Design News articles from February 2003

Design News archives from February 2003

Pink Slips or union cards? (My View).(engineers, possible unionization)(Editorial)
February 3, 2003... I DON'T HAVE TO TELL MOST OF YOU WHAT A bloodbath it's been for design engineers out there lately. You can read all about it in our lead news story "Here's Your Pink Slip," (p.33) that reports on recent engineering layoffs that are causing some...

The scoop on shovels: they helped build America, so why do we neglect them? (Flipside).
February 3, 2003... LET US PAUSE FOR A MOMENT TO CONSIDER the lowly shovel. Not worth your thoughts? Well, that's part of the problem I want to discuss. But first, grab a shovel from your garage or tool shed, or just close your eyes and picture the device. ...

Mail.
February 3, 2003... Readers Sound Off BE THERE, 12:46 SHARP! Regarding your comments about getting people to come on time for meetings (DN Editorial 12.02.02), let me offer some advice. Years ago, while a manager in the Navy, I learned to schedule...

Company man: Clippard's pneumatics business is a family affair. (Slant).(interview with Bill Clippard of Clippard Instrument Laboratory)(Interview)
February 3, 2003... How does a family business survive in these fiercely competitive times? By emphasizing quality and customer service, Clippard says. The company name says "Laboratory." Why? You're a manufacturer. My dad started the company back in the...

Don't just take it: manufacturing is critical and manufacturers need to say so. (Rant).(Column)
February 3, 2003... LANGUAGE IS POWER. GEORGE ORWELL recognized this in his novel 1984 through the character Syme, who is vaporized by Big Brother due to his keen understanding of how thought can be controlled through the manipulation of language. In a...

Control freak. (B.M.O.C.).(Homayoon Kazerooni, of University of California at Berkeley, designs control system)
February 3, 2003... The University of California at Berkeley's Homayoon Kazerooni has developed a system that can control even large plants with a single cable PRESENT POSITION: Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Director of Human Engineering Lab,...

Will the real Mr. Oppenheimer please stand up? (Buzz: Heard on the Street).(electrical engineer Robert Oppenheimer relates anecdotes about his famous name)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... What would it be like to go through life as an engineer with a name that carries powerful associations with the era of nuclear weapons, McCarthyism, and mutual assured destruction? Ask Robert Oppenheimer, an electrical engineer in Hawthorne,...

Diamond IDS are forever: a low-cost marking system set to debut. (Buzz: Heard on the Street).(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... In a recent episode of the crime show OSI, an unscrupulous wife switches her rather large engagement diamond for a paste imitation. She was summarily carted off to jail, but only because the forensic engineers knew how to tell a diamond from...

Only experienced analog engineers need apply: open positions go begging. (Buzz: Heard on the Street).(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... It's a digital world. But, ironically, there's a shortage of experienced analog design engineers out there. So laments Steve Lyle, Director of Worldwide Staffing for Texas Instruments. "Obviously, it takes an analog signal at the beginning of...

What makes an engineer...an engineer? (Buzz: Heard on the Street).(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... One of the most famous engineers in American politics may in fact not be an engineer at all. It depends. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy in 1946, former President Jimmy Carter (1977-1981) then spent two years on surface ships before...

Hybrid contacts accommodate installers. (Flash: Inter. Connect Products).
February 3, 2003... Wieland Electric taris Hybrid Terminal Block. Wieland Electric first came out with its tans DC (insulation displacement contact) terminal block featuring these rapid wiring terminations on both sides. In a single motion, the insulation is...

Connector seals tight. (Flash: Inter. Connect Products).
February 3, 2003... Greene, Tweed Technologies FC-DRYTM. Coming out of research on a Navy application for sealed cabling, this fiber optic connector has a hermetically sealed jacket interface. According to R&D Director Mike Pollack, key enabler was the patented...

Relay connectivity. (Flash: Inter. Connect Products).
February 3, 2003... Phoenix Contact Varioface PLC-V8L Adapter. The Varioface PLC-V8L adapter accommodates eight 14-mm relays with 6A DPDT contacts, 80A for 20 msec inrush currents, and 10A SPDT load currents. With ready-made Controller System Cabling, wiring...

