Design Engineering articles from February 2003

Design Engineering archives from February 2003

Turkish delight?(Formula one)(Editorial)
February 1, 2003... Back in November I said that its been a long time since driver skill took precedence over engineering skill in Formula One. I said that this is going to continue. Well it's not. There's good news for those who enjoy a driver's race more than an...

Maglev dream rises in the east. (Design News).(Transrapid International introduces magnetic levitation train for service in Shanghai)
February 1, 2003... Maglev (magnetic levitation) trains that devour distances as they whizz silently along overhead guideways have long been hailed as the future of travel. Using strong electromagnets to replace the need for rails and wheels, Maglev trains...

Chilled out sounds from Penn State. (Design News).(refrigerator concept uses sound waves vs chemical refrigerants )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... In a move that could pave the way for a new generation of environmentally friendly fridges, engineers from Penn State University in the US have developed a proof of concept refrigerator that uses powerful sound waves rather than chemical...

North American International Auto Show.(Chrysler exhibits new Dodge Tomahawk motorcycle)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Caption: Described by its creator as a 'bold faced slap against mediocrity', Chrysler's Viper-powered Dodge Tomahawk concept bike wowed the crowds at Detroit's recent North American International Auto Show. Powered by a 500-horsepower V-10...

Beware of the dragon. (Letter from Japan).(robot development by Sanyo and tmsuk Co. Ltd.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... SANYO and small Japanese robotics firm tmsuk Co Ltd have announced the development of an improved version of Banryu: their jointly developed domestic robot. The new Banryu, which means 'guard-dragon' rather than 'guard-dog', is an...

Plans to extract hydrogen from sea. (Letter from Japan).(Japanese Environment Ministry)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The Japan Times reports that the Japanese Environment Ministry will begin developing a system in the next year to extract hydrogen from seawater to power fuel cells in hopes of creating a fully renewable energy supply. It is hoped the system...

Robot labourer unveiled. (Letter from Japan).(Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Toyko Construction Co., National Institute for Advanced Industrial Technology)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Kawasaki Heavy Industries, the Tokyo Construction Company and the National Institute for Advanced Industrial Technology, have publicly demonstrated a jointly developed humanoid robot that can operate a hydraulic excavator reports the Nikkei...

The world's biggest tyre. (Letter from Japan).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Bridgestone Corporation recently exhibited the biggest tyre in the world at its factory in western Tokyo reports Kyodo News. The 5.1-ton tyre is said to be 4.02 metres in diameter and made specifically for 350-ton trucks used for carrying ore...

Car farming. (Design News).(biomat technology can be used for injection molded car parts)
February 1, 2003... After the ravages of foot & mouth disease, UK agriculture has rarely seen such desperate times. However, Britain's beleaguered farmers could soon be handed a lifeline by an unlikely saviour: the automotive industry. While pigs and cattle...

Giant balloon set for lift off. (Design News).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... By the time you read this, NASA should be celebrating the successful launch of the largest super-pressured balloon ever flown. Scheduled for launched on January 22, NASA's Ultra Long Duration Balloon (ULDB) will take off from Alice Springs...

The fishers swing. (Design News).(motion sensors help identify problems with fishermen's casting motion)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... A device that could help anglers, tennis players, golfers, and maybe even darts players has been developed at the University of Michigan. Determined to master the art of fly fishing, Professor Noel Perkins drew on his experience of...

In a fascinating departure from CAD's usual domain, medical device designer Guidant is using VX CAD/CAM software.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Caption: In a fascinating departure from CAD's usual domain, medical device designer Guidant is using VX CAD/CAM software to model the human heart. Special algorithms are used to transform a set of CT (computerised tomography) scans into an...

Boom time: a boom, where? No not manufacturing in the UK, but judging by the number of entries in the Concept Boat competition and the designs they employed, boom is the operative word. (Breakthrough).
February 1, 2003... THERE were about 100 hundred entries for the competition under the theme Transportable Boat. Every entry offered something unique and reflected Britain's continued reputation for marine design innovation and manufacture. Of the 100 entries...

