Design News articles from May 2005

Design News archives from May 2005

Trends: the who-what-why-and-how.(MY VIEW)(Editorial)
May 16, 2005... HERE AT DESIGN NEWS, WE ARE CONSTANTLY LOOKing for ways to improve the magazine. We get a lot of help from you guys, who are quick to tell us what you like and even more quick to tell us what you don't like. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] We...

New look improves site access: Enidine combines its separate sites into one.(WEB LOG)
May 16, 2005... RIGHT ABOUT NOW, ENIDINE WEB ADMINistrator Brian Plecas' breathing rate is probably getting back to normal. After months of long meetings and a few late nights, he is about to launch the new website he and an international team of Enidine...

Law of supply & demand.(Readers Sound Off)(Letter to the Editor)
May 16, 2005... Your editorial on the decline of engineering degrees earned by U.S. students (DN MYVIEW "Blame it on the Y Chromosome" http://rbi.ims.ca/4391-503) concludes that the "real point" is that there is a need to encourage both males and females to...

Morale isn't just low, it sucks.(Readers Sound Off)(Letter to the Editor)
May 16, 2005... I do believe that a good portion of the problem is due to the disillusionment of the existing engineering pool. Most engineers that I know, myself included, love the engineering part of the work. What makes it difficult to come to work every...

Let's agree to disagree.(Readers Sound Off)(Letter to the Editor)
May 16, 2005... Your article on male/female engineers was way too narrow. Last Spring I was requested by the University of Southern California to sit in on a panel to be interviewed by graduate engineers. I was the representative entrepreneur on the panel. Of...

Not worth the effort.(Readers Sound Off)(Letter to the Editor)
May 16, 2005... When an electrician can make more than an EE at the same company, why would anyone want to spend five years in school studying for an engineering degree instead of enjoying life? The real killer as far as I am concerned is that I make $25K less...

Self-fulfilling prophecy?(Readers Sound Off)(Letter to the Editor)
May 16, 2005... I enjoyed your editorial, and I share your concern about the decline in engineering graduates in the U.S. I have worked for a number of years to encourage more minorities and women to enter technical professions (first as president of Minds for...

Form, function join hands: industrial design and engineering are collaborating more often.(Insight from Insiders)
May 16, 2005... Can industrial designers and engineers work together? Should they? Those are questions that are easier asked and answered today than a few years ago when the two disciplines didn't talk. Today, each recognizes the other's value. And when they...

Recheck your gut feelings: watch out for certain biases. Here's one.(Really Opinionated People)
May 16, 2005... ENGINEERS CAN BE STUBBORN PEOPLE. And mostly, as a society, we want them to be stubborn. We want engineers to be natural skeptics, study alternatives, gather first-hand experience, test their conclusions, and THEN offer a well-considered...

Household refrigeration cools military: researchers modify conventional evaporator for high-density heat dissipation.(HEARD ON THE STREET)(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... Technology borrowed from a kitchen appliance may someday cool military electronics and computer chips that are becoming more powerful and generating more heat, researchers at Purdue University have found. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The...

PC-ABS for rapid prototyping and production: a new blend helps engineers better predict end product performance.(HEARD ON THE STREET)(Polycarbonate-ABS)(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... New from Stratasys Inc. (www.stratasys.com) is a PC-ABS (polycarbonate-ABS) blend for rapid prototyping and rapid production. Combining the strength of PC and the flexibility of ABS, PC-ABS blends are most commonly found in automotive parts,...

China's OEM auto electronics market: US $3.5B in 2012; Power train will be the largest sector, report says.(HEARD ON THE STREET)
May 16, 2005... The Chinese market for OEM automotive electronics will have more than tripled by 2012 from US$1 billion in 2003, says a new study by Research and Markets. Compiled from research with Tier 1 design engineers and component suppliers, the report...

The newest rotary encoder and proximity sensors are aimed at improved motion and process control. Here are five examples.(NEW AND NOTABLE PRODUCT DESIGN)(Danaher Industrial Controls Group)
May 16, 2005... 1 GEARBOX-BASED MULTI-TURN ENCODER Danaher Industrial Controls Group Dynapar ACURO (http://rbi.ims.ca/4391-541). [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The ACURO 36 uses a gearbox instead of a battery to provide multi-turn resolution. The...

