Mechanical Engineering-CIME articles from March 2002

Mechanical Engineering-CIME archives from March 2002

Working together. (Editorial).(benefits of teamwork and product development)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... In heat No. 1 of the big race, our sporty red race car sped to the finish line--a close third! Too bad there were only three cars on the track. Nonetheless, my son and I were pleased. After all, last year at the Pinewood Derby race, our...

Letters.
March 1, 2002... WELCOME BACK, NUCLEAR To the Editor: I read your article "Reactor Backers" in Mechanical Engineering magazine (August 2001). I am a long-standing member of ASME. "Nuclear energy is gathering political support in the U.S. Congress" -- a...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
March 1, 2002... Fluid-analysis software from AFA Technology includes a product called CFX-Tascflow. The name appeared incorrectly in the Computing pages of the January issue.

Laser eye in the sky. (News & Notes).(European Space Agency)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Last November 30 marked a milestone for a group of European space agencies and manufacturers. The Silex communication system made its first laser link transmission of an image from one satellite to another. Credit for the achievement was due to...

Once drawn, now gone. (News & Notes).(Electric Boat Corp. buys machines from Esab Cutting Systems)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... General Dynamics Electric Boat of Groton, Conn., has purchased four machines from ESAB Cutting Systems of Florence, S.C. The machines are destined for the submarine maker's automated hull fabrication yard in Quonset Point, R.I. The quartet...

Tunnel forecast: Variable winds. (News & Notes).(Air Force orders wind tunnel drives from ABB Automation Technology Products)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... A $29 million U.S. Air Force order or wind tunnel drives will increase efficiency of the propulsion wind tunnel at Arnold Engineering and Development Center in Tullahoma, Tenn. ABB's Automation Technology Products division of New Berlin, Wis.,...

Tires out of round. (News & Notes).(TKF Inc. designs accumulators for General Motors)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Space restrictions at the General Motors sport utility vehicle assembly plant in Moraine, Ohio, had engineers at Cincinnati-based TKF Inc. thinking outside the box. Make that "thinking outside the circle." According to TKF chief engineer...

Clearing the air. (News & Notes).(Sternvent Co. develops Mist Check system for controlling oil mist haze)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... A New Jersey company has developed a product to control "oil mist haze." The haze, which arises when high-speed cutting tools atomize fluid coolants, reduces visibility and creates cleanup problems. Far more important, though, is that it poses...

A prefab station to pump hydrogen. (News & Notes).(H2Oasis from Teledyne Energy Systems Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... A manufacturer of water electrolysis systems has designed a prefabricated hydrogen gas station in the dimensions of a 40-foot shipping container. The manufacturer, Teledyne Energy Systems Inc. of Hunt Valley, Md., said it has shipped one...

Computer games vs. motion sickness. (News & Notes).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... No one is certain that playing virtual reality computer games can fight real-world motion sickness, say, from the rocking of an actual boat, but a group of British researchers aims to find out. Motion sickness can be overcome by subjecting...

The Freedonia Group Inc. (Briefly Noted).(fluid handling pump demand)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The U.S. demand for fluid handling pumps will increase over 4 percent per year, to reach $75 billion in 2005, according to a new study conducted by The Freedonia Group Inc., an industrial market research firm in Cleveland. The study predicted...

Sasol Chemical Industries has commissioned Foster Wheeler South Africa Ltd. to design and build an acrylic acid and acrylates complex in Sasolburg, South Africa. (Briefly Noted).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Sasol Chemical Industries has commissioned Foster Wheeler South Africa Ltd. to design and build an acrylic acid and acrylates complex in Sasolburg, South Africa. The $20 million facility will produce 80,000 metric tonnes of acrylic acid and...

Transocean Sedco Forex Inc. (Briefly Noted).(drill ship rescues survey crew)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The drill ship Peregrine III, owned by Transocean Sedco Forex Inc. of Houston, rescued all nine crew members of the survey vessel Aloha, which lost power and foundered approximately 100 miles northeast of Cozumel last month on a voyage to the...

Flow Science Inc. (Briefly Noted).(upgrades Flow-3D software)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Flow Science Inc. of Santa Fe, N.M., has released an upgrade to its Flow-3D computational fluid dynamics software. Version 8.0 features new models and improvements designed to increase the software's capabilities.

