Design Engineering articles from March 2001

Design Engineering archives from March 2001

Tamper-proof electronic cow tags.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... With the threat of Foot and Mouth and BSE, the safety of our livestock and details of its health and origin has never been more important. Ear tags carrying distinguishing 'family' data are used with success; but fraud through tampering has...

Bulletproof police car blanket.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... All those gangster stand-offs in the movies would be far less dramatic and bloody if this bulletproof blanket (US 6161462) were used. The blanket is made of concertina-like panels of bulletproof material - an aramide fibre such as Kevlar[TM],...

Portable dyke.(inflatable dyke for flood control)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... How to turn a problem into a solution! The main resource available at a flood site -- water, can now be used to control the flood itself. Instead of using heavy sandbags, an inflatable wall is built. The dyke (US 6164870) has two triangular...

They're flying without limbs.(neuroengineering at National Aeronautics and Space Administration)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... NASA scientists have made a breakthrough in man machine communication that could spell the end for clumsy keyboards and joysticks as well as provide physically handicapped people with far greater control over artificial limbs. At the...

Papa's got a brand new air bag.(Fraunhofer Chemical Technology Institute)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Anyone who's ever felt an airbag go off in their face will know that the force with which it whacks you is often ten times more distressing than the accident that set it off. So, while there's little doubt that the almost universal presence of...

Wake up call for speed bumps.(Transcalm by Dunlop)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Sleeping policemen; the bane of residential driving, have woken up. Currently undergoing road trials in the City of London, Dunlop's Transcalm is a rubber hump which retracts for emergency vehicles and motorists travelling within the speed...

Steering with four wheels.(Quadrasteer by Delphi Automotive Systems Corporation)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... As I write, a lorry outside our London Offices has unsuccessfully attempted to snake its way through the cramped Soho streets and crashed into the side of our building. This sorry turn of events could so easily have been avoided had the...

Microthrust.(microthrusters for small spacecraft)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Researchers at the California Institute of Technology are using Micro-electromechanics (MEMS) techniques to develop microthrusters for use in propulsion systems of very small spacecraft. Adjusting propulsion in precise increments by lighting...

The first plastic superconductor.(Lucent Technologies Incorporated)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Scientists at Bell Labs have created the world's first plastic superconductor. The inexpensive plastic, described in Nature, could be widely used in applications like quantum computing and superconducting electronics. Organic polymers are...

It's not all guns and bombs.(Innovision Research and Technology and Defence Evaluation and Research Agency)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... A new collaboration between electronics technology solutions provider Innovision Research & Technology and DERA (the UK Government Defence Evaluation and Research Agency) has been formed to create and exploit new commercial applications of...

A plague of tiny little robots.(robot research at Sandia National Laboratories)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Researchers at the Department of Energy's Sandia National Laboratories are developing what could possibly be the world's smallest untethered, autonomous robot. Measuring 1/4 cubic inch and weighing less than an ounce, the robot is powered...

More power to the paper.(paper-thin batteries by Power Paper Limited)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... With the world clamouring for ever smaller, thinner, more powerful and more flexible electronic devices, scientists are constantly engaged in efforts to make power sources smaller. But until now, the only solutions that have been thin enough...

Cool molding targets hot spots.(strategic alliance between Bayer AG and Innova)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... A strategic alliance recently announced by Bayer AG and fellow German company Innova, may soon be improving the cost-efficiency, productivity and quality of injection moulding operations all over the world. Central to the alliance is...

The $5 billion man.(Dr. Ken Tindell, Chief Technology Officer of LiveDevices)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Millions and millions of devices, from vending ma chines to automobiles, heating controls to security systems, can now be Internet-enabled due to the removal of the electronics cost barrier. So says York-based LiveDevices' Chief Technology...

Product innovation gets the measure of Metrology.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... With a long career of checking the accuracy of components in engineering, Chris Allan has discovered at product innovation consultancy PDD he can be a metrologist who doesn't have to measure anything. 'In 25 years as an inspection/quality...

