Design Engineering articles from September 2002

Design Engineering archives from September 2002

Redesign Engineering.(Editorial)
September 1, 2002... If you've just received Design Engineering magazine for the first time, you are not alone. There are 7,499 other engineers unwrapping that transparent plastic cover about now. This is because Design Engineering has increased its circulation by...

Inside the jet engine. (Design News).(Heriot-Watt University develops fiber optic pressure sensors)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Fibre optic pressure sensors developed at Edinburgh's Heriot-Watt University could lead to more aerodynamic and longer lasting jet engines. The sensors, that can be used inside jet engine test rigs, should allow engineers to collect...

If you go down to the woods today. (Design News).(Pllustech designs articulated logging equipment)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... As well as being an eyesore, and the bane of the righteous rambler's Sunday stroll, access tracks left in woodland by heavy logging equipment can damage both tree roots and the environment. Partly as a solution to this problem, but mainly...

Design your own retro futuristic car. (Design News).
September 1, 2002... As well as a 5000 Euro cash-prize, an on-line design competition launched by Peugeot offers the winner the fantastic opportunity of seeing his or her creation roll off the production line. The contest, 'Design your retro-futuristic style...

Letters from Japan.(several Japan-related technology news briefs)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... FUEL CELLS FOR ALL Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has announced plans to exempt fuel cell vehicle (FCV) owners from two taxes beginning in 2003. The purpose of the tax waiver is to encourage consumers to buy the...

Fuel cells go loco. (Design News).(US joint venture results in fuel cell-powered mining equipment)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Despite North America's enormous dependence on oil and its President's pitiful environmental policy, US development of environmentally friendly technologies continues apace. Nowhere is this climate more evident than in the application of...

[pounds sterling]17 million package for industrial heartland. (Design News).(UK government finances market research for manufacturing industry)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Manufacturers in the West Midlands are being encouraged to diversify into new products and markets with the launch of a [pounds sterling]17 million three-year support programme. The West Midlands Diversification Programme has been designed to...

New system for joining plastic and metal parts. (Design News).(BASF develops new process)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... BASF has developed a method of joining moulded plastic components and sheet metal that promises to lower the cost of hybrid components. Dubbed 'collar joining', the system loins plastic and metal parts by mechanically pressing a collar...

Fungal Robot. (Design News).(mushroom picking robot invented by Colin McKeown)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... NESTA (the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts) has awarded an inventor, Colin McKeown, a [sterling pounds]25,000 award to develop a mushroom picking robot. Apparently, previous attempts to automate the mushroom picking...

Next generation solar cells. (Design News).(ATS Automation)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... US company ATS Automation has announced a solar technology that it claims will usher in a new era for solar energy. Comprised of thousands of tiny silicon beads bonded in an aluminum foil, ATS's Spheral Solar Technology (SST) is expected to...

Step closer to sealed for life engine. (Design News).(Delphi develops oil condition sensor)
September 1, 2002... Stuttgart's recent Engine Expo saw the launch of a sensor that brings us one step closer to the possibility of a sealed-for-life car engine. Delphi claims that its INTELLEK Oil Condition Sensor will extend oil useful life up to 30,000 Km,...

Fast Torque: there have been many variations on the forced induction method of turbo charging, each with its own ups and downs. But Visteon in the UK has developed a system that seems to have distinctly more pros than cons. (Breakthrough).
September 1, 2002... Visteon says its Torque Enhancement System (VTES) will improve the torque characteristics of an engine, enabling manufacturers to improve performance without sacrificing fuel economy. And it can be applied to existing engine designs with little...

3D Formula for success. (Business Digest).(3D Systems, Renault open manufacturing research center in Oxfordshire, England)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... 3D Systems and the Renault F1 team have established an Advanced Digital Manufacturing (ADM) Centre in Enstone, Oxfordshire to concentrate specifically on Formula 1 design and low-run production parts for the Renault Fl team car. 'The...

