Design Engineering articles from October 2002

Design Engineering archives from October 2002

Let's all go to China.(technology industries set up bases in China)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... The sleeping dragon has woken up, and it seems that not a day goes by without another manufacturer moving its production facilities to the far East. The last three months alone have seen AMD set up a computer factory in Beijing, National...

Transparent shrapnel shield. (Design News).(Sandia National Laboratories)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... A transparent barrier system designed by an engineer at the Department of Energy's Sandia National Laboratories might one day help protect VIPs from would-be assassins, police from rioters, and crowds from bomb shrapnel. keith Snyder of...

Muscling in on piezolelectronics. (Design News).(organic composites research opens door to artificial muscles)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... A new class of organic composites that change shape under an electric voltage may open the door for the manufacture of artificial muscles, smart skins, capacitors, and tiny drug pumps, according to researchers from Penn State University. ...

Boost for Uk manufacturing. (Design News).(Faraday Partnership for rapid manufacturing through powder processing)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... The ability for Uk manufacturing to compete in world markets has received a boost with the recent announcement by Trade secretary Patricia Hewitt of a new Faraday Partnership for Rapid Manufacturing through Powder Processing. Over 60% of...

Turning the desert's wastelands green. (Design News).(Charlie Paton's Watermaker produces fresh water from seawater )(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... With 60% of the world's population living within 60km of the sea, and many countries' water demands now exceeding supply, a new method of producing fresh water from seawater could have a major impact on the driest places on earth. The...

The manifold advantages of plastic. (Design News).(BASF AG and Mann+Hummel Automotive's plastic active manifold for direct-injection petrol engines)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... Engineers from BASF and automotive specialist Mann+Hummel have collaborated on the development of the world's first plastic active manifold for direct-injection petrol engines. The component has gone into series production on the new Audi A4...

Get on up, get down. (Letter from Japan).(National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology develops self-rising robot)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... According to TSUkUBA the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology claims to have developed the world's first robot capable of rising by itself, overcoming a major weakness in previous robots. The robot, which is...

Artificial lung. (Letter from Japan).(Terumo Corp.)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... Nikkei Weekly reports that Terumo Corporation has developed an artificial lung complete with blood vessels for use during heart surgery. The device, which is expected to halve surgery preparation time, can also reportedly be used as an...

New semicon company. (Letter from Japan).(Hitachi and Mitsubishi Electric Corp. create Renesas Technology Corp. )(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... Hitachi and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation have agreed to establish a new semiconductor company called Renesas Technology Corp. Renesas, which will focus on system LSI operations, will be established on April 1, 2003 and will aim to be a...

Touchy feely telecoms. (Letter from Japan).(Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp and NTT DoCoMo Inc. develop data exchange technology)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp (NTT) and NTT DoCoMo Inc have developed technology that allows people to exchange data via their PDAs just by touching each other, reports kyodo News. Taking advantage of the human body's conductivity, the...

A ferry good idea. (Design News).(Bosch Rexroth and Royal Haskoning design Rosafe roll-on roll-off ferry safety feature)
October 1, 2002... Amidst much public concern about the overall safety of roll-on roll-off ferries and equipment, there is expected to be considerable interest in a dynamic, independent braking device jointly developed by Bosch Rexroth and design consultant Royal...

War-zone whirlygig. (Design News).(Massachusetts Institute of Technology's X-Cell 60 model helicopter)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... The aerobatic capabilities of an MIT developed model helicopter could play an important role in the next generation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). MIT's X-Cell 60 recently executed a complex manoeuvre never before performed...

Railway point perusal is pertinent and painstaking. (Design News).(Product Innovation Ltd and Gentech International develop PointVoid railway track monitor)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... The creators of a new device for checking railway tracks claim that it could improve safety, increase reliability and minimise delays on our ailing railway network. When a train runs over rails its weight causes the rails to move;...

Starchaser Industries.(X-Prize; space tourism)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... Caption: Starchaser Industries, led by Uk rocket man Steve Bennet is one of the hot favourites to scoop the $10 million winner's jackpot for the X-Prize--a space-launch competition designed to kick-start space tourism. Last year saw the...

Shaking's all over: Jon Excell reports on an alternative to passive and active vibration dampers that could banish the bad vibes for good. (Breakthrough).
October 1, 2002... An elegant yet simple anti-vibration device is under development at BAE System's Advanced Research Centre in Chelmsford, Essex. Dubbed SmartSpring, the new mounting system uses a blend of passive spring elements and digitally controlled...

