Design Engineering articles from September 2000

Design Engineering archives from September 2000

Big one for Alias/Wavefront.(contract with General Motors)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Alias/Wavefront has announced that it has been awarded its largest ever software agreement by General Motors for the AutoStudio conceptual design software, SurfaceStudio surface modelling software and StudioPaint software. The contract, worth...

BAE takes heed.(BAE Systems purchases Lockheed Martin's Aerospace Electronics Systems business)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2000... BAE Systems has reached an agreement with Lockheed Martin to purchase the Aerospace Electronics Systems business for $1.67 billion. The acquisition is expected to complement BAE Systems' existing electronic systems business and expand its...

Acquisition of the sensors.(Pepperl + Fuchs acquires Honeywell's sensor business)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Pepperl + Fuchs has strengthened its position in the inductive proximity sensor market with the acquisition of Honeywell's global industrial proximity sensor business. Both Honeywell and Pepperl and Fuchs are working together to ensure a smooth...

[pound]1.1 million order for SDRC.(Structural Dynamics Research Corp.'s contract with Nissan Motor Company Ltd.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2000... SDRC, supplier of e-business collaboration solutions, has announced that the Nissan motor company has placed a $1.1 million order for its I-DEAS software and services. The installation of additional seats of I-DEAS is a result of new vehicle...

Sailing with sun and wind.
September 1, 2000... In 1996 Dr Robert Dane, a man with a passion for sailing, science and technology, attended the annual Advanced Technology Boat Race in Canberra and was inspired to build a boat that went on to win the event the following year. His creation...

Around the world in 2 hours.(Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's Preston Carter uses HyperSoar concept in hypersonic aircraft design)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2000... Hypersonic speed is reached when velocity is above Mach 5 (equivalent to 3,600 miles per hour). NASA's SR-71 is currently the world's fastest air-breathing aircraft, soaring just above Mach 3. Now, a design for a hypersonic aircraft that...

Fanning the planes.
September 1, 2000... For years, engineers have been trying to find a means of lift and thrust for a plane using a horizontal-axis wing rotor. Now, Irish inventor Pat Peebles has developed a working prototype for such a vehicle, which he claims is quiet, light,...

IEC joins Coleheath Group.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... The Coleheath Group has purchased IEC Engineering, a precision machining and turning company with major customers in the Aerospace and defence markets and a turnover in excess of [pound]6m. The group now falls into two divisions -- sheet...

Plastics initiative.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Plastics and rubber consultancy Rapra and its partner Warwick University-based Warwick Manufacturing Group, have been selected to manage an initiative on behalf of the government, academia and the plastic industry. With DTI finding of around...

Rockwell flying high.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... In a move that will provide global airlines with a single vendor solution for their in-flight entertainment needs, Rockwell Collins has announced the acquisition of Sony Trans Com. Sony Trans Com is now a part of Rockwell Collins Passenger...

Weidmuller sale of HTE.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Weidmuller UK has announced the sale of its [pound]22m distribution business --HTE, to TE Controls Ltd. The sale follows a strategic review of the company's operations and completes a restructuring of its supply chain. Weidmuller believes that...

Wireless but not paperless.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... If you're thinking of investing time and money in a typing course, then don't bother, because just as everyone's talking about the paperless office, technology is emerging that'll enable you to save and transfer information and communicate over...

Air-con for clothes.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Scorched by the desert, or toasted by jets on the scalding deck of an aircraft carrier, the modern soldier must endure conditions so intense that heat exhaustion and collapse is often no more than 20 minutes away. To this end, researchers...

Brain Teaser Pyramid Problem.
September 1, 2000... Q1: Imagine you are head of construction at the Pyramids of Giza. Your task is to organise the transport of huge stone blocks from the quarries to the construction site over 100 miles away. Using wooden rollers, which all have a circumference...

A very cool idea.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... A University of MissouriRolla professor has come up with a novel idea for the future of rapid prototyping (RP). Since the mid-1980s, RP technologies have been helping product designers develop products more quickly, with Polymers, metals,...

On-line.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Free Stuff Rapid prototyping service Materialise is now offering its STLzip software for free. This data compression tool that reduces STL files upto 20 times smaller than the original file has compression rates 5 to 10 times higher than...