Can you handle Web material using air? (Tech Need Challenge).
September 1, 2002... Fast-moving, irregular shaped webs (papers, non-wovens, spun substances) often have 'wings' that need to be folded before further processing. Webs move in excess of 7m/s, but weigh only 3-8g, with zero stiffness. The organisation wants to...

Wanted: anti-counterfeit technologies. (Tech Need Challenge).
September 1, 2002... A sought after technology for the production of security substrates or products must be able to be applied or embedded within flexible substrates such as paper, film, textile and non-woven products. Especially desired are revolutionary...

Seeking electrochromatic material. (Tech Need Challenge).
September 1, 2002... This consumer product organisation seeks a material that changes colour when a very low voltage electric current is applied to it The material in question needs to be (or be able to be applied to) very thin, pliable, and lightweight materials....

New rapid triumvirate. (Business Digest).
September 1, 2002... Three leading companies in the prototyping and rapid tooling business have joined forces to help accelerate new product development. The Fitstogether Group combines the resources of Amsys Rapid Prototyping and Tooling, Omega Plastics, and...

Purchasing Managers' Index. (Business Digest).(UK)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... [up arrow] 51.0 August's CIPS/Reuters Purchasing Managers' Index (PM I) recovered from the previous month's sub 50.0 reading, signalling subdued but solid overall growth of the UK manufacturing economy. The PMI measured 51.0 in August, up from...

"Plug and run" goes the motto. (Automation).
September 1, 2002... VIRTUALLY EVERY PRODUCTION OPERATION TODAY HAS TO CONTEND WITH CLASSIC PROBLEMS SUCH AS SHORTER CYCLES FOR PRODUCT SERVICE LIFE AND INTRODUCTION OF PRODUCTS, AND SIMULTANEOUSLY COPE WITH AN INCREASING RANGE OF PRODUCTS. IN ADDITION TO THIS...

Reflexology: response times in fieldbus systems are important, and fieldbus supplies like explaining just how fast their systems are. Stephen Hayes of Hayes control systems, however, believes that a fast fieldbus is only part of the story. (PLCs).(advertisement, Hayes Control Systems)
September 1, 2002... Fieldbus systems bring many benefits, but have one inherent drawback--the speed of response to I/O signals is slower than with conventional wiring. These delays can lead to unreliable plant operation and compromise safety. Many fieldbus...

Solid state advantages. (Relays).(Clare Inc.)
September 1, 2002... THEY'RE SMALLER, BETTER, MORE RELIABLE, LONGER LASTING AND MAKE CIRCUIT BOARD MANUFACTURE CHEAPER. CLARE INC, THE US COMMUNICATIONS COMPONENT EXPERT, OUTLINES THE MANY ADVANTAGES OF SOLID STATE RELAYS (SSRS) OVER ELECTROMECHANICAL RELAYS...

"Toshiba said it couldn't be done". (Design Works).(industrial computers from Diagnostic Instruments)
September 1, 2002... WE HEAR ABOUT SILICON GLEN BUT WE DON'T OFTEN SEE THE END RESULT -- SUCH IS THE NATURE OF SILICON AND SOFTWARE. BUT HERE JIM MCNIVEN OF DIAGNOSTIC INSTRUMENTS IN LIVINGSTON REPORTS ON THE VERY TANGIBLE DESIGN OF A RUGGED PORTABLE COMPUTER. ...

DIY clusters? Is it really possible to side-step major IT vendors to create your own 'supercomputer'? A team of engineers at Volvo have done it, so what's stopping you? (On Screen).
September 1, 2002... The flurry of headlines that came out of the LinuxWorld Conference & Expo in August 2002 would lead the casual observer to think that Linux, the open source OS (Operating System), was taking over the corporate computing world. Oracle...

Easy analysis. (Products).
September 1, 2002... UK hardware specialist SCENSYS has announced the introduction of lotech's eZ-Analyst software for its portable, multi-function WaveBook series of data acquisition products. The software enables WaveBook users to record, playback, analyse and...

