Design News articles from July 2003

Design News archives from July 2003

Monkey see, Monkey do. (My View).(information management)
July 7, 2003... EVER BEEN ON A PROJECT WHERE MANAGEMENT has simply thrown engineers and resources at a problem? Instead of taking the time to learn and figure out what really needs to be done, poor engineering managers hope to overcome their ineptitude through...

A car to Bond with: it comes with a license to thrill. (Flipside).(the pleasures of driving an Aston Martin)
July 7, 2003... CALL ME JAMES BOND. All right, I know I don't look like him. I don't dress like him, or have his luck at a gambling table. But we do have at least one thing in common: An Aston Martin. Here I am, sitting in one with the engine...

Mail.
July 7, 2003... LIAR, LIAR Regarding your editorial, "Lying with Statistics" (DN 05.05.03): This problem has always been around, as pointed out in the old saying, "Figures don't lie but liars can figure." David Givens HUNTSVILLE, AL 99.8%...

Another day, another dollar: want to know the state of the job market? Ask a recruiter. (Slant).
July 7, 2003... Just how bad is the engineering job market? Recruiter Ben Liebstein gives his view from the trenches--and it's not as dire as some people might think. What type of recruiting do you do? Our firm specializes in recruitment of design and...

Whatever you do, hang on to your engineers: they're your best asset. (Rant).(Xilix manages through a tough economy)
July 7, 2003... ORDERS ARE UP AND BUSINESS IS IMPROVing for the electronics industry as we collectively begin to recover from what has been described as one of the worst recessions to ever hit our industry. One of the most impacted segments of the high-tech...

Info, please. (B.M.O.C.).(Raya Fidel on how information is accessed)(Interview)
July 7, 2003... Former librarian Raya Fidel studies how people access information. And-surprise! They're not just using Google. PRESENT POSITION: Professor, School of Library and Information Science, and Head of the Center for Human Information...

An engine runs on espresso. (Buzz).(Stirling engines)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... With the potential to achieve much higher efficiencies and run cleaner than internal combustion engines, Stirling engines--which use an external heat source to perform work-- have long been a source of fascination for engineers. In fact, when...

Pal Mickey is here, there, everywhere. (Buzz).(interactive tour guide from Walt Disney)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Disney's ubiquitous computing Five years in development, Walt Disney's new interactive tour guide Pal Mickey operates off of an infrared wireless network that transmits information in order to help it triangulate its location and speak the...

A linear slide for all. (Buzz).(Pacific Bearing )(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Low price could open up new markets Known for its precision linear guides and self-lubricating bearings and slides, Pacific Bearing tells Design News that its design engineers are working to develop a fully integrated actuator consisting of a...

Managing higher harmonics in a headphone. (Flash).
July 7, 2003... Koss Corporation's Pro 4AA Titanium Stereophones. Perfect sound reproduction is a kind of Holy Grail for all sound engineers. One challenge in particular for designers of dynamic headphones, which employ a thin diaphragm to create pressure...

Light-weight bottles remain strong. (Flash).
July 7, 2003... CONSTAR International Fill Container. Thin-walled tubes, like water bottles, can buckle under high compressive loads. As markets change and water companies self-manufacture their own bottles, CONSTAR has been challenged to design and produce a...

Electrifiying Kart. (Flash).
July 7, 2003... ElectricLouie Electric GoKart. It takes a tough clutch to transfer up to 250 ft-lbs of torque from the motor to the drive wheels of this 144V high-efficiency-battery electric kart. The 6-inch Advanced DC (www.adcmotors.com) series-wound...

Claws and effect. (Flash).
July 7, 2003... Massa Products Corp. Robotic Lobster. Taking cues from nature, Massa and the Marine Science Center of Northeastern University (www.neurotechnology.neu.edu) are developing a mine-hunting biomimetic mechanical lobster for the Office of Naval...

Mouse in hand. (Flash).
July 7, 2003... Ergo Touch Rocket Mouse. This patented interface device is "all about ergonomics and comfort to allow a user to kick back and relax, because he or she is not tethered to a surface to work it," says CEO Seth Alsbury. The shape fits over the...

