Design News articles from June 2005

Design News archives from June 2005

Change is in the air at Design News.(MY VIEW)
June 6, 2005... TO FULFILL OUR PROMISE TO DELIVER THE INFORMAtion you say you want and need, we are constantly innovating here at Design News. To that end, I am very pleased to describe two new editorial sections we're introducing in this issue. ...

The right drive: let your customers tell you what your website should look like.(WEB LOG)
June 6, 2005... The concept is simple: Know your customers, and build your website around them. But what if your customers come from all corners of the world, including auto designers and heart surgeons? How do you meet their diverse needs? W.L. Gore had just...

Electronics: here, there, and everywhere today; Engineer to engineer.
June 6, 2005... A SPECIAL 2-DAY EVENT, JUNE 14-15, 2005 FREE Webcast Series on * Electronics * Test & Measurement * Lead Free Design Reliable. Relevant. Straight from engineers like you. Electronics have made their way into almost...

Isn't it ironic?(Readers Sound Off)(Letter to the Editor)
June 6, 2005... Given your strong feelings about the sad state of math literacy (MY VIEW 04. 18.05 http://rbi.ims.ca/4392-554), I will be looking forward to the issue containing the errata for the article on Gravity Probe B. I hope to retire soon from a...

Remember when?(Readers Sound Off)(Letter to the Editor)
June 6, 2005... Good editorial. Some things about the "good old days" were really good, like not too much TV, like no electronic calculators. You had to actually mentally estimate the output of a calculation. What that made you do was THINK rather than point...

Laplace too tough.(Readers Sound Off)(Letter to the Editor)
June 6, 2005... Just last night I was on the phone with my son--a sophomore biomedical engineering student--trying to give him encouragement. He was knee-deep in Laplace Transforms and having one hell of a time. But I keep telling him to give it all he's got,...

Math haters unite!(Readers Sound Off)(Letter to the Editor)
June 6, 2005... It is my opinion that most grade school teachers dislike math and instead of teaching their students math they teach them to dislike math. Probably the reason they didn't become something else is because education is an easy major. Supply and...

Corrections.(Correction Notice)
June 6, 2005... Capacitive proximity sensors can detect electrically conductive objects by sensing "presence," not "pressure" as printed (http://rbi.ims.ca/4392-552) in the 04.18.05 sensors supplement.

Single-control design is within reach: the same I/O hardware will work no matter the tool configuration.(Insight from Insiders)
June 6, 2005... What are the challenges facing design engineers in building machinery for semiconductor applications? Semiconductor tools require great precision and repeatable control of complex processes. The stakes are very high as even minor damage to a...

The value of flexible thinking: textbook knowledge is great--but be open to new ideas.(Really Opinionated People)
June 6, 2005... GOING TO ENGINEERING SCHOOL FULL-time has certain advantages. One can learn new topics, advance a future career, indulge in the occasional free pizza, and sleep in. Additionally, a graduate degree automatically provides a jump-start to...

An easy way to increase torque? Decrease speed: traditional gearmotors and/or speed reducers save cost, space.(Special Advertising Section: MOTORHEAD)(Advertisement)
June 6, 2005... Question: I have a 650 rpm, 1 hp dc drive with 17:1 gear reduction. To eliminate the gear reduction, I want to replace this package with a Baldor 18H AC vector drive and motor. What horsepower vector drive is required to achieve the same torque...

Learn from your peers: E2E conferences now available for viewing.(Engineer to Engineer)
June 6, 2005... MOTION CONTROL AND AUTOMATION Answers to Your Toughest Motion Control Questions * Network Communications * Drive Technologies * Motor Selections * Digital Motor Control * Understanding Soft Motion Skills KEYNOTE...

RAQ's rarely asked questions: strange but true stories from the call logs of Analog Devices.(SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION)(Advertisement)
June 6, 2005... Radio Frequency Interference (or how to get a free lunch at a very good restaurant) Q. I've heard that RF can make low-frequency circuits do strange things. What's that all about? A. I was once summoned to France because an Analog...

Blobs of creativity: design software gives young users an early taste of 3D modeling.(HEARD ON THE STREET)
June 6, 2005... New to the design education market is the Mac OS X Tiger-compatible Cosmic Blobs, a modeling tool by SolidWorks (www.solidworks.com) to introduce 3D design to seven- to 14-year-olds. This Mac version takes advantage of the Tiger Dashboard,...