Brain Teaser Hot ice.(freezing rates of hot and cold water)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Q Many readers may be aware of the notion that hot water freezes more quickly than cold when placed in a freezer. Despite what your intuition tells you, can this be true or just a myth? Answer below. A This teaser certainly seems to have...

Rapping to your PDA.(Personal Digital Assistants)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... What better security for the mobile office than smart card devices and Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) that permit access only in response to their rightful owner's voice? Simple, reliable solutions of this kind could soon be...

www.gepolymerland.com.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... CoCreate Software has announced an agreement with GE Plastics whereby GE Plastics will become a service provider using CoCreate's OneSpace technology for a collaboration portal at GE Plastics' www.gepolymerland.com and www.geplastics.com sites....

www.technosphere.org.uk.(3D artificial life-forms)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... The TechnoSphere is a 3D model world inhabited by artificial life-forms created by WWW users. Simply log onto the site, use a palette of fairly basic tools to create your own lifeform, and then let it loose in the Technosphere. There are...

www.search4science.com/.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Another handy resource, search4science is an internet community made by scientists for scientists that is expected to evolve according to its users' needs. With loads of searchable scientific information, a directory of research...

www.Robo-prize.com.(fighting androids)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Some of the most incredible leaps in science and technology have been brought about by the efforts of individuals working alone or in small groups. Bearing this in mind, Robo-prize is offering a $1,000,000 purse to the private inventor who can...

Slowbusiness?(the manufacturing industry)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... I went to a show in London the other day. It wasn't written by Andrew Lloyd Webber, it didn't star Elaine Page and it wasn't in the West End. Instead, cast members were plucked from the manufacturing industry and their stage was the Excel...

Lend me your ears.(engine sound)
March 1, 2001... It's now possible to control and manage engine sound before anything has even been built. Techniques developed in the auto-industry allow engineers to orchestrate machinery sounds to the 'taste' of the user. Your car may be deceiving you....

Pocofoam can take the heat.(Oak Ridge National Laboratories)(Poco Graphite Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... The scientific world is no stranger to serendipitous discoveries and researchers from Oak Ridge National Laboratories (ORNL) maybe joining the likes of Luigi Galvani and Alexander Fleming after stumbling upon a new form of graphite foam. ...

Must you use metal?(plastic gears)
March 1, 2001... There are many reasons to consider plastic gears, writes RODERICK E. KLEISS of Kieiss Engineering. Whether you're working on a medical system, semiconductor equipment, handheld tool, or a heavy duty industrial machine, plastics have several...

Loctite with RTG range.(new epoxy adhesives)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Loctite has introduced five new epoxy adhesives to its RTG structural range. The RTG range is said to enable engineers to select an adhesive to suit many applications. Users can select a product with a seven-minute fixture time for fast...

Reflecting on MSC.(MSC Laminates)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... MSC Laminates has released Specular+high reflectance materials. Specular+ is said to be the result of a proprietary L&G process by which a sheet metal substrate of steel or aluminium undergoes Magnetron Sputtered Vacuum Deposition thereby...

Unsung heroes.(Tyco Electronics Corp.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Tyco Electronics' heat-shrinkable positioning rings are the unsung heroes of engineering design. The tea boys of the engine compartment maybe, but an important and integral part no less. Designed for low cost, high volume installations in...

Slick nylon resin to the rescue.(DuPont Engineering Polymers)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... DuPont Engineering Polymers has released a new range of nylon resins that may enhance processibility and productivity. Patented DuPont 'Advantage' technology is said to enable the new Zytel ST801 supertough derivative to offer a number of...

Refined alloy a class apart.(Carpenter Technology Corp.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Carpenter Technology Corp has produced Micro-Melt CD #1 Alloy, a new shock-resistant cold work die steel designed for a range of tooling applications. The new alloy is made by Micro-Melt, Carpenter's patented powder metallurgy process....

