifth annual Society of Automotive Engineers Clean Snowmobile Challenge (CSC) that took place in March at Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Michigan. This intercollegiate design...

Safe-car strategies.(Materials + Joining)(330-page electronic book on automotive safety, product introduction)(Brief Article)
April 5, 2004... The American Iron and Steel Institute has introduced a 330-page electronic book on automotive safety. Entitled Vehicle Crashworthiness and Occupant Protection, this CD-ROM compiles the works of automotive safety engineers in the U.S. and...

Lock 'em up.(Materials + Joining)
April 5, 2004... DIRAK Inc. (Chantilly, VA) has developed a new padlockable "L-Handle with defeater," whose design offers a keyed cylinder barrel or slotted-insert access mechanism as well as a padlock. The automatic defeater, which closes and locks the handle...

Strong bodies: advanced high-strength steel promises weight loss, safety gains.(Metals)
April 5, 2004... As automakers work to improve both fuel efficiency and safety, they increasingly need to add some lean muscle to their vehicles. Strong, lightweight structural components made from Advanced High Strength Steels (AHSS) may be just what the...

Lightning-fast fixtures: laser-cut fixtures help manufacturer weld metal enclosures for less.(Welding)(CMP Advanced Mechanical Solutions)
April 5, 2004... Automated assembly processes usually make a lot of sense from a cost standpoint--but not always. Some short-run products simply can't justify the upfront costs of creating machined robotics fixtures. CMP Advanced Mechanical Solutions...

Accurate trigger.(Motion Control + Power Transmission)(Brief Article)
April 5, 2004... Savage (www.savagearm.com) has introduced the AccuTrigger[TM], with trigger pulls adjustable from about 2.5 to 6 lbs in most 2004 centerfire hunting models and adjustable from about 1.5 to 6 lbs in the 12 Series Varmint and Law Enforcement...

Online 3D modeling.(Motion Control + Power Transmission)(Brief Article)
April 5, 2004... Renco Encoders Inc. (www.renco.com) has added a 3D modeling feature to its website, where users can select specific encoder models, enter the specifications, and create a 3D model that can be rotated, zoomed, and panned on-screen. Downloads in...

Robot orders up by 19%, best since '00.(Motion Control + Power Transmission)(Brief Article)
April 5, 2004... Robotic Industries Association (www.roboticsonline.com) has reported that robot sales in North America rose by 19 percent in 2003 from the prior year. A total of 12,367 robots valued at $876.5 million were ordered, the RIA says, and the value...

I/O connectivity expands: new solutions emerge for integrating I/O with motion control networks and host controllers.(Networking)
April 5, 2004... High performance motion control has always required close, high speed interaction between the motion control and I/O subsystems in a machine. And now with continuing trends toward open technology and motion networking as a primary method for...

Plastic bearing design Winners show ruggedness, precision: bearings handle tough environments and provide lower costs and parts counts.(Competition)
April 5, 2004... CHICAGO -- Winners in the plastic bearing design contest sponsored by East Providence, RI-based igus (http://rbi.ims.ca/3847-512) and announced at the National Design Engineering Show last month, include pivot-housing bearings on a roller...

Calculating G-forces ... adhesive bonding ... cheap picker ... the Search Engineer finds solutions to all your questions, problems, and dilemmas. Occasionally, he could be wrong. But he doubts it.(Ask the Search Engineer)
April 5, 2004... Dear Search Engineer: How do I calculate and simulate G-forces for FEA? --S.M., Lombard, IL Dear S.M.: In ANSYS, you apply an acceleration load with a vector direction opposite of the desired G-force. The value of the acceleration...

Touch-free testing: how wafer tester Andrews NDT gets precision motion using motionless feedback to close the servo loop.(Andrew NDT Engineering )(Cover Story)
April 5, 2004... TESTING SEMICONDUCTOR WAFERS REQUIRES EXTREME PRECISION AND SPEED IN ORDER TO KEEP quality up and costs down. In the case of test equipment manufacturer Andrew NDT, measuring the thickness of the thin-film metallization layer on wafers also...