EMS aid development of prosthetic hand for children. (EMS).
February 1, 2003... EMS has recently provided products and technical guidance on small DC motors and gearheads to the team developing a child-size artificial hand whose realism and functionality enables youngsters to move, pick-up and place objects with relative...

EMS announce two new 26mm neodymium ironless rotor DC motors and complementary 26mm & 44mm planetary. (EMS).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The new, high-performance 2642...CR motor from System Faulhaber has a nominal length of 42mm and delivers up to 23 watts output, whilst the 2657...CR is 57mm long and delivers up to 44.5 watts. Both have graphite brushes, copper commutators and...

New TMA/TMD lifting columns from EMS. (EMS).(for adjustable-height furniture)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Electra Mechanical Systems has introduced the new TMA/TMD range of electronically operated slimline parallel telescopic lifting columns which are specifically aimed at OEM companies who manufacture adjustable height furniture, assembly benches...

The future looks bright for CDT. (Business Digest).(Cambridge Display Technology)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Last year saw the UK's Cambridge Display Technology (CDT) firmly establish itself as one of the world's hottest global technology companies. CDT, a leading developer of light emitting polymer (LEP) and organic light emitting diode (OLED)...

San Fran ban for Segway. (Business Digest).(Segway Human Transporter outlawed in San Francisco)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The Associated Press has reported that Dean Kamen's Segway Human Transporter - the much feted gyroscopically-balanced human transporter - has been outlawed in San Francisco, The AP report says that the ban, which has come into force just...

Tech need challenge by yet2.com. (Business Digest).
February 1, 2003... MINI-MAGLEV CAPABLE OF RESISTING A PUSH OR PULL This organisation is looking for a way of magnetically levitating a wire inside a tube or magnetic tunnel so that the wire does not touch the inside wall of the tunnel. The wire must...

Industry hit by rising costs. (Business Digest).(employer liability insurance)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Increases in employer liability insurance, and the prospect of higher NIC contributions from this April, are placing a huge burden on the manufacturing sector, according to one of the Midland's leading financiers. Bob Hale, chairman of the RSM...

Purchasing Managers' Index. (Business Digest).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... 49.5 December's CIPS/ Reuters Purchasing Manager's Index fell from a revised November level of 50.1, to 49.5 - its lowest reading for five months, and the first indication since July of contraction of the UK manufacturing economy. The fall in...

Countdown starts for Mars landing. (Business Digest).(European Space Agency hires QinetiQ to develop power technology)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... As part of its Aurora project, the European Space Agency (ESA) has asked QinetiQ to identify power generation and storage technologies for use on Mars. In 2000, ESA embarked on a technology development project to outline a long-term...

Parker to close Poole factory. (Business Digest).(Parker Hannifin will close facility in Dorset, UK)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The Electromechnical division of Parker Hannifin has announced that it plans to shut down its manufacturing facility in Poole, Dorset. Production at the facility, which employs 72 people in the design and manufacture of motion control...

Marked growth in automotive innovation. (Business Digest).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The results of a global study into patent activity in the automotive sector show a marked return to product innovation following a period of decreased activity during the late 1990s says Thomson Derwent. From 1994 - 98, patent activity in...

Fuel cell markets quantified. (Business Digest).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... More than 3,800 fuel cell systems have been installed and operated worldwide, according to a new report by online resource, Fuel Cell Today (www.fuelcelltoday.com). The first such systems were introduced in the 1950s and the improvement in...

Firewire finds industry: Aerotech claims to have overcome the limitations of popular industrial networks with Firewire, a solution originally developed for the PC market. (Servo Control).(Product/Service Evaluation)
February 1, 2003... It's natural that motion control systems would eventually exploit the networking options enjoyed by the computing arena for years. After all, networking of servo drives gives greater flexibility in system design, around a 50% reduction in...