Soft on electric motors.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... FEA used to be a technique to be handled by specialist only. Things have changed. Simplified versions are available for specific jobs A trend in the FEA developer community is to fine-tune general purpose programs for particular disciplines...

Has silicon had its chips?(plastic electronic parts)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Use of chips will no longer be constrained by size, cost or the need to be flat. As we all know, transistors used in semiconductors are usually made from silicon using a complex and costly process. Even unsophisticated silicon devices sell...

I've got the LCD blues.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... LCD displays can now claim to be true blue thanks to Denistron's new backlighting method Backlighting has been enhanced by refractive polarisers which are said to enhance to blueness of a display. The energy efficient technology use a...

Low volt supervisor.(Micrel Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Micrel is offering an adjustable low-voltage supervisor IC for monitoring power supplies as low as 300 mV. Dubbed the MIC2776 the unit's power supply current is said to be a portable friendly 3.0uA and a manual reset input is provided Three...

USB card reader.(Omron)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Omron has launched the V3TU, a new plug and play USE magnetic card reader for use with notebook and desktop computers in access control or other PC based applications requiring automatic identification. The V3TU has a detachable interface...

Smooth interfacer.(Gentech International)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Gentech International has introduced the LI Series level sensor interface, a device said to enable magnetic reed switch liquid level sensors to handle inductive and capacitive loads and counter liquid turbulence. Magnetic reed switch level...

New silicon transducers.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Schaevitz Sensors has launched a new range of microfused silicon transducers. The range includes six isolated pressure transducers all said to feature a one-piece stainless steel construction. Utilising MSI proprietary microfused...

Couplings don't mind a wash!(flexible jaw shaft couplings)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2001... With bodies moulded from a high-performance composite material, and supplied with stainless-steel setscrews, the new flexible-jaw shaft couplings from Cross & Morse are virtually corrosion-proof. This makes them ideal for applications where...

A bigger choice.(attachment chains)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... A greatly extended choice of attachment options, and the addition of 1" pitch products to the standard range, mean that Cross & Morse's popular attachment chains now offer an even wider range of cost-effective solutions for mechanical handling....

Cut out the keyway!(pulleys)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2001... The expense and inconvenience of keyway machining and finish-boring when fitting timing belt pulleys are eliminated with the new Cross & Morse Avante pulleys. In addition, the new pulleys require no retaining screw and plate, obviating the need...

Cross and Morse has variety in its clutches!(freewheel and overload clutches)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2001... With almost 400 different types of freewheel clutch and a further 200 types of overload clutch available as standard products Cross & Morse now offers one of the UK's widest ranges of clutches Large stocks of all popular types of clutches and...

Ballscrew or Actuator: Is there a choice?
March 1, 2001... DARREN GREEN and TERRY GIBBINS linear motion specialist with Unimatic, show why both the actuator and the ballscrew will always be important to engineers On the face of it, an off-the-shelf housed linear actuator is always going to be a...

Torque of the town.(air-powered screw driver)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2001... A new low cost system for the insertion of small screws has been introduced by Arconix. The Stickscrew and the In-Line StickShooter driver is said to eliminate the problem of loose screws and improve productivity. The In-Line Stickshooter...

Patented profile helps out easy rollers.(track rollers)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2001... A new range of take and stud type track rollers from the INA Bearing Company are said to offer significantly increased benefits over their predecessors. The series NATR/NATV and KR/KRV include the 'optimised INA profile', a patented design...

Compact.(liner bushings)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2001... Rexroth Star's new compact liner bushings are capable of speeds of 5m/s and acceleration rates of up to 150m/2. The bushing has crimped holding rings at the end which positively lock onto the ball retainer, thus preventing rotation and...