Toughened RJ-45 targets Ethernet. (Flash: Inter. Connect Products).
February 3, 2003... Molex Inc. RJ-45 Field Wireable Ethernet Connectors. These robust RJ-45 connectors meet the Ethernet/IP specs of the Open DeviceNet and the ControlNet Vendors Associations in applications ranging from manufacturing and water treatment to...

Connector sleeve holds no tricks. (Flash: Inter. Connect Products).
February 3, 2003... Tyco Electronics AMP Fully Insulated PIDG FASTON Receptacles. These PIDG FASTON receptacles feature nylon insulation and a copper support sleeve. By giving circumferential support to the insulation after crimping, the sleeve allows the wire to...

Time saving Terminator. (Flash: Inter. Connect Products).
February 3, 2003... ASI (Automation Systems Interconnect) KRONE Terminator System. This terminal-block system has a 3-point IDC connection, which provides a gas tight, vibration resistant connection for handling 22-14AWG wire. Disconnect versions allow addition of...

Minority report. (News).(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... While the total number of engineering degrees earned is on the decline, the good news is that more and more people with an extra X chromosome are pursuing the degree. The number of female undergraduate engineering students has increased from...

The bucks stopped here. (News).(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... When it comes to salaries, female engineers continue to lag behind their male counterparts--bringing home on average a paycheck that's 5 to 15% smaller. Female engineers with less than five years experience have a median salary of $42K compared...

First hits milestone. (News).(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... Ten years ago, inventor and entrepreneur Dean Kamen launched the first FIRST Robotics Competition with 28 teams in a New Hampshire high school gymnasium. This year, over 800 teams nationwide will participate in over 20 regional events and a...

Here's your pink slip: recent layoffs prompt some to wonder if engineering is taking too much of a beating. (Careers).
February 3, 2003... CHICAGO--The layoffs of the past couple years have hit electronic engineers in particular hard, and that's prompting some EEs to start leaving the Field for marketing, law, and other fields. Some industry leaders say engineering is facing...

Take me to your dealer. (Electronics).(Honda dealerships in Japan use robot greeter)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... Don't be surprised by the diminutive greeter that welcomes you to some Honda dealerships in Japan. Four-foot tall Asimo is the latest version of a humanoid robot developed by the automaker. This incarnation will recognize people it's seen...

Literally bluetooth. (Electronics).(Lumileds' LED light sources for curing dental fillings)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... Lumileds (San Jose, CA) is supplying 460-nm (blue) LED light sources for curing dental filling polymers. Rather than conventional halogen lamps, which need to be filtered and produce high heat with short lifespans, the LEDs enable small, easily...

Twin Lasers create nanostructures. (Electronics).(Laser Zentrum Hanover)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... Developers at Laser Zentrum Hanover (LZH, Germany) are using their two-photon polymerization system to create 100-200 nm structures. The idea is similar to rapid prototyping, but in 3D rather then building with 2D layers. Twin laser beams,...

Data 38.
February 3, 2003... DATA 38 Percent of U.S. adult households with electronic gaming systems Source: CEA Market Research

Shock treatment: defibrillator engineers design out the false positives. (Medical Equipment).
February 3, 2003... PITTSBURGH, PA -- Product design is not without irony. For example, engineers who design a product to do something at just the right time often can spend as much time making sure the product doesn't do that something at the wrong time. ...

Extreme pressure.(Brief Article)(Illustration)
February 3, 2003... Extreme Pressure Pressures engineers design for Under 1,000 psi 21% 1,000-1,9000 psi 9% 2,000-2,999 psi 27% 3,000-4,999 psi 28% 5,000 psi and above 15% Source: Design News Note: Table made from...

Servo: price tag an obstacle. (Fluid Power).(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... Servo control of hydraulics hasn't quite lived up to its promise in terms of widespread use of the technology. One big limitation: Its cost. In a recent Design News survey of users of hydraulics, 68% of respondents say that they would use servo...

