Design News articles from August 2007

Design News archives from August 2007

Top Blog Posts.
August 13, 2007... By Design News Staff Recent posts on the latest engineering technology trends designnews.com/blogs Big Dig Tunnel Ceiling Collapse Could Have Been Avoided National Transportation Safety Board officials agreed the death of a...

Sensors Shrink & Communicate without Wires or Batteries.(Perpetuum introduces PMG17 microgenerator)(Texas Instruments Inc. introduces CC2431 System-on-a-Chip)(Systron-Donner Corp. introduces MicroGyro double-ended tuning fork )
August 13, 2007... By Randy Frank, Contributing Editor Expo in Illinois showcases these sensors and more Sensors Expo (http://rbi.ims.ca/5399-528 ) papers, booth displays and product announcements seemed to fall into three major categories - wireless,...

The Case of the Ruinous Resonance.(Column)
August 13, 2007... By Myron J. Boyajian, President, Engineering Consultants Problem-solving requires a flash of inspiration, an open mind to try new things or to try old ideas in a new way. This story illustrates how technology in one field helped solve a...

Fully Tested IMU is Ready to Go.(Analog Devices Inc. introduces ADIS16355 Inertial measurement units )
August 13, 2007... By Randy Frank, Contributing Editor Several programmable features add to unit's factory-calibrated precision Inertial measurement units (IMUs) for applications such as automobiles and handheld positioning systems have grown rapidly in...

Big Dig Malfeasance & More on Irv's High Mileage Volvo.
August 13, 2007... By John Dodge, Editor-in-Chief The NTSB pictures (http://rbi.ims.ca/5399-507 ) of gross negligence in Boston's Big Dig (http://rbi.ims.ca/5399-508 ) tunnel are horrific. My first reaction was that someone should hang for the ceiling...

Best of the Engineering Marketplace.(Otek Corp. introduces Model LPT wireless transmitter)(Celesco Transducer Products Inc. introduces Celesco CLP Series linear potentiometer)(Electroswitch Corp. introduces Series 102 auxiliary switches)
August 13, 2007... By Design News Staff ITW Switches' Series 57M Design News Staff Miniature push-button switch family The 57M miniature push-button switch family has a zinc alloy/velour chrome-plated exterior with a tough, vandal-resistant...

Here Comes the Factory of the Future.(Morris Technologies)
August 13, 2007... By Joseph Ogando, Senior Editor, Motion Control Rapid prototyping machines and materials are evolving into full-fledged manufaturing systems Greg Morris doesn't spend much time wondering about the factory of the future. He already runs...

Kits Jump Start Motor Applications.
August 13, 2007... By Jon Titus, Contributing Editor Stepper motors, brushless dc motors, permanent-magnet synchronous motors and other motor types require careful attention to control and driver electronics. To help engineers get a solid start on a design,...

The Non-Cyclist's Cycle.
August 13, 2007... By Beth Stackpole, Contributing Editor, Software/Hardware Trek shifts engineering muscle to a back-to-basics style bike. But its Lime R&D effort was no automatic coast The team at Trek Bicycle Corp. is no stranger to complex feats of...

Networks Help Utilities Keep Power Flowing.(Brief article)
August 13, 2007... By Design News Staff Wireless technologies are increasingly being used in the drive to reduce energy consumption. Itron Inc. is using ZigBee standard for home energy management and load control applications for its wireless OpenWay...

Race Cars Watched by Wireless Nets.
August 13, 2007... By Design News Staff Turner Sports highlights the audible noise generated by NASCAR racers, but it can ignore the electronic noise created in the pits. A mobile production rig, debuted this spring, uses wireless technology from Omnex...

Wi-Fi is Playing a Role in Improving Mine Safety.
August 13, 2007... By Design News Staff Active Control Technology Inc.'s ActiveMine, a two-way communications and tracking system, has been approved by West Virginia's Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training. The state requires the installation of...

Parked Cars also Watched by Wireless.
August 13, 2007... By Design News Staff Wireless technologies could help cities enhance their parking revenue. Streetline Inc.'s City Infrastructure Technologies system provides real-time information on regulated parking. It includes meter monitors which add...