Better design for whom?(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... I bought a beautiful camera the other day. The only problem was I had to throw it away after one roll of film. You see, my old Minolta SLR finally seized up after 30 years and a holiday was imminent. As you may have guessed, the new camera was...

Why it pays to be first.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Being first: It's virtually every manufacturing organisation's primary goal. Leaving aside the instinctive idea that its best to be first, what are the measurable rewards for getting to market sooner? * Increased sales through longer sales...

Utilitarian 3D CAD.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... 'The Internet commerce revolution has levelled the playing field,' says Joe Costello, think3 Chairman, 'making it possible for small and medium-sized manufacturers to get in the race to win business in today's fiercely competitive markets. To...

Rapid Research.(DeMontford University)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... All rapid prototyping (RP) processes add layers of material and bond or fuse them, usually with the aid of a laser, to optimise products and dramatically reduce their time to market. But reduced development times put greater pressure on...

Concurrent coding.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... The key to shortening development time of new devices, particularty when internet connectivity makes human-machine intertaces (HMI's) more complex, is to centralise all the design activities and make the development process concurrent. ...

Zengineering.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... At a staggering height of 152 metres -- equivalent to a fifty-storey building -- a giant statue of Buddha will soon dominate the skyline in Bodhgaya, India. As the centrepiece of the Maitreya project -- a burgeoning Buddhist development...

2D-3D: the big move.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... 'Market pressures,' says Bill McLure, director of Unigraphics' Solid Edge, are prompting manufacturers to realign their CAD technology to better achieve their primary objective: being first to market with the best-quality product. The most...

ANSYS answers.(ANSYS Inc.)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
September 1, 2000... 'Clearly, if PEA analysis can be brought forward in design, 'says Gary Carter of ANSYS, 'the benefits will be significant, including shortened time to market, improved product designs, and reduced product development costs. The need for such...

Hard jobs? Hard cove.(Plascoat Systems Ltd.)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
September 1, 2000... Plascoat has added to its range of PPA571 thermoplastic coatings PPA571 for fluidlsed bed dipping and PPA571 HES for electrostatic spraying. These coatings are said to be tough with an elongation breakpoint of 500% and extended temperature...

Ultra Clean Ultrashield.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Expert heat Treatments has switched to Envirobridge's Ultrashield Direct Action #2 Envirobridge claims that Direct Action #2 can treat up to 500,000 units in one charge. Contamination digestion negates the cost of solvent removal.

Zytel nylon on CD-ROM.(E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Co.)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... DuPont has produced a CD-ROM detailing its Zyte nylon grades. The CD-ROM features a multitude of technical information details and photographs of new and innovative applications a design guide and a snap-fit calculation tool.

New ring to seals.(Economos UK Ltd)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
September 1, 2000... Economos is pushing its Ecopur range of polyurethanes as an alternative to nitrile rubber in the manufacture of pneumatic seals. Cylinders, valves, control equipment and other devices currently use seals of a standard design and made from...

Clothes to stop the bullet.(PolyEitan Composite Ltd.)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
September 1, 2000... PolyEitan Composite Ltd has produced a new composite material made from fibres that allegedly have unique electrical properties and are 10 times stronger than steel. Called 3DPETM, it has been recommended for applications such as circuit...

Improved machining.(Ultracut 250 HW from Rocol Ltd.)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Hard water, caused by high levels of mineral deposits, can cause emulsions to become unstable which in turn leads to loss of performance and poor corrosion protection. Rocol, however, has produced the Ultracut range: three lubricants...

Where's the remote control? It's here.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Real-time Lab reports are now accessible worldwide through your existing network. Ethernet networks and the Web have revolutionised how we disseminate information and distribute tasks throughout a company. The integration of systems and...

Long life for battery.(from CMP Batteries Ltd.)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... CMP Batteries Standby Division has added Friemand & Wolf's Fibre Plated Nicad to its range on Pocket Plate batteries. It is said to offer extended storage time high cycling ability low maintenance and improved recharge efficiency. The...