Vital mems axis formed.(microelectromechanical systems)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... Technology development company the Generics Group has formed alliances with leading microsystems companies, including Coventor, Epigem and LioniX, to launch a new microsystems development service. Dubbed MST-charged, the service aims to...

Welsh chip boost.(DELTA Microelectronics Ltd.)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... The industrial profile of Wales has received a boost with the news that DELTA--one of Europe's top fabless microelectronics technology companies--is establishing a silicon chip design house near Cardiff. This is the first investment DELTA,...

Purchasing managers' index.
October 1, 2002... 50.2 September's CIPS/Reuters Purchasing Managers' Index remained above the 50.0 no change mark for the second month running. The PMI measured 50.2 in September. down from 51.0 in August, but still up from 49.1 in July. Although the rate of...

Tech need challenge.
October 1, 2002... BY YET2.COM NEW WAYS TO ELIMINATE HOUSEHOLD MOULD This company is seeking new agents for eliminating household mould and mildew without using chlorine bleach. Whatever the method or agent, it must be easy to use in hard-to-reach...

Let the PC do the work - Part II: how remote, wired and wireless data logging can be achieved through low-cost pc-based instrumentation and free software. Pico technology's Alan Tong and Mike Green discuss. (Data Acquisition).
October 1, 2002... On part I of this article (July 2002) we addressed the power and performance of PC-based test and measurement instruments (oscilloscopes and spectrum analysers) and how they came of age through the availability of low-cost, high performance...

Squirting on the shielding. (Enclosures).
October 1, 2002... Thanks to the availability of new materials and application techniques developed by shielding and thermal management expert chomerics, a new philosophy can be applied to the often overlooked area of enclosure and equipment shielding. ...

Reducing your motion costs: 4 (and a bit) tips; with recession in machinery markets forcing many OEMs to extend equipment lifecycles, David Greensmith of baldor looks at some commonly used techniques. (Motion Control).
October 1, 2002... Many motion controllers come with enough I/O for the required sensing/actuating and safety I/O, and when machine builders decide to exploit that capability, savings can be significant. A dichotomy exists in the motion control market between...

Solidworks. (Products on Screen).
October 1, 2002... SolidWorks 2003, the latest version of the popular 3D CAD tool, features hundreds of new enhancements to help users analyse a design's structural integrity, easily communicate design information to others, locate downloadable parts via online...

Electrode Wizard. (Products: On Screen).
October 1, 2002... Delcam claims that the latest version of PS-Electrode, its automated electrode design system, will enable users to produce far more complex designs than was previously possible. The combination of PS-Electrode and Delcam's PowerSHAPE hybrid...

Open Mind release. (Products: On Screen).
October 1, 2002... Version 7 of Open Mind's hyperMILL CAM software is said to feature improved machining cycles, better surface finishes, increased tool life and significantly upgraded graphics manipulation and program simulation. The new release also...

EDS ships NX. (Products: On Screen).
October 1, 2002... EDS has announced the worldwide availability of Unigraphics NX, a product based on a new PLM architecture that represents the first merging of CAD, CAM and CAE tools from EDS PLM Solutions. The new product offers users 'the capability to...

Easy slider. (Linear Motion: Select Products).
October 1, 2002... IkO Nippan Thompson says that engineers looking for long lasting slide units would do well to consider its new C Series. The key feature of the new slide units is a sleeve containing s special lubricant that's applied to the rolling ball...

Translide. (Linear Motion: Select Products).
October 1, 2002... NSk's new Translide linear motion bearings combine fully sealed, high load construction and maintenance free operation. This, says NSk, makes them ideal for transfer and transportation tasks in, amongst other industries, automotive manufacture,...

Heavy ballscrews. (Linear Motion: Select Products).
October 1, 2002... The large increase in CNC machine tools with several controlled axes has emphasised the need for reliable positioning accuracy. To obtain such accuracy, precision ball screws must be supported with bearings of special design to provide optimum...

Baldor's gantry. (Linear Motion: Select Products).
October 1, 2002... Balder has launched a new linear motor driven gantry to speed and simplify the building of ultra high throughput, precision positioning systems. Providing a ready-built X-Y-Z assembly offering move speeds of up to 3 metres/second and...

THK guide. (Linear Motion: Select Products).
October 1, 2002... For applications that require low-profile guidance, THk has launched the SRN LM guide. Based on THks caged roller system, the SRN LM is said to benefit from ultra-high rigidity and load capacity, while being suitable for installation in...

Goods flow. (Select Products: Conveying Systems).
October 1, 2002... Leicester-based Moving Conveyor Systems Ltd has helped design an integrated transfer system to ensure fast movement of goods at Davies Turner & Co's recently extended West-Midlands distribution centre. The installation consists of a series...