Wireless Nets Extend Reach in UK.(Brief article)
August 13, 2007... By Design News Staff The size of Wi-Fi networks continues to expand. Cardiff University is deploying the United Kingdom's largest wireless network to cover 66 buildings across 3 sq miles at its Cathays campus and outlying sites. Trapeze...

Case 106: CopterBox Puts A New Spin on Air Cargo.(Brief article)
August 13, 2007... By Design News Staff Air delivery of supplies to areas where there's no place to land is typically done by parachute or helicopter. A parachute is reusable but requires a trained rigger, periodic inspection, occasional repairs, controlled...

Motor Coach Wraps Up Summer Eco-Tour.(Motor Coach Industries )(Brief article)
August 13, 2007... By Rob Spiegel, Contributing Editor Motor Coach Industries (MCI) of Schaumburg, IL, finished a 54-day cross-country eco-journey that covered 8,600 miles and visited 26 U.S. cities, six national parks and six Native American communities. The...

DuPont Launches Portal of Bio-Based Materials.
August 13, 2007... By Rob Spiegel, Contributing Editor DuPont of Wilmington, DE, spent 15 years developing a new category of bio-based materials called, DuPont Renewably Sourced Materials. The company launched a Web portal at renewable.dupont.com to make it...

Mobile Vehicle Shreds Tires.(Brief article)
August 13, 2007... By Rob Spiegel, Contributing Editor Encore Tire Recovery of Livonia, MI, debuted a mobile tire-shredding vehicle that has the capacity to shred tires at the rate of 500 tires per hour. Vehicle tires present one of the thornier problems in...

Readers Sound Off.(Letter to the editor)
August 13, 2007... By Design News Staff Big Dig failure questioned From the article ('Boston's Big Dig: Materials Failure Led to Tunnel Collapse,' DN 07.17.07, http://rbi.ims.ca/5399-519 ), I would say the blame is as yet incomplete, but in the same...

Modeling: Block Diagrams and Transfer Functions.
August 13, 2007... By Kevin Craig Modeling is the single most important activity in mechatronic system design and this article focuses on some techniques and tools engineers can use to create mathematical models from the various physical models of the...

Siemens Automation Summit Goes Modern.
August 13, 2007... By Joseph Ogando, Senior Editor, Motion Control Companies modernized production equipment using wireless technology & drive-based controls Old production machines don't have to retire when they start to become less productive - not...

Myoelectric Prosthesis Wins Freescale Design Challenge.
August 13, 2007... By Charles J. Murray, Senior Technical Editor, Electronics Eight-bit micro design dramatically reduces cost A graduate student engineering team from Guadalajara, Mexico, won the $10,000 Freescale Semiconductor Black Widow Design...

New Tungsten Moldings Offer Alternatives to Lead.(GE Plastics introduces Thermocomp tungstenized plastics)
August 13, 2007... By Doug Smock, Contributing Editor, Materials and Fastening Ability to integrate functions overcomes the significant cost premium Tungsten-filled plastics are making headway replacing lead, despite a cost disadvantage of better than...

A Gathering of Siemens Automation Users.(Conference notes)
August 13, 2007... By Joseph Ogando, Senior Editor, Motion Control The company's Automation Summit allows users to learn about new technologies and swap tech tips More than 800 users of Siemens' automation technology recently converged on Disney World...

SolidWorks Helps Engineers Get SWIFT with CAD.(SolidWorks Intelligent Feature Technology)
August 13, 2007... By Beth Stackpole, Contributing Editor, Software/Hardware The 2008 release allows engineers to more effectively exploit CAD capabilities without becoming a CAD expert A focus on design, not CAD, is the mantra behind SolidWorks Inc.'s...

Who Can You Trust?(customer confidence and counterfeiting)
August 13, 2007... By Jeff Shafer, Senior Vice President, Product, Newark Buy direct from franchised distributors to avoid being victimized This is a question we seem to ask ourselves more and more each day, in both our personal and professional lives. It...

ISE Hacks to Protect iPhone.(dialogues of Independent Security Evaluators's Charles Miller)(Interview)
August 13, 2007... By Dr. Charles Miller, Principal Security Analyst, Independent Security Evaluators Team uncovers security flaw in Apple's latest device Hackers are determined to exploit any security flaws in Apple's newest mobile device. Independent...

