Design News articles from February 2005

Design News archives from February 2005

Laser pointer or light saber?(MY VIEW)
February 7, 2005... POWERPOINT IS UBIQUITOUS TODAY. IN FACT, I've heard some engineers express their concern that it actually serves as the sole documentation on some of their projects. Can you imagine? No analysis, no calculations or underlying assumptions...

Next up: specialized searches; General search engines are getting more specific.(WEB LOG)
February 7, 2005... OF ALL THE COMPETITORS VYING FOR the attention of engineers, few are working harder than companies developing search engines. And why wouldn't they work hard! Virtually every piece of research available says that engineers spend a lot of their...

Deja vu all over again.(Readers Sound Off)(a similar aircarft accident in Connecticut as in Cape Cod)(Letter to the Editor)
February 7, 2005... I am an electromechanical engineer with a coaxial cable manufacturer and also a private pilot for the past 13 years with 500-plus hours in single engine aircraft. I find your Calamities column very interesting, especially the one about the...

Thermal shock?(Readers Sound Off)
February 7, 2005... Interesting article. Did you take into account what happens when a HOT engine hits COLD water? Just wondering. Dan C. DESIGN NEWS READER Russell's response: You would have to heat steel or cast iron pretty hot to get much effect...

Sacrificial anodes common.(Readers Sound Off)
February 7, 2005... I enjoy your articles, even though I don't always fully understand the metallurgy! Just wanted to comment that sacrificial anodes are commonly used on outboard motors and I/O units. I wire-brush mine clean in the spring for the summer...

Father knows best.(Readers Sound Off)
February 7, 2005... I read with interest your article "The Case of the Aquatic Airplane." I think, though, that your father was right in the situation you described here: "Many years earlier I proposed bolting sacrificial anodes of aluminum to the inside of the...

Molding process cuts costs: rotational molding produces hollow parts cheaply.(Insight from Insiders)
February 7, 2005... Materials are among the most critical elements in many designs, so engineers need to stay up to date on materials advances. But, when you talk about materials, you have to talk about process, too. Beyond the potential of different materials and...

End the paper pushing: some engineers are way too involved in order processing.(Really Opinionated People)
February 7, 2005... ENGINEERS AT "TO-ORDER" MANUFACTURERS spend way too much time trying to shoehorn old designs to fit new customer orders; and they do it at the cost of neglecting new designs and product innovations--innovations that are critical to a company's...

Any way you want it (almost): Festo reports brisk sales of "custom solutions"--and slow growth.(HEARD ON THE STREET)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... Over the past few years, engineers have increasingly shunned standard, one-size-fits-all systems in favor of custom solutions, says Dr. Eberhard Veit, director of product and technology management at Festo, the German-based pneumatics giant....

Attack of the airfish: Festo's hook has always been its high degree of fun.(HEARD ON THE STREET)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... Anyone who has been to Festo's stand at the Hannover Fair in Hannover, Germany knows to expect an amazing, technological "wow factor" combined with a certain, well, silliness. From pneumatic-powered "moon boots" to a bionic hand with...

Resume faux pas: drop those buzzwords, Boeing recruiters tell job seekers.(HEARD ON THE STREET)
February 7, 2005... Copying and pasting the job requirements onto your resume will only get you so far when applying for a job online, according to Boeing's top recruiters. The aerospace giant received 2 million online applications for the 20,000 openings in 2004,...

Wireless technology is making its way into a plethora of portable electronic devices. Here are five examples.(NEW AND NOTABLE PRODUCT DESIGN)
February 7, 2005... 1 HOWARD STERN UNINTERRUPTED Delphi SKYFi XM Satellite Receiver (http://rbi.ims.ca/4386-541). Delphi's portable SKYFi allows users to listen to XM satellite on the road and at home. To access XM Satellite Radio's 2,332.50 through 2,345.00...

Sensing technique exploits a change in voltage: DSP-based solution protects saw users from losing a finger.(TECHNOLOGY YOU CAN USE)
February 7, 2005... The traditional approach to preventing injuries from saws is strictly mechanical and uses blade guards. However, the guards can often be removed or misused, resulting in the loss of fingers and even toes. Engineers at SawStop took advantage of...