Lifesaving made easy. (Flash).
July 7, 2003... Medtronic Physio-Control LIFBPAK[R] CR Plus defibrillator. The Quik-Pak electrode allows the user to easily open the color-coded electrodes with one hand and place the pads on the patient suffering from sudden cardiac arrest. Once the adhesive...

Flat out panel components. (Electronics).
July 7, 2003... ITT Industries, Cannon C&K Rafix 22FS Series Switches. Short is sweet with these panel mounted components that have a mounting depth of only 9.2 mm. That compares to the inch or more of switches with conventional contact blocks. The design uses...

Vehicle Dimmer shines. (Electronics).(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Carling Technologies LD-Series Dimmer Control. Heat and electrical noise are the enemies of electronic devices. These dimmer controls feature EMI/RFI filters to protect the control itself. They also generate no noise of their own that could...

Compact Relay, safe separation. (Electronics).
July 7, 2003... Phoenix Contact Safety Relays (PSR). These modules are designed to EN50 178 with reinforced isolation and meet SIL ratings (repeatability for 1 million operational. The relays, in an ME 22.5-mm housing, have from two to eight normally open (NO)...

Miniature Toggles glow. (Electronics).
July 7, 2003... NKK Switches G Series Illuminated Toggle Switches. Red, green, amber, or bicolor red/green LEDs light up the clear polyamide toggles on these ultra-miniature switches for a jeweled-appearance status indication. The switches are only 0.276...

Signal Relay meets lightning surge. (Electronics).
July 7, 2003... Fujitsu Components America FTR-C1 Signal Relay. Because of its high isolation and breakdown voltage, this signal relay has no need for separate protection components. The FTR-C1 is a 1 A relay that meets the Telcordia lightning surge...

Switch/breaker cuts installation time. (Electronics).
July 7, 2003... E-T-A 3130 Inlet Module. This single component combines the functions of overload protection, power inlet (socket), and on/off switching. Thus engineers can reduce the number of components in their designs to cut installation time by 66% with a...

Big Checks. (News).(engineers' wages)(Illustration)
July 7, 2003... Big Checks. Where in the U.S. are engineering salaries the highest? Try Caalifornia for starters. Check out how your location ranks. REGION MEAN SALARY ($000s) California $80.3 New...

Be happy.(job satisfaction)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Top 9 things engineers love about their job: * The work itself * Technical challenges * Location * Salary * Benefits * Camaraderie * Job security * Chance for advancement * Management support ...

Hanging in there?(career movements)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Clearly, it is not your father's career any more--you know, work at one company your whole career. Respondents to our recent career survey have worked for their current employer for just 5.5 years on average. How many have stayed 10 years or...

eBay revs up its industrial sales: it's now easier for engineers to go shopping online. (Commerce).
July 7, 2003... SAN JOSE, CA--Gregory Culkowski clicks on the eBay site. His goal is to save a bundle on used or excess goods. But he's not looking for comic books or a 1960s era original Barbie. He needs to buy new test and measurement equipment. There, he's...

And the Winner is.(NASA's Office of Aerospace Technology TGIR Awards for innovation)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Six new technologies received TGIR Awards for innovation, sponsored by NASA's Office of Aerospace Technology, at the Turning Goals into Reality conference. All of the technologies lead to cleaner, quieter, safer, efficient, and affordable air...

Lending ARM an hand: chips, software pumps up offerings. (Microelectronics).
July 7, 2003... SAN JOSE, CA -- The ARM architecture has gained a leadership position in embedded markets, and the many chipmakers in the ARM camp are pushing their designs forward to help increase its market presence. Recent introductions extend memory...

Step aside, please: low-cost infrared camera helps identify SARS patients. (Imaging).(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... GOLETA, CA--In response to the severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak, Indigo Systems Corp. (www. indigosystems.com) and WinSoft Corp. (www.winsoft.com) have developed ThermaSense[TM], a low-cost monitoring system that captures human facial...