From polar bears to smart cars: radar technology developed 25 years ago to measure the thickness of the polar icecaps is now being used to develop a low cost car safety system. (Design Works).(Cambridge Consultants Ltd)
February 1, 2003... An innovative car radar system that could be used to avoid crashes, assist in safe lane changing and even help with parking is under development by UK technology expert Cambridge Consultants Ltd. While a number of car manufacturers already...

Safety relays.
February 1, 2003... Compact and versatile 22.5mm housings, the ESM safety relays from EUCHNER offer high levels of protection for a range of machine environments. They offer a wide variety of functionality and may be used to monitor Emergency Stop circuits,...

Thinking of CADCAM? Think about CATIA & INCAT.
February 1, 2003... With more than 16,000 customers and with over 130,000 installed seats, CATIA from Dassault Systemes is the world leading computer-aided design solution. The CATIA portfolio has more than 120 modules, that can be tailored to your product...

Can CATIA improve? CATIA Version 5 has now come of age--at Release 10 there is noticeable consolidation and a significant concentration on process improvement (a sure sign of maturity) as well as process coverage. (On Screen).(Dassault Systemes)(Product/Service Evaluation)
February 1, 2003... Release 10 continues to deliver significant performance and reliability improvements with 13 new products and 81 enhanced applications for the automotive, aerospace, consumer goods and electrical and electronics industries. There is a new...

AutoVue 17 ships. (On Screen: Select Products).
February 1, 2003... Cimmetry Systems, a specialist in visualisation and collaboration solutions for engineers, has announced the release of AutoVue 17. There are many significant new features in AutoVue 17. The AutoVue thin-client solution now provides online...

Blanked faces. (On Screen: Select Products).
February 1, 2003... ITI TranscenData has recently launched CADfix5.1, the latest version of its CAD data interoperability tool. Version 5.1 delivers improvements across many aspects of the product, including import/export enhancements and repair and healing...

Dozens of new tools. (On Screen: Select Products).
February 1, 2003... VX Corporation, the developer of advanced integrated CAD/CAM solutions for engineers, is launching its next major version, Version 7, of its VX CAD/CAM software. Version 7 includes dozens of new tools and major enhancements. These include:...

Delcam morphs. (On Screen: Select Products).
February 1, 2003... Version 5 of Delcam's PowerSHAPE hybrid modelling software incorporates enhancements to both the solid modelling and surface modelling capabilities, including whole model editing by morphing, direct editing of a single face of a solid, and...

CoCreate improves. (On Screen: Select Products).
February 1, 2003... CoCreate the specialist in collaborative development software, has released OneSpace Solution Suite 11.61, which contains key improvements for customers in the automotive and aerospace industries, The latest iteration includes a CATIA V5...

Hercules Hepco. (Select Products: Linear Motion).
February 1, 2003... According to Hepco, its new Profile Driven Unit (PDU) plugs a significant gap in linear motion technology. It is a robust, high performance system designed specifically for applications requiring a cost effective solution to fit in a small...

Elmore range. (Select Products: Linear Motion).
February 1, 2003... The facility to be able to design and assemble a multi-axis handling or positioning system, quickly, from a set of modular parts is what drove Naples Coombe to design and launch the Elmore range of modular linear units. The range includes...

Precision. (Select Products: Linear Motion).
February 1, 2003... Baldor has released a new type of X-Y positioning stage which provides rapid sub-micron positioning over very large working areas. Based on a combination of stepper and piezo linear motors for coarse and fine positioning, the NanoStepper stage...

THK doubles average. (Select Products: Linear Motion).
February 1, 2003... THK has launched anew high load capacity ballscrew that it claims is capable of transporting more than double the average dynamic load achieved by conventional ballscrews. The HBN ballscrew combines THK's Caged Ball technology with a special...

On a new planet. (Select Products: Linear Motion).
February 1, 2003... The Exlar PRS series of planetary roller screws from Inmoco have been designed for high speed, heavy duty motion control applications and, claims the company, offer up to 15 times longer life than comparably sized ball screws. According to...