Infineon eye mimic.(SFH 3410 from Infineon Technologies)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Infineon's SFH 3410 phototransiston mimics the human eye in sensing light levels and could extend battery life in light sensitive applications. The SEH 3410 sense light levels so the display may be dimmed or brightened as required. It features...

Do you remember the first time?(FPO Starter Kit from Matsushita)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Are you new to the world of PLCs? Then the Matsushita FPO Starter Kit may be what you are looking for. The Starter Kit Contains the miniature FPO-CIORS PLC and programming cable, CD-ROM with PDF format user manuals and free Windows-based...

Mitsubishi Electric.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Mitsubishi Electric is launching the world's first commercially available triac arrays. Available in 16 pin plastic DIL packaging, the AY08Ax is said to be ideal for control applications ranging from white goods to light industrial...

Power supply at lower rate.(from Omron Office Automation Products Inc.)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Omron has extended its range of power supplies with the launch of the S8PE, a new line of 3-phase power supplies. The three models in the series cover outputs of 10A, 20A and 40A at an output voltage of 24V DC. Omron claims that with...

Staying in control Java or Linux?
September 1, 2000... What is a PLC? It's a pertinent question because the PLC 'as we know it' is changing. Technically speaking it's a highly specialised industrial computer, running specialised software for easy use and reliability in an industrial control...

Inducing a sense of position.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Turck Banner's Q10S inductive sensor has been designed to valve positioning control and proximity switching applications where feedback from valves is required OEM compatible the Q10S has a dual material dust resistant moulding cornet mounted...

Stealth linear drive.(Linear Drives Ltd.)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
September 1, 2000... Linear Drives Ltd has launched a 50 mm high near silent: Thrust Tube Stage Motor to replace lead screws in guided motion systems Compatible with other servo controllers the product combines features such as a flat mounting surface and heatsink...

Backplane control.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Omron has added to its motion control systems with the introduction of the PLC-mounting MC402 motion control module. Designed to clip onto the backplane of Omron's C200H range of PLCs, the MC402 aims to provide a fully integrated machine...

Mind the valves.(Neles Automation)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Neles Automation has modified its ND800 digital positioner. The ND800 automatically collects diagnostic data from an operational on-line valve and captured data trends identify those valves requiring maintenance. Neles FieldBrowser...

Can't get quicker.(Machine Building Systems)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
September 1, 2000... The PS 4-25 linear guide system may be able to offer the fastest assembly time available for the creation of high performance slide systems says its manufacturer, Machine Building Systems. Supplied for use with Item Line 8 profiles, the new...

Milling the Monoliths.(Cincinnati Machine)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... A complete rethink of milling machine design aims to in crease production rates ten-fold. Aerospace engineers have long understood the potential of making monolithic parts -- huge aircraft structural components hogged out of a single...

Mayr no martyr for designers.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
September 1, 2000... Machine designers may be able to operate with greate flexibility with Mayr's EAS Compact Torque Limiting Clutch from the Backlast free series. The EAS - Compact offers improved torque capabilities with smaller overall dimensions and Jarge...

Sufficient Screws.(Kerk Motion Products)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
September 1, 2000... The new Kerk Series of anti-backlash lead screws are available with standard plain nuts and as anti-backlash assemblies based on 303 stainless steel lead screws. All the outs are said to be maintenance free come in self lubrication...

Rapid fit rollers.(INA Bearing Company Inc.)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
September 1, 2000... INA has produced two new series of ready to fit crossed roller bearings that are said to allow rapid fitting by means of predrilled mounting holes in the bearing rings. The X arrangement of the rollers in the bearings make them suitable...

Save on the exotic.(Glacier Industries Inc. (Rogers, Minnesota))(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
September 1, 2000... Glacier Industrial Bearings believes it is the first bearing manufacturer to offer high performance, multi-material injection moulded polymer bearings. Produced by L+S Kunststofftechnologie, this new technology is said to enable sliding layers...

Bit between the hypoid teeth.(ZF Industries Inc.)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
September 1, 2000... ZF Great Britain's WT series gearheads are said to mount to any commercial servomotor and offer a choice of 8 integer ratios in the range of 3:1 to 15:1. The WT's compact design is attributed to hypoid teeth which permit high ratios in a...

