Design News articles from May 2006

Design News archives from May 2006

Why engineering students [love] Wikipedia.(Editorial)
May 15, 2006... HERE AT DESIGN NEWS, WE'RE COMMITTED TO DELIVering the most useful and thought-provoking editorial. To that end, we spend a lot of time talking to readers all over the planet about what works and what doesn't work, and how we can do a better...

It's not a character issue: maybe we need to improve the process, not the work ethic.(automobile structural design comparative analysis)
May 15, 2006... THE RESULTS ARE IN AGAIN, AND IF HISTORY is an accurate indicator, they're likely to fill us with self-loathing. I refer here to Consumer Reports' annual auto report, which last month landed with a thud that was felt by most European and...

To catch a mouse.(Readers Sound Off)(Letter to the editor)
May 15, 2006... Editor's note: E-mails continue to pour in from readers, giving us advice on how to catch a mouse. We're finding out just how serious some engineers are about the job, check out the letter below. Now, if I could just get some help with my ant...

Works every time.(Readers Sound Off)(Letter to the editor)
May 15, 2006... I read your article regarding mouse traps and your own problem in the kitchen and felt compelled to write you. I live in the country, and we have mice problems every fall. The mice like warm and cozy houses when the weather is getting to be a...

Engineering's existential pleasures.(Readers Sound Off)(Letter to the editor)
May 15, 2006... Engineering is a profession of precision, focus, and the ultimate gratification one get from "getting something to work," i.e., the existential pleasures of engineering--to quote a book title. When projects exist that warrant this, the engineer...

Flogging the engineers.(Readers Sound Off)(Letter to the editor)
May 15, 2006... The profession did not betray the engineer, the engineer betrayed the profession. I have worked as an engineer for 40 years and have seen the good times, which were very few, and the bad times which are too numerous count. I have seen my family...

Engineers need cohesiveness.(Readers Sound Off)(Letter to the editor)
May 15, 2006... Early in my career I recognized the lack of cohesiveness amongst engineers and the engineering profession in general. The profession has allowed anyone who wants to call themselves an engineer to do so. We are not individually or collectively...

The evolution of step motor manufacturers: adapting to new, competitive forces is crucial.
May 15, 2006... A DECADE AGO THE MAIN FOCUS OF STEP motor manufacturers was to build a complete line of steppers that would satisfy a wide variety of motion control applications. Customers and the market as a whole looked at us as just the designers and...

Semiconductor technology continues to provide the relief for higher temperatures.(POWER ELECTRONICS CONFERENCE HEATS UP DALLAS)(Brief article)
May 15, 2006... One of the hot topics at the 21st Annual Applied Power Electronics Conference (APEC) in Dallas, TX was--heat. The need for higher efficiency power and the resulting lower temperatures could finally give power electronics engineers more respect....

Power factor correction (PFC) IC controls dual-output for increased efficiency.(POWER ELECTRONICS CONFERENCE HEATS UP DALLAS)
May 15, 2006... Fairchild's FAN7528 operates in the critical conduction mode and integrates a dual-output control function to increase efficiency in universal ac input supplies. The dual-output control automatically senses ac line voltage eliminating an input...

Smartrectifier IC improves efficiency.(POWER ELECTRONICS CONFERENCE HEATS UP DALLAS)
May 15, 2006... Using proprietary HVIC technology, International Rectifier's IR1167 SmartRectifier IC, eliminates the current transformer control circuits that waste energy sensing polarity shifts with the accompanying large reversing currents through the...

Secondary control ICs increase computer power supply efficiency.(POWER ELECTRONICS CONFERENCE HEATS UP DALLAS)
May 15, 2006... Philips Electronics GreenChip SR products, the TEA1761 and TEA1762, are secondary control ICs that integrate both synchronous rectification (SR) and primary feedback/control in a single unit. Designed for Philips' silicon on insulator (SOI)...