Parker goes wireless. (News).(Parker Hannifin)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Parker Hannifin is serious about taking its technology wireless, and it says that its first Bluetooth-enabled industrial automation products will be available later this year. Visitors to the Hannover Fair in Germany in April had a chance to...

Market forecast. (News).(Calendar)
July 7, 2003... Perhaps more pertinent than ever, this year's Economic Outlook Conference for the National Fluid Power Association will be held August 19-20 at the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel. Forecasts for macroeconomics, automotive manufacturing, and...

Pumped-up know-how. (News).(Hydraulic Institute's e-learning program)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... You may now be a know-it-all in the pump industry, thanks to the Hydraulic Institute's e-learning program, Centrifugal pumps: Fundamentals, Design and Applications." The computer-based training course, developed in direct response to an HI...

Miniature servovalves go to the races: new hydraulic technology helps pack speed and power into Formula One racing vehicles. (Hydraulics).(Moog Controls Ltd.)
July 7, 2003... NEWTON, MA -- Racing cars will receive a hydraulic boost this summer, as a new family of tiny servovalves quietly takes its place in clutches, differentials, and throttles on the motor-sports circuit. The new valves, designed and built by...

Plenty of power. (News).(powder metallurgy industry)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Despite the tough economic conditions, the powder metallurgy industry in North America grew last year, according to figures released by the Metal Powder Industries Federation (www.mpiF.org) during its annual conference in Las Vegas. Iron powder...

Rapid plastic. (News).(polyphenylsulfone from Stratasys Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... With the introduction of polyphenylsulfone (PPSF) for its fused deposition modeling systems, Stratasys Inc. has upped the ante on the mechanical performance available from plastic models created on rapid prototyping machines. This new PPSF...

Understanding Adhesives. (News).(Adhesive and Sealant Council educational seminar)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... The Adhesive and Sealant Council (ASC) will hold an educational seminar on September 23 during the Assembly Technology Expo 2003 in Rosemont, IL This half-day Adhesives Forum will cover topics such as the bonding of low-surface-energy plastics,...

Iron Improvements: a new ductile iron creates some much-needed harmony between tensile properties, fatigue resistance, and machineability. (Metals).(machineable austempered ductile iron from Intermet)
July 7, 2003... NEWTON, MA--Engineers looking for metals to put in fatigue applications often have some tough choices on their hands. Forged steel, aluminum, and various ductile irons can all do the trick, but each strikes a less-than-perfect balance among...

Bug zapper: rubber fights bacteria. (Elastomers).(Milliken Chemical)
July 7, 2003... NEWTON, MA--Microbes and rubber go together like kids and candy stores. This affinity springs in part from the chemical makeup of rubber compounds. "They often contain additives that act as nutrients for bacteria and fungi," notes Bhawan Patel,...

Engine appeal. (News).(defence contract for Pratt & Whitney)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... The Naval Air Systems Command has awarded Pratt & Whitney (P&W) with a $12.7 million, 39month contract in which the company will develop and demonstrate high-value turbine engine technology for use in the U.S. Navy and Air Force unmanned aerial...

Work together. (News).(Phoenix Contact and OMNEX Control Systems)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Two companies have realized the truth behind the strength-in-numbers theory. Phoenix Contact and OMNEX Control Systems have expanded their partnership to include an exclusive distribution agreement in which Phoenix Contact will be responsible...

Casting in control. multi-axis control within 0.050 inches permits precise part pulling. (Controllers).(US-Castings )
July 7, 2003... ENTIAT, WA -- In order to achieve fine-grained aluminum vacuum or pressure vessels, u p until now they most likely had to be hogged out from solid metal billets or forgings--an expensive process that could produce much wasted metal. Now thanks...

Simplified drives highlighted at Hannover: simplicity and modularity help ease design integration. (Product Debuts).
July 7, 2003... HANNOVER, GERMANY -- Despite the subdued current economic atmosphere, most exhibitors at this year's Hannover Fair had feared the worst, but were pleasantly surprised at an attendance level much higher than they expected. Here are just a few...