Radio architecture takes less than 1 microamp: low-power device aimed at implant devices.(TECHNOLOGY YOU CAN USE)
May 16, 2005... Many of today's implant devices with integrated sensors use inductive techniques to communicate data with external circuitry. This requires holding an activating device in very close proximity to the body, typically pressed against the skin....

Small microcontrollers open new applications: the digital control can displace analog circuitry.(TECHNOLOGY YOU CAN USE)
May 16, 2005... Breaking with tradition can be a difficult decision for an analog designer, but one that should get easier as microcontrollers (MCUs) get smaller and cheaper. To add control circuitry to a traditionally analog system, the analog engineer would...

What does a window do?(SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION: THE DATA DETECTIVE)(Advertisement)
May 16, 2005... Instead of a pure Fourier transform, engineers and researchers must settle for the discrete Fourier transform (DFT), which operates on sampled data. That data may come from a digital oscilloscope, a data-acquisition system, or another...

Space shuttle moves closer to liftoff: technical changes loom large on the Discovery.(SPACE TECHNOLOGY)
May 16, 2005... After the Columbia crash over Texas and more than two years of agonizing investigations later, NASA is at last getting set for another space shuttle launch. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] On April 29, NASA announced a launch window of July 12...

Military's Future Combat System to use open-standard software: open-source software will link 18 subsystems in a communication network.(ELECTRONICS)
May 16, 2005... The U.S. Army's Future Combat System (FCS), a network-centric communication technology aimed at raising battlefield awareness, will use a Linux-compatible, open-source operating system as its software backbone. General Dynamics Advanced...

Pumps, controls could boost off-highway efficiency: new technology aimed at new regulations for off-highway engines.(FLUID POWER)
May 16, 2005... New diesel emission requirements could mean less engine horsepower for off-highway equipment, but they needn't mean less power for hydraulic implements, say engineers from Sauer-Danfoss Inc. Sauer-Danfoss, a maker of hydraulic pumps,...

More style options for electronics enclosures: Inclosia's Solutions latest take on overmolding supports combinations of decorative materials.(MATERIALS)
May 16, 2005... Inclosia Solutions just last year introduced a way to incorporate real wood, metal, leather, or fabric into injection-molded parts. This EXO Overmolding system gave electronics enclosures and other molded plastic products a craftsman-like...

AC variable-speed motor power stage: fully isolated package integrates IGBTs and three-phase HVIC driver.(MOTION CONTROL)(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... International Rectifier's 600V, 16A, and 20A integrated power modules (IPMs) address high-performance variable-speed motion control power stages for applications such as air conditioners and commercial freezers. To meet the requirements of...

Microcontrollers designed for industrial motion control: 16-bit MCUs aim to displace 32-bit units.(MOTION CONTROL)(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... Infineon's XC164S family of microcontroller (MCU) products provides features and peripheral functions optimized for industrial control applications such as robotics, networked systems, and electrical drive systems. The 16-bit MCUs use...

CAD and CAM link up: UGS buys Tecnomatix, gets digital manufacturing tools.(SOFTWARE)
May 16, 2005... Following a two-and-a-half-year courtship where they explored joint opportunities, UGS and Tecnomatix Technologies finally tied the knot. UGS acquired the manufacturing-process-management-software developer in April. The Tecnomatix suite...

Three-axis accelerometers: z-axis sensing ability is forging a new feature niche in consumer products.(SENSORS)
May 16, 2005... Three-axis silicon-based accelerometers have been gaining momentum for the past 18 months, as equipment manufacturers have begun employing them on applications ranging from washing machines to cell phones to laptop computers. The...

A molding alternative: low-pressure structural foam shines.(MATERIALS)
May 16, 2005... When it comes to producing innovative structural plastic components, injection molding usually emerges as the process of choice, but it isn't the only way to go. Consider, for example, the entries in the recent New Product Design Competition...