The Internet-based training company Qwill Ltd. of Norwich, England, has made available a number of training programs for CATIA, the computer-aided design system from Dassault Systemes of Paris, and IBM of Armonk, N.Y. (Briefly Noted).(training available on Web site, www.CADutils.com)
March 1, 2002... The Internet-based training company Qwill Ltd. of Norwich, England, has made available a number of training programs for CATIA, the computer-aided design system from Dassault Systemes of Paris, and IBM of Armonk, N.Y. The training programs take...

Powermark Corp., the Florida Solar Energy Center. (Briefly Noted).(lab accredited for photovoltaic rating)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Following an audit by the Powermark Corp., the Florida Solar Energy Center of Cocoa, Fla. has been accredited as a certifying laboratory for the rating of photovoltaics. The lab can now certify the performance of PV modules, verify the design...

Digital factory to become the norm. (Computing).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... By 2005, plants won't be able to operate without first testing production runs by means of digital factory software, according to Emmerich Schiller, who is director of digital production planning in the passenger car division at Daimler-...

More classroom learning time. (Computing).(Steve Schweitzer)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Maj. Steve Schweitzer, who teaches a computer-aided design course at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., thinks that professors should devote the most time possible in the classroom to content, and students should spend less time...

How to perch a globe within a skyscraper. (Computing).(Al-Faisaliah Tower globe designed by StarNet International Corp with TekCAD software)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The globe set within the newly completed Al-Faisaliah Tower in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was created and mounted in the building with the help of design software. The owner of the multi-use, 875-foot skyscraper decided to change the original...

Testing a new fairway mower design. (Computing).(John Deere Golf and Turf, Manta Corp.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... To help test a new design, the John Deere Golf and Turf division turned recently to a consulting firm tied to its technology supplier. John Deere had redesigned a ball joint lift yoke on its line of lightweight fairway mowers with the hope of...

Plastics analysis aids coin mechanisms. (Computing).(Coin Acceptors Inc. uses Moldflow Plastic Insight software)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Coin Acceptors Inc., a St. Louis maker of coin mechanisms, bill acceptors, and control systems for food and beverage vending machines, has found a way around one of its engineering challenges: the molding of plastic parts that require close...

Visualization for quieter vehicles. (Computing).(aircraft noise research)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Researchers in Pennsylvania State University's aerospace engineering department are using parallel computers, virtual reality systems, and visualization software to test the causes of aircraft noise and to find ways to reduce it. While...

Advancing interaction through sound. (Computing).(acoustic measurement research)
March 1, 2002... Researchers in California have created a publicly available database of acoustic measurements of human subjects. Richard Duda and V. Ralph Algazi, who are researchers at the University of California, Davis, said the database could have a...

Gibbs and Associates. (Briefly Noted).(launches software)
March 1, 2002... Gibbs and Associates of Moorpark, Calif., developer of computer-aided manufacturing software, is now shipping GibbsCAM 2002.

EDS. (Briefly Noted).(launches Unigraphics Quick Stack software)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... EDS of Plano, Texas, has released Unigraphics Quick Stack, a software program that is part of what the developer calls its Product Lifecycle Management Solutions line of business.

MSC.Software. (Briefly Noted).(launches MSC.Fatigu e 2001 software)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The provider of simulation software and services MSC.Software of Los Angeles has released MSC.Fatigu e 2001, which predicts the durability of structural components and assemblies.

Ricoh Corp. (Briefly Noted).(launches digital wide-format copier)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Ricoh Corp. of West Caldwell, N.J., has released the Aficio 470W, a digital wide-format copier that is upgradeable to a high-resolution scanning and printing digital imaging system for CAD designs.

Fluent Inc. (Briefly Noted).(launches Gambit 2.0 software)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The maker of computational fluid dynamics software Fluent Inc. of Lebanon, N.H., has released Gambit 2.0, a general-purpose preprocessor for CFD analysis.