Pressure trip. (Select Products: Switches & Relays).
February 1, 2003... Barksdale Control Products new XT and KD mini-piston pressure switches are said to combine a compact design with high accurscy and excellent vibration tolerance. The field-adjustable XT pressure switches have been engineered to enable...

Omron interfaces. (Select Products: Switches & Relays).
February 1, 2003... The latest MY and G2R ranges of plug-in relays from Omron are said to provide a compact, dependable, versatile and inexpensive method of interfacing electronic equipment with power circuitry. The relays, which have been specifically designed to...

Largest switch. (Select Products: Switches & Relays).
February 1, 2003... Control and Switchgear manufacturer Craig & Derricott has developed its largest ever switch for use by the rail industry. The Shoegear Earthing switch has been developed to cut power to electrical multiple unit (EM U) trains, allowing...

Voice-Over. (Select Products: Switches & Relays).
February 1, 2003... A device that helps provide resettable overcurrent protection for VOICE OVER IP and powered Ethernet equipment in telecom and networking applications is now available from Tyco Electronics. Raychem Circuit Protection's PolySwitch...

Magic switch. (Select Products: Switches & Relays).
February 1, 2003... A novel switching technology developed by Herga Electric makes it possible to operate a switch on the other side of walls (500 -- 100mm thick) without the need to drill holes. The switch, which can be either rotary or push button, is...

No shake. (Select Products: Springs & Dampers).
February 1, 2003... The new TS-150 from Optima Research is a dynamic vibration isolation system that the manufacturer claims achieves better isolation than the biggest and most expensive air-based systems, in a very small volume. Electronic feedback from motion...

Two Ace models. (Select Products: Springs & Dampers).
February 1, 2003... Automation control equipment manufacturer Ace Controls International is adding two new models to its range of gas springs; the GS-8 and GS-70 new push type units. The GS-8 is now the smallest gas spring offered by Ace with a body diameter...

Rubber spring. (Select Products: Springs & Dampers).
February 1, 2003... A new and revolutionary' spring from Lee Spring is being launched which is claimed to offer exceptional power and load characteristics that represents a high performance alternative to steel springs. Called PowerSpring, the new product is...

Raymond struts. (Select Products: Springs & Dampers).
February 1, 2003... Raymond has announced the development of a series of stock and customised mechanical spring struts manufactured from engineered corrosion-resistant stainless steel components and offered with a variety of end configurations, load and stroke...

Shock launch. (Select Products: Springs & Dampers).
February 1, 2003... Hoerbiger Origa has expanded its range of miniature Industrial Shock Absorbers, with 38 versions of a corrosion resistant model called Armor Line. A thin dense chrome plating that modularly adheres to the high strength steel body of the...

Getting a good fit: going back to basics will save you a lot of grief in the long-run. To select a bearing pay careful attention to the fit of shaft, inner and outer rings, and housing. (Buyers Guide).
February 1, 2003... The first step towards achieving long bearing life is selecting a bearing of the proper type and size. But that's not enough, because even a properly selected bearing will fail prematurely if the shaft and housing fits are incorrect. Too much...

Buyers Guide.(control equipment industry)(Buyers Guide)
February 1, 2003... Buyers Guide COMPANIES BRed BAug BThr BSA RNed RCyl Automotion International * * * Barden Corp (UK) * * * * Brauer Coley ...

Flexible conduit. (What's New in Design).
February 1, 2003... Katon 2010 limited fire hazard flexible conduit from Icore International has been chosen to protect the vital electrical busline links between carriages on new rolling stock destined for use on trail systems in the south of England. The conduit...

Clean up. (What's New in Design).(John Loveluck joinsn Designtrack as consultant)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Dr John Loveluck - of Cambridgeshire produ Development Company 42 Technology - has been appointed to the panel of Designtrack as a cleaner design consultant. Designtrack is an Envirowise initiative, which helps UK businesses improve...