Hot software packs a Sting. (Products).
September 1, 2002... New thermal Inspection software from Ircon provides a complete assessment of the health and efficiency of moulds and dies. Used in conjunction with Ircon's Stinger thermal imaging camera, the company claims that its PC-based Mold Inspector...

Update for Logix controllers. (Products).
September 1, 2002... Accounting for around 80% of the time needed to implement an automated system, programming is a major burden for industrial OEMs, systems integrators and end users. To decrease the resources required for this task, Rockwell Automation has...

HyperFACT version 6. (Products).
September 1, 2002... When suitable geometry is detected in a CAD model Open Mind's modular hyperFACT CAM software uses advanced feature recognition and pre-defined machining macros to automatically generate toolpaths and NC code. The latest release, version 6...

Enhancements for ANSYS. (Products).
September 1, 2002... Version 6.1 of the complete ANSYS software suite features upgrades to ANSYS structural, electromagnetics, multiphysics and LS-Dyna products, including a new user interface, new simulation capabilities for gasket simulation and fluid-structure...

Twist and turn. (Brakes, Clutches & Joints).
September 1, 2002... By popular demand, SMC has introduced a new product to overcome the problems normally experienced with tube twisting, when rotary movements on chip mounters or industrial robots are in progress. The new metal seal, rotary joint, series MQR,...

Tailored clutches. (Brakes, Clutches & Joints).
September 1, 2002... Tsubaki's new MZEU clutch range features a building block design that gives users the flexibility to tailor clutches to their application, in terms of fixings, direction of engagement and speed requirements. The building block design package...

Add brakes. (Braking, Clutches & Joints).
September 1, 2002... Parvalux specialises in the manufacture of custom-made small electric motors and geared motor heads. This activity involves some very special ways of bringing the units to a stop. Dynamic brakes are available to engage or arrest a load on...

Discerning couples. (Braking, Clutches & Joints).
September 1, 2002... Lenze has launched a new range of high performance metal disc couplings -- the BSD Moduflex range manufactured by Rexnord. Providing a wide range of torque with high speed and a long-life backlash-free connection, the couplings are ideally...

Stress relieving. (Brakes, Clutches & Joints).
September 1, 2002... Cross slot designs have their purpose if torsional stiffness within the system is of paramount importance and that angular and parallel shaft misalignments are minimal. However, once any shaft misalignment is added to the system the nature of...

Lube - free. (Belts, Drives & Chains).
September 1, 2002... Renold Chain claims that its lubrication-free chain will outlast all rivals, with at least twice the life expectancy of the next best lube-free alternative, and 15 times the life of standard chain. Branded Renold Syno, the chain's...

Belts for robots. (Belts, Drives & Chains).
September 1, 2002... Stainless steel belts from Belt Technologies Europe are now being used for robotic handling applications throughout the semi-conductor industry. German companies including Siemens and a number of US West Coast semiconductor manufacturers are...

Belt scraper. (Belts, Drives & Chains).
September 1, 2002... Users of belt conveyors could make large savings, according to Wyko's impressive claims for its BMS scraper system. The scrapers remove material right down to the belt surface, cleaning the belt and recovering even the last 1/10mm of carry...

Trouble at mill. (Belts, Drives & Chains).(BSW Timber PLC now uses Tsubakimoto UK's Lambda III chain)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... The operating conditions for moving machinery in a sawmill are tough due to the large amounts of airborne dust from the cutting and shaping processes. At BSW Timber's Caerphilly Sawmill the problem was exacerbated by the mill exclusively...

Top gears: when designing a plant, all the elements of the power chain should be considered for their efficiency, or lack of it, says Malcolm Staff of Danfoss. (Buyers Guide).
September 1, 2002... While electrical drives themselves have become widely recognised for their efficiency benefits, especially with high efficiency motors, it is less widely recognised that correct selection of speed reduction gearboxes can make a major...

Hamlin's shock announcement. (What's New in Design).
September 1, 2002... Hamlin Electronics has launched a range of reliable shock sensors to provide savings to manufacturing companies. The range is available in four different sensitivity options, 2G, 2.5,5 and 10 and can be used for applications such as low...

