Design News articles from November 2008

Design News archives from November 2008

Off-Amps, What the Heck Are Off-Amps? Op Amps with No Power Applied, of Course.(Brief article)
November 3, 2008... By John Ardizzoni Q. What kind of performance (pick a parameter, it could be input impedance or any other op amp specification) can I expect from your amplifier- when the power is off? A. This may seem like a strange question, but as...

Instrumentation Moves from the Lab to the Factory Floor.
November 3, 2008... By Randy Frank, Contributing Editor Analog circuitry eases the transition Portable. Battery-powered. Wireless. While these terms usually describe the latest consumer products, they are the enablers for taking laboratory-grade...

Power Management Relies on Packaging.
November 3, 2008... By Randy Frank, Contributing Editor Improvements seal the deal for performance The power that can be managed by power management circuitry is directly related to its packaging characteristics. Processing and semiconductor technique...

Hard Truths.
November 3, 2008... By Geoffrey C. Orsak Energy efficiency must be our top priority Hard to believe, but there I was, a 'let's make a difference' engineer, sitting with the big oil club in a paneled room in downtown Washington, DC. That old Talking Heads...

The Case of the Stealthy Silicon.
November 3, 2008... By Kenneth Russell, Professor Emeritus, MIT, Cambridge, MA Silicon is primarily known as the basis for most computer chips, but it is also valuable as an alloying element, notably in transformer steels and a wide range of aluminum-based...

Energy Plans Diverge on Oil.
November 3, 2008... By John Dodge, Editor-in-Chief On Oct. 6 at MIT, the top energy advisers for both John McCain and Barack Obama squared off in a debate over who has the best energy plan (you might be reading this post-election). Design News' Web Editor...

Best of the Engineering Marketplace.
November 3, 2008... Compiled by Elizabeth M. Taurasi and Sasha Brown-Worsham Omega's OM-Microlite Elizabeth M. Taurasi, Sasha Brown-Worsham Small data logger The OM-MICROLITE from OMEGA ENGINEERING offers a convenient way to monitor and record...

Capturing the Wind.
November 3, 2008... By Charles J. Murray, Senior Technical Editor, Electronics Engineers are looking at batteries, pumped hydro and compressed air as a means of storing power from renewable sources Sometimes, the wind doesn't blow. Sometimes, the sun...

Who Will Make All the Wind Turbines?
November 3, 2008... By Joseph Ogando, Senior Editor, Motion Control & Automation The wind is everywhere, but not so the design and manufacturing expertise needed to make the high-tech machines that harvest energy from the wind In what has to be one of the...

Ethernet Powers Growth.
November 3, 2008... By Terry Costlow, Contributing Editor Power-Over-Ethernet is predicted to have a significant market impact, doubling its already-solid acceptance over the next few years. Providing power, as well as connectivity using existing wiring, it...

Patients Can't Hide Anymore.(Brief article)
November 3, 2008... By Terry Costlow, Contributing Editor Tracking personnel, patients and equipment is critical for both keeping medical facilities safe and cutting costs. CenTrak Inc.'s InTouch Care Real Time Location System pinpoints people and equipment to...

Getting a Charge While Cruising Norway.
November 3, 2008... By Terry Costlow, Contributing Editor While Chevy's Volt gets tons of attention, Norwegian supplier Th!nk is ramping up production of its City electric vehicle for urban areas. Limited production has begun in Norway, with plans to offer...

Gearbox Efficiency Adds to Tesla's Mileage.
November 3, 2008... By Terry Costlow, Contributing Editor High efficiency is critical in all vehicles, but it's especially important when you make a battery-powered sports car that goes from 0 to 60 mph in 3.9 sec. Tesla Motors' Roadster also goes 244 miles...

Case# 129 Remember-It-All Electronic Etch A Sketch.(Brief article)
November 3, 2008... By Design News Staff One of the frustrations of the Etch A Sketch is its temporary nature. You put in all that time learning to draw and your little brother (or spouse) bumps you and it's all gone - your great art is lost forever. Rakesh...

Energy-Efficient PC Monitor.
November 3, 2008... By Rob Spiegel, Contributing Editor Computer maker Lenovo has produced an energy-efficient addition to its ThinkVision line of PC monitors. The new displays come in a number of sizes and use 30 to 60 percent less energy than previous...

