Design Engineering articles from March 2002

Design Engineering archives from March 2002

Hot air revisited. (Design News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... In the days before the internal combustion (IC) engine, John Ericsson, inventor of the ship propeller, also developed a highly successful 'hot air' engine. This engine produced power by externally heating one cylinder and cooling another and...

Groen Brothers Aviation. (Design News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Caption: Nicknamed the 'homeland defender', this interesting looking vehicle recently took to the skies above Salt Lake City to provide additional security during the winter Olympics. Developed by Groen Brothers Aviation, the Hawk 4...

Guide bats for the blind? (Design News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The humble bat has inspired a new walking stick for blind and partially sighted people. The 'batcane', based on technology developed at Leeds University and designed by Cambridge Consulants (CCL), works in a similar way to a bat's...

World's first full-colour image sensor? (Design News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... You may want to wait before shelling out on that expensive digital camera, thanks to the development of a new image sensor that could both lower cost and improve performance. The CCD and CMOS sensors in most digital cameras contain just one...

Hydroponic support. (Patent Watch).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Artificially created plant cultivation environments such as hydroponics (where plant roots are suspended in a stream of oxygen-rich solution) can achieve superior results over soil culture. Unfortunately, roots seem to miss the support of their...

Nappy detector. (Patent Watch).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Ammonia dermatitis caused by exposure to high urine pH levels is a common problem in nappy wearers. With the advent of long-wear highly absorbent and reduced smell nappy products, the danger of a child being left in a nappy with highly raised...

Jet powered railway. (Patent Watch).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Travelling to work would never be the same again using this novel, but rather dangerous sounding solution to the problem of unreliable public transport. A train (DE10025785) has jet engines mounted on the raised axles of super high speed...

Scientists muscle in on nature. (Design News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... A group of engineers and chemists from MIT claim to have developed materials with properties closer to human muscles than anything seen before. Working with an electroactive polymer called polypyrrole, the scientists have developed...

Cadkey versus Solid Works: Choice quotes from the Web forums. (Cad Fly).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Carl -- We currently use Cadkey for injection mold design, and it falls down when 1 try to section large molds. I have to play around to do the core cavity then the molds base then stitch them together. Do you feel Solid Works is worth the...

Great design expectations. (Design News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... A recently published report, commissioned by Farnell, suggests that mounting pressures mean that there is a strong need to improve the level and volume of technical information available to Design Engineers. The study highlights the huge...

E-mails to the editor.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Sir, In the past year UK retail sales rose by some 6% while manufacturing fell by 5.4%. In the short term churning money through the system may help people feel well off but in the end someone has to pay for the goods. In the UK,...

Wacky races. (Design News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Dubbed the Wheelsurf, this motorised monocyle is the brainchild of Brazilian engineer Tito Lucas Ott. The machine is comprised of two wheels: internal and external rims. The inner wheel is connected to the outer wheel by three...

Wheel tops invention poll. (Design News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Despite the great technological advances of the late 20th Century, mankind's most important inventions all came about before the 1960s according to research by IP specialist Marks & Clerk. In a survey of leading British businesses, the wheel,...

The rise of digital testing.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Accelerating time-to--market while enhancing safety and quality is emerging as a top priority at more and more of the world's top manufacturing concerns says Daratech, a US-based technology assesment firm Replacing physical prototyping and...

The good and the bad. (Editor's Comment).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Would you like the good news or the bad news first? Good news, is there good news you enquire? Yes there is, although it's only a whiff. According to the latest BDO business trends report, the UK is seeing strengthening output particularly...

The power of conversion: Jon Excell explores the world of thermionic power converters. (Power Supplies).
March 1, 2002... With fossil fuels accounting for around 80% of world energy production, it's estimated that current methods of power generation waste 65% of the energy they consume. Clearly, it's in our best interests to do something about this wastage,...

Stand by your LAN. (Power Supplies).(local area networks)
March 1, 2002... With network equipment demanding 100% availability, end users are in constant search of power solutions that promise near 100% reliability. There are several back-up power solutions currently available including DC power systems, static...