Trash won't fly out: bomb-proof trash receptacles contain blast, capture fragments, extinguish fire, and prevent fatality.(HEARD ON THE STREET)
June 6, 2005... Two new trash receptacles promise to contain the blast from explosives planted in the can, capture fragments, and distinguish fire, keeping damage, injuries, and fatalities at a minimum. The MTR 91 and 101 models from BlastGard International...

New and notable product design.(FLASH)(Buyers Guide)
June 6, 2005... Converting analog to digital (A-D) and digital to analog (D-A) signals requires different performance levels and very different packaging depending on the application. Here are three new stand-alone A-D converters (ADCs) and two new D-A...

RoHS part numbering: the continuing sage.(Environmental news engineers can use)(Original Equipment Manufacturer )
June 6, 2005... The International Electronics Manufacturing Initiative announced recently that the majority of its OEM and EMS members strongly support the use of unique part numbers for RoHS-compliant components. The announcement follows last year's statement...

Improving the accuracy of microstepping motors: built-in technique eliminates zero crossing error.(TECHNOLOGY YOU CAN USE)
June 6, 2005... A trial-and-error process is one of the classic ways to reduce the jerking and uneven motion in a stepper motor. This approach counteracts the magnetic pull, the detent torque, of the motor as it is pulled toward its full step "on" position....

Signals assume an alias.(SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION: THE DATA DETECTIVE)(Advertisement)
June 6, 2005... After you sample a continuous waveform, you end up with discrete-time values rather than the original signal. The very act of sampling can cause problems when it comes time to analyze the data. You can solve those problems or take advantage of...

Emphasis on managing cost soars: engineers hit the supply chain trenches to identify savings.(MANAGEMENT)
June 6, 2005... Design engineers are on the front lines as U.S. manufacturers strive for improved competitiveness and profitability through more efficient supply chain management. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * At Lucent Technologies engineering teams are...

Robot will work for food: robots extend reach beyond automotive industry applications.(ELECTRONICS)
June 6, 2005... Robot manufacturers are slowly shifting their focus away from automotive production, coming out with units that address electronic manufacturing and food processing, among other fields. Six-axis robots are becoming more common as advanced...

Hydraulic pumps keep mower cooler, quieter: operating temperatures drop by as much as 20 degrees.(FLUID POWER)
June 6, 2005... By combining a large charge pump with a design that employs roller bearings, instead of the more traditional ball bearings, a new hydraulic pump line is making riding lawnmowers cooler and quieter. The KP hydraulic pump, designed by...

Pretty plastics perform: DuPont aims to boost the functionality of decorated plastics.(MATERIALS)
June 6, 2005... Decorated plastics may soon get a performance boost. DuPont Performance Materials' Functional Aesthetics group has developed technologies that allow higher-performing semicrystalline engineering plastics to be painted or plated for automotive,...

Robot serves drinks during happy hour: dual robotic arms and controller combination provides bartending functions.(MOTION CONTROL)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... With everything within arm's length, Motoman's RoboBar, a dual-arm robot serves various beverages and does not take tips. Engineers used Motoman's UPJ robotic arm assembly designed for dispensing, handling, and material removal in more...

2D drafting gets faster: new AutoCAD release promises 10 hr/week time savings.(SOFTWARE)
June 6, 2005... Brushing off attacks from its flanks by other software developers, Autodesk continues to enhance its flagship AutoCAD product. The company announced its 20th AutoCAD release recently, calling it a major upgrade of its core 2D drafting...

Occupant detection sensors: automakers look to possible "smart air bag" mandate.(SENSORS)
June 6, 2005... Electronics suppliers are gearing up for the growing popularity of smart air bags, and they're going to need a variety of sensors to bring the technology to fruition. The new breed of air bags, developed in response to fatalities suffered by...

Automotive structures gain strength: stronger steels grow more popular as manufacturing techniques advance.(STEEL)
June 6, 2005... Advanced high-strength steels have shown plenty of promise in automotive applications for years now. With tensile and yield strengths two to five times those of mild steel and tendency to work harden, these multiphase steels resonate with...

Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) gyroscopes: angular rate-sensing tunes up motion control.(MEMS)
June 6, 2005... Many motion control advancements have resulted from products and technology developed initially for other markets, such as automotive or consumer. Among the newest products are angular rate sensors--gyroscopes. In vehicles, they are used for...