Circuit breaker. (What's New in Design).
February 1, 2003... E-T-A Circuit Breakers' new E-T-A 5140 is a high-performance temperature-compensated, three pole aircraft style circuit breaker, with full ASNE and NSA approvals for all aircraft applications. The device is available in a range of current...

JFL buys Mecelec. (What's New in Design).(JFL Manufacturing Group acquires Mecelec)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The JFL Manufacturing Group has announced the purchase of Mecelec - one of the most respected names in the test and automation field. The company is linking up with JFL to create JFL Mecelec in a move that is set to provide a broader service...

Four families. (What's New in Design).
February 1, 2003... 30 years after Norbar manufactured its first electronic torque measuring instrument the company now has four instrument families, each designed to meet a particular section of the torque testing market. Recent products include the Pro-Test...

Interface module. (What's New in Design).
February 1, 2003... Colter Systems has added a valuable interface module to its range of Din rail mounting and automation products. Powered by 24Vdc, the Colter FSC908 converts a 0-20mA signal to -10Vdc to +10Vdc. With Din rail mounting and compatible with all...

UK effeciency. (What's New in Design).(Flenders reports on sales of geared motors )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Flender has revealed that in the UK it is now selling a 'significant' proportion of high effeciency eff1 geared motors compared to 12 months ago. In the wake of the UK introduction of the climate change levy (CCL) companies have been upgrading...

Fasteners. (What's New in Design).
February 1, 2003... New powder coated fasteners from Seac have been developed specifically for architectural/outdoor applications. The coated fasteners have excellent exterior durability and colour retention. Electrostatically applied and oven cured, Seac's powder...

Push-in connection. (What's New in Design).
February 1, 2003... By developing its insulation displacement connection technology (IDC) effectively push-in connection for unstripped conductors. Weidmuller's new IDC 2 terminal range has introduced faster installation in an even more compact rail-mounted...

Cut to length clip. (What's New in Design).
February 1, 2003... I Robinson & Co. manufacturer of the renowned Jubilee worm drive hose clip has introduced a new cut to length clip. Marketed as Multiband the new fastening system is available in two widths - 7mm band manufactured in stainless steel and an 11mm...

Chip range. (What's New in Design).
February 1, 2003... Chip capacitor manufacturer, Murata, has expanded its Hi-Cap range of multilayer chip capacitors (MLCCs), extending the range to cover DC rated voltages from 6.3V to 100V and capacitances up to 100uF The newest devices are available with...

New gearboxes. (What's New in Design).
February 1, 2003... The MWS and MIS gearboxes were launched last year by Parvalux in response to continued customer demand for new and competitive products. Speeds from 1 rpm to 64 rpm are available on the MWS with up to 45Nm continuous output torque. The MIS...

Cutting webbing. (What's New in Design).
February 1, 2003... Manually cutting webbing to length often results in frayed ends. However, Forward technology's Rinco MP202, 20kHz ultrasonic welding machine with the additional custom built belt feed capability dispenses with this problem. Fitted with a...

Amplifier. (What's New in Design).
February 1, 2003... HBM has increased its range of industrial measuring amplifiers with the launch of the programmable MP80 (DP) to simplify understanding of the functional relationship between two measured signals. HBM www.e4enquiry.com ENTER 497

Swedish winner. (What's New in Design).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... SSAB Swedish Steel has announced that a 53 foot container manufactured from Domex high strength steel wins this year's Swedish Steel prize for innovative design. Weighing the same as an equivalent sized aluminium container, manufacturer,...

Ty-rap campaign. (What's New in Design).
February 1, 2003... Thomas & Betts has launched a campaign to re-emphasise the benefits of the TV-Rap cable tie for contractors and designers in industries as diverse as food processing, rail and machine tool manufacture. Ty-Rap's steel locking barb, anchored...

Positioning system. (What's New in Design).
February 1, 2003... Thermo Nobel has launched the RCS-microPOS a true digital servo force and positioning control reeling system that is used to adjust the primary arms relief cylinders to the correct linear force the system measures and controls the actual rup...

