Design News articles from June 2004

Design News archives from June 2004

Obesity defined.(Fact)(Brief Article)
June 7, 2004... An obese person has a body mass index (ratio of weight to the square of height) of 30 or higher.

Obesity climbs.(Fact)(Brief Article)
June 7, 2004... Approximately 60 million adults in the U.S. are obese, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Plus, 15 percent of children and adolescents are over-weight--a rate that has doubled in the past 25 years.

Who's the fattest?(Fact)(Brief Article)
June 7, 2004... The CDC has been tracking obesity trends among U.S. adults since 1985. In 1991, only four states reported obesity rates of 15 to 19 percent. In 2002, 20 states reported rates in that range. Three states--West Virginia, Mississippi, and...

Exercise fanatics.(Fact)(exercise participation)(Brief Article)
June 7, 2004... Hawaii reports the highest level of exercise (83.9 percent) of the 50 states. Must be all that hula dancing. Not surprisingly, it also reports among the lowest levels of obesity (

Fad diet?(Fact)(effectiveness of diets)(Brief Article)
June 7, 2004... The book Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution, ranks 616 on Amazon.com. But is the diet actually more effective than other diets? No, says the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. According to its website (www.atkinsdietalaert.com), the...

More than seat belt extenders.(My View)(designing for overweight persons)(Editorial)
June 7, 2004... A FAN OF THE KING, I RECENTLY SAW BIG ELVIS perform at the Barbary Coast Hotel in Las Vegas. Big was an understatement. Although his Jailhouse Rock really rocked, his girth rendered him nearly immobile--what little shaking going on was going on...

Inventive Resources: almost everyone has thought at least once that they have a patentable idea. Here's help to indulge that fantasy.(Web Log)
June 7, 2004... SPRING AND A YOUNG MAN'S FANCY TURNS toward--inventions! Every year at this time there are several events that recognize inventors and aim to help them think through their ideas and how to patent them. In April, the Lemelson MIT Program...

A handy invention.(Readers Sound Off)(Letter to the Editor)
June 7, 2004... I enjoy the Gadget Freak column in Design News, as any engineer should. In the late 60s, I saw a gadget on a late-night television show that I feel reached the pinnacle of perfection. It was a black box, a little larger than a shoe box, with a...

Shocking invention!(Readers Sound Off)(Letter to the Editor)
June 7, 2004... I read your Gadget Freak parts list for the binary-to-decimal learning machine (DN 04.26.04), and all I can say is: Wow, the appropriate sound for a loser must be very high-powered if you control it with a 1 kW potentiometer! Rolando Boldt...

Slaves to bottom line.(Readers Sound Off)(Letter to the Editor)
June 7, 2004... Recently, one of my colleagues laid your editorial on cost cutting and outsourcing (DN MYVIEW 04.26.04) on my desk. I am "THE" Cost Reduction Engineer for my current employer. I read the article and found the experiences of the engineers who...

Dollars and sense.(Readers Sound Off)(Letter to the Editor)
June 7, 2004... Regarding your editorial on cost cutting, a framed copy of the following quote has been on my wall since my first engineering job: "It's unwise to pay too much, but it's unwise to pay too little. When you pay too much, you lose a little money,...

Too many MBAs.(Readers Sound Off)(Letter to the Editor)
June 7, 2004... I like your enthusiastic reasoning, and I believe many civilian benefits (including plastics) came from the space program (DN MYVIEW 02.03.04). I also believe our economy was in much better shape to support such massive research back then. And...

It's more than Mars.(Readers Sound Off)(Letter to the Editor)
June 7, 2004... I enjoyed your editorial on why we should go to Mars. I will admit that I thought the moon landing was terrific and I too watched it and eventually became an engineer. However, I don't buy the idea that it should be the 'great carrot' to induce...

The end of the black box: product lifecycle management opens up the design process and gives engineers a broader view of the product.(Insight from Insiders)
June 7, 2004... Has product lifecycle management (PLM)--the concept of marrying software and services to manage a product from conception to retirement--worked anywhere? What have been the benefits? Peter Schroer, who has been connected with PLM from the...