Breaking through: a crop of new products to help you achieve precise positioning.(HIGH RESOLUTION DEVICES)
May 16, 2005... When it comes to achieving high resolution in motion control applications, there is more than one way to skin the cat. In their quest to push resolution as far as possible, manufacturers of interface boards, encoders, A/D converters, and drives...

Simulation gets real: and it's getting easier too.(ANALYSIS)
May 16, 2005... Engineering analysis has always been an approximation. Finite element analysis and other related software help you get close to replicating what could happen to a product in the real world, but traditionally it has stopped short of reality. It...

Capacitive switches ... Digital measurements ... Schematic file conversion ... 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)(Column)
May 16, 2005... Dear Search Engineer: I have two flanges that I need to bolt together, but they must be separated electrically as not to conduct current. I'm trying to prevent galvanic corrosion. I can find gasket material but not connection hardware. Any...

Linksys USB Bluetooth adapter: get the blues.(REFERENCE THIS!)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
May 16, 2005... A USB port connects just about anything to a notebook or desktop PC, including Bluetooth-enabled products. Make a DSP to USB connection through Avnet Design Services. No need to worry about connecting to the latest Bluetooth products with...

It's all about [mu]: engineers have found a way to keep vehicles stable while driving on slippery surfaces. Now they need to cut the technology's cost, so they convince the public to buy it.(Cover Story)
May 16, 2005... IN MANY CASES, THE FATAL SCENARIO IS SIMPLE: SKID. TRIP. ROLL. CRASH. Within seconds, the deadly chain of events is irreversible, and another life is lost on the highways. Now, however, that may be changing. After more than a decade of...

Position sensor ideal in hostile mining environments.(Linear & Rotary Measurement Technology)(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... The PT9150 Cable-Extension Position Sensor provides reliable performance in harsh environments such as non-stop use on mining equipment by Superior Highwall Miners, Beckley, WV. Environmentally rated IP67, the PT9150 makes linear measurements...

Linear position transducer has 316SS enclosure for hazardous area applications.(Linear & Rotary Measurement Technology)(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... Rugged by design, the PT8000 Series Linear Cable-Extension Transducers are industrial-grade devices that have been engineered for reliability and easy installation. The 316SS enclosure provides increased corrosion resistance in hostile...

Linear potentiometer ideal for industrial automation and robotic applications.(Linear & Rotary Measurement Technology)
May 16, 2005... Specifically designed for a wide range of demanding applications including industrial automation and robotics, the CLWG Linear Potentiometer is a highly accurate and rugged device with measurement ranges of 3" to 30". Easy to install and...

Digital output position sensors are easy to install and quick to ship.(Linear & Rotary Measurement Technology)(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... Easy to install and maintain, Celesco's ruggedly designed digital output position sensors are reliable and accurate devices that are available with DeviceNet[R], CAN J1939, and RS232 communication protocols. Digital signals are highly reliable...

RF kits make waves: we tested five wireless development kits from simple to complicated. Here's what we liked and what we didn't like.(IN DEPTH REVIEW)
May 16, 2005... Designing a wireless communication link into a product still requires solid engineering skills, but these days engineers don't have to become RF circuit design experts. In many cases, they can just drop a module into a circuit and get "on the...

Bulletproof analysis: to study bulletproof material, DuPont first looked to shelters storm.(TIPS FROM THE TRENCHES)
May 16, 2005... DUPONT FIBERS HAVE BEEN USED FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS AS THE MAIN COMPONENT in bulletproof vests. To further understand the factors that govern the performance of bulletproof vests, we recently developed efficient computational models that can...

Locomotives pull into the digital age: century-old diesel-electric technology endures.(DIGITAL-AGE LOCOMOTIVES)
May 16, 2005... THOUGH LOCOMOTIVE-DIESEL-ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY HAS BEEN AROUND FOR THE better part of a century, nothing sits on the immediate horizon that will displace it for hauling freight and passenger trains in North America. From the perspectives of cost,...

Is turnkey HMI right for you? Visualization operations seldom stand alone today. Integration with other plant information systems and increasingly complex tasks are making a total solution approach a more common choice.(HUMAN-MACHINE INTERFACE)
May 16, 2005... "THE CHEESE STANDS ALONE, THE CHEESE STANDS ALONE." THE PHRASE MAY have made sense in a childhood nursery rhyme, but when it comes to human-machine interfaces and visualization systems, the concept just doesn't apply. Once simple,...