Converting a Fortran program to Mathcad: here's an easy way to deal with your legacy Fortran code.(EXTREMELY HELPFUL STUFF YOU WON'T FIND IN THE USER'S MANUAL)
June 6, 2005... FORTRAN HAS BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL AT HELPING engineers to approximate equations that for many it has become a key part of the engineering process. But with many of the engineers who coded in Fortran now retiring, it leaves a lot of legacy bits...

Magnetostatic simulation ... GPS satellite orbits ... materials for dental diagnosis ... 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 6, 2005... Dear Search Engineer: We know of a few software programs for permanent magnet calculation (COSMOSEMS and Integrated Engineering). Can you suggest some more programs for magnetostatic, low-frequency simulations?--G.R., Troy, MI Dear G.R.:...

Nextlink's Bluespoon Digital headset: go digital--go, go now!(special advertising section: reference this)(Advertisement)
June 6, 2005... Now hear this--without the noise. Nextlink engineers took military technology and applied it to wireless headsets using Bluetooth technology. For their high-performance units they went digital, using DSP technology to provide digital noise...

Electric racer: there's something missing from Raser Technologies' race car. The engine; To demonstrate just how powerful its ac-induction motor technology can be, Raser built a Formula race car driven entirely by batteries and the company's Symetron P2 pancake motor. No combustion engine needed.(Cover Story)
June 6, 2005... If you fire up the Formula race car that Raser Technologies recently built, don't expect to hear the roar of the engine. Because there isn't one. Raser's racer instead runs solely on electric power from a bank of more than 30 12V batteries and...

Embedded's new star: microcontroller manufacturers are porting it to their products; defense and aerospace engineers are adopting it; software vendors are adding real-time to it. At long last, Linux has arrived in embedded's mainstream.
June 6, 2005... FIVE YEARS AGO, IT WAS LITTLE MORE THAN A TECHNICAL CURIOSITY. Embraced only by open-source enthusiasts and by a disgruntled anti-Windows brigade, Linux initially received a lukewarm welcome from pragmatists in the embedded world. Most of those...

Six easy steps to highly effective patent searching: you can speed up your design cycle time by mining patents for information. Here, a skilled patent attorney shares his secrets to faster and better searches.
June 6, 2005... A patent is often described as a monopoly (generally limited to 17-20 years) granted to the inventor of a new and useful machine, process, or other invention in exchange for the inventor's complete written description of how to make and use the...

Data acquisition gets smaller: sixteen-mm module provides 14-bit, 200,000 samples/sec capability with PDA host.(TEST & MEASUREMENT)(Portable Data Acquisition )
June 6, 2005... PDA could mean Portable Data Acquisition if National Instruments has a say. Their NI CF-6004 data acquisition (DAQ) module transforms the better-known PDA into a handheld instrument and takes advantage of the unit's built-in processing and...

Software package: with symbol library.(software hardware)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... A new software package that allows engineers to design professional-looking front panels for homemade or small production run devices, FrontDesigner[TM] features a range of drawing functions for rectangles, polygons, ellipses, labels,...

Industrial motherboard: offers scalable solutions.(software hardware)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... The industrial motherboard EMB-900M is reportedly the first board that supports the Intel[R] 915GV Express chipset, and the first time that the company uses the MicroATX format with an ISA bus slot. It is designed to offer a scalable solution...

CAD package: drag-and-drop symbols.(software hardware)(Computer aided design)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... sPlan is a CAD package that is engineered for quickly and neatly drawing electronic and electric circuit diagrams. Equipped with drawing and editing functions for efficient circuit design, the package also includes features such as automatic...

Air filter drawings: Web-accessible.(SOFTWARE/HARDWARE)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... Hailed by the company as the industry's first Web-accessible drawings, users can 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 users to...

Networking solution: cost-effective real-time system.(SOFTWARE/HARDWARE)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... SMLC-Lite is designed as a cost-effective motion, logic, HMI, and networking solution for one- to 3.5-axis systems. It lowers system costs and reduces complexity using off-the-shelf components, IEC 61131-3 languages, and powerful motion...

Software: supports synchronization.(SOFTWARE/HARDWARE)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... The FeatureCAM software release features new four-axis functionality that is into the product's existing turning programs. Combined with its new full machine simulation, synchronized turning provides users with full program control and cycle...