A joined-up future. (Adhesives & Fasteners).
March 1, 2002... The vast majority of automobiles contain joints, typically 3,000 spot welds, 2 metres of welds (arc or laser), 20 friction and MIAB welds, 150 welded plastic components, 500 mechanical fasteners, 10,000 electrical connections, and 8kg adhesives...

Get it on. (Product News).(advertisement)
March 1, 2002... Lenze has launched a new range of linear actuators with integral limit switches offering Design Engineers a compact and economical solution to linear motion with stroke limiting. The CLA range is reportedly capable of delivering forces from...

Air brained bearing. (Linear Motion). (Heason Technologies Group's FiberBeam air bearing-based linear motor positioners).(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2002... Heason has launched 'FiberBeam'; a new family of air bearing-based linear motor positioners that offer one micron moves and settle times of 15 m/sec to within 1 nanometre. The low-profile positioners (50mm) incorporate a moving...

Teeth bite. (Product News).(advertisement)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Reliance Gear has recently supplied its Tubular Rack linear actuation system to a Swiss company engaged in the design of a new robotic sampling station Tubular Rack is a stainless steel linear tube with helicoidal teeth that act as a drive...

No job too difficult. (Linear Motion).(advertisement)(Product Announcement)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Hepco has introduced a new guide-way for linear motion systems whose capacity, stiffness and positional accuracy is less demanding than for high-end applications. Called Utilitrak, this new linear guide system is reportedly ideal for harsh...

Slick mamma. (Product News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Inmoco's new Exlar SR Series of linear actuators integrate patented roller screw technology with an integral brushless servo motor to provide high performance in motion control applications. The new SR31 Series is said to be similar to...

Euroquartz cat. (Marketplace).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Frequency product specialists, Euroquartz Group, has published a new shortform catalogue that provides details of the company's extensive lines of frequency control products. The new 24 page full colour catalogue features information from...

ABB's one for all. (Marketplace).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... ABB -- suppliers of rugged pH sensors for the harshest of process environments -- is now strengthening its core business with a series of combination probes to provide OEMs and process users with a cost-effective solution for general-purpose pH...

European Antennas. (Marketplace).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... To enhance the service provided to customers, European Antennas Ltd has built a new antenna test range to provide a fast supply of radiation pattern data to accompany existing and new antennas and to verify specifications during development....

Micro Metalsmiths. (Marketplace).(advertisement)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Micro Metalsmiths (MM), a leading lost-wax, investment casting company, is proud to announce how it can save customers up to 80% on their component requirements. Designing your products to utilise the Micro Metalsmiths investment casting...

Microchip flash. (Marketplace).
March 1, 2002... Microchips new Flash microcontrollers are the first to break the first to break the I-Megabit memory barrier. Intended for high-end applications, the PICI8F6620, PICI8F86, PICI8F6720 and PICI8F8720 offer field self-programmability, larger...

Poeton coats. (Marketplace).
March 1, 2002... For over 30 years Poeton Industries has been applying a surface coating to reduce wear and lubrication on the Bridgeport Series I Standard Turret, Series I Interact and Series II Interact 4 milling machines -- all-purpose mills used for...

Flender helps. (Marketplace).
March 1, 2002... An unusual fuel is being used to power Thetford Power Station in Norfolk -- and it's being helped along by Flender gear units! A total of 12 screw conveyors have been constructed to feed chicken litter into the 38.5 MW plant, which is...

Tyco deal. (Marketplace). (Tyco Electronics' contract with Saab Aerospace).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Tyco Electronics has been awarded a contract, from Saab Aerospace, to supply Raychem MEL STD 1553B data bus systems for both the Gripen single-seat multi-role fighter and the two-seater operational trainer. Under the contract, estimated to...

Switchtec. (Marketplace).(advertisement)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2002... Switchtec has extended its range of PCB terminals and connectors to include through-panel connectors ideal for instrumentation and power supply equipment designers. Manufactured by Euroclamp, the MPT range of through-panel connectors are...