New and notable product design.(Phantom Technologies' iBoss mobile Internet access device)(EGT Inc.'s high-density encoder HEMi )(Terumo Corp.'s CDI-101 Medical Blood Monitor )
May 15, 2006... Embedded computing includes single board computers and highly-integrated microprocessors (MPUs). These five examples show some surprising applications. 1 SURGICAL MONITORING SYSTEM Terumo CDI-101 Medical Blood Monitor...

Going strapless: electro-active fabrics turn a sports bra into a heart rate monitor--and will soon transform other products too.(Textronics Inc. launches a sports bra which is also used for heart rate monitoring)
May 15, 2006... Serious runners and fitness freaks swear by heart rate monitoring, but they sometimes chafe, literally, at having to wear the hard plastic chest bands that house the monitor's electrode and transmitter. Textronics Inc. recently found a way to...

Trade alliance launches environmental services.(Environmentally Certified Electronic Resale Trade Alliance )(Brief article)
May 15, 2006... The recently created trade alliance, Environmentally Certified Electronic Resale Trade Alliance (E-Certa) has created a set of environmental solutions that include component conversion, testing, recycling and sourcing to help companies comply...

Rent a bio-diesel Beetle.(Bio-Beetle Eco Rental Cars offers eco friendly cars on rent)(Brief article)
May 15, 2006... A Los Angeles car rental company now offers rental cars powered by bio-diesel fuel. Bio-Beetle Eco Rental Cars began life on the Hawaiian island of Maui a few years ago and opened near Los Angeles International Airport in March of this year....

Design Chain launches China RoHS site.(consulting firm Design Chain Associates, restriction of hazardous substances)(Brief article)
May 15, 2006... Want to learn all the gory details of China's new RoHS-like legislation? San Francisco-based consulting firm, Design Chain Associates, has created a website dedicated to China's new legislation at ChinaRoHS.com. The law will impact the...

Linear motion in a high-humidity environment: a custom nut and lead screw assembly provides the solution.(Kerk Motion Products Inc. conducts a research and develops material for Aqua Massage International Inc.)
May 15, 2006... When the acetal-based material for the nut lead screw used in its dry water massage therapy became unavailable, Aqua Massage International (AMI) initiated a search for a replacement material. The design criteria required minimum radial play,...

Hardware installation in a snap: spring-loaded fastener replaces nuts, bolts, and screws.(TECHNOLOGY YOU CAN USE)
May 15, 2006... You might think that attaching hinges and other hardware to enclosures is not a task that needs much in the way of technical innovation. But you'd be wrong if you care about manufacturing costs. Loose mechanical fasteners take so much time and...

Excel cooks.(Excel by Example: A Microsoft Excel Cookbook for Electronics Engineers)(Excel Scientific and Engineering Cookbook)(Book review)
May 15, 2006... Many engineers use Excel to perform simple analyses, but this program offers more than basic math and plotting capabilities. Two books will help you make the most of Excel spreadsheets. "EXCEL SCIENTIFIC AND ENGINEERING COOKBOOK," by David...

Sandia examines 'option of last resort': scientists use massive supercomputer to determine how to knock speeding asteroid off potential collision course with Earth in 2036.(Sandia National Laboratories, simulation)
May 15, 2006... Scientists and engineers at Sandia National Laboratories are fairly confident that April 13, 2036 will be an uneventful day in the history of Earth. Still, they want to be sure it stays that way. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] That's why a...

Engineers eliminate 'field hole' problem in RFID tags: could boost use of UHF tags in item-level applications.(Omron Electronics L.L.C. develops antennas)(ultra-high frequency, radio frequency identification)(Brief article)
May 15, 2006... Researchers at Omron Electronics LLC say they've developed an antenna that could eliminate the problem of so-called "field holes" in Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) systems. Calling it a "first of a kind"...

Pressure Powered Pump: pivot design produces long life in steam or pressurized gas applications.(FLUID POWER)(Brief article)
May 15, 2006... By replacing bearing surfaces with pivots, Spirax Sarco, Inc.'s recently introduced Pivotrol Pressure Powered Pump provides a 3 million cycles by three-year warranty for steam system condensate recovery in rapid cycling environments. An option...