Software: frequency adjusted independently.(SOFTWARE/HARDWARE)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... AudioWave2.0[TM] software is designed to turn a user's sound card into an easy-to-use digitally controlled LF signal generator, producing signals from 1 Hz to 20 kHz with a resolution of 1 Hz. Phase shift between left and right channel is...

Service pack: support for AutoCAD.(SOFTWARE/HARDWARE)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... The latest service pack from the company is designed to add support for AutoCAD version 2006 and Autodesk Inventor version 10. It provides native viewing, printing, markup, digital mock-up, and real-time collaboration support for engineering...

Software: for experiments with counters.(SOFTWARE/HARDWARE)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... Digital-ProfiLab[TM] is engineered to combine features like circuit, logic and front-panel simulation, and hardware control in one tool for measurement and control applications. Incoming signals from external control or measurement equipment...

Embedded modules: up to 64 Mbytes Flash.(ELECTRONICS)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... The PM854 and PM826 miriac[TM]-Modules are based on the company's Freescale PowerQUICC-III MPC8540 and MPC8560 processor, respectively. DDR-SDRAM technology is designed to additionally increase the performance. All processor and I/O signals,...

X-ray technology: increases PCB fault coverage.(ELECTRONICS)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... ClearVue[TM] 3D x-ray technology for detecting PCB solder and production defects is designed to increase quality, efficiency, and simplicity of automated x-ray inspection. According to the company, both quality managers and production line...

Computer on module: allows fast design of board level products.(ELECTRONICS)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... The PM854 is a small computer on module (COM) that makes all the features of the company's Freescale PowerQUICC MPC8540 available for custom design. It is designed as a complete and autonomous, working industrial computer, allowing the user to...

Flat-lead package: reduces footprint by 84 percent.(ELECTRONICS)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... The SOT-723 flat-lead package includes more than 50 small signal transistors and small signal diodes. It uses 1.44 [mm.sup.2] of printed circuit board area, reportedly improving the silicon-to-package ratio and delivers high power-dissipation...

Vision sensor: delivers high-speed inspections.(electronics)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... Able to accurately sense and evaluate more than 10,000 objects per minute, the P4 EDGE is fit for validating the height and width of parts, finding the location of labels, or detecting the edge of materials such as plastic or paper on a Web...

Pressure sensor module: low power, low voltage.(ELECTRONICS)
June 6, 2005... Intended for consumer, medical, and general applications for barometric pressure/altitude, the MS5534B is an SMD-hybrid device including a piezo-resistive pressure sensor and an ADC-interface IC. It provides a 16-bit data word from a pressure-...

Modular I/O products: 256 digital inputs.(ELECTRONICS)
June 6, 2005... Compatible with the company's SynqNet network, the family of modular SynqNet I/O products is comprised of a SynqNet Interface Device (SQID) and flexible analog and digital add-on boards that provide machine builders with a modular and...

Analog sensors: with nontraditional housings.(ELECTRONICS)
June 6, 2005... Nontraditional housing styles are exemplified on the Bi20R-Q14-LU ring style and the Wi70-M18-LIU5 probe style sensors. These analog sensors are specified with a repeatability of less than 0.5 percent and linearity of 3 percent. The...

Hall-effect snap switch: comes with sensing fuctions.(ELECTRONICS)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... The D4 Series snap-action switch with Hall effect technology is tested to 10 million operations and reportedly goes where no switch has gone before. Technical information and a free product sample are available upon request. [ILLUSTRATION...

Safety light curtain: allows for quick setup and changeover.(ELECTRONICS)
June 6, 2005... The MiniSafe Flexible MSF4700 family of safety light curtains are engineered to with-stand high shock and vibration environments typical of punch presses and other heavy industrial machinery. Their multi-segmented design allows them to protect...

Servo control system: with 16,000 count/revolution encoders.(MOTION CONTROL/POWER TRANSMISSION)
June 6, 2005... The 34 Frame I-Grade SilverNugget N3 controller/driver is designed for servo control of the company's NEMA 34-frame step motors. Also included in the system is one of six 34-frame step motors with attached encoder. The 34 frame I-Grade...

Dynamic Rod Lock: safe on soft rod material.(MOTION CONTROL/POWER TRANSMISSION)
June 6, 2005... The Dynamic Rod Lock is engineered to function as a braking and holding mechanism for pneumatic cylinders and guide rods. It provides pneumatic cylinder users the ability to slow and stop loads in all axes without relying solely on the cylinder...