Texas-Size Wind Farm.(E.ON Climate and Renewables)(Brief article)
November 3, 2008... By Rob Spiegel, Contributing Editor The energy company E.ON Climate & Renewables has opened the first two phases of its wind farm in Roscoe, TX. The wind farm can now generate 335.5 mW of electricity, enough to power more than 100,000...

Consumers Won't Pay for Green.(Brief article)
November 3, 2008... By Rob Spiegel, Contributing Editor Consumers won't pay the green for going environmental. According to research firm Yankelovich, fewer consumers are willing to pay more for green products despite continued interest in the environment....

Stability - The Ultimate Limit to Performance.
November 3, 2008... By Kevin C. Craig We all experience with amazement every day the power of feedback control to improve the performance of a tremendous range of technological systems. Feedback control is at the heart of every modern mechatronic system and...

Sensors Deliver Real-Time Info on New Minnesota Bridge.
November 3, 2008... By Charles J. Murray, Senior Technical Editor, Electronics Sub-structure, super-structure incorporate strain gauges, accelerometers Using a complex array of more than 300 sensors, engineers say they can now remotely monitor the...

Lab Instruments Monitor Structural Health.
November 3, 2008... By Charles J. Murray, Senior Technical Editor, Electronics Systems offer real-time access to structures over the Internet Using a graphical system design platform and programmable automation controllers, engineers created a real-time...

Naval Hovercrafts Specify Improved Fasteners.(Brief article)
November 3, 2008... By Doug Smock, Contributing Editor, Materials and Fastening Newly developed system is described as vibration-proof, reduces downtime The U.S. Navy is using a new vibration-proof fastening system designed to dramatically reduce...

World's Strongest Robots Clash.
November 3, 2008... By Joseph Ogando, Senior Editor, Motion Control The battle for title of 'World's Strongest Robot' escalated at IMTS 2008 The battle for the title of 'World's Strongest Robot' escalated at the recent IMTS 2008 Show...

SAP PLM 7.0 to Get the View from Right Hemisphere.
November 3, 2008... By Beth Stackpole, Contributing Editor, Design Tools Deep Server integration lets users dynamically generate visual product information from ERP systems As part of a major upgrade to its Business Suite enterprise software...

What Lean is Not: A Rant.
November 3, 2008... By Kevin Gingerich, Director of Marketing Services, Bosch Rexroth Corp. - Linear Motion & Assembly technologies Div. It's a 'relentless pursuit' that requires your participation Lean is not easy. It's not easy to understand. It's not...

Embedded Design.
November 3, 2008... By Mike Santori, National Instruments' Business and Technology Fellow Field-programmable gate arrays increase efficiency National Instruments' Business and Technology Fellow Mike Santori discusses how field-programmable gate arrays...

Oversample to the Extreme.
November 3, 2008... By Jon Titus, Contributing Writer My previous Tips column, 'Oversample on Purpose,' (DN 10.20.08, http://designnews.hotims.com/22267-523), explained how averaging oversampled data can improve the resolution of an analog-to-digital...

Machine Tools Talk over the Web.
November 3, 2008... By Joseph Ogando, Senior Editor, Motion Control MTConnect allows machine tools to share process data without the need for proprietary software Machine tool power users for years have used proprietary communication protocols and custom...

Focus on Energy and Intelligence.
November 3, 2008... By Al Presher, Contributing Editor New drive products target power efficiency, better control New drive products are literally at the crossroads in the latest control systems, offering both expanded control capabilities and more...

Delivering More for Less.
November 3, 2008... By Design News Staff Stepper drives lower costs Stepper drivers/controllers continue to make their mark on factory automation by offering a low-cost alternative to hydraulics and pneumatics, and price/performance to compete with servos...

Distributed Intelligence.
November 3, 2008... By Design News Staff Drives are delivering on the promise of distributed control Product design for new servo drives is focused on lowering costs, more compact footprints and options that combine flexibility with ways to implement...

Efficiency & Connectivity.
November 3, 2008... By Design News Staff ac drive offerings emphasize more sophisticated operation Energy efficiency, network connectivity and a consistent focus on ease-of-use are the priorities for new ac drives and inverters. Providing sophisticated...

Networking and Simplicity.(ethernet communications)(Brief article)
November 3, 2008... By Design News Staff New drives emphasize Ethernet protocols and ease-of-use Sophisticated control functionality and advanced software tools are key parts of new product offerings and trends in variable frequency drives and inverters....