Allsheets, Inc. (Briefly Noted).(launches Derail Compiler software)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Allsheets, Inc. of Orlando, Fla., a manufacturer of CAD software and AutoDesk developer, has released its Derail Compiler software. It is for CAD professionals who use cut symbols and detail drawings and is an Autodesk add-on. The software...

Planet-CAD Inc. (Briefly Noted).(launches SCS/Envoy software)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Planet-CAD Inc. of Boulder, Cob., has released its first commercially available version of SCS / Envoy, which is software that streamlines the handling, security, and transmission of manufacturing data.

Cimatron Technologies. (Briefly Noted).(unveils software)
March 1, 2002... Cimatron Technologies of Livonia, Mich., has released Cimatron E, Windows-based CAD/CAM software designed for the tooling industry.

ESI Group. (Briefly Noted).(released software)
March 1, 2002... ESI Group of Detroit, a provider of virtual prototyping and manufacturing solutions, has released Pam-Opt, a software package intended to speed virtual prototyping time.

Vistagy Inc. (Briefly Noted).(introduces design software)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... A maker of engineering design software, Vistagy Inc. of Waltham, Mass., will release new versions of its FiberSim and EnCapta design software at the National Design Engineering Show in Chicago March 18-21.

Inovx Solutions. (Briefly Noted).(launches software)
March 1, 2002... Inovx Solutions of Irvine, Calif., has released version 2.3 of the company's RealityLinx and 3-D PlantLinx software.

Oracle. (Briefly Noted).(launches software)
March 1, 2002... The enterprise software maker Oracle, of Redwood City, Calif., has released Oracle CAD-View-3D. The software allows users with a Web browser to participate in collaborative design of 3-D CAD model creation or review over the Web.

SolidWorks Corp. (Briefly Noted).(launches software)
March 1, 2002... SolidWorks Corp. of Concord, Mass., has released an upgrade to its 3-D PartStream.net service, which lets component manufacturers publish 3-D Web-based catalogs using a step-by-step process.

Linking industrial and engineering uses. (Software Exchange).(Cobalt software from Ashlar-Vellum)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2002... Capability: Cobalt, a 3-D modeling package, is a tool for users who need a high-end industrial design tool along with engineering functionality. The software supports equation-driven parametrics and offers a 2-D and 3-D constraint system....

Viewer compatible with many CAD programs. (Software Exchange).(Product Information)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Capability: Myriad 5.2 can be used to view and redline CAD drawings from SolidWorks, SolidEdge, Inventor, AutoCAD, Microstation, Pro/Engineer, CATIA, and other formats. The viewer offers an easy-to-understand interface and visualization...

Combining simulation and modeling. (Software Exchange).(Product Information)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Capability: Simulation package 20-Sim 3.2 professional includes both modeling and simulation capabilities. It allows users to simulate the behavior of controlled dynamic systems, such as mechanical, electrical, thermal, and hydraulic systems,...

Animation applications suitable for beginners. (Software Exchange).(product introduction)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Capability: The Maya Personal Learning Edition is a noncommercial application of the developer's Maya software and is used for creating three-dimensional computer graphics for presentation or for job-related use. Uses for the software may be...

Database compares airfoil results. (Software Exchange).(Product Information)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Capability: AirfoilOrganizer lets users compare airfoil results from different computational fluid dynamics programs and experiments. With the software, users can store more than 200 computed airfoil data files from many different sources into...

CAD viewer that's usable on a desktop. (Software Exchange).(Product Information)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Capability: Viso version 3.0 is a computer-aided design viewer available as a desktop-executable application as well as a thin component. The viewer supports AutoCAD drawing, drawing exchange format (DXF), and drawing Web format (DWF) files....

Modeling program analyzes NURBS curves. (Software Exchange).(Product Information)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Capability: The modeling software Rhino 2.0 creates, edits, analyzes, and translates NURBS curves, surfaces, and solids. It also supports polygon meshes. A free-form, three-dimensional modeling tool allows users to model any shape regardless of...

Sizing and calculating tools for HVAC design. (Software Exchange).(Product Information)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Capability: DuctSizer, PipeSizer, and Psychrometric Analyzer are downloadable software applications to aid heating, ventilation, and air conditioning design. DuctSizer is an electronic duct calculator for sizing ducts and calculating pressure...