Three in to one. (Select Products: Conveying Systems).
October 1, 2002... Huck Fasteners specialises in the manufacture of industrial fasteners and rivets. The production process for one fastener, made from a continuous roll of interannealed steel wire, requires three separate manufacturing operations -- shaping &...

Modular conveying. (Select Products: Conveying Systems).
October 1, 2002... BHL's iX-line conveyers can be used for linking multiple production stations or as machine feed/discharge units. Supplied in five nominal conveyor widths of 80,100,160, 240 and 320mm, the conveyors are equipped with horizontal or vertical curve...

Clean conveying. (Select Products: Conveying Systems).
October 1, 2002... A food quality mini-belt conveyor, said to be cheaper than comparable mild steel equivalents, has been launched by Leighton Buzzard-based C-Trak Ltd. Mobile and adaptable for use in many different locations, the slim profile unit combines...

Multi use. (Select Products: Conveying Systems).
October 1, 2002... Wyko's BDL drum motors are said to be ideal for a multitude of conveying applications, including multilevel systems in areas where space is restricted. A drum motor comprises an electric motor and an integrated gearbox enclosed by a...

Simple and affordable machine vision. (Buyers Guide).
October 1, 2002... Negative past experiences mean that many manufacturers are reluctant to embrace machine vision technology. but this need not be the case vision sensors can now make machine vision simple, affordable and easier to implement. Himanshu shah, a...

Everything planetary. (What's New in Design).
October 1, 2002... OEM Automatic now offers a planetary gear solution from all its major suppliers. These include not only straight forward planetary gear to motor combinations but also planetary final stage gears fitted to worm gears as in the Italian MiniMotor...

Switches. (What's New in Design).
October 1, 2002... ETA is offering a modified version of one of its combined switch/circuit breakers for equipment (CBEs)-the ETA 452-to offer what is believed to be the only high-performance 100A CBE with an auxiliary contact providing status information. ...

New blowers. (What's New in Design).
October 1, 2002... Sunonwealth of Taiwan has announced the availability of a new highly efficient blower range designated the PMB series. These blowers are offered in 12, 24, and 48VDC versions and are available in the Uk from Thermaco. There are 26 variations in...

Cycle light innovation. (What's New in Design).
October 1, 2002... The charging electronics for a solar powered cycle light have been specially designed by Lawtronics. The light offers cyclists the independence of not having to rely on fresh batteries or the use of a dynamo. The light also incorporates a 3.6V...

Tug units. (What's New in Design).
October 1, 2002... Master Mover International Ltd is the market leader in the manufacture and design of electric tug units. Based in Derbyshire, MasterMover produces a selection of machines capable of pulling or pushing any wheeled or semi-wheeled load up to...

Contact strips. (What's New in Design).
October 1, 2002... Icore International now offers even better deliveries on its strip-form Band 8 sprung contact elements, which greatly simplify the design and construction of high-current connectors for use in demanding applications. Ideal for providing...

European plastics. (What's New in Design).
October 1, 2002... The Bulte Plastics group has published five separate catalogues for 2002 in French, German, English, Spanish and Italian. Both the catalogue and website, which is also translated into these five languages, contain thousands of options covering...

Dage pulls it off. (What's New in Design).
October 1, 2002... Requiring tailor made low range transducer for its bond testers, Dage Precision Industries turned to force measurement specialist. Thames Side Maywood Dage manufactures micro-mechanical bond test systems for us in the semiconductor industry and...

Integrated power. (What's New in Design).
October 1, 2002... HBM's ML70 programmable module for its MGCplus amplifier system processes measurements in real time and makes computed quantities available to other systems over a wide choice of connections. Previously there were two possible solutions for...

Compact readout. (What's New in Design).
October 1, 2002... New all Measurements Systems has introduced the A50 a new single axis analgue readout system with a keypad. Featruing scale factoring linear and segmented error compensation axis resolution diagnostic signal detection standard inch/metric...

Separator brochure. (What's New in Design).
October 1, 2002... The latest brochure detailing the range of Eriez non-ferrous metal, eddy current, separators explains how to maximise separation performance. Eriez Magnetics Europe designs and manufactures a diverse range of non-ferrous metal separators,...

New ricos additions. (What's New in Design).
October 1, 2002... The capabilities of wieland's ricos fieldbus interface products have been expanded with the introduction of a new Economy. Bus coupler a Thermocouple module and a Relay expansion module Claimed to the smallest products of their type available...