CAM do. (News: Software + Hardware).(Computer-Aided Manufacturing )(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Dayton, OH-based Budde Sheet Metal Works Inc. is managing its CAM data with version 5 of MetaCAM software from MetaMation, Inc. (www.metamation.com). Engineer Ryan Gudorf says the move will help the company reduce manufacturing errors.Gudorf,...

Funny Car, serious CAD. (News: Software + Hardware).(Computer-Aided Design)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... The Swedish company Leander Bros. is a serious competitor in the European Drag Racing Championship circuit, and this year the team is introducing a 3,500 hp entry into a specific segment of the circuit--the Funny Car segment. But don't laugh:...

The 'I' word comes to engineering: Itanium[R]2 processor revs up auto analysis. (Number Crunching).
July 7, 2003... DETROIT--Engineers at Daimler Chrysler are making a lot of noise about their Latest design aid--and it's a tool intended to help engineers get rid of the noise in their cars. The company recently became among the first in the automotive...

They look out for the little guy: engineers find a way to share files with small vendors. (Collaborative Efforts).(Astrium and Centric Software)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... PARIS, FRANCE--At Astrium (www.astrium-space.com), one of Europe's leading aerospace companies, engineers regularly collaborate internally using the same Catia V4 database simultaneously with HP Visual conferencing (similar to NetMeeting, but...

Ask X the Search Engineer.
July 7, 2003... The Search Engineer finds solutions to all your questions, problems, and dilemmas. Occasionally, he could be wrong. But he doubts it. Plastic nails... Fiber optics... Chemical resistance... Medical material... Dear...

Career outlook: mixed signals for engineers; wages, job outlook flat, but some beginning to see positive signs after a long slump. (Cover Story).
July 7, 2003... Each year, Design News editors look to feedback from our exclusive salary survey for insights into how the field of design engineering is doing. After reviewing this year's results, the best way to describe the current state of things is...

Hands-on review microcontroller development kits: we tried out some of the most popular kits to find out how useful they are. Here's what we liked and didn't like. (Embedded Systems/Microcontroller).
July 7, 2003... Unlike microprocessors that require external chips for memory and I/O-port control, microcontrollers come with everything on one chip. But engineers who haven't had an opportunity to use these versatile devices may wonder how best to learn...

Seeing is believing: by recording visual information, engineers add another dimension to test results. (Measurements in the Design Flow).
July 7, 2003... Suddenly a mechanical tester emits the sounds of metal tearing and plastic shattering. A mechanical assembly undergoing a life-cycle test finally failed. During the test, engineers gathered images using a vision system developed specifically...

Compact cage clamp terminals are easy to connect: no tools are needed to install solid wires. (Automation/Motion Control).
July 7, 2003... When Wago introduced the first cage clamp terminal block 25 years ago, its major selling point was that installers could make connections 75% faster than with screw terminals. All they had to do was insert a screwdriver to open the cage clamp...

Epoxy. (Fastening/Joining/Assembly).
July 7, 2003... Specialty bonding This range of high-performance epoxies is created for specialty bonding and potting applications to 600F. Able to bond metals, ceramics, glasses, and plastics, the products are designed to offer chemical, electrical, and...

Dispense system. (Fastening/Joining/Assembly).
July 7, 2003... Controlled system The Shot Miser Dispense System is engineered for manual and semiautomatic dispensing of all single component, 0 to 80,000 viscosity adhesives. The product includes a controller, a reservoir, and a dispense valve with an...

UV Curing coating. (Fastening/Joining/Assembly).
July 7, 2003... Fast curing TRA-COAT 15C and 15D are part of a line of UV curing materials created for coating, doming, and structural applications. While the 15C reportedly offers great flexibility, the 15D is engineered to provide a more rigid cured...

Submillimeter metal layering delivers design flexibility. (Designer's Corner).
July 7, 2003... The EFAB[TM] process fabricates millimeter and submillimeter metal parts and devices with complex geometries and internal features. The high-volume batch production process is similar to 3D rapid prototyping processes, but it uses metals. ...