It's not all about the circuit: today's consumer electronics present their share of mechanical engineering challenges, too.(mechanical challenges)
February 7, 2005... LAS VEGAS -- Walking around the huge Consumer Electronics Show here, it's easy to get caught up in all the gee-whiz gadgets. And the electronics makers really have outdone themselves, squeezing feature after feature into devices that will...

10-year anniversary.(ELECTRONICS)(Fabless Semiconductor Association)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... The Fabless Semiconductor Association (FSA) has released a special edition of the Fabless Forum, commemorating 10 years of growth and success. The FSA was created to support the ongoing relationship between fables semiconductor companies and...

Sensing guide.(ELECTRONICS)
February 7, 2005... Banner Engineering has released a guide for anyone involved in selecting and setup of sensors. The iKnow[TM] GUIDE TO SENSING is a 16-page brochure containing everything from definitions of sensing modes, complete with illustrated examples, to...

Free guide.(ELECTRONICS)
February 7, 2005... Astrodyne is offering a new 63-page power products reference guide. This four-color guide contains specifications with product dimensions for ac/dc switching supplies, high-density dc/dc converters, open-frame and enclosed switching power...

Ultracapacitor market charges forward: battery alternatives are gaining use in cars, industrial markets.(POWER MANAGEMENT)
February 7, 2005... Ultracapacitors have been used in limited applications in recent years, but the storage cells are beginning to see acceptance as an alternative to batteries. Automakers are starting to employ the technology, which should help increase volumes...

USB focuses on consumer products: On The Go components establish base for system designers.(INTERCONNECT)(universal serial bus)
February 7, 2005... The USB interface continues to push forward, but there's some question whether it will have an impact in PDAs, MP3 players and other consumer products. Vendors are rolling out new products for the USB On The Go interface, but acceptance seems...

Interactive CD.(FLUID POWER)
February 7, 2005... Bee Valve Inc., a manufacturer of low-pressure fluid control products, has released its interactive CD for low-pressure handling components including polypropylene ball valves and strainers, hose couplers, adapters and fittings, tube fittings,...

Products catalog.(FLUID POWER)
February 7, 2005... Stafford Manufacturing Corp. is offering its free 20-page Collars, Couplings and Components catalog of application-based products originally developed as specials that are now available from stock. The catalog contains photographs,...

Water jetting forum.(FLUID POWER)
February 7, 2005... A leader in high-pressure and ultra-high pressure water technology, NLB Corp. is inviting everyone in the industry to their new online forum that lets visitors post water jet questions and receive feedback from NLB or other water jet users....

New design yields higher torque efficiency: hydraulic orbital motor could see action in skid-steer applications.(CONTROLS)
February 7, 2005... Designers of skid-steer loaders may now have an alternative to the cam lobe-type hydraulic motors typically used to propel the wheels in such equipment. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Thanks to a new design, less costly orbital motors might...

Vibration courses.(MOTION CONTROL + POWER TRANSMISSION)
February 7, 2005... The vibration institute is offering three upcoming courses. Basic machine vibrations (Feb. 22-25, Tempe, AZ) is intended to familiarize participants with predictive maintenance techniques. Machinery vibration analysis (Feb. 22-25, Tempe, AZ)...

New catalog.(MOTION CONTROL + POWER TRANSMISSION)
February 7, 2005... Bisor Gear has released its 2005 product catalog. The 64-page catalog provides technical specs, features for Bison's broad product line of motors, gearmotors, and reducers available as stock items, and highlights of some of Bison's...

Packaging toolkit.(MOTION CONTROL + POWER TRANSMISSION)
February 7, 2005... ELAU has introduced the latest version of EPAS-4, its PacDrive Automation Software toolkit. The EPAS-4 Version 16 has a fully documented software template. Other new software functions include preventive maintenance. The new tool kit is for...

Slimmed-down design snares hefty contract: for HK Systems, winning one of the food industry's biggest materials handling jobs demanded downsizing--not supersizing.(MATERIALS HANDLING)
February 7, 2005... The Milwaukee-based equipment manufacturer recently completed installation of 77 automated storage-and-retrieval machines for the Stop & Shop distribution center in Freetown, MA. The clincher: HK's design of a new rotating fork lift machine...

Technologies that make a difference.(MOTION CONTROL + POWER TRANSMISSION)(development of test systems)(Axis New England)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... Looking for engineers who have mastered the art of building effective motion control systems? Many of them are at integrator companies. Spectra Inc., a leading manufacturer of large ink-jet print heads for billboards and other commercial...