Inspired Assembly.(Column)
August 13, 2007... By Design News Staff New technologies allow a creative approach to fastening and joining, one of the most important areas in product design Fastening and assembly are too often overlooked or shortchanged in the design process....

Keeping It All Together.
August 13, 2007... By Design News Staff Adhesives provide solid bonds, high strength Adhesives and other fasteners are among the unsung heroes in most products, providing high reliability and keeping size down. In everything from cell phones to race...

From Bolts to Volts.(PEM Corp. introduces ABS cap color die casting devices)(Southco Inc. introduces E-Keeper electronic strikeunit)(Nylok Corp. introduces Precote 85 )
August 13, 2007... By Design News Staff Color coding, adhesives and latches evolve Nuts and bolts have been integral parts of many products for so long the phrase has even been ingrained into the English language. Yet, these often-overlooked commodities...

New Materials and a Plethora of Processes.(Column)
August 13, 2007... By Design News Staff Choices abound with new materials driving greater possibilities In just about every aspect of materials processing, excitement for new applications of the technology and industry growth starts with new materials....

Use MIM to Produce Small Complex Shapes.(Phillips Plastics Corp. plan to increase capacity)(Alberox Corp. uses injection-molded technology)
August 13, 2007... By Design News Staff Process provides strength and excellent finish with reduced cost Using a range of low alloy steels, stainless steels, tool steels, magnetic alloys and tungsten alloys, the Metal Injection Molding (MIM) process...

Environment, Styling Push Materials Specs.(Editorial)(Brief article)
August 13, 2007... By Doug Smock, Contributing Editor, Materials and Fastening There's a war underway in engineering materials. The winners will be the lightest, strongest and the best able to perform under harsh conditions, ranging from fire to extremes of...

Get into Gear with Plastic.
August 13, 2007... By Design News Staff New materials and industry specifications provide the keys Plastic gears provide new design opportunities based on their ability to meet complex form factors and deliver attractive cost. With plastic gears,...

With Plastics, It's Goodto Use More Gas.(Sajar Plastics Inc. uses gas-assisted molding for structural foam production)(Mack Molding Co. wins award in the Building & Construction category from Alliance of Plastics Processors Conference & New Product Design Competition)(Mack Molding Co uses gas injection technology from Cinpres Gas Injection Inc.)
August 13, 2007... By Design News Staff Adding nitrogen improves molding quality and reduces cost With gas-assist molding, users can achieve 30 percent per unit savings compared to structural foam or a 20 to 30 percent tool savings compared to straight...

Specialized Surface Treatments.(Hiawatha Rubber Inc. manufactures cleaning rollers)(Minnesota Rubber Co. uses rotary sealing technology)
August 13, 2007... By Design News Staff Advanced rubber processing techniques provide application-specific solutions In a highly competitive market like rubber products, providing an application-specific solution to a system problem proves the...

MCM Challenges Metals.(multi-component molding technology)
August 13, 2007... By Design News Staff Advanced material properties add functionality Multi-component molding or MCM technology continues to benefit from improvements in materials. One specific area involves soft touch components. 'The industry has...

Advanced Mateials Solve Problems.
August 13, 2007... By Design News Staff New plastics, elastomers and metals solve a wide range of tough technical problems When design engineers face a specific challenge, they often turn to advanced materials, either plastics or metals. Case in...

Aluminum, Stainless Boost Styling.(Carpenter Technology Corp. introduces Chrome Core 13-XP alloy)(6500 classic mobile phone from Nokia Corp.)(University of Illinois develops Thin lightweight wall panels)
August 13, 2007... By Design News Staff The Nokia 6500 Classic and Buick Enclave get a classy look When Nokia design engineers wanted a dramatic new design for mobile phones, they turned to two standby metals: aluminum and stainless steel. They loved the...

You Have A Problem, ETPs Have An Answer.(RTP Co. introduces new carbon nanotube compunds)(Bayer MaterialScience and Rinspeed Design develop an eco-friendly concept car)
August 13, 2007... By Design News Staff High-performance plastics can provide strength and heat resistance Engineering thermoplastics (ETPs): They cost more, but they really deliver on performance. In a demonstration car developed for K 2007 in...