Adhesive transfer film. (Fastening/Joining/Assembly).
July 7, 2003... Adheres to skin Bioflex[R] Rx230U is a medical grade unsupported acrylic adhesive transfer film that reportedly provides excellent adhesion to human skin. Created for such uses as wound care and ostomy products. it is supplied on a 60#...

Liquid crystalline polymer. (Fastening/Joining/Assembly).
July 7, 2003... High-density integration R/flex[R] 3000 laminates are engineered to meet industry requirements for low/stable dielectric constant, low/stable dielectric loss, high chemical resistance, low moisture absorption, matched-in-plane CTE, and...

Metal handles. (Fastening/Joining/Assembly).
July 7, 2003... Provides strength without breaking Engineered to withstand over 150 lbs of force without bending or breaking, the expanded line of metal handle assemblies are used in VME, VME64X, VXI, PXI, and cPCI front panel applications. The patented...

Knobs. (Fastening/Joining/Assembly).
July 7, 2003... Versatile use The Indicator knob line is designed for easy use. Reportedly durable and versatile, the products are available in glossy or satin finishes and have either a line or a slot for setting indication. Available without tooling...

Adhesive tape. (Fastening/Joining/Assembly).
July 7, 2003... Applies at many stages The GS Series high-strength adhesive tape features a second liner added to its permanent, pressure-sensitive adhesive; this is designed to increase assembly and manufacturing ease. The product, which is available in...

Captive screws. (Fastening/Joining/Assembly).
July 7, 2003... Matches styling scheme The Prism Series colored knob captive screws feature a stylized over-molded knob and use a durable UL94-VO rated composite material to add color. The product is hardened for additional torque strength and zinc-plated...

Cordsets and coupling nuts. (Fastening/Joining/Assembly).
July 7, 2003... Rated for wash down Picofast cordsets have new hex-shaped, 316 stainless steel coupling nuts with no knurling, allowing for easy cleaning. A world standard M8 thread and able to mate with any quick disconnect, the cordsets reportedly work...

Double-faced tape. (Fastening/Joining/Assembly).
July 7, 2003... With permanent and temporary adhesives At 5-mil with a blue polyethylene liner, the Arclad[R] 8904 double-faced tape is designed for bonding CMP polishing pads to granite or with stainless steel platens used for semiconductor wafer...

Beryllium copper EMI gaskets. (Fastening/Joining/Assembly).
July 7, 2003... Fulfill shielding needs The new line of BeCu EMI gaskets is designed to provide designers with all of their shielding needs from one manufacturer. Available worldwide, the products can offer shielding capability in a range of markets and...

Die attach adhesive. (Fastening/Joining/Assembly).
July 7, 2003... Improves package reliability As an electrically insulating die-attach adhesive for PBGA, flex BGA, and die-to-die applications, ABLEBOND 2025 offers 260CR reliability for lead-free packaging assembly. Featuring fast or snap curing, this...

Gasket material. (Fastening/Joining/Assembly).
July 7, 2003... Fast curing Cho-Form[R] 5537 fast-curing, form-in-place EMI shielding gasket material is provided in 1/10-gal or 1-liter aluminum cartridges containing 600 or 2,000gm of compound. The one-component, electrically conductive silicone...

Epoxy adhesive. (Fastening/Joining/Assembly).
July 7, 2003... Adheres to metals EP22, the room temperature-curing, aluminum-filled, two-component epoxy adhesive, has a one-to-one mix ratio by weight or volume. Reportedly containing good void-filling properties and adhesion to metais, the product...

Studs and standoffs. (Fastening/Joining/Assembly).
July 7, 2003... Promote flush assemblies These concealed-head self-clinching studs and standoffs can be mounted permanently in steel or aluminum sheets as thin as .062 inch/1.6mm. With a concealed-head design for flush assemblies, the side of the sheet...

Universal contact. (Fastening/Joining/Assembly).
July 7, 2003... Standardizes interfacing across devices Designed to overcome interconnect constraints, the Universal Contact is surface mountable with a minimum pitch of 1.35mm. The maximum current rating for the product is 2A nominal and 3A peak at 3V dc....