Pneumatics big biz. (Fluid Power).(Industry Overview)
February 3, 2003... Ever since electronics came on the scene, people have been predicting the demise of fluid power. But, in fact, the market remains big--really big. Sales of pneumatic components are in the $3B range, according to the National Fluid Power...

Data 45.(statistic on water pressure at base of Hoover Dam)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... DATA 45 Max water pressure at base of Hoover Dam (in 000 lb/[ft.sup.2]) Source: U.S. Dept. of the Interior

How low can you go? Design engineers gravitate to lower power valves. (Pneumatics).(Industry Overview)
February 3, 2003... ELYRIA, OH -- A gradual rise in power demands in mobile equipment and industrial automation systems is creating a market for a new breed of low-power hydraulic valves, say engineers from Parker Hannifin Corp. (www.parker.com). The...

Free tips. (Materials + Joining).
February 3, 2003... A free guide to welding stainless steels has been put out by the Lincoln Electric Company (www.lincoln-electric.com). Aptly titled Stainless Steels--How to Weld Them--Where to Use Them, the guide discusses the weldability of various stainless...

Silver shines. (Materials + Joining).(silver remains most popular automotive color)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... Silver continued to outshine every other automotive color last year, according to the DuPont Automotive Color Popularity Report. Nearly 23% of new vehicle consumers opt for silver. And it looks like its run isn't over yet. The study predicts...

New elastomers boast enhanced properties: a trio of much-improved stretchy materials. (Materials).
February 3, 2003... NEWTON, MA -- We normally like to avoid the quips about elastomers "stretching" beyond their limits. But we won't--because that's exactly what has happened with three new elastomers that tackle the shortcomings of previous materials. One of...

Data 39.
February 3, 2003... DATA 39 Weight (in lbs.) of powder metal parts in typical U.S. passenger car (Source: Metal Powder Industries Federation)

Bearing beefs. (Motion Control + Power Transmission).(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... When it comes to bearings, what really bugs the engineers who design with them? Its service life, says 25% of the respondents in a Design News study of power transmission component users. Other top complaints: Lubricant (20%); Load capacity...

Out of thin air. (Motion Control + Power Transmission).(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... Wind energy is clearly a hot topic today--and growing in importance. Bearing giant SKF, which works closely with wind turbine manufacturers to supply main bearings, and bearings for the transmission, generators, and blade pitch systems, says...

Motor muttering. (Motion Control + Power Transmission).(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... Uncompetitive pricing, deficient service, insufficient technical knowledge, lengthy lead times. Design engineers sure didn't hold back on gripes they have about European suppliers of integral horsepower motors. Another Frost & Sullivan survey...

The 'shaftless' revolution: electronics bring printing presses up to speed. (Servo Drives).
February 3, 2003... NEWTON N, MA -- Gutenberg, you are definitely history! Slow to change for most of its nearly 600-year existence, the printing industry try you spawned in that shop in Mainz, Germany, has changed dramatically in the last 20 years. The most...

Flat line. (Software + Hardware).(research on Goodyear's run flat tire)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... Goodyear's extended mobility technology (EMT) tire can run flat for 93 miles at 50'mph. But what does that do to the wheel? That's the question University of Akron PhD student John Stearns researched. He used ALGOR (www.algor.com) finite...

Casting the net: top 5 websites. (Software + Hardware).(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... www.slashdot.org News for Nerds. Stuff that matters. This web-based community for techies lives up to its promise www.somethingawful.com Get your daily fix of ephemeron. And be sure to check out the Photoshop Friday section ...

FEA still spreading its wings: Ex-aerospace engineers take it from its roots to consumer products. (Product Design).
February 3, 2003... NEWTON, MA--If you want to track the migration of engineering tools and concepts from one industry to another, then track the career paths of engineers. Take the once esoteric technology of finite element analysis. Born in the...

Ask the search engineer.
February 3, 2003... Centrifigual force: Pseudo or not... Why to upgrade your CAD software... Four ways to unplug a hole... Dear Mr. Search Engineer: I noticed several references to "centrifugal force" in a recent article in Design News. But there's no such...