Charging fees on a sliding-scale basis. (Software Exchange).(Product Information)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Capability: 3D Vision 1.2 can be used for automatic translation and repair of CAD files. It translates and repairs three-dimensional CAD models via software that tracks necessary changes and charges users accordingly. The software can read...

Shuttle remodel. (Power Transmission and Motion Control).(Product Information)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... A pair of bellows creates sealed passages between two high-pressure pumps and the Space Shuttle's power head, according to Mike Paytas of Pratt & Whitney in West Palm Beach, Fla. Paytas, project engineering manager for the Space Shuttle's main...

Wedge adds a hedge. (Power Transmission and Motion Control).(NASA engineer improves wedge brakes)(Product Information)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... NASA engineer John Vranish has be en working on a way to convert oscillatory motion to continuous motion using flex wedges--a design he invented several years back. The original intent of his invention was to control friction through flexure....

Pounds less=tons more. (Power Transmission and Motion Control).(Hendrickson International's truck suspension)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Truck suspension maker Hendrickson International of Woodridge, Ill., has developed a way to replace the traditional leaf-spring suspension worn by most dump trucks with one employing a walking beam and springs of rubber and high-density...

Skateboard wheels. (Power Transmission and Motion Control).(hybrid and electric vehicle tires)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... A tire from Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. of Akron, Ohio, out now in concept form, is designed especially for use on hybrid and electric vehicles. To reduce rolling resistance, the tire rides on a cushion of air pressurized beyond the level of...

No more rag arm. (Power Transmission and Motion Control).(Mearthane Products Corp. improves pitching machine)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The search for a better pitch led ProBatter Sports engineers to the sales department of Cranston, R.I.-based Mearthane Products Corp. ProBatter of Milford, Conn., wanted to add durability to its batting cages. With a video pitcher throwing in...

Aye, now there's no rub. (Power Transmission and Motion Control).(Damar Inc.'s cartridge seals)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... A blender handling bulk powder or slurry might turn a 5-inch-diameter main shaft at 50 rpm. Flights welded to the shaft over its typical 8-to 12-foot length can create a high degree of runout, making shaft sealing difficult with mechanical...

Sun cools hot house. (Power Transmission and Motion Control).(Sun Tunnel Systems Inc.'s solar attic ventilator)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Like a mirror reflecting the sun's rays back upon itself, a solar attic ventilator runs fastest in the middle of the day. Mornings, it ramps up from a standstill. Evenings, it slows before resting for the night. Targeting homeowners who'd...

The Gasman never winds twice. (Power Transmission and Motion Control).(Nordic Systems Inc.'s winding reels)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Mississauga, Ont.-based Nordic Systems Inc. builds winding reels for both fixed and mobile applications. Some of its OEM customers--makers of propane delivery trucks, for instance--require winders that can be operated remotely. That's because...

President unveils fiscal year 2003 budget proposal. (Washington Window).(research and development)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 1, 2002... As part of his $2.1 trillion fiscal year 2003 budget proposal, President Bush is seeking an 8 percent increase in the nation's research and development budget. Most of the additional funds will go toward programs at the Department of Defense...

Guide wheels. (New Products).(Bishop-Wisecarver Corp.'s DualVee guide wheels)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... BISHOP-WISECARVER CORP., PITTSBURG, CALIF. DualVee guide wheels are available in two new sizes, size 0 and size 4XXL, respectively larger and smaller than the previously available sizes, WI through W4. Size 0 has an outside diameter of 0.58 in....

Product handbook. (New Products).(Omega Engineering Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... OMEGA ENGINEERING INC., STAMFORD, CONN. The Made in the USA Edition Handbook is a 3,000-page hardbound color handbook with more than 100,000 products, all made in the United States. This edition features many temperature, pressure, force, flow,...

Flowmeter. (New Products).(Aaliant's Niagara Nutating Disc flowmeters)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... AALIANT, SPARTANBURG, S.C. Niagara Nutating Disc flowmeters are designed for fluid measurement in batching applications. An internal measuring chamber is designed for fluids of various viscosities, with repeatability of [+ or -]0.25 percent of...