Focus on Solutions.
November 3, 2008... By Design News Staff New automation and motion software tackles problem-solving As automation software has matured and control products have become increasingly dependent on quality software, suppliers have responded with more and...

Machine Control Moves to the Next Level.
November 3, 2008... By Al Presher, Contributing Editor Higher levels of integration, Ethernet options, compact designs and PACs enhance offerings Controller solutions are moving through an evolution in role and functionality, as suppliers continue to add...

PACs in the Forefront.(programmable automation controllers )
November 3, 2008... By Design News Staff New automation controllers expand machine control functionality Makers of programmable automation controllers are strengthening their platforms for motion, logic and HMI control with an array of new offerings. With...

Focus on Servo Control.
November 3, 2008... By Design News Staff Multi-axis controllers emphasize performance and connectivity New servo motion control platforms are making it easier to implement multi-axis systems utilizing Ethernet and software standards such as IEC 61131 to...

Compact and Cost-Effective.
November 3, 2008... By Design News Staff I/O controllers advance state-of-the-art using processing power New I/O controllers are pushing the performance envelope in implementing logic control on machines, combining I/O functions and automation control...

Motion Building Blocks.
November 3, 2008... By Design News Staff Solutions for OEM applications focus on performance Modular motion control and microprocessor-based motion components have been the building blocks of intelligent motion control for a long time. But as technology...

Editor's Letter.(Editorial)
November 3, 2008... By Joseph Ogando, Senior Editor, Motion Control & Automation jogando@reedbusiness.com Despite the Economic Slump, the Motion Control Market Is Poised for Some Growth The general motion control market, while certainly not immune from...

Encoders Provide Accurate Position Data.
November 3, 2008... By Design News Staff Techniques vary for suppliers to increase system accuracy The choice of linear or rotary encoder is rather obvious from the application. If knowing the position as soon as power is applied is important, an absolute...

Go With the Flow.
November 3, 2008... By Randy Frank, Contributing Editor Fluid power suppliers work to meet customers' demands In terms of special customer requirements in the fluid power area, the pace seems to have accelerated within the past year. 'Requests for low...

Moving Heavy Loads.
November 3, 2008... By Design News Staff Hydraulic systems handle the toughest jobs When precise position control is required, hydraulic control is preferred over pneumatics, especially if high pressures are required, since air is a compressible fluid....

Fluid Connectivity.
November 3, 2008... By Design News Staff Techniques vary but no leakage is the goal With fluid control, critical system aspects include couplings, disconnects and sealing techniques. Although the components are different, the goal of each of these items...

Air-Powered Linear Motion.
November 3, 2008... By Design News Staff Pneumatic actuators deliver more For low-noise and clean linear motion, pneumatic actuators provide the solution for many industries. New designs include integrating two cylinders into a single housing and...

An Open and Shut Case.
November 3, 2008... By Design News Staff Pneumatic valves do more to meet application requirements Depending on the application, a pneumatic system could require valves suited for small space, long life or survival in harsh environments. Special...

Clearing the Air.
November 3, 2008... By Design News Staff That's only part of air preparation equipment's job What do customers want in a Filter Regulator Lubricator (FRL) today? One study by Norgren provides some interesting results. Customers want high quality,...

Mechatronics & Advanced Motion Control.
November 3, 2008... By Randy Frank, Contributing Editor Call it what you will, the systems' approach is driving higher performance In the area of motion control, some people's reaction to mechatronics can be, 'What's that?' even though they are...

Pushing the Limits for Performance Improvements.(Brief article)
November 3, 2008... By Randy Frank, Contributing Editor Tough times demand tough components and flexibility Increased throughput is the goal in any manufacturing operation. That's business as usual. 'What we're seeing now is more specialized applications...

Hold It!
November 3, 2008... By Design News Staff Coupling and clamping techniques support application requirements Various techniques are required for precise positioning in motion control systems. While zero backlash would be a common requirement, other system...

More Than Just Linear Motion.(linear actuators are application friendly)
November 3, 2008... By Design News Staff Added benefits make linear actuators more application friendly Precise linear motion requires a variety of technologies to satisfy the broad range of application requirements. Added capability that addresses the...

Geared up for Action.
November 3, 2008... By Design News Staff Gearbox designs address unique application requirements The ruggedness a gearbox requires for a long life certainly depends on the application. Reflecting different design approaches, manufacturers provide...