Mold-making Expo.(SOFTWARE + HARDWARE)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... CAE Services Corp., a leading injection mold analysis and structural finite element analysis (FEA) firm, will exhibit at the upcoming Moldmaking Expo 2005. The event will be held in the Donald Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL, from...

Free download.(SOFTWARE + HARDWARE)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... UGS, a global provider of product lifecycle management (PLM) software and services, announced the immediate availability of the JT2Go[TM] solution, a set of no-cost 3D viewing products enabling companies to globally share 3D product and...

Data.(NEWS)
February 7, 2005... 97 Percent of engineers who rated product reliability/accuracy most important when specifying CAD/CAE software Source: Design News 2003 CAD/CAE Study

Latest version of Tecplot passes one reviewer test: Paris Altidis, CAE engineer, gives software high marks.(REVIEW)
February 7, 2005... Tecplot claims to have been on a continuous improvement path over the last several years. The latest version gives users complete control of how they look at the data. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] To the new user, Tecplot is designed to...

Current induction ... metal spheres ... force calculation ... 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)
February 7, 2005... Dear Search Engineer: I have two hoses that need to connect to each other via quick-disconnect fittings, but the fittings have to stay together if the pressure in the hose gets high. I need some basic theory on designing a pressure-balanced...

FloCat ultrasonic doppler shift flowmeter: digital diagnostics.(REFERENCE THIS!)
February 7, 2005... The YD50-B Series flowmeter measures liquid flow in pipes using non-invasive, clamp-on piezoelectric transducers. Circuitry design allows the meter's use with relatively clean liquids as well as liquids containing suspended solids or air. The...

One cool machine: for SGI, developing a super-fast supercomputer was easy. The trick was to keep it cool. Here's how they did it.(Silicon Graphics)(Cover Story)
February 7, 2005... WHAT DO YOU GET WHEN YOU package up to 256 Intel[R] Itanium[R] 2 processors into a single computer node? The answer is the architecture for one of the fastest supercomputers in the world--and one heck of a thermal-management challenge. ...

PBT gets a makeover: a new cyclic form of this familiar engineering plastic could expand its use.(polybutylene teraphthalate (PBT))
February 7, 2005... WITH ENGINEERING PLASTICS, GOING AROUND IN CIRCLES MAY TURN OUT TO be a good thing. A new cyclic form of polybutylene teraphthalate (PBT) promises to open up new design possibilities for molded parts in automotive, industrial, and consumer...

Who are you? Vendors make it easy to add biometric sensors to security systems.
February 7, 2005... FINGERPRINTS ARE LIKE OPINIONS; EVERYONE HAS one--or more. But in the case of fingerprints, they always differ. The use of these unique "personal signatures" has intrigued people since the mid-1800s. Only recently, though, have sensor...

Stacked modules hold flash, RAM: up to 192 Mbits fits in a 8 X 10 mm package.(MEMORY)(Random-Access Memory)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... As portable products such as cell phones and PDAs do more tasks and handle more data, they require more memory space. Atmel Corp. is addressing this burgeoning demand with a family of memory modules that have both Flash and RAM stacked inside....

Cartridge valve: pneumatically operated.(FLUID POWER)(I and J Fisnar Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... Designed for precision dispensing of all types of fluids (solvents, oils, silicones, glues, UV adhesives, ink, etc.), the CV629 is a pneumatically operated valve that is used with a valve controller and reservoir tank. It can be integrated into...

Tankless water heater: with copper heat exchanger.(FLUID POWER)
February 7, 2005... The ProStar[TM] tankless gas water heater can reportedly be plumbed to serve a single fixture or multiple fixtures within the home. It is recommended for vacation homes, room additions, and other low-to-medium demand applications. The product...

Flow sensors: accurate, convenient.(FLUID POWER)(J-TEC Associates)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... Engineered for a wide variety of applications, the Flo-Tube flow sensors create and sense a pressure difference. When connected to the appropriate secondary instrumentation, the product provides an accurate and convenient method of flow...

Testing instrument: fast, accurate.(FLUID POWER)
February 7, 2005... The Sentinel F-21 testing instrument reportedly uses a solid-state mass flow sensor to respond rapidly to flow changes, resulting in faster test cycles. The 32-point calibration is designed to provide the most advanced and accurate flow...