Interactive rendering product. (Software/Hardware).
July 7, 2003... Increases mock-up realism Real-time rendering menus and interfaces without coding are features of the SGI OpenGL Shader for CATIA, ENOVIA and DELMIA 5. Open GL Shader allows designers to increase the realism of digital mock-ups without...

Integrated design environment. (Software/Hardware).
July 7, 2003... Hardware and software flexibility Board-on-Chip (BOC) technology is the company's answer to design and implementation on FPGAs. BOC enables engineers to use familiar design methods for rapid implementation and testing of complete digital...

Productivity workstations. (Software/Hardware).
July 7, 2003... Combine business, technical applications Itanium2-based workstations running 64-bit Microsoft Windows[R]XP 2003 are available for technical and business applications such as mechanical CAD and CAE, scientific research, imagery analysis, and...

E-Learning classes. (Software/Hardware).
July 7, 2003... Customizable curriculum Personalized, just-in-time training, is offered through an e-learning program for the design engineering community. MyTraining is reportedly the first fully customizable educational environment that allows users to...

Project management. (Software/Hardware).
July 7, 2003... Links charter to project activity Portfolio Planning, ActiveCharter, and ActiveResource are project software solutions that address specific strategic goals in management operations. Portfolio Planning allows real-time visibility to be...

I/O interface card. (Software/Hardware).
July 7, 2003... Functions as standard board or test card I/O applications like ground-support equipment, equipment health monitoring, and caution/warning systems need robust computing power. A PMC parallel I/O card provides 64 channels of 3.3V I/O, each of...

Testing suite. (Software/Hardware).
July 7, 2003... Complete modal analysis LMS Test.Lab processing and acquisition modules are part of a software suite for noise and vibration testing. Test. Lab features the complete modal analysis process from data acquisition to the validation of models;...

Cad project platform. (Software/Hardware).
July 7, 2003... Access, integrate industrial data VizStream technology allows users to visualize, access, and integrate industrial data such as 3D models, 2D drawings, and bills of materials, all available within seconds. VizStream 3.5 reportedly offers a...

Reverse engineering software. (Software/Hardware).
July 7, 2003... Curvature-based approach CopyCAD boasts a surfacing option that offers additional methods for the conversion of data into models. Designed for the automotive and consumer product industries, and other complex designs, the software creates...

Simulation software. (Software/Hardware).
July 7, 2003... Simulate, analyze motion SimMechanics 2.1, a simulation software product with enhanced engineering analysis capability, imports SolidWorks[R] CAD assemblies. Engineers designing mechanisms with control systems can simulate mechanical and...

Predictive design software. (Software/Hardware).
July 7, 2003... Collect and analyze more data Red Rock Software has exclusive distribution and development rights to the Windows[R] version of DeltaGraph[R] predictive analytics technology. DeltaGraph, a data analysis and presentation product, analyzes...

Mechanical design environment. (Software/Hardware).
July 7, 2003... Test for interference, drives Motion and control interface products, released for plug-in to CAD software interfaces, allows design engineers to create dynamic models from static designs. Virtual prototypes can be tested in real time....

Analysis tool. (Software/Hardware).
July 7, 2003... Bio-medical, electrical applications MSC.Marc non-linear, parallel, finite element program helps engineers solve complex problems, especially productivity in applications like automotive, engine and power train modeling, air springs, and...

Diagramming tool. (Software/Hardware).
July 7, 2003... Routes 3d cable, piping The most sophisticated schematic diagrams can be created quickly and easily using RSD 4.0 standalone diagramming tool. Features include an XML interface, automated review process, and a wide range of diagram types....

Simulation tool. (Software/Hardware).
July 7, 2003... Includes failure diagnostics COSMOSDesignSTAR 4.0 design analysis and simulation tool allows designers to detect and fix design problems before prototype production begins. CDS associates with Solidworks, Autodesk Inventor, and Solid Edge....

Reverse engineering software. (Software/Hardware).
July 7, 2003... New plane creation method A new alignment manager, 3D digitizer links, real-time collection of part data, and immediate display are features of the RevWorks[TM] 2003 reverse engineering software program. Other enhancements include smoother...