Mexico's emerging Silicon Valley.
May 16, 2005... SILICON VALLEY HAS APPARENTLY MOVED south where housing costs are cheap and engineers are cheaper. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] According to recent research from Technology Forecasters Inc. in Alameda, CA,...

Demo kit simplifies ZigBee applications: users can get up to speed quickly on microcontroller and RF aspects.(WIRELESS)
May 16, 2005... With the ZigBee protocol officially approved in the first quarter of 2005, Microchip's PICDEM[TM] Z ZigBee demonstration kit provides a timely means of starting a new design. The kit includes two motherboards, two 2.4 GHz RF cards, and a CD...

Absolute encoder: for miniature applications.(ELECTRONICS)(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... Designed for applications where limited space is a factor, the MAS10-256-G is reportedly one of the smallest absolute rotary encoders in the industry. It measures 13 mm in diameter and 17.5 mm high. It is designed for a variety of applications,...

Captive linear actuator: durable design.(ELECTRONICS)
May 16, 2005... The company's size 8 captive linear actuator is designed with an HIS patented integral anti-rotation mechanism. It is suitable for applications in which external anti-rotation methods would be difficult or impossible to employ. It features...

Converters: rated up to 50A.(ELECTRONICS)
May 16, 2005... The PAF600F280 series is designed as a high-efficiency family of 600W full-brick dc-dc converters with a nominal input of 300V dc. They are suitable for systems using distributed high-voltage dc power architecture and for users designing custom...

Operator interface terminals: electronics upgraded.(ELECTRONICS)
May 16, 2005... The electronics of the QTERM-G70 and QTERM-G75 rugged graphics operator interface terminals has been upgraded. New hardware features a 400 MHz Intel[R] XScale[TM] core platform with 8 Mbytes of Flash memory and 32 Mbytes RAM. They are designed...

Sensor: detects fluorescent agents.(ELECTRONICS)
May 16, 2005... The CZ-H52 UV sensor detects the presence of fluorescent agents used in a wide variety of products and packaging materials. It emits a UV light beam from the transmitter in the sensor head; the receiver picks up the visible light reflected by...

Software suite: completes projects faster, cheaper.(ELECTRONICS)
May 16, 2005... The FactoryFloor 4.1 industrial automation software suite is designed for use with the company's line of process automation controllers, typically combined with the company's SNAP Ethernet I/O[TM] and SNAP Serial I/O products. Using the...

Modular I/O products: 256 digital inputs.(ELECTRONICS)
May 16, 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...

Alternator-regulator: data received in single pass.(ELECTRONICS)(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... The company has introduced a local interconnect network (LIN)-controlled alternator-regulator for next-generation vehicles. It is designed to optimize performance in intelligent automotive charging systems for increased efficiency and improved...

Vision sensor: delivers high-speed error-proofing as well as inspections.(ELECTRONICS)(Brief Article)
May 16, 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)(Servoflo Corp.)(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... Intended for consumer, medical, and general applications for barometric pressure/altitude, the MS5534B is an SMD-hybrid device including a piezoresistive pressure sensor and an ADC-interface IC. It provides a 16-bit data word from a pressure-...

Angular position sensor: intrinsically linear.(ELECTRONICS)(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... The new "ILAPS" noncontact angular position sensor provides intrinsically linear output over 120-degree maximum travel without the need for electrical compensation. According to the company, it is fit for pedal, throttle, and valve position...

Proving ground for innovation: a full-service lab helps companies develop concepts that stretch the limits of packaging technology.(THE Complete PACKAGE: A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT PRODUCED BY DESIGN NEWS)
May 16, 2005... Many consumer goods titans that battle each other every day share a common retreat for testing tomorrow's ideas: DuPont's Packaging Lab. For some 50 years, the facility, located in the material giant's Chestnut Run complex in Wilmington,...