Capacitive level sensor: for small tubes and hoses.(FLUID POWER)(Instrument industry (Equipment))(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... The TLS 100 is reportedly the first capacitive level sensor designed specifically for tubes and hoses. Its clip-on mounting design is engineered to reduce installation time and to permit a wider adjustment band for sensitivity. It detects the...

PTFE conduit: protects wiring, transports fluids.(FLUID POWER)
February 7, 2005... The company's line of PTFE tubing is offered in several configurations for protecting wiring or transporting fluids in critical applications. It is designed to be a conduit for protecting wiring in harsh environments and transporting fluids...

Heat trap fittings: quiet operation.(FLUID POWER)(Electric control equipment)(Perfection Corp.)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... The Hush[TM] heat trap fittings feature a newly designed ball that reportedly reduces the possibility of "rattle" in water heaters. They incorporate a thermoplastic ball with an elongated "tail," according to the company, and during the flow of...

Sensor: replaces mechanical float switch.(FLUID POWER)
February 7, 2005... The Leveltrak[TM] sensor is designed to replace mechanical float switches. It is an electronic "floatless" sensor that detects level without any moving parts, according to the company. It determines level by measuring the point of dielectric...

FPA Conduit Fittings: for demanding electrical applications.(FLUID POWER)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... The FPA Nylon Conduit Fittings are designed for use with genuine Flexicon flexible, corrugated Nylon electrical conduit and tubing in trade sizes from 1/4-2 inches. They provide a liquid tight, secure installation. They are available in...

Cavity pump: bushed pin joint.(FLUID POWER )
February 7, 2005... The Titan C22 progressing cavity pump is engineered as a drop-in replacement with interchangeable parts for close-coupled pin joint drive configurations. Features include flow capacities of 500 gpm, pressures to 175 psi, bushed pin joint that...

Reflectance meter: accurate, reliable.(FLUID POWER)
February 7, 2005... The Pocket Detective 3.0 window tint meter is designed to offer solutions for both VLT measurements, along with VLR measurements. It can also be used to measure optical properties of varying materials. Features include push-button operation,...

Turbine flow sensor displays: panel-mounted.(FLUID POWER)
February 7, 2005... The HB2800 display is designed for use with the company's Ultima and Classic Flow Sensors. It accepts non-amplified low-level frequency input and calculates rate of flow and total flow. The F6600 digital display accepts inputs from the...

Precision Driller/Router: precision speed and routing.(MOTION CONTROL/POWER TRANSMISSION)
February 7, 2005... The Concept 129 Precision Driller/Router features a 20-125K air-bearing driller/router spindle for dual-purpose duty. It also includes a collet to handle routing forces, as well as a sliding pressure foot that enables small piece or externally...

Holemaking solutions: range of sizes.(MOTION CONTROL/POWER TRANSMISSION)(Command Tooling Systems launches drilling equipment)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... The company has introduced five new solutions for drilling and boring holes in reportedly fewer passes, with chamfers, at faster feed rates, for a greater size range, on more machines. Solutions include solid carbide drills that can be used...

Actuators: various stroke lengths.(MOTION CONTROL/POWER TRANSMISSION)(Danaher Motion. PMI Div.)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... The Thomson Sweeper Head Lift actuators are available with optional IP56 protection and offer 2-, 4-, or 6-inch stroke lengths with short retracted lengths. They reportedly provide 250 lbs/force at 1 inch/sec or 500 lbs/force at 0.5 inch/sec....

Dynamic Rod Lock: manual release feature.(MOTION CONTROL/POWER TRANSMISSION)(Nexen Group Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... Designed to function as a braking and holding mechanism for pneumatic cylinders and guide rods, the Dynamic Rod Lock provides users with the ability to slow and stop loads in all axes without relying solely on the cylinder itself. Features...

Industrial panel computer: optional drag-and-drop.(MOTION CONTROL/POWER TRANSMISSION)
February 7, 2005... Reportedly the first panel computer powered by Windows[R] CE 5.0 and InduSoft's Web Studio, HMI Express Pro is designed as a complete supervisory control, process monitoring, and operator interface. Features include an object-oriented database,...

Gearmotor: accepts batteries.(MOTION CONTROL/POWER TRANSMISSION)(Motor industry)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... The 12V dc gearmotor, model MMP.PDSF80-12V.018.1, reportedly accepts any 12V dc power source, including batteries. It measures 2.8 inches in diameter by 5.6 inches long, with an 80 mm square gearbox. It is equipped with an 18:1 gear ratio and...