Future plastics are here: advanced polymer technologies are starting to add more function.(MATERIALS)
May 15, 2006... For all the things plastics do today, expect them to do even more tomorrow. That's the message Bayer MaterialScience (http://rbi.ims.ca/4922-597) hopes to convey at next month's National Plastics Exposition (NPE). The company will display a...

Increasing speed and payloads: upgraded linear actuators offer higher speeds and load capacities.(MOTION CONTROL)
May 15, 2006... Upgraded linear actuator solutions, targeting higher load capacities, operating speeds and improved motion performance, emerged at the recent National Design Engineering Show in Chicago. Both Bosch Rexroth and THK featured redesigned actuators...

A new tool for analyzing complex systems: MSC.Software's new multidisciplinary tool extends well beyond statics and dynamics.(MD Nastran- multi-discipline analysis software for engineers)
May 15, 2006... When it comes to analysis of systems, one thing is painfully obvious to design engineers: Most real-world systems are hideously complex, which usually means you need to understand a whole range of physical interactions and disciplines in order...

Smart imaging sensors get smarter: new solutions target applications requiring vision inspection and laser measurement.
May 15, 2006... Whether they're used for measurement or inspection, smart sensors are making vast technological improvements in intelligence and compactness. With the new breed of sensors, users no longer need to connect to a PC and printer to gather and...

Tiny designs boost micro molding: here are three molded components that stretch the imagination.(plastic industrial components)
May 15, 2006... Watch developments in the injection molding of extremely tiny parts made of plastic or metal. The technology seems to evolve almost daily. The most important advances are coming in medical and electronics markets where capabilities to make...

Pre-engineered packages: tighter integration of mechanical solutions with motors boosts performance and targets specific applications.
May 15, 2006... One way for suppliers to increase the value of mechanical motion control solutions is to design subassemblies that tightly integrate the positioning devices with the motor driving them. Instead of a family of products that act as "building...

Fabrics get smart: electro-active textiles serve as switches, sensors, and more.(Textronics Inc. develops smart fabrics, technology)
May 15, 2006... If your idea of "smart fabrics" is a pair of khaki pants that sheds food stains, think again. The smartest fabrics are becoming electro-active, allowing them to address far more important engineering problems than whether you wear your lunch to...

ZigBee inside: ZigBee-based five new wireless systems.(Home Theater Controller, Home Heartbeat, HomeRemote, Compact Flash card, Gas Monitors)
May 15, 2006... IT HAS BEEN A LITTLE OVER ONE YEAR SINCE THE ratification of the ZigBee specification (December 2004), and the subsequent announcement on April 1, 2005 of four ZigBee-compliant platforms from Chipcon, CompXs, Ember and Freescale Semiconductor....

CAD helps to move mountains: Alibre Design helps an engineer get an innovative avalanche blaster out on the slopes.(mechanical engineer Werner Greipl develops a remote control method to move snow without using explosives)
May 15, 2006... THROWING DYNAMITE OUT OF A HELICOPTER WINDOW MAY HELP TO MITIGATE avalanches, but it is a bit nerve-wracking. Having two hundred kilograms of dynamite in the cabin and some guy in the back with a lighter or some matches always made me feel a...

Timer-triggered DAC reduces distortion: the ability to control the exact timing of DAC samples eliminates a common cause of distortion and simplifies system design.(digital-to-analog converters)
May 15, 2006... Many embedded systems use Digital-to-Analog Converters (DACs) to generate signals or system excitation. In many cases, these signals are periodic and can be subject to harmonic distortion. A major cause of distortion results from DAC updates...

RF & microwave switching matrices: a modular approach to assembly switching.(ELECTRONICS)
May 15, 2006... Teledyne's matrices are modular, with standard subassemblies supporting a number of customized matrix assemblies. They use Teledyne relays and switches inside the assembly and main module, a standard programmable microcontroller in all...