Packing heat: a new class of multi-axis, servo-based packaging machines is emerging, though some engineers are balking at the idea. (Packaging).
February 3, 2003... CHICAGO--To servo or not? That is the perpetual question for packaging equipment engineers. Few would dispute that servo drives have long held potential for machines with greater accuracy and control, higher speeds, and improved...

Other people's breakthroughs: licensing becomes one of the new paths to speedy product development. (Ideas).
February 3, 2003... NEWTON, MA--Ed de Chazal doesn't believe in the 'not-invented-here" approach to product development. He'll take ideas wherever he can get them. Recently, he got a great idea from Delphi Automotive: technology for simulating various aspects...

Linear vs. Rotary: John Heilig is betting his linear motor will convince you to give up your rotary one. (Power Transmission).
February 3, 2003... In the next few weeks, linear motors will face their ultimate litmus test. After years in the eye of a swirling technical storm, surrounded by doubters who say they're too expensive, supported by a handful of loyal users who say they're...

In the air, everywhere: wireless networks are putting information where people need it. In some environments, though, it faces some tough challenges. (Telecom).
February 3, 2003... THE COMMON VIEW OF WIRELESS NETWORKS IS THAT THEY KEEP YOUR LAPTOP or your PDA connected to the corporate network or the Internet even when you're in a conference room or at your local Starbucks. Office workers and mobile professionals love the...

First, you simulate: play "what-if" and optimize your design early in the process. (Measurements in the Design Flow).
February 3, 2003... AS A PRODUCT DESIGN ENGINEER, YOU PROBABLY START A NEW DESIGN BY producing a prototype. Then, it goes through seemingly endless testing, debugging, and redesign. But did you know that by first simulating an innovative process or product in...

Steel jacket armors plastic fiber optics: metal sheath and multifiber core make for toughness, tight turns. (Cabling).
February 3, 2003... The knock on plastic fiber optic cables is that they aren't tough enough for industrial use. But the more rugged glass fiber cables are usually more expensive and, unlike plastic, can't be bent enough or tight applications without flaking fiber...

Proximity sensors. (Electronics).
February 3, 2003... Solves battery operated problems These load dump inductive proximity sensors reportedly withstand both 12 and 24V electrical transient surges, passing five SAE tests including Pulse 1 and Pulse 5A. Sensors are designed to offer solutions...

Power relay. (Electronics).
February 3, 2003... Low profile, long mechanical life This low profile, high-power relay is rated for high ambient temperatures (-40 to 105C) for use in audio-visual equipment, home appliances, office automation, and industrial HVAC applications. Measuring 29...

Relay and coupler. (Electronics).
February 3, 2003... AC switching, control components The company's Solid State Relay (SSR) and Phototriac Coupler feature ac switching and control components for appliance, HVAC, industrial and manufacturing equipment markets. The PC2 and PC3 lines of DIP-4...

Connector survives high cycles. (Designer's Corner).
February 3, 2003... Selecting connectors can be a tradeoff battle among high cycle life, contact resistance, and low insertion forces. Hypertac [R] hyperboloid-shaped spring-wire basket connectors aim to provide all three. First used for high reliability aerospace...

Digital multimeters. (Electronics).
February 3, 2003... Hands-free operation The XR-Series DMMs consist of five ergonomically designed models intended for electricians, electronics technicians, field service troubleshooters, design testers, and industrial plant managers. The basic 30XR DMM...

Low DP transducer. (Electronics).
February 3, 2003... Protects against incorrect wiring The PX2650 Series low differential-pressure transducer, intended for use in HVAC ducts and clean rooms, reportedly protects against incorrect wiring and can operate from an unregulated power supply....

Cable assemblies. (Electronics).
February 3, 2003... For automotive telematics IDB IEEE 1394 (Intelligent Data Bus) Consumer Convenience Port connectors consist of hot pluggable cable assemblies and corresponding PCB-mount receptacles. Cable assemblies are available in lengths up to 10m and...