Conveyors: affordable, hygienic.(MOTION CONTROL/POWER TRANSMISSION)
February 7, 2005... CarrySmart[TM] is reportedly a unique, made-to-order line of conveyors that include Flex-Turn, Flat-Flex Straight, Flat-Flex Shuttle Conveyors, and CarrySmart Spreader or Converger Specialty Conveyors. The Flex-Turn Series of power turning...

Networking solution: lowers systems costs.(MOTION CONTROL/POWER TRANSMISSION)
February 7, 2005... The SMLC-Lite is designed as a cost-effective motion, logic, HMI, and networking solution for 1 or 3 1/2 axis systems. It reportedly lowers costs and reduces complexity using off-the-shelf components, IED 61131-3 languages, and powerful motion...

Actuator: multi-position.(MOTION CONTROL/POWER TRANSMISSION)
February 7, 2005... The MPC (Multi-Position Cylinder) is a multi-position guided actuator that is designed to deliver well over 1 billion cycles for demanding production and material-handling applications. Force and stroke functions to control the products can be...

Servo motors: stainless steel.(MOTION CONTROL/POWER TRANSMISSION)
February 7, 2005... The company's stainless steel brushless servo motor (SSBSM Series) is engineered for durability. It will easily handle IP67 and 1,500 psi washdown conditions, according to the company, and it can be used in harsh, corrosive food/liquid, high...

Linear guide coverstrip: easy installation.(MOTION CONTROL/POWER TRANSMISSION)
February 7, 2005... The BAC Coverstrip for Ball Monorail is designed as an alternative to the traditional plastic caps that cover the counterbored mounting holes in a profile rail of a precision linear guideway assembly. They reportedly provide machine designers...

Hollow shaft gearmotor: with greater clearance.(MOTION CONTROL/POWER TRANSMISSION)
February 7, 2005... The 562 series hollow shaft gearmotor features increased low speed center distance, and greater clearance for wider faced gears. It reportedly enables users to obtain nearly twice the continuous torque ratings, and it offers an optional fourth...

Air filter drawings: Web-accessible.(SOFTWARE/HARDWARE)
February 7, 2005... Hailed by the company as the industry's first Web-accessible drawings, users can reportedly download air filter models into all major CAD formats for "can't miss" fit and tolerance stack-up evaluation. This is designed to eliminate the need for...

Software for cost control: new version.(SOFTWARE/HARDWARE)
February 7, 2005... DFMA[R] 2005A is a new software release that includes upgraded versions of both modules in the integrated DFMA suite: DFA Version 9.2 and DFM Concurrent Costing[R] Version 2.1. The software is designed to identify the major cost drivers...

PLM tool: helps lower costs.(SOFTWARE/HARDWARE)
February 7, 2005... FindView Product Data Alchemist is engineered to automate discovery of existing product data assets and to provide tools to extract and format information from embedded content for loading into an enterprise PLM system. Businesses can gain six...

CAD/CAM software: create clean tool path.(SOFTWARE/HARDWARE)
February 7, 2005... Version 19 CAD-CAM incorporates Wire Frame, Surfaces, and Solids into one with the goal of allowing users to create clean tool path and accurate G-code programs for imported surface or solids type files. It supports DXF, IGES, and STEP files...

3 in one: with CFD, creation, and EMI.(SOFTWARE/HARDWARE)
February 7, 2005... ANSYS 9.0 is reportedly the first software release featuring electromagnetic, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and mesh creation technologies integrated within the company's Workbench[TM] product development environment. Its modern...

Learning bundles: all-in-one education solution.(SOFTWARE/HARDWARE)
February 7, 2005... The company is introducing eight Learning Bundles that are designed to meet teachers' and students' needs and budgets. The bundles are available for Maya and Alias Studio Tools software. School bundles include: software (Maya or Studio);...

White paper: available on website.(SOFTWARE/HARDWARE)
February 7, 2005... A new white paper, "Model Manager: Managing design data in the interconnected enterprise", is available at the company's website. It leverages the power of XML Web services to tie into service-oriented architectures that link together the...

Simulation software: new functionalities.(SOFTWARE/HARDWARE)
February 7, 2005... MSC. Dynamic Designer is now available for Autodesk Inventor 9 and Solid Edge 16. It uses the MSC. ADAMS motion simulation technology to provide users with the ability to understand critical performance information about a design without...