D5 powerPC computer: tough, with versatile I/O.(ELECTRONICS)(Brief article)
May 15, 2006... This single-board PC is made for communications and networking applications, offering flexible input/output configurations, and a versatile, rugged setup. It works with Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.'s PowerQUICC III family of processors, and...

Micro-USB: bringing USB to a smaller package.(ELECTRONICS)
May 15, 2006... Saelig's Micro-USB is made for connecting micros or circuits to USB, offering baud rates up to 1 Mbps. The 0.7 x 0.5-inch device only needs eight pads on the target board in a 0.1-inch grid. It connects to a standard PC using a regular USB...

RTG001 FPGA design system: all-in-one package for FPGA processing.(ELECTRONICS)
May 15, 2006... This programmable, USB2.0-connected system is made for fast data acquisition and FPGA processing. It has two channels of 210Msample/s 12-bit A/D conversion, two channels of 160Msample/s 16-bit D/A conversion and eight user-programmable digital...

Microvga graphics adapter: high resolution through standard interface.(ELECTRONICS)
May 15, 2006... Any host microcontroller, embedded device or USB serial port-using PC can use this adapter to display text characters and graphics patterns. Its 15-pin DIN connector hooks up to any monitor, including LCDs, and offers 64-256 colors. It can...

AP240 and AP235 PCI analyzers: peak analysis and time-to-digital conversion.(ELECTRONICS)
May 15, 2006... Acqiris' dual-channel, reconfigurable PCI analyzers have new firmware for advanced peak analysis and time-to-digital conversion. Their DPU can isolate peaks from waveform data obtained at up to 2GS/s (1 GS/e for the AP235), and get it to the...

1070 series AC true RMS: accurate and durable transducers.(ELECTRONICS)
May 15, 2006... This new series of RMS current transducers offer accuracy over a 20Hz-2KHz range. Available in 14 current ranges from 2A to 250A, they have an accuracy of 0.25 percent over a temperature range of -40 to 85C (-40 to 185F). They also have a wide...

IES5501 Bus Buffer Circuit: new line allows daisy-chain configuration.(ELECTRONICS)
May 15, 2006... The first in the IES550x family, the IES5501 Bus Buffer Integrated Circuit is made to simplify the design process, using analogue IC design principles for a digital bus. It is used in two-wire bus systems in telecommunications systems,...

MSXB066 & MSXB067 boards: offer resistive sensor signal.(ELECTRONICS)
May 15, 2006... The newest two models in Microstar's signalconditioning expansion line, these boards are made to provide analog signal conditioning for strain gauges, load cells, RTDs and other resistive sensors. They can interface with quarter-bridge,...

Sigma wall-mount rectifiers: multiple output voltages available.(ELECTRONICS)
May 15, 2006... These six new rectifiers have a 450-550W output power range. With batteries, the rectifiers have pre-set output voltages of 13.6V, 27.2V or 54.4V. Without batteries, the rectifiers have output voltages of 12, 24, and 48V. Active power factor...

Filtered Power Entry Module: versatile and safe power supply module.(ELECTRONICS)
May 15, 2006... Compatible with single-phase power supplies in industrial equipment, information technology equipment and medical devices, the 5120 Filtered Power Entry Module is used in everything from dental equipment to networking routers to fitness...

LFM 5-20 series power supplies: power supplies small at 5-20 watts.(ELECTRONICS)
May 15, 2006... Astrodyne's 5-20-W power supplies are as small as 2.17 x 1.38 x 0.79 inches (5W version), and made for PCB plug-in mounting. They can take universal input from 85-264VAC. There are 23 models that put out single outputs of 3.3 to 24 VDC, if...

PLC-232 serial module: uses power lines to communicate.(ELECTRONICS)
May 15, 2006... These modules, sold in pairs, communicate serially without extra wires or cables. With a DB-9 serial port on one side and a 110/220V power cable slot on the other, they transmit and receive high-frequency signals over power lines using...