Free stuff. (What's New in Design).
September 1, 2002... The latest Clima software package is available free from Sarel. Clima software helps designers to predict the thermal performance of enclosures, and provides immediate recommendations for effective thermal management. Sarel ...

Fast and easy. (What's New in Design).
September 1, 2002... Norbar Torque Tools has introduced the Model PT52 Pneumatic. Utilising a compact 52mm diameter gearbox and new air motor design, the PT52 is one of the fastest and lightest tools of this type on the market. Pneutorque is a robust, air driven...

Display module. (What's New in Deign).
September 1, 2002... IFM Electronic's multi-mode FX360 intelligent display module provides a convenient and inexpensive solution to the problems of measuring and displaying speeds, production rates and cycle times in industrial installations. The compact, panel...

Dry praise indeed. (What's New in Design).
September 1, 2002... Wittmann's new polymer materials dryer--the Drymax 60--is recommended by the US-based Plastic Product Review as the 'Best Buy' for the plastics processing industry. In a number of tests the dryer came top in moisture removal and energy...

Chelsea glass. (What's New in Design).
September 1, 2002... Among the winners at this years Chelsea fLower show was the Great North Garden. The garden was designed to demonstrate the use of curves in a landscape setting. Mick Currell, managing director of Bay Plastics stated that when asked to supply...

Keeping quiet. (What's New in Design).
September 1, 2002... A rubber-based adhesive tape used for sound dampening in harnessing applications has been developed by Scapa. Scap 3510 is aimed at vehicle manufacturers looking to minimise unwanted rattles with a reliable, low cost fastening solution. Unlike...

Balancing. (What's New in Design).
September 1, 2002... Lifting equipment specialist, Demag Cranes and Components has introduced a range of pneumatic rope balancers, designated the D-BP range, which are considered ideal for the repetitive lifting of loads between 10 and 110 kg. Typically, the...

Easy communication. (What's New in Design).
September 1, 2002... AeroComm's AC4424 transceiver family facilitates problem-free radio communication between outdoor equipment operating at -40[degrees]C with indoor equipment operating at 480[degrees]C With a ready-to-use agency approved 24GHz FHASS radio the...

Slimline PC control. (What's New in Design).
September 1, 2002... Just 3" deep the tiny new CR6300 industrial PC module from Hayes Control Systems takes up almost no additional space when added to the back of one of the company's TFI display panels yet allows the implementation of powerful industrial of...

Yuasa extends battery range. (What's New in Design).
September 1, 2002... The Yuasa range of NPL Valve Regulated Lead Acid batteries, offering a 7 to 10 year service life, has now been extended to include NPL 100 - 12Volt and NPL 200 - 6 Volt models. This means there is now a choice of seven models covering 6 volt...

The interfacer. (What's New in Design).
September 1, 2002... OEM Automatic's Releco family is now complete with the arrival of the single pole interface relay series IRC. Designed as an industrial solution, the relay features rugged 4.754mm terminal blades. Standard relay features include LED...

Girling finds his vocation. (What's New in Design).(Stuart Girling hired by Finder)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Relay and timer manufacturer Finder has strengthened its sales and marketing team by appointing Stuart Girling as field sales engineer for the South of England. Appointed to support existing accounts and develop new business, Stuart, a...

Magnetic CBE extension. (What's New in Design).
September 1, 2002... ETA Circuit Breakers has introduced a redesigned and improved version of its miniaturised circuit breaker for equipment (CBE). Now featuring an award winning new design, type 808 provides extremely fast switching times to protect sensitive...

Earth leakage. (What's New in Design).
September 1, 2002... Howard Butler Ltd has launched a new product that offers ultimate flexibility in earth leakage protection. The Hobut RCR-V10 din rail mounting earth leakage relay has a variety of features for installers and users alike. Flexibility is achieved...

Online monitor. (What's New in Design).
September 1, 2002... Sensonics Ltd has introduced VibroWeb, a 16 channel condition monitor designed to operate online for monitoring sensors measuring vibration, pressure and temperature on plant machinery in remote areas. The unit saves valuable time by...