Touch of CLASS.(LiquldSpring Technologies)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
September 1, 2000... LiquldSpring Technologies has developed CLASS, a patented hydraulic suspension system which is meant to replace a vehicles springs, shock absorbers and stabilisers with a complete system whereby fluid becomes the spring/damping medium. The...

PCB immune.(Gem Sensors Inc.)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
September 1, 2000... Gem Sensors has launched Hymap, a series 3000 pressure transducer designed for pressure monitoring in hydraulic systems or high pressure applications in the range of 40 to 700bar. The single PCB construction incorporates filtering and...

Relieving pressure regulation.(Sentronic pneumatic proportional valve from ASCO Pneumatic Controls)(Product Information)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
September 1, 2000... ASCO Pneumatic Controls has released the Sentronic pneumatic proportional valve, a range of electro-pneumatic pressure regulating valves with pressure ranges from vacuum to 725 PSI. The Sentronic regulates the amount of pressure that is...

Gas Flow Covered.(FM3-CA monitor from E-T-A Circuit Breakers)(Product Information)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
September 1, 2000... E-T-A offering a new plug-in flow monitor the FM3-CA. Producing a 4mA to 20mA output signal for gas flow rates in pipes of diameters between DN15 and DN50 the FM3-CA measures a range of gas volume flow rates from 0m3/h to 480m3/H. E-T-A Circuit...

No challenge too tough for Festo.(HE-U lockout valves from Festo Corporation)(Product Information)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
September 1, 2000... Festo Corporation has introduced the HE-U, the first model in a series of in-line compressed air lockout valves for use in the control of hazardous energy. Manually operated, the HE-U allows interruption of a compressed air supply to...

The smaller the better.(KV Automation Systems rodless cylinder)(Product Information)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
September 1, 2000... Designers can save on size with the release of the world's smallest rodless cylinder from KV Automation Systems. Compared with standard cylinder types, such as the VDMA type, the overall length of the cylinder remains constant without the...

Sensor with feeling lends a hand.(Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Technology working on tactile pressure sensor)(Product Information)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
September 1, 2000... A new tactile pressure sensor could be the way forward for keyhole surgey, robot hands and prosthetic limbs Surgeons need sure hands and a fine sense of touch in the operating theatre to distinguish between different forms of tissue and to...

Cadverter Reduces the casts of RP.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Rapid prototyping companies worldwide are set to make significant reductions in their operating costs thanks to Midlands based data conversion specialists, Theorem Solutions. Since the launch of cadverter.com in May the site is upgraded with...

Vellum 2000 raises the stakes.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... For industrial designers who need a more versatile combination of surface and solid modelling than mid range CAD systems provide, the latest update from Ashlar, Vellum 2000 increases the number of interactive surface design techniques available...

Machine vision enhancements.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Industrial Vision Systems has improved its NeuroCheck software to expedite the rapid development of complex vision tasks. New features in NeuroCheck Version 5.0 include internet support for HTML error handling, extended file output, third-party...

LMS has new DADS.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... LMS has introduced CAT/DADS Version 9.51, integrated software in CATIA for dynamic motion simulation. OEMs use CAT/DADS to create functional virtual prototypes in order to optimise the performance of products directly in CATIA. CAT/DADS...

Simulate before you automate.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Famic Technologies 2000 has released Automation Studio version 3.0, the worldwide reference CAD simulation software for design engineering and technical training. Automation Studio is an integrated software package that allows users to...

Microsoft and UGS collaborate on collaboration.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Microsoft and Unigraphics Solutions have joined forces to deliver DesignKNet, a tool suite to help manufacturers and ASPs (application service providers) develop design collaboration portals. The companies believe that DesignKNet, the first...

Stock control, no mouldy toms.(Omron software at J Sainsbury PLC)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Thanks to RF technology from Omron, Sainsburys is initiating massive improvements in its supply chain Using 'smart labels' instead of bar-codes, automation specialists from Omron will soon be able to automatically follow every individual...

Udder magnetism.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Designers at Alfa Laval Agri, selected a magnetic plastic for the company's latest milking machines Engineers at Alfa Laval Agri have developed a new pulsator -- the element at the core of modern cow milking systems -- which has at its...