Precise Linear Motion.
November 3, 2008... By Design News Staff Lead screws deliver more through integrated design Additional functionality integrated in the design allows lead screw manufacturers to satisfy customers' requirements in unique ways. With any integrated design,...

Combining Forces.
November 3, 2008... By Al Presher, Contributing Editor Motor technology moves toward higher levels of power efficiency, networking and integration with machines Motor technology is moving ahead with higher power efficiency, servo motors with integrated...

Servos Gain Market Share.
November 3, 2008... By Design News Staff Servo motors capitalize on larger axis count systems and lower feedback costs One impact of OEM machinery builders moving to networked automation is more axes that utilize high performance, closed-loop control....

Finding Their Niche.
November 3, 2008... By Design News Staff Steppers offer unique solutions for motion control Stepper motor technology continues to use fundamental price and performance advantages to find application successes. As an alternative to servos on the one hand...

Application-Specific Solutions.
November 3, 2008... By Design News Staff Motor packages offer specialized capabilities and unique benefits Specialty motors provide unique technology and distinctive features that meet the needs of particular types of motion control projects. Often these...

Motors in Small Packages.
November 3, 2008... By Design News Staff Miniature product designs benefit from micro motor technology With the current emphasis in new engineering designs on smaller, more compact products, there continues to be a growing need for micro motors. And of...

Focus on Fundamentals.
November 3, 2008... By Design News Staff dc motors put the emphasis on dynamic performance The latest trends in dc motors come back to the fundamentals of the overall motor package. Suppliers are focusing on compact sizes, improved power density in the...

Linear Performance.
November 3, 2008... By Design News Staff Smooth, precise operation and ready-engineered alternatives Advanced linear motion technologies offer an effective option for applications that might traditionally utilize rotary motors, ballscrews and other...

System Inputs.(Brief article)
November 3, 2008... By Randy Frank, Contributing Editor Control systems require rugged and reliable sensors Unlike other electronic equipment, sensors mount in the application environment. For factory applications, this immediately demands some level of...

Sensing Pressures up to 10,000 PSI.
November 3, 2008... By Design News Staff Ruggedized is just the start Withstanding pressures up to 10,000 psi or more certainly qualifies a pressure sensor as rugged. That range can be required in oil and gas operations, test stands and industrial OEM...

Sensors Cope with Harsh Environments.
November 3, 2008... By Design News Staff Ruggedness provides a first level requirement for many position sensing applications For position sensing in tough factory conditions, the sensor must come in its own protective enclosure to withstand the rigors of...

The Case of the Cobbled Contractor.
November 17, 2008... By Myron J. Boyajian, President, Engineering Consultants Safety equipment is often a quiet sentinel, waiting to protect life or property. Safety equipment, improperly called into action, can have just the opposite effect. The Scene of...

TV Shows and Dinner Guests.(Editorial)
November 17, 2008... By John Dodge, Editor-in-Chief We recently finished a survey called The 21st Century Engineer in which we asked Design News' readers what's changed in their professional lives. Besides important questions about technologies they use and...

Best of the Engineering Marketplace.(Steinmeyer Inc.,Fibox Inc.,Omega Engineering Inc.)
November 17, 2008... Compiled by Elizabeth M. Taurasi and Sasha Brown-Worsham Fibox Introduces Two New Enclosure Sizes Elizabeth M. Taurasi, Sasha Brown-Worsham Added to the ARCA(TM) Series Offered in 18 x 16 x 10 and 16 x 14 x 8-inch sizes,...

Internet Connectivity Hits The Road.(Autonet Mobile)
November 17, 2008... By Charles J. Murray, Senior Technical Editor, Electronics Autonet Mobile's in-car router brings Internet connectivity to everything from laptops to PDAs to iPhones Amidst the tumult of the Orange County Auto Show in Anaheim earlier...

Carbon Fiber Boosts Blade Performance.
November 17, 2008... By Doug Smock, Contributing Editor, Materials and Fastening As blade size grows, engineers selectively apply carbon in a page taken from the Boeing Dreamliner Demand for wind turbines is now exploding, shaking up materials' technology...

Stopping Machine Tool Errors.(volumetric compensation system )
November 17, 2008... By Joseph Ogando, Senior Editor, Motion Control & Automation A new volumetric compensation system battles the thermal and geometric errors that can plague even the best machine tools Thanks to thermal distortion and some slop in even...