Integrated controller. (What's New in Design).
September 1, 2002... Regulateurs Europa, a leader in control system technology for marine, traction, and industrial power plants has launched an integrated propulsion controller for the diesel engine industry. Designed for any vessel with a diesel engine and...

Matsushita's ultra safe relay. (What's New in Design).
September 1, 2002... Matsushita Electric Work has introduced an ultra high reliability SFD relay. Aimed at the safety and protection market the force guided SFD contacts can be configured to allow immediate identification of broken contact springs welded contact...

Camozzi connection. (What's New in Design).
September 1, 2002... With its vast experience in production push-in fittings for the pneumatics industry. Camozzi has developed and launched the series 8000 Super Rapid Fitting featuring a dual sealing design. The new fitting have a maximum working pressure of up...

CLM joins Texol group. (What's New in Design).
September 1, 2002... CLM Dynamics, a small Tayside company that specialises in the design and manufacture of advanced sound-processing equipment. has just been acquired by Texol Technical Solutions plc. Texol Technical Solutions CLM's pre-amplifiers and...

Raise the alarm. (What's New in Design).
September 1, 2002... Alarm specialist Clifford & Snell, a division of Signature Industries Ltd, has launched the YODAKEX range of explosion-proof audible and visual alarms. These meet UL Standards and European Standards as well as compliance with PFFER regulations....

New Zelio relays. (What's New in Design).
September 1, 2002... Compact interface relays with high current ratings, relays with gold-flashed contacts, and relays offering enhanced current ratings in an industry-standard format are among the many new products which Telemecanique, a brand of Schneider...

Stereo zoom. (What's New in Design).
September 1, 2002... Following an in-house ergonomic study, precision bearing manufacturer Barden has selected Nikon's stereo zoom microscopes for its production operators. Nikons SMZ800 microscope has been carefully designed to facilitate the perfect posture for...

Machine safety. (What's New in Design).
September 1, 2002... OEM Automatic now claims to have the widest range of components for machine safety in the UK. Its suppliers are specialist manufacturers who use their expertise within their fields to produce world class products, all supported by OEM and its...

Drying water. (What's New in Design).
September 1, 2002... Carbon medium wave infra-red systems, from Heraeus Noblelight, are helping Stankiewicz UK Ltd to achieve precise control and significantly increase production line speeds in the drying of water-based coatings applied during the manufacture of...

Testing grips. (What's New in Design).
September 1, 2002... Instron has expanded its range of testing grips. Ideally suited for the metals, plastics and composites industries, Instron's line of grips includes wedge grips, axial/torsional hydraulic grips, and fatigue rated hydraulic wedge grips. The...

TOPAS software. (What's New in Design).
September 1, 2002... For LEM's TOPAS 1020 and TOPAS 1040 load flux analysers, the corresponding evaluation software bas been updated and expanded. The software has been extended by a special software package for the load flux analysis and the network...

Smart box. (What's New in Design).
September 1, 2002... Thames Side-Maywood has launched a smart junction box that constantly monitors the condition of up to four connected load cells. Costing little more than a traditional 'dumb' alternative, the junction box can minimise batch wastage and...

Helical filters. (What's New in Design).
September 1, 2002... Frequency products specialist, Euroquartz Group has launched a new range of UHF helical filters designed specifically for satellite broadcasting applications. The new 5W UHF filters series features 5.5mm case size and offers a high...

Autotype film. (What's New in Design).
September 1, 2002... Autotype International Ltd, Europe's leading manufacturer of specialist products for screen printing, has launched a family of coated films that are being widely adopted in the mobile phone market. Autoflex In-Mold Decoration (IMD) films...

Gripping force. (What's New in Design).
September 1, 2002... Cammozzi has just launched a new series of grippers to provide easy and reliable handling of components of varying sizes. These grippers have a compact, versatile design with high gripping forces, and are available in six different models,...