String LED series STP301S: durable, versatile and long-lasting.(ELECTRONICS)
May 15, 2006... These versatile strings or LED lights are made for signs, displays, entertainment venues, emergency exit lighting and other applications. The LEDs run off 12V dc current, and last longer, use less power, and put out less heat than standard...

Dcic9907 microcontroller: dual-ARM IC for time-critical control.(ELECTRONICS)
May 15, 2006... Made for a number of industrial communications applications such as servo system platforms and motion control, the microcontroller comes with two ARM 946E cores, two CAN channels, two 10/100 Mbit Ethernet MACs with HW extension for real-time...

Dibos hybrid dvr camera: supports newer, more efficient compression.(ELECTRONICS)
May 15, 2006... Bosch's newest digital video recorder is made for closed-circuit television surveillance and security. It takes both analog cameras and IP network video, can be a network video recorder or a stand-alone unit, and can keep data on a built-in...

Two-phase motor driver ICs: smaller and more reliable.(ELECTRONICS)
May 15, 2006... Made to keep up with higher reliability and smaller space demands, this new series has a protection circuit against the load short or open operation, and a space-saving built-in resistor for current sense. The peripheral circuit design is...

HSB-6681 ISA-Bus CPU card: high performance with low power.(ELECTRONICS)
May 15, 2006... AAEON's newest ISA-Bus CPU card has a north bridge integrated with an onboard VIA Mark CoreFusion 533 MHz processor. Its single SODIMM socket allows a total memory capacity of up to 512MB, and the card supports 128MB of onboard memory. It is a...

IK-TF2 3CCD color video camera: small, lightweight, easy to use.(ELECTRONICS)
May 15, 2006... Made to fit into high-speed machine vision systems, the three-chip camera measures 44 x 44 x 78mm, and weighs just 5.47 oz. It has an RGB micro prism system, 570 TV resolution, and a 1/3-inch IT-CCD sensor (410,000 pixels). Easy integration is...

FX135 watch crystal: smaller and less expensive.(ELECTRONICS)
May 15, 2006... At 3.2 x 1.5 mm and a 0.9 mm profile, this is the smallest miniature watch crystal available. It is made for tight quarters, such as in portable or handheld devices. It has a frequency of 32,768 kHz, and the surface mount device offers a...

Etched-foil-elements design: safer, more reliable design.(ELECTRONICS)
May 15, 2006... The element is designed to be safer through eliminating wire failure, run cooler and last longer. Two retrofitted concentric cylinders can produce a forced convection assembly package for the new element. To guard against other component...

Microlens molded led light guides: brighter, crisper, and smaller.(ELECTRONICS)
May 15, 2006... These guides are used for backlighting displays in a number of applications from digital still camera and camcorder microdisplays to Gen 3 mobile phone displays to desktop monitors. Brighter than other LED-based backlighting systems, they come...

Solid state relay I/O module: new module handles up to eight relays.(ELECTRONICS)
May 15, 2006... The newest model in Sensoray's 2600 series, the 2652, uses a single category-5 patch cable, connected to a 2601 communication module, to monitor and control up to eight solid state relays. Each of the relay sockets can have either an ac in, ac...

STJ Series tactile switches: multi-directional switches for security.(ELECTRONICS)
May 15, 2006... Measuring 7.2 x 7.2mm, these RoHS-compliant have a spherical actuator design for multi-directional, off-center actuation of [+ or -] 30. They come in a choice of silver of gold-plated contacts over nickel-plated stainless steel, with terminals...

Adam-4117 analog input module: rugged and easy to use.(ELECTRONICS)
May 15, 2006... This module's user-friendly design is protected by industrial-grade ABS plastic. It has a built-in microprocessor, an address mode, LED data display, analog and digital I/O, and intelligent signal conditioning. It also includes eight different,...

FSK-S5 encapsulated switcher: compact, versatile and safe design.(ELECTRONICS)
May 15, 2006... This new RoHS-compliant, 5W series is designed for tight quarters, with supplies measuring 2 x 1 x 0.6 inches. They are rated for operation at 100 percent load from 0 to 50C ambient, accept a universal input voltage (85 to 264 V ac or 100 to...