AEG helps reopen tunnel. (Marketplace).(advertisement)
March 1, 2002... Dutch company Sirocco Howden Ventilatoren has selected AEG electric motors to drive a new exhaust air extraction ventilation system to be installed within the newly reconstructed Mont Blanc Tunnel which links France and Italy. In total, 80...

Munters new website. (Marketplace).(advertisement)
March 1, 2002... Munters -- the global humidity expert -- has launched its brand new website. The website covers all three of the company's divisions (Dehumidification, HumiCool and Moisture Control services) and provides essential information for anyone...

HiServer. (Marketplace).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... AMC has unveiled its latest ultra dense server, a 3U chassis containing 18 hot-swap redundant server blades Two types of processor blades are available, both utilising the Intel 1.13GHz PIll CPU with dual gigabit LAN ports for high network...

Circuit Break. (Marketplace).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... E-T-A Circuit Breakers, the specialist manufacturer of protection devices for electronic and electrical equipment, has published Issue F of its main catalogue. Providing comprehensive details of alt its circuit breakers, the free catalogue...

Lamda board. (Marketplace).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The ZMI 501 and ZMI 4004 measurement electronics offer unmatched stage metrology for OEMs. ZMI 501 is a measurement electronics platform designed for use with Zygo's ZMI 500 series of DMI solutions. The system's parallel data output format...

Alstom & Raychem. (Marketplace).
March 1, 2002... ALSTOM has chosen Raychem high voltage polymeric insulation and cable assemblies from Tyco Electronic for the Pendolino high speed advanced tilting trains it is building for the UK West Coast Mainline service. Tyco is supplying Raychem HV...

Schneider. (Marketplace).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Containing almost 500 pages packed with information about power supplies, electronic timers, motor protection equipment, relays, interface devices, terminal blocks and other innovative components for panel building and control system...

New Profil system. (Marketplace).(advertisement)
March 1, 2002... A new ball pin fastener from Profil UK provides a fast and cost-effective method of achieving high strength pivot points in sheet metal components from 0.8 to 1.5mm thick. Incorporating a cold-forged head profile that is compatible with...

Autogard ideal. (Marketplace).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Autogard has a range of backlash-free torque limiters and couplings designed specifically for the servo market. The Series 100 torque limiters feature specially designed roller or ball seats to guarantee total backlash-free transmission of...

Assembly times cut. (Marketplace).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... GTK has introduced a range of high-performance pressfit D-subminiature terminations that can be fitted easily to PCBs without the need for solder. Pressfit technology provides robust, secure mounting of connectors to PCBs, eliminating the...

Rittal strengthens chiller business. (Marketplace).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... For economic and flexible cooling of heavy-duty equipment such as drill spindles, used in the machine tool industry, Rittal's range of re-cooling systems has been extended to include both small 'Mini' units with useful cooling outputs of Ito...

IAC facility. (Marketplace).(advertisement)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Winchester-based IAC has completed the design and construction of Europe's largest and most sophisticated test facility for measuring the thermal and acoustic performance of air conditioning and refrigeration equipment. The [pounds...

Testo measures. (Marketplace).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Within manufacturing and industry, consultant engineers and project managers often have to record a variety of data types simultaneously at different points. Measuring requirements can differ substantially from project to project and be of...

Velleman expansion. (Marketplace).(advertisement)(Velleman Switch N.V.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Velleman Switch NV, a leading manufacturer of membrane switches and keyboards, is expanding its European manufacturing base in Belgium with a 3,000ft2 factory extension. The development is a response to a significant increase in customer...

Telemecanique. (Marketplace).(advertisement)(Schneider Electric Ltd.)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2002... The extensive new Osiris range of fibre-optic photosensors from Telemecanique, a brand of Schneider Electric, offers a versatile and cost-effective solution for applications where there is insufficient space to allow the installation of...

Marechal. (Marketplace).(advertisement)
March 1, 2002... Marechal has developed a range of aluminium cast Express Service boxes for the connection of normal lighting fittings in tunnels. They are designed to resist the arduous conditions commonly found in tunnels (not only gaseous corrosion but also...