AEG pulls out stops. (What's New in Design).
September 1, 2002... The new 'AM' development has been extended to the brake motors produced by AEG Lafert to allow greater flexibility to design for customer applications. From two production units in Italy and Spain over 40,000 brake motors are produced every...

Rugged ethernet cable. (What's New in Design).
September 1, 2002... With the new CF14, igus is now offering the CAT5 cable for industrial use in energy supply systems. This provides reliable connection, with transfer rates up to 100Mbit/s between moving machine parts and control system. This PVC-free and...

THK forges links. (What's New in Design).
September 1, 2002... THK, in a move designed to highlight the benefits of its range of rod end and link ball mechanisms; has entered into a partnership agreement with Springflx Linkages Ltd, the UK market leader for linkage related components. Under the agreement,...

Monitor replaces 9" CRTs. (What's New in Design).
September 1, 2002... Kent Modular Electronics Ltd of Rochester, a leading UK monitor manufacturer for 25 years, has designed a novel LCD (TFT) chassis monitor to replace 9" CRT monitors used in a variety of ticket machine, cash dispenser and instrumentation panels....

G Force takes strain. (What's New in Design).
September 1, 2002... The G-Force intelligent Lifting Device introduced to the UK earlier this year by materials handling equipment specialist SCX has been updated to handle nearly double the original load capacity. Now capable of handling loads of up to 130 kgs...

Touch proof connectors. (What's New in Design).
September 1, 2002... Multi Contact, the world's leading manufacturer of specialist interconnect products has introduced a range of lightweight 1.5mm and 2mm diameter plug connectors designed to meet the stringent safety and reliability standards which are applied...

New quality manager. (What's New in Design).
September 1, 2002... Advance Galatrek, UK leader in power quality management solutions for industry, telecomms, IT and computing, has appointed David Morgan to the role of Quality Manager. David's new role signals the Company's intention to capitalise on the...

ABB cuts energy. (What's New in Design).
September 1, 2002... An ABB comp-AC drive is helping semiconductor manufacturer SEH Europe save energy whilst providing increased capacity on its water ring main pumping system. The installation of the drive has reduced the duty for the pump to 60% during normal...

New compressor. (What's New in Design).
September 1, 2002... Peter Black Healthcare is anticipating energy savings following the installation of a new compressed air system at its Swadlingcote plant. The contract to supply the system was awarded to compressed air specialist Anglair, which specified a...

Titan's. (What's New in Design).
September 1, 2002... A range of alarm management products that simplify the design and installation of building control systems with multiple alarm inputs has been introduced by Titan Products. Microprocessor-based, MAR alarm repeater modules convert up to 31 alarm...

Sony specifies Hawker. (What's New in Design).
September 1, 2002... Sony UK Ltd is now demanding that lift truck suppliers fit Hawker Traction's new Evolution batteries on all new trucks brought into service at Sony's National operations centre in Thatcham, Berkshire. Hawker's sealed, gelled electrolyte...

Cool with Rittal. (What's New in Design).
September 1, 2002... Rittal's innovative RiTherm system allows validation of cooling dynamics even before a particular system is built. Consisting of a combination of Thermal Load Boards and a thermal management system based on the CompactPCI architecture, the new...

Wedmuller plugged. (What's New in Design).
September 1, 2002... By introducing three larger cross section ZQV pluggable cross connectors, Weidmuller can extend the full benefits to the largest sizes of the popular ZDU tension clamp rail-mounted terminal. The advantages of timesaving installation,...

NH fused isolators extended of busbars. (What's New in Design).
September 1, 2002... Rittal's range of NH fused isolators has been extended to include a section of compact sized devices for the reliable economical and convenient configuration of power distribution systems On busbar systems with centre distances of 60 and 100mm,...

Critical measurement. (What's New in Design).
September 1, 2002... Bulluffs BOD-66M Laser Measurement Sensors utilise the accuracy of laser light to produce an analogue distance measurement sensor with resolution down to 20[micro]. The visibility of the laser spot makes the BOD series simple and easy to use in...