Integrated arc welding stations. (New Products).(Pro-Fusion Technologies Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... PRO-FUSION TECHNOLOGIES INC., NEWBURY PARK, CALIF. This company's are welding stations combine power supplies, welding lathes/positioners, and weld controllers. The system is said to provide accurate weld current and precision rotation and...

Load cell/amplifier system. (New Products).(Transducer Techniques Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... TRANSDUCER TECHNIQUES INC., TEMECULA, CALIF. System CLC/TM0-2, comprising this company's CLC high-capacity compression-only load cell and its TM0-2 stand-alone bench-top amplifier/conditioner, is intended for a variety of industrial and OEM...

Gripper modules. (New Products).(Motoman Inc.'s materials handling equipment)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... MOTOMAN INC., WEST CARROLLTON, OHIO. This company's material handling robots and PackWorld and PalletWorld systems offer a wide range of mechanical or vacuum gripper modules. Standard gripper modules are available to handle boxes, cans, bags,...

Laser Doppler velocimetry sensor. (New Products).(Canon U.S.A. Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... CANON U.S.A. INC., SEMICONDUCTOR Div., LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y. The miniature S--100Z laser Doppler velocimetry sensor is said by the manufacturer to be ideal for measuring movement of solid objects, powders, and fluids. The new system provides...

Clamp meters. (New Products).(Fluke Corp.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... FLUKE CORP., EVERETT, WASH. The 321 and 322 clamp meters measure alternating current to 400.0 A with 0.1 resolution and ac volts to 600 V with 0.1 resolution to 400.0 V. The 322 will also measure dc volts to 600 V. Standard features include...

Micro drilling attachment. (New Products).(Millmate's drill press)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... MILLMATE, HARAHAN, LA. A new ultrasensitive drill press for micro drilling is an extension of a conventional milling machine. The micro drilling attachment can be used with any standard R-8 spindle. Extreme sensitivity is achieved by...

PTFE membrane. (New Products).(Porex Porous Products Group's Mupor microporous membrane)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... POREX POROUS PRODUCTS GROUP, FAIRBURN, GA. The Mupor microporous PTFE membrane is available in pore sizes from submicron to greater than 50 microns. It is available in discs, sheets, rolls, tubes, and rods. The manufacturer recommends the...

Rotary paddle bin monitors. (New Products).(Monitor Technologies L.L.C. products)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... MONITOR TECHNOLOGIES LLC, ELBURN, ILL. A new line of rotary paddle bin monitors provides point level control sensors for the detection of dry bulk materials. The paddle level indicators incorporate a feature that automatically shuts off the...

Flexible electrical conduit. (New Products).(Electri-Flex Co. products)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... ELECTRI-FLEX CO., ROSELLE, ILL. The Type LNM-P nonmetallic, liquidtight conduit for continuous flexing situations does not have a metal core and will not suffer fatigue from repeated flexing or vibration. Its flame-retardant PVC material is a...

Welding end prep tool. (New Products).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... ESCO TOOL, MEDFIELD, MASS. The Mini Milihog air-powered I.D. clamping end prep tool produces high torque at low rpm for milling hardened welds found in the tube stubs on a header assembly. The tool features a heavy-duty mandrel with clamp ribs...

Hydraulic rotary actuator. (New Products).(Helac Corp.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... HELAC CORP., ENUMCLAW, WASH. The L20 Series of hydraulic rotary actuators was designed as an economical, ultracompact, lightweight, high-torque rotary actuator that could be used effectively as an alternative to hydraulic cylinders. The series...

Quarter-turn ball valve system. (New Products).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... BURKERT CONTROMATIC CORP., IRVINE, CALIF. The Type 2658 pneumatically actuated ball valve with a "smart" Top Control head is designed to form a complete intelligent system for on/off or continuous control. Linked directly to a sensor, the...

RTD temperature sensors. (New Products).(Minco Products Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... MINCO PRODUCTS INC., MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. A new series of bolt-on RTD temperature sensors, described as rugged and easy to install and remove, are designed for a wide range of applications. Their small sizes permit mounting in limited spaces and...