Stepper motor drive: easy-to-use command set.(MOTION CONTROL/POWER TRANSMISSION)
June 6, 2005... Easy-Step 3000 is an advanced stepper motor drive and control system that is designed to offer an easy was to control unipolar stepper motors up to 35V and 3A per phase. Its small size makes it fit for incorporating in robots and other...

Energy Chain Systems: in more than 600 styles.(MOTION CONTROL/POWER TRANSMISSION)
June 6, 2005... The company's Energy Chain Systems[R] accommodate various installation designs and all forms of data cables, energy supplies, and hoses by using interior separators that isolate the conductors to keep them bending freely and prevent tangling....

Guide Rail Brake: spring-engaged.(MOTION CONTROL/POWER TRANSMISSION)
June 6, 2005... The company's Guide Rail Brake is designed as the most competitively priced and efficient brake on the market. It is a spring-engaged, air-released unit that is compact and easy to install in existing systems. It is engineered for maximum...

Clutch brake: dependable operating.(MOTION CONTROL/POWER TRANSMISSION)
June 6, 2005... The EC20 long life clutch brake is engineered to provide stopping and holding torque, as well as clutching. It features dependable operation and low power consumption for use in a range of OEM applications. It is suited for paper-feed...

Actuators: hollow shaft.(MOTION CONTROL/POWER TRANSMISSION)
June 6, 2005... The DG Series hollow-shaft rotary actuators combine the precision of the AlphaStep stepping motor and driver with a large-diameter, hollow output table, and gearhead. They are available in three sizes: 60, 85, and 130 mm. The output table of...

Industrial panel computer: rugged and robust design.(MOTION CONTROL/POWER TRANSMISSION)
June 6, 2005... The IPPC-9120G is a rugged 12.1-inch SVGA TFT-LCD display computer. The robust design and compact size of the series makes the product fit for almost any industrial HMI application. Constructed with a stainless steel chassis and a heavy-duty...

Fault detection transmitter: reduces maintenance.(MOTION CONTROL/POWER TRANSMISSION)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... The Copperhead Transmitter Unit offers an extended line of rugged vibration and temperature sensors, a new digital vibration transmitter, and a new digital display/alarm module to increase monitoring abilities. The new line includes models with...

Gantry: modular construction.(MOTION CONTROL/POWER TRANSMISSION)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... The Hercules[TM] Series gantry features modular construction that provides design flexibility for gantry applications. Each axis of the product can be ordered with either iron core or ironless (zero-cogging) linear servo motors. Both motor...

Servo amplifier: versatile and three-phase.(MOTION CONTROL/POWER TRANSMISSION)
June 6, 2005... The TA320 linear three-phase servo amplifier is engineered to allow motion system designers to easily integrate the latest developments in sinusoidal motor control and its benefits of zero cogging, no torque ripple, and smooth motion, into such...

Linear actuators: available in three designs.(MOTION CONTROL/POWER TRANSMISSION)
June 6, 2005... The 21000 series (size 8) linear actuators are the newest and smallest additions to the company's hybrid motor line. They occupy a 0.8 inch square space and are available in three designs: captive, non-captive, and external linear versions....

Encoders: high shock rating.(MOTION CONTROL/POWER TRANSMISSION)
June 6, 2005... Designed as 2-inch incremental shaft (T8.5000) and hollow-shaft (T8.5020) encoders, the "Kubler by TURCK" encoders are made specifically for demanding industrial applications where space is at a premium. The products feature an extremely high...

Vibration mounts: light and heavy duty available.(MOTION CONTROL/POWER TRANSMISSION)
June 6, 2005... The company has introduced two new series of base-mounted stainless steel mesh vibration mounts: the V10Z22 (light duty) and the V10Z28 (heavy duty). They are designed for marine, aerospace, and machine shop applications where corrosive...

Vibration mounts: with "Finger-Flex" isolators.(MOTION CONTROL/POWER TRANSMISSION)
June 6, 2005... The V10Z 4 series of vibration mounts feature "Finger-Flex" isolators that are designed for loads up to 37 lbs per mount. Two hardnesses of the product are available: 30 and 60 durometer. The natural frequencies range from 6-30 Hz. Features...

