Mechanical Engineering-CIME articles from May 2004

Mechanical Engineering-CIME archives from May 2004

Numbers game.(data on baseball teams analyzes the outcome prior to the physical game)(Editorial)
May 1, 2004... One of my summer passions is in bloom: baseball. But as much as I love the statistics that make watching North America's so-called national pastime so intriguing, recent trends among contemporary general managers and team owners irritate me to...

Calculation of disaster.(letters)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2004... To the Editor: If NASA's numbers are to be believed--that is, a 1.5-pound piece of foam hitting the space shuttle at 530 mph--this adds up to 14,000 ft.-lbs. of energy, equivalent to a 140-pound weight dropping on a brittle carbon fiber...

Bigger vehicles aren't necessarily safer.(letters)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2004... To the Editor: In your November 2003 issue, the News & Notes section reported on information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that "Bigger Vehicles Increase Safety." Henry Ford said, "I cannot imagine where the...

Tramway at dusk.(letters)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2004... To the Editor: I read your article about the Sandia Tramway (Editorial, July 2003). It brought back memories of my trip there with my wife and daughter. My only regret is that we arrived there at dusk, too late to really enjoy the view as...

The Cosmos begins at home.(letters)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2004... To the Editor: The writers of "Engines for the Cosmos" (January 2003) made an interesting statement in the last paragraph about going deep into the cosmos to learn more about ourselves and our roles in the universe. I spent approximately...

On the square.(letters)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2004... To the Editor: "Digging Deeper in New York" (November 2003) states maximum acceleration of residential structures to be 1 foot per second. Perhaps that should be 1 foot per second per second (or one foot per second squared). DON HALLDEN...

Locking up water.(letters)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2004... To the Editor: I read the news story "Pumping Up the Panama Canal" in the September 2003 issue with great interest. As a child, I lived less than a mile from the great Gatun Locks depicted in the article. Living close to this engineering marvel...

Legacy of a failed bridge.(letters)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2004... To the Editor: Your readers may be interested to have further details of our research on the Tay Bridge disaster, which was mentioned in the March edition of ME ("The Breaks of Progress"). It is discussed in our paper, which can be downloaded...

A '58 turbine truck.(letters)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2004... To the Editor: Ralph Kress (letter, November 2003) commented on the attributes of a recuperative gas turbine powered truck. Mr. Kress cited a late 1960s road test experience by International. An analogous truck was tested in the U.S. Northwest...

The Rickovers of Ryki.(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2004... To the Editor: It was with great interest and pleasure that I read, exactly on the 50th anniversary of launching, a story by Frank Wicks on the Nautilus and its creator, Admiral Hyman Rickover ("Nuclear Navy," January). However, I would...

Keep it moving and secure.(news & notes)
May 1, 2004... The nation's seaports face a balancing act: They must maintain security while moving large volumes of containerized cargo. How well they adapt their operations to the new realities of a security-conscious world has far-reaching consequences for...

This is no Roman candle.(news & notes)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Last October, when a 10-foot rocket burst 16,000 feet into the air above Nevada's Black Rock Desert, the fuel was the stuff of common candles, paraffin. Paraffin was previously thought to be weak, easily broken, and unsuitable for use as...

Labelers for Hyundai plant.(news & notes)(Ann Arbor)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Ann Arbor, Mich.-based Borries Marking Systems USA will supply laser markers and scribers to a Hyundai assembly plant under construction in Montgomery, Ala. The systems will make identifying tags for vehicles and their drivetrains. IPF...

Lee Controls Inc.(Briefly Noted)(producing precision case hardened shafting )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Lee Controls Inc. of Piscataway, N.J., is producing precision case hardened shafting for power transmission and linear motion applications. The company said that, by using a special electromagnetic hardening system, it can exercise improved...

MITCalc.(introduces new version of Mechanical Calculations Package)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... MITCalc of Decin, Czech Republic, has released the new version of its Mechanical Calculations Package, a multilanguage mechanical and technical calculation application.

Needham, Mass.-based PTC, a maker of computer-aided engineering software, has acquired OHIO Design Automation Inc.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Needham, Mass.-based PTC, a maker of computer-aided engineering software. has acquired OHIO Design Automation Inc. of Nashua. N.H., which makes electronics design collaboration software.