Making Interplanetary Contacts.
November 17, 2008... By Terry Costlow, Contributing Editor Nobody likes to find that a simple unplugged connector is the cause of a failure that shuts down a system for a long time. That's especially true when a hard-to-reach plug is on an orbiting spacecraft....

Watching the Roadways.
November 17, 2008... By Terry Costlow, Contributing Editor Roadside monitoring and communication devices are playing a greater role in improving traffic flow, which can help reduce fuel consumption. Wavetronix addresses this growing need with its Click! power...

Albums on a Chip.
November 17, 2008... By Terry Costlow, Contributing Editor Major players in the music industry are planning to use microSD cards to let consumers buy and transport music without being dependent on a PC or Internet connection. A new format, slotMusic, will carry...

Betting on Touch.
November 17, 2008... By Terry Costlow, Contributing Editor As gambling becomes more readily available, casino operators are trying many new techniques to attract bettors. Simplifying and speeding up gambling is a focus for JCM Global. The slot machine...

Roller Mill Retrofits.
November 17, 2008... By Al Presher, Contributing Editor New bearings help Horizon Milling grind out $240,000 in savings Even though the basic methods for processing flour are the same as 100 years ago, modern mills are working to meet the demands for flour...

Dusty Old Bones.(Company overview)
November 17, 2008... By Al Presher, Contributing Editor Clearing the air in a dinosaur excavation laboratory Nate Murphy is dedicated to his passion and profession of paleontology but he didn't want to literally 'live and breathe' his dinosaurs. So he went...

Pump-Controlled Hydraulics.
November 17, 2008... By Al Presher, Contributing Editor Research probes ideas to improve efficiency of multi-actuator hydraulic machines With diesel prices soaring to levels near $5 per gallon, there is a focus on new solutions for improving the efficiency...

Good Science.
November 17, 2008... By Robert W. Keller, Contributing Writer FEA for O-rings answers questions about form, fit and function Particularly in aerospace applications, the customer and supplier of an O-ring rely on the part drawing and materials' specification...

Case #130: This Gadget Gets the Children Up!(Brief article)
November 17, 2008... Staff Jeremy Willden created a gadget to end the difficulty of getting his children up for school. He took his home Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) system and added paging speakers. He ran a set of the speakers into his childrens'...

Chrysler Plans Electric-Drive Cars.(Chrysler L.L.C.)(Brief article)
November 17, 2008... By Rob Spiegel, Contributing Editor Chrysler announced it will produce three different electric-drive vehicles as part of its 2010 line of cars. The automaker has developed an electric-drive version for each of its brands - Chrysler, Jeep...

Toyota and SunPower Create Massive Solar Roof Installation.(SunPower Corp.)(Toyota Motor Corp.)(Brief article)
November 17, 2008... By Rob Spiegel, Contributing Editor Toyota and SunPower Corp., a manufacturer of solar cells and solar systems, have completed a large single-roof solar power installation at Toyota's North American Parts Center in Ontario, CA. Toyota...

University of Michigan Publishes Proceedings.(Brief article)
November 17, 2008... By Rob Spiegel, Contributing Editor The University of Michigan - through its School of Natural Resources and Environment (SNRE) - has published the proceedings from the school's May 2007 National Summit on Coping with Climate Change. The...

Original 'Pike's Arithmetic' Attracts Big Sum.(Excerpt)
November 17, 2008... By John Dodge, Editor-in-Chief It was the standard text for the nation's first half century An original copy of 'Pike's Arithmetic' (http://designnews.hotims.com/22268-527 ) and a letter from George Washington...

Networking Response Vehicles Battle Ike.(Network Emergency Response Vehicles)(Cisco Systems Inc.)
November 17, 2008... By Charles J. Murray, Senior Technical Editor, Electronics Cisco engineers delivered voice, data and video to hurricane-ravaged Texas region Watch a video of a Network Emergency Response Vehicle at...

Mechanical Assembly Prevents Whiplash.
November 17, 2008... By Doug Smock, Contributing Editor, Materials and Fastening New Lear system uses custom equipment to meet new U.S. and European standards Lear Corp. (http://designnews.hotims.com/22268-532 ) is using a mechanical system featuring...

Special Conveyors for Special Products.
November 17, 2008... By Joseph Ogando, Senior Editor, Motion Control Assembly Technology Expo highlighted some drive and control advances in conveyors used for solar, medical and other delicate manufacturing processes As manufactured goods become more...