Automated programming system. (Electronics).
February 3, 2003... Fast Flash programming The PS Infinity[TM] Series Automated Programming System, engineered for high-volume tape-to-tape device programming, is reportedly the fastest Flash programming system. The system is available with a high-speed...

Poppet valves. (Fluid Power).
February 3, 2003... With rotatable inlets through 360[degrees] The stem-operated, normally closed MAV-2R and MAV-3R Poppet Valves are available with rotatable inlets at any angle through 3600. Part of the company's miniature pneumatic brass valve line, the...

Pneumatic hand pump. (Fluid Power).
February 3, 2003... Less effort, fewer strokes at high pressure The TP1-40 pneumatic hand pump is designed for pressure and vacuum generation, offering less effort at high pressure and fewer strokes to maximize pressure. Made of nickel-plated brass and clear...

Linear position sensor. (Fluid Power).
February 3, 2003... "Smart" capability for small-bore cylinders The TDP-140 linear position sensor provides "smart" capability and position feedback for small-bore pneumatic cylinders in automated material handling, machine tools, packaging, paper, textile...

Diaphragm valve. (Fluid Power).
February 3, 2003... Lightweight, non-contamination The model DV509 Diaphragm Valve dispenses medium to low viscosity fluids, separating the wetted parts from the operated air supply. According to the company, the 3-oz valve is engineered to operate at 200...

Solenoid valves. (Fluid Power).
February 3, 2003... Rugged and compact contemporary design These industrial solenoid valves offer 2-way and 3-way functions in a normally open or normally closed design. Operating in temperatures up to 280F and pressures from 0 to 300 psig, the valves come in...

Rotary vane pump. (Fluid Power).
February 3, 2003... Modular design for customization These rotary vane pumps feature a modular design suitable for limited space applications requiring high intermittent pump capacity. Pumps have a vacuum up to 800 mbar and flow rates of 5 to 6 lpm and 25...

Flow switch. (Fluid Power).
February 3, 2003... With aluminum weatherproof enclosure The V8 Vane Operated Flow Switch features an optional weatherproof enclosure made of aluminum, allowing for outdoor mounting. Flow switch consists of a field trimmable vane with molded trim graduations...

Oscillating diaphragm pumps. (Fluid Power).
February 3, 2003... No external sealing, no leaks Providing a chemically resistant transfer or recirculation pump, the Oscillating Diaphragm pump has a duckbill/umbrella valve that eliminates the need for external sealing, resulting in fewer leaks and less...

Low flow pumps. (Fluid Power).
February 3, 2003... Magnetically driven, close-coupled, sealless With their sealless, close-coupled, and magnetically driven design, the MPH Series Pumps are engineered for high-head, low-flow, high-temperature applications. Operating at temperatures up to...

Vertical Pump. (Fluid Power).
February 3, 2003... Uses company's advanced progressing cavity Ultra[R] Technologies With flow ranges of 20 to 350 gpm and pressure up to 150 psi, the Moyno[R] Vertical Pump is suited for limited space and low NPSH applications, such as in oil refineries,...

Absolute encoders. (Motion Control/Power Transmission).
February 3, 2003... High resolution, compact design The Dynapar ACURO series of absolute encoders are available in two versions: ACURO Industry, with 58-mm housing and resolution up to 17 bits in single-turn and 12 bits in multi-turn configurations, and ACURO...

Rotary actuators. (Motion Control/Power Transmission).
February 3, 2003... Maintenance-free, modular construction SKF[R] rotary actuators feature a preloaded ballscrew assembly and gear-tooth profile for high repeatability, precise motion, and high stiffness, without backlash. Replacing standard worm gears in...

Stepping motor control. (Motion Control/Power Transmission).
February 3, 2003... 4X oversize motor drives The VXM stepping motor controller is designed as a single chip microcontroller, with preset pulse width modulation and oversize motor drives for overload tolerance and long life, A complete...

Electric actuator. (Motion Control/Power Transmission).
February 3, 2003... Energy efficient, eco-friendly The Type ELA electric actuator features rolling type parts, offering better positioning repeatability and more energy efficiency than sliding type parts. Without the oil leaks or air mist emissions of...