NASA.(National Aeronautics and Space Administration)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... NASA's X-43A research aircraft, powered by a scramjet, was launched from a B-52 over the Pacific near California on March 27. It surpassed Mach 7, or about 5,000 mph. NASA called it a speed record for aircraft powered by an air-breathing...

JW Aluminum of Mt. Holly, S.C.(Briefly Noted)(has acquired foil plants from Alcoa Inc.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... JW Aluminum of Mt. Holly, S.C., acquired the St. Louis, Mo., and Russellville. Ark., foil plants from Alcoa Inc.

Curtiss-Wright Corp. of Roseland, N.J., acquired Peachtree, Ga.-based Everlube Products.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Curtiss-Wright Corp. of Roseland, N.J., acquired Peachtree, Ga.-based Everlube Products, a lubricants and coatings supplier, from Morgan Advanced Ceramics Inc.

Stuttgart, Germany-based Behr GmbH and Dongfeng Motor Co. Ltd. of Wuhan, China, formed Dongfeng Behr Thermal Systems Co. Ltd. in Wuhan.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Stuttgart, Germany-based Behr GmbH and Dongfeng Motor Co. Ltd. of Wuhan, China, formed Dongfeng Behr Thermal Systems Co. Ltd. in Wuhan. The new company will manufacture automotive radiators, engine cooling modules, and HVAC systems.

IntegrityWare Inc.(Briefly Noted)(released modeling kernel SOLIDS++)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... IntegrityWare Inc. of San Diego has released its modeling kernel SOLIDS++.

Alstom.(Briefly Noted)(generator rotor rewind )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Alstom reported that it successfully completed a generator rotor rewind in 22 days, which it considers a benchmark time. The job was done during a 42-day outage at the 660 MW Majuba power plant, owned by Eskom, in Volksrust, South Africa.

In the pit with CFD.(computing)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... TO BETTER UNDERSTAND the myriad of fluid and heating dynamics in their race cars, engineers at Richard Childress Racing of Welcome, N.C., turned to computers. And they wanted to see fluid flow virtually-that is, represented in a computerized...

Taking the paperless approach to Mars.(use of CAD application software for designing of robots for mars expedition)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... ENGINEERS AT ALLIANCE SPACESYSTEMS in Pasadena, Calif., who helped design the robotic arm used on Spirit and Opportunity, the Mars rovers, relied on a computer-aided design system, analysis software, and a portable document format application,...

Measuring biocompatibility.(computing)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... A NEW TECHNIQUE AIMS to provide a more sensitive and reliable means of evaluating the biocompatibility of new materials for a range of applications within the human body, from contact lenses to dental coatings to bone implants. Researchers...

Getting a snowmobile to purr like a cat.(computing)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... A RATHER UNUSUAL GOAL is being targeted by engineers at snowmobile maker Arctic Cat of Thief River Falls, Minn. They want to create a specific sound when the engine is revved, a sound that they say adds to the thrill of the ride. They also...

When CAD systems collide.(software to get around CAD compatibility issues)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... IT'S PERHAPS ONE OF THE most common supplier laments: Each customer uses a different CAD system and expects the supplier to furnish drawings in a compatible format. How can you please everyone? One German supplier of automotive components...

Making plastic molds requires flexibility.(computing)(Axiomatic Product Development Ltd.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... WORKING WITH PLASTIC isn't always easy, as engineers at Axiomatic Product Development Ltd. of Concord, Ontario, know. The product development company offers engineering consulting services for the automotive, aerospace, and consumer products...

One license grants a lot of software access.(computing)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... A MAKER OF OUTDOOR POWER TOOLS, Husqvarna, has been trying out a new way to license its simulation software. The power tools are used in forests, parks, and gardens. The company, in Husqvarna, Sweden, also makes power cutters for the...

Tracking a satellite before it's airborne.(computing)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... BEFORE A SATELLITE IS LAUNCHED into space, it must be meticulously developed, its disparate parts created, tracked, and compiled. All this, of course, is no small feat and requires an information system to keep track of parts, engineers, and...

Fluent Inc.(Briefly Noted)(released Icepro 4.0, CAD-model software)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... The maker of computational fluid flow software, Fluent Inc. of Lebanon, N.H., has released Icepro 4.0, a CAD-model cleanup tool for electronics cooling analysis.

Nook Industries.(Briefly Noted)(configurable 2-D and 3-D CAD linear bearings made available)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Nook Industries of Cleveland, a maker of linear motion control systems and components, has made available a line of configurable 2-D and 3-D CAD linear bearings, pillow blocks, and slide systems for download in all major CAD formats.