Server: extreme performance.(SOFTWARE/HARDWARE)
February 7, 2005... The FlexPCServer Series is a performance briefcase notebook and mobile server with Single or Dual Xeon[TM] to 3.06 GHz. It reportedly offers extreme performance computing in a portable form for the most mission-critical applications. According...

Portable workstation: large monitor.(SOFTWARE/HARDWARE)
February 7, 2005... The LPA617 portable workstation features CPU speeds up to 3.2 GHz, a floppy drive, a 40-Gbyte hard drive, a CD-ROM drive, and two available 5.25-inch bays. Most models have five PCI slots, according to the company, and one combines three ISA...

Vote for your favorite gadget freak.(Design News Special)
February 7, 2005... With the publication of this issue, Design News celebrates the second anniversary of the Gadget Freak files. This popular column, sponsored by Allied Electronics, profiles the often useful, always entertaining inventions that Design News...

The gadget freak files case #38: Bryan had a feeling he wasn't in Kansas anymore.
February 7, 2005... AFTER ONE TOO MANY NIGHTS lying awake wondering if he had remembered to close the garage door, Bryan decided to reengineer his automatic door opener. He attached a detector switch to the opener drive rail, which is engaged by the drive shuttle...

The case of the lamed lothario: the stress riser multiplied the nominal stress and accelerated fatigue.(True Stories)
February 7, 2005... PRIOR TO THE SALK VACCINE, THE WORD "POLIO" STRUCK terror into the hearts of parents. Children, especially, became horribly ill from polio, but none knew why or how. Mothers tried to keep their children from places, such as public swimming...

Engineering "who done its".(MY VIEW)
February 21, 2005... Practically from the day I started writing for this magazine, readers have told me, "Don't just tell us about the success stories, tell us about the failures, too." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] As any journalist can appreciate, that's a...

Perusing for patents: there are a lot of places where you can researtch patents.(WEB LOG)
February 21, 2005... IF YOU HAVE AN IDEA FOR AN INVENtion and you're wondering whether anyone else may have already patented it, you need to talk to Stephen van Dulken. He is the expert curator in the Patents Information Service of The British Library, and as such...

More for less in motion: as DSP prices fall they become more attractive.(Insight from Insiders)
February 21, 2005... Muhammad Mubeen has two decades of expierience in motion control. He says the use of permanent magnet brushless motors is a major trend. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WHAT TECHNOLOGIES HAVE CAUGHT YOUR EYE IN SURVEYING MOTION CONTROL TRENDS?...

It's all about power: nuclear energy should be our main power source.(Really Opinionated People)
February 21, 2005... ENGINEERS KNOW IT ALL. AT PARTIES, after everyone has given their opinion, everyone asks the engineer to tell them the real answer. Engineers deal in facts, data, and probabilities. And engineers are trusted. The public may have lost trust in...

Energy costs should drive motor selection: actual purchase price is less than 3% over product's lifetime.(MOTORHEAD)
February 21, 2005... As energy costs rise, conservation is becoming an important factor in many purchasing decisions. Since energy costs account for more than 94 percent of usage costs over a 10-year operating period, taking power consumption into account is...

Elvis lives; Austin Powers, too. Their new stage: a trade show.(HEARD ON THE STREET)
February 21, 2005... Visitors to the booth for STD Med Inc. (www.stdmed.com) at the recent Medical Design West trade show in Anaheim, CA were greeted by none other than Elvis. In fact, five Elvises. The company, which designs a variety of medical devices, recruited...

Hands-on education: real components draw students to design engineering.(HEARD ON THE STREET)(Brief Article)
February 21, 2005... Toy-like plastic parts that are traditionally used in engineering classes may be a great way to get students started. But Mark Newby believes that educators across America should also provide their students with hands-on experience with...

Ford mustang-step by step from concept to delivery.(TOP PICKS)
February 21, 2005... Centerpieces of this Ford Mustang exhibit are a 2005 model and a classic "millionth-edition" 1966 model to highlight this muscle car's evolution. Booth 2811, March 7-10

Manufacturing town hall.(TOP PICKS)
February 21, 2005... Industry leaders and government representatives discuss their insights on the challenges facing manufacturing, followed by a Q & A session. Room $102BC, March 8