Sensors galore. (What's New in Design).
October 1, 2002... IFM Electronic is confident that it has a photosensor for every application. The company now offers what is probably Europe's most comprehensive and most versatile range of photosensor products. The range includes cylindrical units in M12,...

New opportunities. (What's New in Design).
October 1, 2002... John Crampton, an expert on business strategy and engineering management, has joined Modular Automation in Birmingham as Business Development Director. John's role will be to assist the managing director in exploring a new range of...

Testing. (What's New in Design).
October 1, 2002... Clare Instruments has introduced an advanced technology combination tester with full data traceability features for demanding production line environments, electronic design or type testing laboratories. The G2 Genie performs the complete suite...

Ebm-Ziehl fans. (What's New in Design).
October 1, 2002... Ebm-Ziehl is now offering crossflow fans complete with heater elements designed for the plinth heater, electric fire and air curtain markets. The addition of heater elements to the fan enhances the range on offer, providing greater choice...

Glass free lens. (What's New in Design).
October 1, 2002... For use in manufacturing processes where the presence of glass is prohibited, Ircon has introduced a plastic lens for its Javelin infrared 2 thermometer. This latest option enables the stainless steel bodied Javelin to provide accurate...

Bronkhorst interfaces. (What's New in Design).
October 1, 2002... Digital interfaces are now available for the EL-FLOW range of thermal mass flow controllers from Bronkhorst. These compact instruments are available for single multi-stream gas flow control in assemblies that minimise gas panels and eliminate...

Split core transducers. (What's New in Design).
October 1, 2002... LEM has introduced new families of current transducers with an innovative design that reduces installation time By combining a current sensor and a transducer suitable for direct PLC interface in a single package installation time is reduced by...

Probe expansion. (What's New in Design).
October 1, 2002... LEM has acquired the majority shareholding in Universal Technic SAS. This adds valuable expertise in the development of current probes based on AC transformer technology to LEM's well established AC and DC probe business, allowing it to offer a...

New whey to dry waste. (What's New in Design).
October 1, 2002... To cope with increasing amounts of waste from the cheesemaking process, Anhydro has developed a process for efficient processing of whey and permeate into valuable products. This process is known as "SCW-" or "SOP-" (Super Concentrated Whey and...

CRT replacement. (What's New in Design).
October 1, 2002... kent Modular Electronics has designed an LCD (TFT) chassis monitor to replace 9" CRT monitors used in Ticket Machine, Cash Dispenser and Instrumentation applications. The 29LW081 series features a very high light output making it suitable for...

Sealing recognised. (What's New in Design).(John Crane Inc.'s Amrat Parmar awarded MBA)
October 1, 2002... Sealing solutions manufacturer John Crane was represented in the recent Queen's Birthday Honours list when an MBA was awarded to one of its key personnel. Amrat Parmar, director of advanced technologies for John Crane Europe, Asia, and Africa,...

Cypress design. (What's New in Design).
October 1, 2002... Cypress MicroSystems Inc. has announced a reference design that enables automotive engineers to build advanced applications with LIN bus (Local Interconnect Network) communication capabilities, using a single PSoC microcontroller (MCU). The LIN...

Extruded supports. (What's New in Design).
October 1, 2002... Camden Electronics has introduced new DIN rail mounting extruded interface supports that are suitable for 72 and 107mm width PCBs. The Euro series 72 and 107mm extruded interface supports are available in pre-cut lengths up to 2 metres and...

NORMA 3000. (What's New in Design).
October 1, 2002... Precise measurement of current voltage and electrical power on distorted signals by using new technologies characterises the new NORM 3000 Power Analyst Thank's to its compact dimensions this analyses is ideally suited for both mobile and...

Micronas MCU. (What's New in Design).
October 1, 2002... Micronas, a supplier of IC and sensor system solutions for multimedia, consumer and automotive electronics, has launched the world's first fully integrated dashboard microcontrollers (MCU) capable of driving up to seven stepper motors for cat...

A good mixer. (What's New in Design).
October 1, 2002... With over 1,000 machines operating worldwide APV's highly acclaimed Liquiverter has been upgraded so that it's even better than it was before. known as the APV Flex-Mix, the new Liquiverter is a cost-effective, self-contained unit,...

Valve transport. (What's New in Design).
October 1, 2002... A vacuum separator, operating as part of a centralised vacuum conveying system on a municipal incinerator, has been restored to 'better than new' state following the fitting of a double flap gate valve from European Gate Valves Ltd. Even...

Special K_Line. (What's New in Design).
October 1, 2002... Sunrise Electronics has announced availability of the first group of devices in NEC's new k_Line Microcontroller family. Developed to provide design flexibility and scalability in a range of applications, the k_Line will include both 8 and...