CO2 lasers and marking heads: versatile, precise cutting and marking.(ELECTRONICS)
May 15, 2006... This line of lasers and markers have a variety of uses, from marking bar codes to cutting various materials. The markers are capable of marking standard bar codes and designs as small as a 5 mm square. Laser cutters can make a sealed,...

Multigrade f diesel fuel filter: 4 X the efficiency of ordinary filter papers.(FLUID POWER)
May 15, 2006... Designed for the ever-changing automotive industry, these filters use multi-layer filter media, also known as "fleece," made from melt-blown superfine fibers with a compressed cellulose substrate layer, a filter system already used by...

Diaphragm pulse valves: long-lasting and economical.(FLUID POWER)
May 15, 2006... These valves are made for pulse jet dust collectors, made out of durable die-cast aluminum with NBR diaphragms. The Series DCV has an integral solenoid coil, and the Series RDCV valves are made for remote solenoids. They come in 110 VAC, 220...

PVM pump series: long at higher temperatures and pressures.(FLUID POWER)
May 15, 2006... Oilgear's PVM open-loop, axial piston pumps offer a compact, computer-optimized unit with multiple controls available. They come in three frame sizes, with multiple displacements available for each. They last longer, run under higher pressure,...

Jvhs series high-pressure: for demanding high-pressure meters.(FLUID POWER)
May 15, 2006... AW Company's latest meters are made for high-pressure systems that need flow meters rated up to 15,000 psi (1035 bar). They are designed for high-pressure hydraulic and fuel systems and offshore chemical injection systems ranging from methanol,...

T2-50 Mini gas spring: latest spring comes in a small package.(FLUID POWER)(Brief article)
May 15, 2006... The newest Hyson T2 Mini Series spring, the T2-50 nitrogen gas spring is tiny, with a 12mm-diameter body and 6mm-diameter piston rod. It includes over-pressure protection and a two-step piston head for safety, and comes in stroke lengths from...

Series SVE enclosure: simplifying dust collector solenoid valves.(FLUID POWER)(Brief article)
May 15, 2006... These weatherproof enclosures are made out of die cast, NBR-seal aluminum, and are rated to NEMA 4X. They come in 6 and 12 channel sizes to accommodate Dwyer's RSV remote pilot solenoid valve. The chosen solenoid amount comes pre-wired to a...

PSA nitrogen gas generators: stackable generators make expansion easy.(FLUID POWER)
May 15, 2006... The new design on the DB series has more efficient PSA technology and many other new features, offering low-maintenance paybacks of less than two years. Their new design also allows extra PSA towers to be added onto the main unit. The...

Digital hydraulic multimeter: DVD shows off multimeters.(FLUID POWER)(Brief article)
May 15, 2006... This series of multimeters is good for hydraulic system maintenance and troubleshooting. They come in flow ranges of 100 gpm or 200 gpm, peak pressure to 9,000 psi and temperatures to 250F, with digital readouts of flow rate, fluid temperature,...

Filters: low cost.(FLUID POWER)(Brief article)
May 15, 2006... The company's filters are designed to combine the functional diffuser, decorative bezel or deflector, and a Telcordia NEBS GR-63-CORE-compliant air filter into one integrated, low-cost assembly. Free airflow is maximized with approximately 85...

Vacuum pump: environmentally-friendly.(FLUID POWER)(Brief article)
May 15, 2006... The ScrewLine SP250 is part of the company's line of oil-free gas compression screw-type vacuum pumps. Designed for use in industrial processes, providing an environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional oil-sealed piston vacuum pumps, it...

Liquid control systems: minimize downtime.(FLUID POWER)(Brief article)
May 15, 2006... The ClearFlo and ClearFlor PLUS Systems are designed to reduce contamination in heat transfer fluid systems while minimizing downtime and maintenance costs. The ClearFlo System continuously filters heat transfer fluids, removing particles as...