Compression packing. (What's New in Design).
February 1, 2003... James Walker has launched its new Alution compression packing worldwide, following outstanding success with highly aggressive chemical used by in Australia. The product was originally developed as shaft gland packing for pumps used by the...

Bonding. (What's New in Design).(Robotro Corp. division acquired by EFD Group, renamed EFD Induction Southfield, Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The Induction Bonding System portion of Robotron Corporation in Southfield MI., has with effect from today, been acquired by the EFD Group, one of the world's leading Induction Heating Technology companies. The newly formed company has been...

TRW prototypes. (What's New in Design).
February 1, 2003... As a world leader in the development and manufacture of automotive braking systems, Birmingham's TRW is quickly prototyping close-tolerance braking components that look and feel like injection-moulded thermoplastic parts using new RenShape SL...

Sensortechnics. (What's New in Design).
February 1, 2003... OEMs are getting high performance measurement in low pressure ranges with CTE7000 transmitters from Sensortechnics. CTE7000 pressure transmitters offer excellent long term stability linearity in pressure ranges from 0...10mbar to O...7 bar. A...

Scapa. (What's New in Design).(investst in water treatment plant)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Scapa has announced investment in a new thermal oxidiser and waste water treatment plant at its site in Rorschach, Switzerland. The moves come as part of the company's ongoing strategy of continuously improving processes to minimise effects on...

Linear actuators. (What's New in Design).
February 1, 2003... The latest addition to the Movac series of linear actuators is the POWERline range of actuators. With a power to size ratio almost double that of many alternatives, the POWERline packs a considerable punch. As well as providing thrusts to 12KN,...

Lord of the rings. (What's New in Design).
February 1, 2003... Developments in fastening technology are making it harder for thieves to damage vehicles and reducing the cost of repairs following attempted break-ins. Most modern cars incorporate a torque overload device within the steering column to prevent...

Rittal CP range expanded. (What's New in Design).
February 1, 2003... Rittal has extended its innovative Command Panel (CP) range of stand and support arm systems with a height adjustable ped"" unit and height adjustable support arm. Both solution have been designed to provide optimum ergo"" conditions for...

Success. (What's New in Design).
February 1, 2003... Stainless Steel Fasteners has reported that its attendance at the Valve World Exhibition was an overwhelming success, with the expectation of two large orders from Spain and Russia. The bi-annual event which took place at Maastricht, Holland...

Invensys project. (What's New in Design).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Invensys the international production management and technology group recently completed a comprehensive 1/A Series control system modernsation project at the first of four units at the Castle Peak 'B' Power Station in the Hong Kong. This is...

Testing. (What's New in Design).(Hounsfield Test Equipment changes name to Tinius Olsen)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Hounsfield Test Equipment will now trade under the name of its American parent company, Tinius Olsen. Hounsfield was taken over by Tinius Olsen in 1996. American investment in Hounsfield since 1996 has enabled the company to fully exploit its...

New rim locks. (What's New in Design).
February 1, 2003... The Lowe & Fletcher Group has added new models to its range of rim locks, which now includes products with square, round or triangular housings. The range includes fixed cylinder and removable barrel devices, which are suitable for wooden and...

Omnifit online. (What's New in Design).
February 1, 2003... Omnifit has just re-launched its website. The new site at, at www.omnifit.com, is quick and easy to navigate and provides a host of useful information for both end users and instrument manufacturers. It features full product information on...

Sensor technology. (What's New in Design).
February 1, 2003... Sensor Technology Ltd has announced the launch of its range of Rayleigh Wave Torqsense (RWT) transducers which can be embedded into OEM products where knowledge of torque is critical. The advantages of using SAW devices in torque transducers...

Chint supplier. (What's New in Design).
February 1, 2003... UK plant, process and panel builders operate in world markets and need world class partners to compete effectively. Chint designs and makes an extensive range of extensive range of electrical power products. UK distribution is exclusively by...