Stick up for your designs: proper circuit protection is not based on cost alone.(Really Opinionated People)
June 7, 2004... CUTTING COST ON DESIGN IS A GOOD thing unless your design goes up in smoke. As OEMs compete in an increasingly low-cost global marketplace, many engineers are considering inexpensive circuit breakers or fuses, instead of full-featured,...

Search by shape.(Research for the Real World)(Interview)
June 7, 2004... Karthik Ramani is trying to save engineers' time by reusing their knowledge in a 3D CAD shape-search database. PRESENT POSITION: University Faculty Scholar, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University DEGREES: B. Tech in...

A woman's touch: female intuition drives this Volvo's design.(Heard on the Street)(Brief Article)
June 7, 2004... Volvo had a hand recently in hushing a group of vocal Wellesley College women. A team of female engineers and designers from the Swedish car company were on campus as part of the tour of--Your Concept Car (YCC)--the female-designed concept...

Fly ball: airship enables hovering and flying.(Heard on the Street)(Techsphere Aerosphere airship)(Brief Article)
June 7, 2004... Techsphere President Mike Lawson is so sure that the company's new 90-ft diameter AeroSphere airship, due to hover in the sky this summer, will be successful that he's already counting on an around-the-world flight in 2005 for a 130-ft-diameter...

CCD for blindspot vision.(New and Notable Product Design)(HitchCAM FrameCAN Rearview Camera System)(Brief Article)
June 7, 2004... HitchCAM[TM] FrameCAM[TM] Rearview Camera System. Inventor David Mendoza was able to develop this automotive bolt-on rear-vision video system with a stable picture thanks to its Sony HAD CCD color camera. By "stable" Mendoza means there are...

Modular tool eases changeover, saves energy.(New and Notable Product Design)(Emhart Teknologies ProSet Rivet Setting Tool)(Brief Article)
June 7, 2004... Emhart Teknologies ProSet[TM] 2100 POP[R] Rivet Setting Tool. Operators can easily replace the five component modules in this tool to allow off-line maintenance that keeps production going. For tool changeover, the nose is removable without...

Stainless case takes harsh wash.(New and Notable Product Design)(Brief Article)
June 7, 2004... DVT Extreme Environment Legend XE Camera. This stainless steel case sealed to an IP68 rating for dust and harsh washdowns is more than an over-case around an existing camera. A mere substitution would take up extra volume and also mean the...

Fabric tailored to shipboard firesuit.(New and Notable Product Design)(First Attack Firesuit)(Brief Article)
June 7, 2004... US Navy Clothing and Textile Research Facility First Attack Firesuit. With a weight of 5.3 oz/y[d.sup.2], versus 7.5 oz/y[d.sup.2] for comparable materials, the heat-resistant Southern Mills Millennia SR outer-layer fabric allows this firesuit...

Filtered LEDs power micro display.(New and Notable Product Design)(SpyPen Oboe Digital Camera)(Brief Article)
June 7, 2004... World Wide Licenses Ltd SpyPen Oboe Digital Camera. RGB (red, green, blue) organic fil-tering material first developed for CCD imaging makes this camera's color micropixel viewfinder display possible. The Kopin Corp. CyberDisplay 113K EVF is...

Configuration offers smoke-free barbeque.(New and Notable Product Design)(Omedec BIOGRILL)(Brief Article)
June 7, 2004... Omedec BIOGRILL. Designers gave this stainless steel barbeque grill a unique vertical arrangement. In a traditional horizontal grill, fat drops into the charcoal, producing carcinogenic benzopyrene that smoke and flame deposit on food. The...

Spacers allow smooth micro-motion.(Technology You Can Use)(Brief Article)
June 7, 2004... These patented, compliant POM plastic spacers separate recirculating balls inside ball-screw nuts with very low friction. The result is fine and slow motion, on the order of single microns per second. [GRAPHIC OMITTED] Without such...

Stepped attachment sleeves quiet vibration, cut costs.(Technology You Can Use)(Brief Article)
June 7, 2004... ConCentra ball and roller bearings feature a patented multistep sleeve attachment method that forms a near 360-degree interference fit on a fan shaft. The arrangement eliminates traditional radially non-symmetric retention using set screws,...

Scanning architecture improves contamination resistance.(Technology You Can Use)(Brief Article)
June 7, 2004... A new linear encoder with large elements ensures that sufficient light signals can get through any possible contamination for signal processing. [GRAPHIC OMITTED] Precision linear encoders function by passing collimated light through...