Gasket tape. (New Products).(W.L. Gore and Associates Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... W. L. GORE & ASSOCIATES INC., ELKTON, MD. Gore-Tex Series 300 gasket tape is designed and priced specially for sealing large-diameter steel piping and equipment. The tape is made from 100 percent multidirectionally expanded PTFE and can be...

Linear actuators. (New Products).(Haydon Switch and Instrument Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... HAYDON SWITCH & INSTRUMENT INC., WATERBURY, CONN. This company's size 23 hybrid linear actuators are now available with encoder feedback. A compact optical incremental encoder design is available with two channel quadrature TTL square wave...

Control valve. (New Products).(Leslie Controls Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... LESLIE CONTROLS INC., TAMPA, FLA. According to the manufacturer, the Aeroflow [T.sup.2] High Gain trim offers tighter process control and significant savings over conventional control valves. The new valve, coupled with the company's digital...

Medium-voltage soft starter. (New Products).(Motortronics)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... MOTORTRONICS, CLEARWATER, FLA. The new MVC Plus Series soft starter offers all the features of a motor protection relay in a heavy-duty soft starter for medium-voltage motor applications from 2.3 to 13.8 kV. The starter provides the exact...

Quiet fan. (New Products).(McQuay International)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... McQUAY INTERNATIONAL, MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. The BarryBlower Efficient Silent Inline fan is available as an option with this company's Vision air handlers. It combines the high-volume advantages of axial fans with the quiet operation of tubular...

Diverter valves. (New Products).(Kice Industries Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... KICE INDUSTRIES INC., WICHITA, KAN. The firm's diverter valves are constructed with cast-iron body and end plates with a one-piece ductile iron rotor to hold critical dimensions and to resist abrasion. Standard features include guarded...

Straightener/feeder. (New Products).(Oriimec Corporation of America)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... ORIIMEC CORP. OF AMERICA, ERLANGER, KY. The LCC-HF2 straightener/feeder, equipped with the new HM-Type computer control system, handles a wide range of metals from 50 mm to 1,000 mm wide and up to 4.5 mm thick with a maximum coil weight of 10...

Laser sensor. (New Products).(Automatic Timing and Controls)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... AUTOMATIC TIMING & CONTROLS, LANCASTER, PA. The Model 7708 compact Class 2 sensor features a mountable rugged M18 compatible housing and offers proximity and reflective mode sensing. The sensor's user can select light operate or dark operate...

LED backlights. (New Products).(by Schott-Fostec L.L.C.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... SCHOTT-FOSTEC LLC, AUBURN, N.Y. Intelligent LED backlights for machine vision and industrial OEM applications were designed with a patent-pending technology to detect intensity and temperature fluctuations for continuous feedback and failsafe...

Ultraviolet lamp. (New Products).(by Spectronics Corp.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... SPECTRONICS CORP., WESTBURY, N.Y. The Spectroline AP-800 UltraWand 8-watt ultraviolet lamp is designed for checking tight areas where conventional lamps will not fit. The new lamp is 1 in. in diameter and 30 in. long. It plugs into any ac...

Nonferrous proximity sensors. (New Products).(by Turck Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... TURCK INC., MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. The NF-Series nonferrous barrel-style proximity sensors will detect aluminum, brass, copper, and other nonferrous metals, but won't detect cold-rolled steel or stainless steel. Applications include automotive...

Vacuum booster. (New Products).(by Tuthill Vacuum Systems)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... TUTHILL VACUUM SYSTEMS, CANTON, MASS. The Versa-Booster vacuum booster supercharges vacuum pumps to increase their pumping capacity and to provide deeper vacuum levels than a pump alone can provide. The booster is available with either a...

Split and repair ell. (New Products).(by Pipe Line Development Co.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... PIPE LINE DEVELOPMENT CO., CLEVELAND, OHIO. The Plidco Split+Repair EII is designed to quickly stop and repair leaks in pipeline ells. It is installed by bolting two halves over the leaking ells. Provisions for venting or sealant injection can...

Adjustable spray nozzle. (New Products).(by Vaccon Co.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... VACCON CO., MEDFIELD, MASS. A new air-operated, VDF adjustable spray nozzle controls the spraying of liquids and/or fine powders for coating tablets, pills, pellets, candy, foods, metals, and so forth. The nozzle is field adjustable, enabling...