Miniature linear encoder. (Motion Control/Power Transmission).
February 3, 2003... Designed for semiconductor industry Intended for fiber stage manufacturers and the development of positioning stages, LIF400 Series miniature exposed linear encoder features the SUPRADUR grating style, offering a high tolerance to...

Tapered Roller Bearings. (Motion Control/Power Transmission).
February 3, 2003... Logarithmic raceway design Tyson Tapered Roller Bearings have an inner ring raceway with a logarithmic design that evenly distributes light and heavy loads throughout the length of the inner ring, resulting with more uniform load carrying...

Gearheads and actuators. (Motion Control/Power Transmission).
February 3, 2003... High torque, zero backlash PS Series flange output (PSF) and shaft output (PSS) gearheads and actuators are designed for accurate positioning and precise motion control. The series reportedly features zero backlash and high torque gearing...

Linear actuator. (Motion Control/Power Transmission).
February 3, 2003... Extended travel for military use The size 17 and size 23 hybrid captive linear actuators offer extended travel up to 2.5 inches, precision per step down to 0.0001 2 inch, and anti-backlash nuts for extreme bi-directional precision. For...

DSP-based servo drives. (Motion Control/Power Transmission).
February 3, 2003... For space-limited applications PCE800 Series Servo Drives provide 480V ac operation, simplified drive setup and tuning, and advanced anti-resonance filters. Drives also include 400 Hz velocity-loop bandwidth, an internal profile generator...

Single board computer. (Software/Hardware).
February 3, 2003... Multiple configuration options Based on the Intel[R] Pentium[R] 4 processor, the 6U CP605 Compact PCI Single Board Computer (SBC) is a 478-pin package with a 2 to 3 GHz high-performance version or a 1.2 to 2 GHz low power dissipation...

Innovation software. (Software/Hardware).
February 3, 2003... Industry knowledge sharing Invention Machine, www. invention-machine.com TechOptimizer [TM] 4.0 computer-aided innovation software identifies and solves engineering problems during product design and development, product enhancement,...

Thermal modeling. (Software/Hardware).
February 3, 2003... CAD integration software IcePro 3.1 interface integrates CAD software and Icepak thermal modeling software, automatically exporting much of the model with a few configuration parameters. Complex geometries may also be automatically...

Fluid dynamics modeling. (Software/Hardware).
February 3, 2003... Includes Tecplot 3D datasets Virtual Vantage[TM] 3.1 features isosurface viewing in wire frames for its plane, streamline, and surface-based visualization objects. Supporting stereo on Linux systems with stereo-enabled Quadro 4 graphics...

PLM solution. (Software/Hardware).
February 3, 2003... From design to manufacturing supply chain Omnify 2.0 software is a product lifecycle management (PLM) solution for the Electronics OEM (eOEM) and Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) industries. Among the features are component data,...

Solids modeling. (Software/Hardware).
February 3, 2003... Surface, open shell editing Used to bring solid modeling to 3D, Power Solids verson 1.2 has added tools for creating and editing surfaces and open shells. The software is capable of the following features: merge/sew surfaces into solids;...

Fluid flow simulation software. (Software/Hardware).
February 3, 2003... Reduces development, testing time CFdesign v6.0 fluid flow and heat transfer simulation software reportedly allows product development engineers to simulate multiple design scenarios simultaneously and share results throughout the process....

CAD translation. (Software/Hardware).
February 3, 2003... Supports Pro/ENGINEER[R] and Unigraphics[R] TransMagic Release 3.0 is designed to offer mass properties for determining part volumes, bounding box size, and scaling parts, accounting for shrinkage factors. Supporting both Unigraphics[R] and...

Data viewer. (Software/Hardware).
February 3, 2003... Modify 2D and 3D designs CADKEY[R] V20 Viewer provides access for users to view CADKEY GraphX and CADKEY Workshop V20 architecture files, without modifying the files. With an HTML export tool, the viewer can be used to create a 3D model or...