Justifying the costs of safeguarding equipment.(ADVERTORIAL)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
May 16, 2005... Machinery safeguarding represents one of the best investments on the plant floor. According to the Liberty Mutual Group, 61 percent of executives say they save $3 for every dollar invested in safety equipment and programs. The Occupational...

Round rail vs. square rail.(ADVERTORIAL)(Advertisement)
May 16, 2005... Available in both round and square, linear guides are chosen much like any other machine component. Machine builders spec out the design, define the objectives of the system, and work from past experiences to build a better system. However, for...

THK America Inc. offers engineers more.(ADVERTORIAL)(Advertisement)
May 16, 2005... As the originator of the linear motion system and the innovator of Caged Technology, THK continues to be the world leader in recirculating, ball linear motion guide technology. THK offers more patents, more local manufacturing, more caged...

Lords of the rings.(THE Complete PACKAGE: A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT PRODUCED BY DESIGN NEWS)(Berran Industrial Group )
May 16, 2005... Introduction Berran Industrial Group designed a packaging machine that attaches small tags to rings and then seals each ring in a small plastic bag. The jewelry company wanted an automated way to verify that each bag contained a ring, but...

Single robot packs and palletizes: one-stop operation saves floor space and cost.(THE Complete PACKAGE: A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT PRODUCED BY DESIGN NEWS)
May 16, 2005... When a customer with floor space and budget constraints required packing and palletizing, Schneider Packaging found a solution by combining the two activities. Typically, one machine does the case packing and another does the palletizing. Since...

Powerful solutions for motion control.(ADVERTORIAL)(Advertisement)
May 16, 2005... ORMEC's mission is to develop and provide innovative, digitally networked motion control solutions, backed by application engineering and customer service that exceed the customer's value and performance expectations. A big part of meeting or...

Type 4 safety light curtain: custom fit available.(In the Marketplace)(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... The rugged MiniSafe Flexible MSF4700 family of safety light curtains is engineered to withstand high shock and vibration environments typical of punch presses and other heavy industrial machinery. The multi-segmented design allows them to...

Commutation encoder: increased performance in smaller package.(In the Marketplace)(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... The new model R35i small encoder incorporates a custom state-of-the-art ASIC that includes fewer components, increased performance, and higher product quality in a smaller package. The model R35i provides both brushless motor commutation and...

New comprehensive catalog: features sensing products.(In the Marketplace)
May 16, 2005... The 2005 Sensing Products Catalog, which for the first time combines all of Banner's 15,000 plus sensing products into a single comprehensive printed resource, is produced in full color for a fresh new look. It delivers critical sensing...

10-inch TFT touch screens: low prices.(In the Marketplace)(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... The HMI550H-005 Classic operator interface touch screen is now available for $1,499. The 10.4-inch 256-color TFT touch screen is full-featured: Pop-up windows display keypads, alarm status, bar graphs, and more; the fast-selection window works...

Customizable encoders.(ADVERTORIAL)(Advertisement)
May 16, 2005... Renco Encoders Inc. is a manufacturer of high-quality rotary optical encoders. Products include modular, self-contained, and hollow-shaft applications encoders. Typical include: Office Automation: Computer peripherals, disk and tape drives,...

Miniature gearhead: zero backlash, 2 arc-min accuracy.(In the Marketplace)(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... The CSF-XHF Size 8 gearhead from HD Systems delivers 2 arc-min positional accuracy in a package size that is 32 mm (square) X 29 mm long. The CSF-XHF Size 8 gearhead has a rated torque of 21 inch-lb and a maximum torque of 80 inch-lb. The...

One-, two-, and three-axis solutions: Ethernet and FireWire interface.(In the Marketplace)(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... The SMLC-Lite controller is a cost-effective motion, logic, HMI, and networking solution for one- to 3 1/2-axis systems. It uses the same CoDeSys IEC 61131-3 programming software and provides the same control capability as the SMLC. Migrate to...

Type VLA actuator: low cost, high efficiency.(In the Marketplace)(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... The VLA uses THK's compact Type SRS LM Guide featuring patented Caged Technology. This technology separates rolling elements with a synthetic resin cage that retains grease and reduces maintenance costs. To ensure optimal lubrication within the...