High-Strength Plastics and Processes Provide A Strong Punch.(Homecare Oxygen Concentrator from Respironics Inc. )(Trey(TM) multifunctional chairs)(Kawasaki Enterprises Inc. introduces combination grip and seat base)
August 13, 2007... By Design News Staff Structural web gas assist provides another weapon for use of engineering plastics High-performance materials such as filled nylons combined with exotic structural processes allow breakthroughs in mechanical design....

New 'Green' Plastics Start to Sprout.
August 13, 2007... By Design News Staff There's a lot of new action in plastics made from sustainable resources The fastest growing category in polymer compounds probably is 'environmentally friendly.' That term can mean almost anything, however....

New Grades Improve Weatherability, Molding.
August 13, 2007... By Design News Staff TPV cuts injection molding cycle times by 15 percent Thermoplastic elastomers are copolymers that exhibit advantages of plastics and rubber, usually for specialized applications such as sealing. They are...

New Assembly Hardware Solves Plant-Floor Productivity Issues.(PennEngineering introduces Self-clinching threaded steel standoffs)(Advel Corp. introduces Avdel Genesis nG hand tools)(Arnold Umformtechnik AG introduces MAThread screw )
August 13, 2007... By Design News Staff Hydro-pneumatic installation tools are stronger, faster Several new assembly products offer improved productivity for joining parts for automotive and a myriad of other industrial applications. A new screw for...

3-D Printing and Rapid Manufacturing In the Spotlight At Rapid 2007.
August 13, 2007... By Design News Staff Rapid 2007, the annual conference and show for the rapid prototyping industry, recently took place in Detroit with an emphasis on two technology trends that will increasingly change how design engineers do their jobs....

Rapid Prototypes Expand into Offices, End Parts.(Desktop Electronics introduces 125 ci 3D printer)(Versatile Logic Systems introduces FDM 200mc 3D printer)(EOS GmbH introduces FORMIGA P 100)
August 13, 2007... By Design News Staff The field of rapid prototyping is entering a new phase Now a mature industry, rapid prototyping is diverging to two distinct applications: lower-priced 3-D printers and those that manufacture customized parts. ...

Organizations Go Green.(North American Die Casting Association)
August 13, 2007... By Design News Staff Meeting regional and global requirements requires a specific effort for some industries The restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances (RoHS) (http://www.rohs.gov.uk/ ) became effective July 2006 in...

Power Devices Get Smaller.(Freescale Semiconductor Israel Ltd. introduces SmartMOS 10 integrated power chip )(STMicroelectronics N.V. introduces L7208 Hard Disk Drive )(Texas Instruments Inc. introduces TPS65023 power management digital integrated circuits)
August 13, 2007... By Charles J. Murray, Senior Technical Editor, Electronics Shrinking geometries enable new features in handhelds Handheld devices are shrinking while simultaneously using more power, creating a challenge for power management chips....

Hardware Solves Plant-Floor Productivity Issues.(New Avdel Genesis nG introduces hand tools )(PennEngineering introduces Self-clinching threaded standoffs )(Arnold Umformtechnik introduces MAThread screw )
August 13, 2007... By Doug Smock, Contributing Editor, Materials and Fastening New hydro-pneumatic installation tools are stronger, faster Several new assembly products offer improved productivity for joining parts for automotive and myriad other...

Drives Get Better.(Elmo Motion Inc. integrates drives and feedback devices into its new Duet Series of brushless dc servo motors)(Maxon Motor AG introduces 1-quadrant amplifier for miniature brushless dc motors)(QuickSilver Controls Inc. introduces SilverDust IGF drive controllers)
August 13, 2007... By Joseph Ogando, Senior Editor, Motion Control Improvements coming in size, cost and much more What's going on with motor drives right now? Dan Jones, a motion control consultant and board member of the Motion Control Assn., can...

Isolate Digital Signals, Too.
August 13, 2007... By Jon Titus, Contributing Editor Previous columns have stressed the need to eliminate ground loops that can cause digitized signals to include noise from nearby sources. Often, though, engineers may forget digital signals also can...

Portable Navigation Systems Work, Right?(Garmin International Inc. introduces Garmin portable navigation system )
August 13, 2007... By Charles J. Murray, Senior Technical Editor, Electronics If they don't work correctly, these devices can be a distraction I keep telling myself my recent portable navigation episode must be an isolated case. Surely, automotive...