Read head processing tightens encoder resolution.(Technology You Can Use)(Brief Article)
June 7, 2004... The compact magnetoresistive read-head of the Linear Motor Encoder (LME) includes interpolation circuitry and a periodic reference mark. Trilogy Systems engineers took advantage of improvements in smaller chip packaging and compute power to put...

Moon crash for sale.(Trends Breakthroughs Developments)(Orbital Development cargo launch)(Brief Article)
June 7, 2004... How far can $6 million take you? The latest answer might be as far as the moon. Newly open for bidding on eBay is the "Moon Crash Project" from Orbital Development (http://rbi.ims.ca/3850-566), which asks for at least $6 million to launch a...

Mems scholarship.(Trends Breakthroughs Developments)(Micro and Nantechnology Commercialization Education Foundation)(Brief Article)
June 7, 2004... Coventor (http://rbi.ims.ca/3850-567) and the Micro and Nantechnology Commercialization Education Foundation (http://rbi.ims.ca/3850-568) are offering graduate students MEMS design-research scholarships in four categories: bio MEMS, rf MEMS,...

Pre-owned test equipment on eBay.(Trends Breakthroughs Developments)(Brief Article)
June 7, 2004... A new agreement between eBay and Agilent Technologies Inc. (http://rbi.ims.ca/3850-570) is the Agilent Advantage Assurance program (http://rbi.ims.ca/3850-571), which offers customers the option to purchase on eBay Agilent test equipment that...

Trying before hiring: companies look for graduates with intern experience.(Employment)(Brief Article)
June 7, 2004... Tight budgets and the emerging capability of skilled workers in low-wage regions are putting more pressure on corporations to get the most out of new college graduates hired in the U.S. For a growing number of companies, that means hiring...

Globalization alters co-ops: fledgling efforts attracting some attention.(News)(Brief Article)
June 7, 2004... Colleges are trying to help interested students get some experience working abroad. "We're making an effort to try to find employers outside the U.S.," says Thomas Akins, executive director for the Division of Professional Practice at the...

Measurement kit for nanotech.(Electronics)(Keithley Instruments Inc.)(Brief Article)
June 7, 2004... Keithley Instruments Inc. (http://rbi.ims.ca/3850-508) has developed the free Nanotech Toolkit--a set of software tools that can short-cut many measurement tasks by providing common routines used in testing nanotech devices. The toolkit is...

Sensor app site.(Electronics)(Brief Article)
June 7, 2004... Designing better fitting diapers and screening for breast cancer are just two of the many applications demonstrated in elaborate illustrations and detailed in proof-based case studies on the new website launched by Pressure Profile Systems Inc....

Treat wastewater, make energy.(Electronics)(Brief Article)
June 7, 2004... A single-chambered microbial fuel cell protrotype developed by researchers at Pennsylvania State University may have proven that someone's trash could indeed become another person's treasure. During their research, the scientists found that...

Automotive: data flow faster to cars; Packet-transmission scheme shortens broadcast times.(Electronics)
June 7, 2004... As drivers and passengers expect more and more infotainment data in a vehicle, the challenge for information providers is to get this data to the vehicle efficiently. XM Satellite Radio and Honda Motor Co. are backing a communications technique...

Analysis tools: silence can be golden; NI, MTS sign pact for noise analysis.(Electronics)
June 7, 2004... As global markets become more competitive, limiting noise and creating pleasing sounds are emerging as important product differentiators. That's prompting some companies to focus on tools that can analyze noise at various points from initial...

FAST shipping.(Fluid Power)(Brief Article)
June 7, 2004... Festo Corp. has introduced the "FAST" shipping program, in which same-day shipment of stock pneumatic products is promised. Also available is three-day shipment of custom-configured products, including actuators, valves, valve manifolds, air...

Back to basics.(Fluid Power)(National Fluid Power Association; Fundamentals of Pneumatics course)(Brief Article)
June 7, 2004... The National Fluid Power Association (www.nfpa.com), in conjunction with its pneumatic manufacturer members, has launched the Fundamentals of Pneumatics, an online education program that covers the basics of pneumatic technology for those who...