Super Torque stepping motor: from 30 to 83 oz-inch.(In the Marketplace)(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... The 1.8-degree NEMA 17 Super Torque stepping motors can reportedly provide a greater amount of torque in order to move larger loads, increase torque periphery, or slim down a motor in an existing application. They are available in 1.34-, 1.57-,...

Low-cost vision sensor: can deliver 1.3 million pixel resolution.(In the Marketplace)(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... The PresencePLUS[R] P4 GEO 1.3 vision sensor is a 1.3-megapixel imager to capture minute details of multiple features at ranges from a few inches to several feet, depending on the lens used. Intended applications are those that must manufacture...

Analog sensor: low-cost, based on Virtu.(In the Marketplace)(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... Building on the concept of Virtu, a low-cost ultrasonic sensor, Hyde Park now offers Virtu and Virtu18 with analog output. For just $129, these dual-mount and barrel-style analog sensors have a range of 2 inches (50 mm) to 20 inches (508 mm),...

Servo controllers: compact, powerful, and simple.(In the Marketplace)(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... The two models of Lenze SimpleServo--Model 94 SimpleServo[R] and the Model 940 Position Servo--are developed to bridge the gap between very sophisticated servo technology and general-purpose drives. Reduced setup and programming time results in...

Thomson profile rail linear guides: broad offering of sizes and styles.(In the Marketplace)(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... The Thomson 500 Series features advanced grinding and straightening technologies, and one-piece rail lengths up to 6m, which result in greater rail accuracies for improved machine operation. A patented insert molded recirculation path...

Maximize your torque.(ADVERTORIAL)(Advertisement)
May 16, 2005... With the ability to "Maximize Torque at Desired Speed," Lin Engineering has earned the reputation of being the technical leader in step motor design. Within the constraints of power input and motor size, Lin Engineering can design a motor to...

Food giant's wish list: experts from Kraft Foods describe what they need in machinery capabilities.(THE Complete PACKAGE: A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT PRODUCED BY DESIGN NEWS)
May 16, 2005... When it comes to performance, what is Kraft looking for in packaging equipment? Hand: From a control standpoint, we view speed and reliability as important characteristics--so much so that we ask vendors to guarantee speed and uptime on...

Two-phase hybrid stepper: miniature in size.(ELECTRONICS)(Brief Article)
May 16, 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...

Analog sensors: with nontraditional housings.(ELECTRONICS)(Brief Article)
May 16, 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)
May 16, 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...

Multi-segment type 4 safety light curtain: allows for quick setup and changeover for different job requirements.(ELECTRONICS)(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... The MiniSafe Flexible MSF4700 family of safety light curtains are engineered to withstand high shock and vibration environments typical of punch presses and other heavy industrial machinery. Their multi-segmented design allows them to protect...

PTFE conduit: protects wiring, transports fluids.(FLUID POWER)(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... The company's line of PTFE tubing is offered in several configurations and is designed to be a conduit for protecting wiring in harsh environments and transporting fluids where a chemically inert and nonflammable material is required. It...

Flow sensor: with no moving parts.(FLUID POWER)(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... Designed with no moving parts to wear or foul, the Signet 2551 Magmeter is an insertion style, electromagnetic flow sensor for conductive fluid applications that contain particles, solids, and fibers. Intended applications are...

Rotary pumps: increased service life.(FLUID POWER)(Rietschle Thomas)(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... The FLG 12/01-LC miniature liquid pumps are designed with an improved shaft seal and corrosion-resistant features that increase the pump's life expectancy to more than 1,000 hrs. Rotary vane technology offers pulseless, reversible flow, and...

Flow sensors: accurate, convenient.(FLUID POWER)(Brief Article)
May 16, 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...

Capacitive level sensor: for small tubes and hoses.(FLUID POWER)(Brief Article)
May 16, 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...

Testing instrument: fast, accurate.(FLUID POWER)(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... The Sentinel F-21 testing instrument 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 measurement...

Cartridge valve: pneumatically operated.(FLUID POWER)(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... Suitable 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 designed for use with a valve controller and reservoir tank. It can be...