Cool strategy. (What's New in Design).
October 1, 2002... Whether customers are cooling enclosures with small switches, contactors, busbars, or large installed inverter drives, Rittal's Top Therm range (300 to 4000W) delivers effective cooling. Top Therm consists of two control options; basic and...

Enclosure confusion. (What's New in Design).
October 1, 2002... Brian O'Donoghue, strategic marketing manager of Sarel, reports that there is widespread confusion about the meaning and of the widely used IP (ingress protection) rating system. The system, insists O'Donoghue, only tells the user that,...

Miniature valves. (What's New in Design).
October 1, 2002... Lee Products has launched an extended performance miniature 2-way solenoid valve weighing less than 6 grams and measuring just 33mm long by 6.4mm diameter. The company's new Lee EPSV is designed to meet the most critical flow requirements...

Bus on switch. (What's New in Design).
October 1, 2002... Euchner has simplified safety switch wiring by incorporating modern bus technology into its highly regarded TZ switch. The AS-i bus joins the TZ via M12 connectors linked to a distribution box, which is in turn linked to the AS-i with a...

Valves galore. (What's New in Design).
October 1, 2002... IFM Electronic now offers one of Europe's largest ranges of inductive proximity switches for valve-position monitoring applications. The range includes proximity switches. ATEX-approved types for use in potentially explosive atmospheres, and...

The Owl family. (What's New in Design).
October 1, 2002... Pixel Device's Owl family of very high speed line scan cameras combines ultra-high sensitivity and ultra-low noise with the highest throughput available in single or dual outputs. The payoff is high signal-to-noise ratio and ease of use in your...

Rackmount enclosures. (What's New in Design).
October 1, 2002... Advanced Modular Computer Ltds AMC 1010 and AMC 1020 are 10 and 20, 19 rackmount computers ideal for both network server applications and stand alone systems. Both products are available as either passive backplane of ATX motherboard...

Flexible switching. (What's New in Design).
October 1, 2002... Weidmuller's PLUGopto rail-mounted opto coupler and solid state relay (SSR) range offers installation flexibility and time savings at excellent value. The unit is available in a choice of screw clamp or spring clamp connection technologies. ...

Seat belt drive. (What's New in Design).
October 1, 2002... An ACS 600 variable speed drive from ABB is helping an American seat belt manufacturer achieve the correct colouring of seat belts. The drive is installed on a seat belt dyeing machine, produced by Webtex of Todmorden, Lancashire. The customer...

Precision locknuts. (What's New in Design).
October 1, 2002... New sizes of AM series precision locknuts have been introduced by Ina, so the complete range now extends from an M15x1 thread up to M130x2. The locknuts are designed primarily to preload bearings for screws drives and are matched to Ina's axial...

MiniMotor feature. (What's New in Design).
October 1, 2002... MiniMotor, represented in the Uk by OEM Automatic, has added an optional regulation feature to its AC and DC motor programmes. The feature uses an arrangement of two limit switches on the gear unit's output shaft in a totally enclosed cover,...

Valves for cloth. (What's New in Design).
October 1, 2002... Textile-manufacturer, Roaches International Ltd has successfully cast-engineered its dyeing machines with the help of Burkert Fluid Control Systems. On its machines, the varied range of media used in the dyeing process means that a robust valve...

Fortress deadlocks. (What's New in Design).
October 1, 2002... Machine safety specialist Fortress Interlocks now offers interlock deadlock protection in conjunction with the new CL lock mechanism. The lock guards against the hazards that may be encountered when gaining access to dangerous machinery under...

Ansys seminars. (What's New in Design).
October 1, 2002... Ansys is to host a series of seminars this Autumn showing the latest developments in its analysis and simulation techniques in the aerospace, defence, automotive and oil and gas industries. Speakers at the seminars will include engineers...

Top mixers. (What's New in Design).
October 1, 2002... Chemineer, in conjunction with Robbins & Myers, has launched a new range of portable top-entering mixers for fast and efficient mixing of liquids stored in IBCs or small tanks, Designed for high-performance, yet with very little maintenance,...

SFL celebration. (What's New in Design).
October 1, 2002... As part of the ongoing celebrations to celebrate its Golden Jubliee Stainless Fittings (SFL) has presented each of its 50 employees with a commemorative coin. The West Midlands company which specialises in high purity process solutions and...

Package machine. (What's New in Design).
October 1, 2002... Packaging specialist Amasec Airfil has chosen Festo to build a high-speed machine for its range of air pillow packaging-used for cushioning and void fill to protect products during transit Providing a throughput of upto 60 pillows per minute,...