SAE conference.(Fluid Power)(Brief Article)
June 7, 2004... The SAE is presenting the Commercial Vehicle Engineering Congress and Exhibition (http://rbi.us.ca/3850-549), held in metro Chicago on Oct. 26-28. Among the technical programs is the Off-Road Commercial Vehicles session, which will cover the...

Data.
June 7, 2004... DATA 343 ($M) U.S. foreign trade deficit (imports minus exports) for fluid power products in 2003 Source: National Fluid Power Assoc.

Controls: C code becomes user accessible; Design package integrates electronic features for hydraulics-based off-highway equipment customization.(Fluid Power)(Sauer-Danfoss Inc.)
June 7, 2004... Mechanical engineers who don't know how to program in C code but want to create advanced electronic control systems for hydraulics-based off-highway equipment may now have a graphical software solution. ********** Sauer-Danfoss,...

Analysis tools: FEA peels away mysteries of hydraulic valves; Combined methodologies yield new insight.(Fluid Power)
June 7, 2004... By marrying the mathematical precision of finite element analysis (FEA) with an in-depth knowledge of hydraulics, engineers at Moog GmbH (Boblingen, Germany; http://rbi.ims.ca.3850-550) are shedding new light on hydraulic valve design by...

Rapid prototyping grows.(Materials + Joining)(Brief Article)
June 7, 2004... A new Wohlers Report reveals that the rapid prototyping industry last year reversed its downward trend as revenues returned to levels of the past. "Low-end machine sales soared to unprecedented heights, with 3D printers becoming the crown jewel...

Name game.(Materials + Joining)(BASF AG to rename Capron products)(Brief Article)
June 7, 2004... BASF will apply its "Ultramid" name to the company's entire line of nylon 6 engineering thermoplastics in North America. As of July 1, thermoplastics currently sold as "Capron" will be renamed. BASF added the Capron resins to its nylon 6...

Light, strong fasteners.(Materials + Joining)(SPS Technologies Inc.)(Brief Article)
June 7, 2004... SPS Technologies has developed a line of titanium alloy fasteners for racing and other industries that require lightweight, strong fasteners capable of meeting stringent fatigue life requirements. The company reports that these new Aerlite 200...

Ceramics: cool current; High-temperature superconducting wire becomes increasingly practical operationally and financially.(Materials + Joining)
June 7, 2004... High-temperature superconductors (HTS) sure sound like a good idea. When fashioned into wires and cooled to about 77K, which passes for balmy in superconductivity circles, these ceramic materials can carry at least a hundred times more current...

Free seminar.(Motion Control + Power Transmission)(Brief Article)
June 7, 2004... WAGO is hosting a free three-day industrial Ethernet control seminar at its North American headquarters in Germantown, WI, on October 25-27. Attendees will receive an introduction to the WAGO-I/O-SYSTEM hardware, an overview of industrial...

Baldor workshop.(Motion Control + Power Transmission)
June 7, 2004... Baldor Electric Co. is offering a series of 3-day classes at various levels and class structures such as seminars, Q & A sessions, and interactive activities. Topics covered include motor, drive, motion, Baldor generators, gearmotor and speed...

SKF catalog.(Motion Control + Power Transmission)(Brief Article)
June 7, 2004... Latest release to the U.S. market by SKF USA Inc. is the General Catalog #5000, which features advanced technical information including a new friction model and the latest product listings. Other technical content includes revised speed...

Automation: precise timing, drives thermoformer; Servo system PLSs achieve precise multi-axis synchronization, reliability, and high throughput.(Motion Control + Power Transmission)
June 7, 2004... To thermoform plastic product packaging, cups, lids, foam plates, and berry box products used in supermarkets requires highly precise, synchronized motion. And with inline, continuous thermoformers, performance requirements go even higher,...

Software upgrades.(Software + Hardware)
June 7, 2004... The MathWorks has just released two new versions of its software: MATLAB 7 and Simulink 6. Intended for technical computing, MATLAB 7 features built-in support for integer and single-precision floating-point math. It also includes MATLAB...

PTC Users unite!(Software + Hardware)(Brief Article)
June 7, 2004... The PTC/User World event will take place June 13-16 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, TN. On tap for the event is free hands-on training for the company's Wildfire software, an exhibit hall of Pro/E-related...