Scratch the patch: don't write your own software patches for critical design work. Get your software vendor to do it. Really.(Engineering Software)
April 5, 2004... UNLESS YOU'RE IN THE SOFTWARE business, or your needs are so specific they only apply to you, you may be wasting time, energy, and money when you write your own patches for off-the-shelf codes. Better to get your software vendors to do the work...

Real-time software reduces test aggravation: increases data reliability and accuracy.(Innovative Ideas From the Test Experts)
April 5, 2004... WHEN PEOPLE DEMAND HIGH RELIABILITY AND accurate timing from a test system, they may have to move away from the venerable desktop PC. Engineers who run lengthy test sequences cannot tolerate a PC's operating-system crashes or other software...

Test experts editorial series: graphical programming revolutionizes real-time.(Innovative Ideas From the Test Experts)(LabVIEW Real-Time )(Brief Article)
April 5, 2004... In 1999, National Instruments introduced LabVIEW Real-Time, a revolutionary development tool for real-time and embedded systems. Based on the rapid prototyping and development of graphical programming, LabVIEW Real-Time delivers increased...

Cool processor allows harsh applications: module functions under high industrial temps, is easy to configure.(Embedded Systems)
April 5, 2004... The Transmeta TM5900 Crusoe[TM] 800-MHz processor runs at only 5W, allowing the MEN Micro EM05 Embedded System Module (ESM) to operate from -40 to 85C. Such cool running at about a tenth of the power consumption of other processors is possible...

Connectors.(Electronics)
April 5, 2004... Provide low-resistance connections The high current, bolt-type panel/plate mountable feedthru and junction block connectors are designed for applications requiring durability and reliability. No mating connectors are required, and model...

Test and development system.(Electronics)
April 5, 2004... Open access to test points The 14-slot T-Frame for AdvancedTCA[TM] is a development system for engineers designing ATCA[TM] switch fabric boards and systems. It reportedly provides all the functionality of a fully compliant AdvancedTCA...

Finger proof connector.(Electronics)
April 5, 2004... For high voltage applications The SBS[TM]50 Finger Proof connector is a two-pole housing that minimizes contact with live contacts, per UL 1977 and UL 60950 regulations, for systems operating over 50V. Its ergonomic design enables users to...

Transformer line.(Electronics)(Brief Article)
April 5, 2004... Custom toroids Sold under the trademark CUSTARD, the company's general purpose transformer is a program of custom-designed toroidal transformers from 20 to 100VA, with standard primary windings for 117V/234V, 50 to 60 Hz operation, and...

Graphics controller card.(Electronics)
April 5, 2004... Supports multiple displays Engineered to drive two independent digital displays (alternatively with identical or with different screen displays), the PC-MIP graphics controller card features a 235-MHz, 24-bit RAMDAC. It is reportedly...

CMOS power amplifier.(Electronics)
April 5, 2004... For GSM cellular applications An industry first, according the company, the Si4300 is a monolithic CMOS power amplifier (PA) for GSM cellular applications. It is reportedly the smallest, high-performance, high-power PA available for GSM...

Enclosure.(Electronics)
April 5, 2004... Increases performance Featuring a stainless steel inject/eject plate, the MaxAir. 10[TM] enclosure reportedly increases performance in applications where high connector pin count and numerous inject/eject cycles compromise traditional...

Oscilloscope.(Electronics)
April 5, 2004... New differential probing solution The TDS6000B is the company's 8-GHz bandwidth Digital Storage Oscilloscope (DSO) series; featuring signal fidelity with Pinpoint[TM] triggering, four channels of concurrent high resolution waveform...

Power supply.(Electronics)
April 5, 2004... With integrated ac mains input The HiGen 50, a compact 50W x-ray generator power supply, is designed to serve as a component power supply in analytical x-ray systems and low-energy radiography applications. It features an ac mains input,...