Pump: high horsepower.(FLUID POWER)(Brief article)
May 15, 2006... The PVK open-loop, axial piston pump series is designed to provide medium to high horsepower for high performance applications. With a variety of controls engineered to be readily interchanged, the product is available in three displacements...

Air Nozzle Clusters: high blowing force.(FLUID POWER)
May 15, 2006... Designed to offer extremely high blowing force suitable for long distance, wide area blowoff, drying and cooling applications, the company's Super Air Nozzle Clusters replace open pipes and hoses known to cause hearing loss. They maximize...

Heat-shrinkable tubing: in a variety of ratios.(FLUID POWER)
May 15, 2006... The company's Fluoroplastic heat-shrinkable tubing is available in a range of expansion ratios and materials, including TexFluor FEP, PTFE, PFA and ETFE. Sizes range from 0.010 to 2.5 inches in diameter. Compounds of filled barium sulfate,...

Sensor technology: stable measurement.(FLUID POWER)
May 15, 2006... The company's combustion gas sensor technology is engineered to measure different gases (such as NOx and CO) by conditioning and modifying the signal from the sensitive wide range performance oxygen sensor. It reportedly offers a stable,...

Pneumatic-guided actuators: simple, reliable.(FLUID POWER)
May 15, 2006... The GC and GS Series pneumatic-guided actuators are designed to be simple, reliable, and provide high positioning accuracy for linear motion applications. They feature standard industrial bearings, shock absorbers (GS only), and piston magnets...

Pressure transmitter: compact.(FLUID POWER)
May 15, 2006... The PI Series pressure transmitter is a 316 stainless-steel unit rated IP69K and tested to withstand high-pressure cleanings and extreme washdown conditions. It offers an accuracy of [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] IFM Efector inc. ...

Proportional valve: solenoid-operated.(FLUID POWER)
May 15, 2006... The company's inert proportional valve is a solenoid-operated diaphragm isolation valve engineered for use with corrosive or high-purity fluids commonly found in the medical equipment, water purification and clinical chemical industries. It...

Two- and three-way valves: captured seal construction.(FLUID POWER)
May 15, 2006... The standard MINI-MIZER two- and three-way valve is engineered to accommodate a variety of pneumatic applications requiring high cycling rate, small flow and low wattage, such as battery operation, microprocessor control and printed circuit...

Gas metering valve: direct-acting.(FLUID POWER)
May 15, 2006... The company's gas metering valve is a direct-acting proportional SERVOID valve. The valve driver reportedly provides proportional control of the metering orifice which yields linear proportional flow. It features a suspended-armature design...

NC tool path backplotter: more control of tool path motion.(HARDWARE/SOFTWARE)
May 15, 2006... This pc-based, user-friendly utility lets the cad room and the shop floor view and edit the NC tool path before they cut the part. They can see all tool path motion, plus canned cycles, m codes, g codes, spindle speeds, tool codes and...

Fibersim 5.1 design software: time-saving manufacturing automation.(HARDWARE/SOFTWARE)
May 15, 2006... The latest version of VISTAGY's design environment, FiberSIM 5.1 allows design process automation early in product development, and is geared toward manufacturing of complex or large composite parts, even in multiple-stage production. It also...

15-inch LCD Panel Computer: wall-mounted and compact.(HARDWARE/SOFTWARE)
May 15, 2006... This 15-inch, wall-mountable LCD Panel Computer is built for factory automation, facility monitoring, machine automation and environmental monitoring. It runs on a VIA Eden 667 MHz processor mounted on a 3.5-inch embedded board, and has a 512MB...

Gridgen 15.09 CFD meshing: blends CAD entities into simpler units.(HARDWARE/SOFTWARE)
May 15, 2006... Pointwise's latest software uses solid modeling and solid meshing to import, assemble and mesh solid CAD data models. Analysts can use it to fix errors in CAD files, and distills large numbers of small CAD elements into a smaller number of...