Data.(Brief Article)
June 7, 2004... DATA 67 Percent of survey respondents who require 2D electronic drawings from suppliers Source: 2004 CAD Interoperability Survey. TenLinks Inc. & Proficiency Inc.

PLM: software makes way for air taxi service; Thanks to economical operation, a new small jet may give traditional airlines a run for their money, and for their customers.(Software + Hardware)
June 7, 2004... It's a bold concept: a small company in the huge aerospace industry comes up with the idea of shunning the big-plane concept and instead designing small ones to operate as air taxis and enable air transportation for the masses. And the main...

Control circuit ... PAL devices ... torque for screws ... 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)
June 7, 2004... Dear Search Engineer: I need a control circuit in which closing it activates a device and closing it again de-activates the device. In other words, push the button and it's on, push the same button and it's off. Any ideas? [ILLUSTRATION...

Building a Great White Shark: inventor and ex-stuntman Eddie Paul describes how his team tackled its biggest project yet: design and build a personal, air-powered submarine in just a few weeks.(Tales from the Trenches)(Cover Story)
June 7, 2004... Just the mention of the name Great White Shark is enough to send a quiver down the spine of the average diver. Also known as Carcharodon Carcharias, it can reach a length of 23 ft or more and weigh in at over 5,000 lbs. That's bigger than your...

Decentralized control: networks can enable less centralization; when you do decentralize, it should match application needs: speed, wiring, and manufacturing process design or lifecycle.(Motion Control)
June 7, 2004... History of centralized control in manufacturing and similar environments is--as with most technological developments--a double-edged sword. Centralization often can mean accessing an entire operation (or production line) by one person or a...

Marriage works: MSC has brought the ADAMS simulation package into its software family. Does the marriage work? Can engineers easily work with the integrated packages? This reviewer says yes.(Software)(Product/Service Evaluation)
June 7, 2004... In April 2002, MSC.Software purchased Mechanical Dynamics Inc., thus marrying the former's MSC.Nastran structural finite element analysis software with the latter's ADAMS kinematic analysis package. Like any marriage, this one depends on...

Digital tests move beyond logic: there's more to digital testing than 1's and 0's.(Innovative Ideas from the Test Experts)
June 7, 2004... WHEN ENGINEERS MUST TEST A digital system, board, or integrated circuit, their test equipment should do more than supply and monitor standard logic levels. The digital-test landscape requires attention to signal integrity,...

Test experts editorial series: speed digital design characterization with the right software.(Innovative Ideas from the Test Experts)
June 7, 2004... There are a few methods for creating and editing digital test patterns. The first is to create a model of the entire system and to let the model generate test vectors automatically. While the actual generation of test vectors is convenient,...

Microcontrollers move into 'microspaces': PIC architecture packed into SOT-23 package.(Electronics)
June 7, 2004... The PIC10F 8-bit flash microcontrollers offer Microchip Technology's PIC[R] architecture in a compact SOT-23, 6-pin package, 2.92 mm long. Company engineers say they were able to put such compute power into the diminutive package thanks to...

Aerospace locknuts.(Fastening/Joining/Assembly)
June 7, 2004... With non-metallic inserts Offered in a variety of configurations, the company's line of ESNA [R] aerospace locknuts feature non-metallic inserts. A red Nylon is used as the locknut insert material for applications up to 250F; VESPEL[R]...

Axis damper.(Fastening/Joining/Assembly)
June 7, 2004... Spring-loaded The company's axis damper is a spring-loaded damper that operates on a pivot/hinged system, rather than a rotary gear system. A separate molded rack system and tension spring is not required because they are built into the...

Fasteners.(Fastening/Joining/Assembly)
June 7, 2004... High-strength, light weight Manufactured from a new titanium alloy, the AERLITE [TM] 200 fasteners are designed to provide high strength and toughness, along with the light weight typically associated with titanium. The products feature a...

Adhesive.(Fastening/Joining/Assembly)
June 7, 2004... Moisture resistant TRA-BOND 789-3T3N1 epoxy adhesive is a thixotropic version of the company's 789-3. It is reportedly tough and moisture-resistant, and is designed for side mount staking of components and any applications where resistance...

Twist lock with label.(Fastening/Joining/Assembly)
June 7, 2004... For quick cable identification The TL-F1 series compliments Richco's line of twist lock clamps and offers a simple solution for cable identification. The twist lock feature enables the it to be fastened securely and released by hand....