Switching power supply.(Electronics)
April 5, 2004... Convection-cooled The company's family of convection-cooled 120W 1U height switching power supplies is designed for a variety of information technology, wireless, datacom, and industrial applications. Voltage outputs range from 3 to 50V dc...

Oscillators.(Electronics)
April 5, 2004... For WLAN equipment The company's smallest crystal clock oscillators (S1633 and S1634 series) reportedly feature tight frequency stability and low power consumption, contained within a 3.2 x 5-mm ceramic package. They are designed for...

Analog output board.(Electronics)
April 5, 2004... Low cost The PCI-DAC6702 analog output board is designed as an attractive solution for a range of automated test and process control applications. It provides eight channels of 16-bit analog output with a [+ or -]10.1V output range. It...

Switching power supply.(Electronics)
April 5, 2004... Accepts universal input voltage The Diplomat series switching power supply features four interchangeable input plugs designed for international compatibility. The plugs (U.S., U.K., European, and Australian) are designed to securely lock...

Online design tool.(Electronics)
April 5, 2004... Speeds selection Created as the industry's first online design tool for speeding the selection, design, and testing of various types of operational amplifiers, Amplifiers Made Simple[TM] lets users select from standard topologies and enter...

Liquid flow transmitter.(Electronics)
April 5, 2004... Measures velocity The FSW-9000 series is a flow switch monitor that measures the velocity of the flow. Ideal for use in liquid measurement and control applications, the product provides two output options: a 4- to 20-mA analog output, and...

OEM pointing device.(Electronics)
April 5, 2004... Enables 360 degree cursor navigation Reportedly one of the smallest OEM mice, the MicroNav measures less than 10 mm X 10 mm X 1.4 mm. It is designed for easy integration into portable devices, such as cellular phones, PDAs, digital cameras,...

Microwave filters.(Electronics)
April 5, 2004... Low profile, high stability The company's new line of extremely low profile, highly stable microwave filters reportedly meet or exceed MIL environmental requirements. They are designed for use in a range of space-constrained applications,...

Hydraulic Hand Pump.(Fluid Power)
April 5, 2004... For high pressure generation Designed to produce pressures up to 10,000 psi, the Model HHP Hydraulic Hand Pump has a scissor action design that reportedly allows quick priming and pressure generation. It should be used in conjunction with...

Poppet valves.(Fluid Power)
April 5, 2004... For fine vacuum applications Featuring short switching times and electromagnetic solenoid direct operation, the Herion poppet valves are suitable for use in gaseous and liquid fluid environments. They can reportedly operate from 0 psi on...

Aluminum profile system.(Fluid Power)
April 5, 2004... Inch dimensions The iSeries is a new family of inch-based components in the company's IPS modular aluminum profile system; it is designed for applications where inch dimensions are required. It includes 21 profiles, plus a range of...

Exhaust case shield.(Fluid Power)
April 5, 2004... Used for F-35 joint strike fighter The exhaust case shield has a diameter of 20 inches, a height of 3 inches, and a thickness of 0.050 inch. The material is AMS 5596, and the shield is delivered in hardened condition. Known as the "bulge...

Pneumatic cylinders.(Fluid Power)
April 5, 2004... Small space/low weight requirements Space Saver[TM] Cylinders are designed for applications with space and weight constraints; they reportedly provide the power and stroke of standard cylinders in less than half the space required for...

Inclinometer.(Fluid Power)
April 5, 2004... With splash-proof seal The Jewell LCF-2310 series is designed as a rugged, biaxial, fluid damped, flexure suspension servo inclinometer for industrial, commercial, and aerospace sensing equipment. Units offer FRO of [+ or -] 5.0V dc [+ or...

Industrial pumps.(Fluid Power)
April 5, 2004... With oil level monitor Now available with an oil level monitor, Hydra-Cell D35 series industrial pumps incorporate five Hydra-Cells into a pentaplex design, allowing the pump to provide steady, pulse-free flow under demanding pumping...