Two-phase hybrid stepper: miniature in size.(MOTION CONTROL/POWER TRANSMISSION)
June 6, 2005... The 208 is reportedly the smallest two-phase hybrid stepper to date. This 1.8-degree bipolar NEMA 8 miniature step motor is intended for applications where space is limited. The motor measures 0.79-inch square and is available in two stack...

Process monitoring controls: links to PC.(MOTION CONTROL/POWER TRANSMISSION)
June 6, 2005... Toggle-Aire[R] pneumatic toggle presses combine the advantages of levers and toggles to produce a ram force that builds as it reaches the bottom of its stroke. It features new process controls that provide force monitoring for quality control,...

Digital drives: with a variety of network functionalities.(MOTION CONTROL/POWER TRANSMISSION)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... The Tuba, part of the company's SimpllQ servo drive family, is a high power density product that is available in six models. It ranges in output power from 3.3-10 kW. Its overall size is 9.7 X 7.4 X 3.6 inches, and it weighs fewer than 5.9 lbs....

Metal enclosure option: for industrial environments.(MOTION CONTROL/POWER TRANSMISSION)
June 6, 2005... The company has introduced a new BOX option that provides a metal enclosure for its DMC-21X3 card-level motion controllers. The BOX option makes the controller fit for industrial environments. The standard option combines the controller and...

Control system: easy to use.(MOTION CONTROL/POWER TRANSMISSION)
June 6, 2005... The X20 System is designed as a complete control system as well as a remote I/O system. It is suitable as an addition on a standard fieldbus to expand existing control systems. It is also a complete controller, which demonstrates its full...

Rotary dispensing table: adjustable features.(MOTION CONTROL/POWER TRANSMISSION)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... The RT404-FLEX II rotary dispensing table is designed to provide a convenient way to dispense materials in a circular pattern. It provides two rotating platforms for simultaneous dispensing onto two items. The flexible Z-axis features...

Gearmotors: fan-cooled.(MOTION CONTROL/POWER TRANSMISSION)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... Available in five gear ratios ranging from 5.8:1 to 42.9:1, the 880 gearmotors series are designed to produce up to 1,060 inches/lb of continuous duty torque. Two 1.5 hp motor options provide the specifier with the option of a single-phase...

Thread ball screws: cost less than ground ball screws.(MOTION CONTROL/POWER TRANSMISSION)
June 6, 2005... The company's new high-precision rolled thread ball screws are engineered to cost less than ground ball screws while delivering virtually the same accuracy and performance in linear motion applications. They are fit for a variety of...

Workstations: high performance.(MOTION CONTROL/POWER TRANSMISSION)
June 6, 2005... The company is releasing CTC's HPC and HPX high-performance PowerStations, enabling PC users to take advantage of the latest PC technologies in a workstation that is cost-competitive with light-duty industrial PCs. They are available in 10-,...

Metal rings: protection for tapered roller bearings.(MOTION CONTROL/POWER TRANSMISSION)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... All-metal NILOS[R] Rings are engineered to provide space-saving sealing protection for tapered roller bearings. They offer practical, easy-to-mount barrier solutions against contamination by foreign matter, including tough abrasive particles...

Dc motors: smooth running.(MOTION CONTROL/POWER TRANSMISSION)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... The 8690 series 26-mm brush-commutated dc motors are engineered to deliver power in a relatively small package. The smooth-running and quiet iron core motors are suitable as an economical alternative to coreless products. Applications include...

Diaphragm pumps: self-priming.(FLUID POWER)(Delavan Ag Pumps Inc.)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... Available in two-, three-, or five-chamber configurations, the PowerFLO[TM] 7800 Series 12V dc motor-driven diaphragm pumps are self-priming and can run dry without damage. They offer flow output from 0.40-5.3 gpm at pressures up to 100 psi....

Piston pumps: bearings permanently lubricated.(FLUID POWER)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... The 1207 series WOB-L[R] Piston pumps are designed to offer users a lasting, cost-efficient choice for pressure and vacuum needs in a variety of industrial, medical, and commercial applications. Specific uses include packaging equipment, plasma...

Capacitive level sensor: for small tubes and hoses.(FLUID POWER)(E-T-A Circuit Protection and Control)(Brief Article)
June 6, 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...

Flow sensors: accurate, convenient.(FLUID POWER)(Brief Article)
June 6, 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...