Injection-molded fasteners.(Fastening/Joining/Assembly)
June 7, 2004... For the hook and loop industry Inter-Mold Hook technology (IMH) is designed to eliminate the material and labor costs of at taching hook material to plastic. It reportedly allows one-step injection molding of hook fasteners directly into...

Set-screw collars.(Fastening/Joining/Assembly)
June 7, 2004... Multiple materials The company's special set-screw collars are designed to incorporate a variety of special design requirements and be machined from a range of materials. They can incorporate multiple screws, face holes for springs and...

Drive system.(Fastening/Joining/Assembly)
June 7, 2004... High torque, low maintenance The MORTORQ[R] drive system is engineered to provide a solution to the problem of poor torque transfer. Its unique shape reportedly provides full contact of the driver to the entire recess in the screw or bolt,...

Low-level casters.(Fastening/Joining/Assembly)
June 7, 2004... Two new lines The company has introduced two different lines of low-level casters. The first line, composed of three casters, has an overall height of 3.26 inches that reportedly provides optimum capacity at minimum height for use on...

Hanking cable tie.(Fastening/Joining/Assembly)
June 7, 2004... For securing cable bundles The hanking cable tie series from Richco provides excellent retention for managing and securing cable bundles. Beaded along its length and installed by threading the beaded length through the first hole, two...

Mini diaphragm valve.(Fluid Power)
June 7, 2004... Three configurations Model DV22 mini diaphragm valve is designed for trouble-free use in applications requiring minimal maintenance and maximum lifetime. Ideal applications include the process industry, automated lab analyzers, and...

Metering and mixing pumps.(Fluid Power)
June 7, 2004... For color and flavor concentrates The M900 diaphragm pumps are designed as highly accurate low-and high-capacity metering and mixing pumps for batch processes or continuous production applications. They feature pump heads with seal-less...

Check valves.(Fluid Power)
June 7, 2004... Barbed and threaded The company has released information about three of their lines of check valves: barbed check valves, threaded check valves, and duckbill check valves. The barbed check valves are manufactured with a polished barb,...

Solenoid valves.(Fluid Power)
June 7, 2004... Multipurpose, multiple sizes The company's 300 series direct-acting solenoid valves are designed to be multipurpose 3-way valves. Available in a variety of sizes, the products feature a short-stroke balanced poppet design that reportedly...

Cylinders.(Fluid Power)
June 7, 2004... Stainless steel Manufactured from 300 or 316 series stainless steel, the company's line of cylinders are designed for food processing and pharmaceutical applications. The all-threaded construction products are reportedly fully repairable,...

Check valve.(Fluid Power)
June 7, 2004... Tight seal, corrosion resistant The CKS series of self-sealing thermoplastic check valves are engineered for corrosive and ultra-pure liquids. They are designed to safeguard process systems by maintaining a positive closure. Offered in 1...

Rotary hand valves.(Fluid Power)
June 7, 2004... Durable The company's variety of rotary hand valves are designed for use in heavy industrial applications. They are engineered from die cast aluminum and are reportedly proven to be very durable in applications that feature harsh operating...

Butterfly valve.(Fluid Power)
June 7, 2004... For harsh conditions. Created especially for low pressure, high heat, and highly abrasive applications where immediate and bubble tight shutoff isn't required, the Fly Ash series of butterfly valves is available in 4- to 12-inch sizes and...

Media containment unit.(Fluid Power)
June 7, 2004... Reduces fugitive emissions Created as an accessory to the company's ball valves, the Media Containment Unit reportedly provides a secondary seal that can be monitored for early detection of stem leaks. The investment cast stainless steel...

Air filter.(Fluid Power)
June 7, 2004... Dual-stage compression The BA-series of dual-stage compressed air filters are engineered as point-of-use breathing air filters. They are suited for aircraft cabin air, food processing/packaging, and can reportedly be used as a prefilter...

Pump.(Fluid Power)(Product information)(Brief Article)
June 7, 2004... Greater versatility, less maintenance The company's 1,000 pump is designed to offer greater versatility and performance advantages over other types of positive displacement pumps, such as gear, lobe, peristaltic, and air-operated...