Brass fittings.(Fluid Power)
April 5, 2004... With electroless nickel plating option Designed for demanding applications where plating is required, the miniature brass fittings are available with an electroless nickel-plating option. They can be oxygen cleaned at the factory and are...

Metal fabrication capabilities.(Fluid Power)
April 5, 2004... Lower costs, high efficiency The company has added new metal fabrication capabilities to manufacture its latest air-filter frames and components. At the center of the department is Strippit[R], turret punch presses and brake presses that...

Control valve.(Fluid Power)
April 5, 2004... With adjustable permanent magnet The Magna-Cycle is a magnetically detented four way control valve that is a spool type, air pilot actuated valve. An adjustable permanent magnet in each actuating chamber reportedly holds the spool in...

Noise and vibration analyzer.(Software/Hardware)
April 5, 2004... Portable packaging The company has introduced a four-channel entry level version of the LMS Pimento. It is designed to combine the power of a professional portable system with a more affordable price. It covers a range of noise and...

PLM solutions.(Software/Hardware)
April 5, 2004... Monitor capabilities Designed to increase productivity and cut costs in the critical phase of aircraft development, the Best of Breed Structure Engineering solution reportedly integrates the activities and processes required to design and...

Design technology.(Software/Hardware)
April 5, 2004... Substrate-noise modeling SWAN, which is compatible with industry-standard design frameworks, was created to bring a new level of analysis to ultra-deep submicron CMOS technologies. It eliminates a critical barrier in the design of...

Sensor housing.(Motion Control/Power Transmission)
April 5, 2004... Explosion proof Designed for Class I, Division I, Groups A, B, C, and D areas, the TempoGuard II explosion-proof, highpressure housing is sold as an integrated, IP68 sealed, stainless steel sensor package. It reportedly prevents ignition...

Position transducers.(Motion Control/Power Transmission)
April 5, 2004... Easy to install The company's rotary and linear position transducers are designed to accommodate the SAE J1939-based CAN protocol, and are ideal for vehicles used in the forestry, agricultural, and construction industries. The products...

Linear actuator line.(Motion Control/Power Transmission)
April 5, 2004... Compact design Now available is the entire ScrewRail line featuring a compact design for linear motion applications requiring extra support and guidance. The Mini ScrewRail is available in a 0.375-inch outside diameter; it uses the...

Coupling.(Motion Control/Power Transmission)
April 5, 2004... For various bore sizes Created to increase versatility, the company's CD[R] Couplings use the new QD hub and brushing model, making it able to accommodate a variety of QD brushing bore sizes. It is available in Single Flex models that...

Brushless DC motor.(Motion Control/Power Transmission)
April 5, 2004... Low profile Intended for applications where high power needs to be efficiently produced in a limited space, the 000-0362 brushless dc motor has a recorded operating voltage of 28V, and is reportedly capable of delivering over 45 oz-inch of...

As-Interface master.(Motion Control/Power Transmission)
April 5, 2004... Compact Designed to allow easy and quick integration of the AS-Interface bus protocol as a sub-network to other popular bus protocols, such as Ethernet, PROFIBUS, DeviceNET, and MODBUS, the 750-655 AS-Interface master is housed in a 12-mm...

Motion System.(Motion Control/Power Transmission)
April 5, 2004... Simplifies multi-axis applications Created to assist integrators, OEMs, and end users to reduce the time required to specify, design, and install multi-axis systems, the company's Cartesian Motion Systems (CMS) are pre-configured Cartesian...

Ethernet controller.(Motion Control/Power Transmission)
April 5, 2004... Higher volume processing Designed for industrial applications, the SNAPLCE controller is a stand-alone, small-footprint, industrial controller designed for use with the company's SNAP Ethernet-based I/O units. It provides real-time control...

The case of the bendable blade.(Calamities)
April 5, 2004... BAND SAWS ARE USEFUL METAL CUTTING TOOLS. COLD-WORKED steel blades are adequate for cutting mild steel and most non-ferrous alloys. Such steels dull quickly on cutting hardened steels and are also easily softened by a temperature rise. Hacksaw...