How to make a joint last longer.(thread forming fastener)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2001... Recently introduced by EJOT, the Delta PT thread forming fastener incorporates a number of design features that, it is claimed, will significantly increase the long-term service life of the joint. The new fastener is said to deliver a...

VR, toy or trend?(virtual reality in engineering)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... 'Everyone agrees that IT is essential for businesses to succeed, however, just as important is the way it is implemented,' says Peter Horton of Newman Technical contracts. 'Is it fear of what our competition is doing that drives us, or is...

Fulfilling your pipedreams.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... COADE has released CEASER II version 4.30, an updated version of its software for pipe stress analysis and design. Enhancements in the latest version include updated piping codes and an enhanced load case editor that includes additional...

Inside the job.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Mediagold will be the exclusive UK distributor of IMSI's new TurboCAD 7 standard and professional. With state of the art rendering, complete 3D modelling with shelling and lofting, AutoCAD 2000i file sharing, Internet compatibility and new...

Control model.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Alias Wavefront says that the latest addition to its Studio Tools software family features broadened 3D CAD functions and applications. Key improvements in StudioTools 9.6 include support for large polygonal models, new translators for...

Defeat electronic failure before it happens.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Flomerics is launching Flo/Stress; a thermomechanical stress module designed to provide users of its Flotherm V3.1 thermal management package with the facility to make fast, accurate thermomechanical calculations at the product design stage....

Ironclad CAD.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Since its first release in 1998, IronCAD has received a number of awards for its advanced software architecture. Indeed, some claim that IronCAD turns the conventional approach to CAD modelling on its head. IronCAD's 'drag and drop'...

Super models on your desktop.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... With over 70 exhibitors and a hectic conference programme, SOLID MODELLING 2001 is sold out and bigger than ever before. Running over two days from the 28th to 29th March at Birmingham's National Motorcycle Museum, Solid Modelling 2001...

Honing in on the future.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... You may not be able to fit a square peg into a round hole but Cheltenham based Apperley honing can certainly polish the inside of an oval tube to a surface finish of 0.15mm Ra. Apperley Honing's twin-spindle honing machine, the brainchild...

Baty on a roll with SKF.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... A Common solution to the positioning of components is a table system that moves the component into the correct position so that work car be carried out. Parallelism of as little as 2 [micro]m/m can be consistently produced using modern...

Settings are stored.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Lenze has released its new smd inverter for speed control of 3-phase AC-motors operating between 0.25kw to 2.2kw. Lenze believes that a unique feature of the smd is the EPM memory chip on which all the inverter settings are stored. The EPM can...

More speed more control.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... GE Fanuc Automation has introduced the VersaMax CPUE05 with embedded Ethernet. This low end high performance programmable logic controller CPU expands features with the addition of built-in Ethernet capability, faster instruct on execution...

Brassed off.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Norgren has invested [pound]1.45 million in a new range of composite fittings. Features of the Pneufit C range include nickel plated brass threads and silicone-free seals Norgren has designed the range to be ultra reliable and very easy to use:...

Siemens.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Siemens claims that its new Simatic S7-400F Fail-safe PLC is the first device of its type to achieve safety integrity across SIL levels 1 to 3 of the IEC 61508 standard, for a single processor. Fail-safe controllers are use widely in...

DOS and Becks serve up single chip.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... The Beck division of Festo has managed to cram all the components of a complete industrial PC with Ethernet connection into one single chip. The company claims that the IPC@CHIP is the quickest and easiest solution to make your appliance fit...

Viewers broaden their horizons.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... The line between CAD viewers and CAD collaboration, once thick, is thinning rapidly. And, its thanks to their non-specific CAD loyalties that CAD-neutral viewers (see table) are particularly good at blurring the gap. Most 'CAD-neutrals' now...

Working with dinosaurs.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... It was not until the early 80s that 3D CAD systems appeared in numbers as commercial installations. Even when they first appeared they had all the characteristics of dinosaurs; slow, lumbering beasts with small brains The Hannraty code,...