Metool. (Marketplace).(advertisement)
March 1, 2002... Metool Products has purchased the Cable Reeling Division of Sturge Industries. Sturge winders and reels are designed for a range of electrical and power applications, including inflammable and other dangerous environments. Typical applications...

CT's speed loop. (Marketplace).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Such is the success of Control Techniques Dynamics Speed Loop (SL) module technology, now offered to customers as part of its range of Unimotor AC brushless motors, other motion control companies are showing an interest in the product. ...

Stereozoom.com. (Marketplace).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Visit www.stereozoom.com to discover how Leica Microsystems has reached a new milestone in the world of stereomicroscopy. See for yourself how superior optics give greater resolution and higher contrast than ever before. Find out how Leica...

Weidmuller saves. (Marketplace).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The Weidmuller Waveanlog Pro signal conditioner offers up to 440 pre programmed input/output configurationsin one of the simmes analogue signal conditioners available, its width on rail is only 12.6mm. Additionally it accomodates either voltage...

IFM range. (Marketplace).(advertisement)
March 1, 2002... Six new flush-mountable inductive proximity sensors with M12 and M18 bodies, designed to withstand the rigours of food-industry applications, are among the latest additions to IFM Electronic's highly successful Efector M range. Also new...

Transcendental. (Virtual Production).(advertisement)
March 1, 2002... TranscenData has released CADfix 5.0, the latest version of its CAD data interoperability tool. CADfix reportedly tackles fundamental inconsistencies and inaccuracies that make the efficient transfer of solid modelling geometry between...

PowerMILL at MACH. (Virtual Production).(advertisement)(Delcam PLC)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2002... Delcam is set to launch PowerMILL AutoCAM, a knowledge-based machining option for its PowerMILL machining software at MACH. Most knowledge-based machining systems are said to be built around feature recognition, which allows individual...

Easy as EMC. (Virtual Production).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... For the first time in the UK, EMC professionals can take advantage of SimLab's range of simulation software to analyse EMC/EMI and signal integrity performance of POD and cable assemblies. Designed for EMC professionals with existing...

Versatile. (Virtual Production).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Cimmetry Systems has announced that it is now shipping V16 of its AutoVue visualisation solution. AutoVue SolidModel for Java reportedly provides fast thin-client streamed visualisation allowing users to view and collaborate on native 3D...

OEM alliance. (Virtual Production).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... ANSYS recently announced a strategic OEM partnership with SAS LLC, a provider of NASTRAN simulation software and services. The alliance is focused on developing a new NASTRAN CAE solution distributed by ANSYS. The solution will reportedly...

Visual harmony: Roger Brownlie witnessed the inaugural meeting of OpenHSF at Daratech summit 2002 in New York. What's OpenHSF? Ron Fritz, co-founder of Tech Soft America and original developer of Hoops 3D streaming technology explains. (E-engineering).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... With the dramatic and ongoing rise of distributed work teams, outsourcing, and the adoption of a more collaborative work environment, the need to share and visualise digital part models has been skyrocketing. A widely-used MCAD industry...

Birdstrike. (FEA).
March 1, 2002... Since 1995, aircraft-bird collisions have killed at least 68 people in the United States and Europe. According to FAA administrator Jane Garvey, wildlife strikes cost the US civil aviation industiy approximately $327million and more than...

Holroyd predicts wormgear revolution: Holroyd is no stranger to wormgear sets and is confident its new software - Wormgear Contact Analysis Program - will revolutionise the production of large centre-distance gears. (Design Works).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Until now, the manufacture of large wormgears has taken advantage of the specialist skills and knowledge of the operator, enhanced by each operator's personal familiarity with his or her gear hobbing machine, which over time will develop...

2D-to-3D migration: A first step for design, a giant leap for the manufacturing enterprise. John J. McEleney (CEO SolidWorks Corporation) tells DE why you should move product design from 2D to 3D. (Exclusives).(Brief Article)(Interview)
March 1, 2002... Q Why should a design organisation migrate from 2D to 3D for product design? A It's a question manufacturers have faced since the first 3D packages emerged a decade ago. While many product development organisations migrated to 3D when...