Tekla.(Briefly Noted)(3-D modeling software )
May 1, 2004... Tekla of Kuopio, Finland, a maker of 3-D modeling software for the steel detailing industry, has developed a new program called Tekla Structures for steel structural modeling.

Kubotek USA.(Keycreator-Cadkey 3-D mechanical design product line)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Kubotek USA of Marlborough, Mass., has renamed its Cadkey 3-D mechanical design product line Keycreator and plans a release this month that will integrate numerically controlled programming capabilities.

Pathtrace Engineering Systems of Reading, England, is developing the EdgeCAM Part Modeler.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Pathtrace Engineering Systems of Reading, England, is developing the EdgeCAM Part Modeler. The modeler was originally made by Applied 3-D Science Inc. of Merrimack, N.H. The part modeler allows for construction or editing of 3-D solid models.

Delcam.(Briefly Noted)(released PowerMill computer-aided manufacturing software)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Delcam of Birmingham, England, has released PowerMill computer-aided manufacturing software. It incorporates a variety of enhancements, including a stock model for five-axis machining user-defined tools and collision checking.

Star-CD.(Briefly Noted)(Star-CD 3.2 released)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... The latest version of CFD software from Star-CD of New York, Star-CD 3.2, includes a choice of CAD-integrated options and a Star-Design option, for users without a CAD system.

Coade Inc.(Briefly Noted)(released Tank version 2.5)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Coade Inc. of Houston has issued Tank version 2.5, an updated edition of its software program for the design, analysis, and evaluation of welded steel oil storage tanks.

Gibbs and Associates of Moorpark, Calif., developer of GibbsCAM software for programming computer numerically controlled machinery and controls.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Gibbs and Associates of Moorpark, Calif., developer of GibbsCAM software for programming computer numerically controlled machinery and controls, says that UGS PLM Solutions has again approved the company as a certified select partner for the...

BOM manager.(software exchange)
May 1, 2004... Capability: The design-data management system ToolWorks BOM Manager version 5 offers a bill-of-materials manager and export tool within the CAD software SolidWorks. The application captures bill-of-materials content from the CAD design and...

AutoCAD PDF alternative.(software exchange)
May 1, 2004... Capability: The Net-It CAD plug-in for AutoCAD software offers a content-secure alternative to using the portable-document file, or PDF format to visually share drawings. As an AutoCAD-installed plug-in, the application publishes AutoCAD...

DWF from CAD files.(software exchange)
May 1, 2004... Capability: Designers can create design Web format, or DWF, files from any CAD or Windows application with the use of DWF Writer. The application allows designers to share their designs and drawings in the DWF file format, regardless of the...

Technical illustration tool.(software exchange)
May 1, 2004... Capability: The technical illustration package Coral Designer Professional SG incorporates illustration tools within a design environment. The software allows technical illustrators to produce complex technical drawings. It offers drawing tools...

Windows to PDF.(software exchange)
May 1, 2004... Capability: Bluebeam Lite is a portable document file software application for companies that use AutoCAD LT and Windows. The application allows users to create PDF files directly from Auto CAD LT and from Windows Office applications such as...

More than CAD.(software exchange)
May 1, 2004... Capability: Besides solid-modeling capabilities and a 2-D drafting application, the CAD package Alibre Design Expert has a six-month license for MSC.visual-Nastran Motion for motion simulation analysis from MSC.Software of Santa Ana, Calif.; a...

Coating, heal thyself.(Materials and Assembly)
May 1, 2004... Coating systems are the last line of defense to protect equipment such as heat exchangers, steam condensers, and evaporators against corrosion, oxidation, and fouling. Many coatings stand up to heat, but break down in extreme hydrothermal...

Grips like iron.(glue from mussels at seashore)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Anyone who has spent time near the seashore may have witnessed how mussels anchor themselves to rocks, pilings, and boat hulls. The glue that holds the mussels in place could have potential applications in medical and industrial applications,...

Natural gas pipe coating test.(Materials and Assembly)
May 1, 2004... A vast underground network of natural gas transmission lines crisscrosses the United States, and delivers a tremendous amount of fuel to industrial, commercial, and residential consumers. The natural gas is conveyed along steel pipes that...

Zapping iron.(Materials and Assembly)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... A researcher at Michigan Technological University in Houghton looked to his local appliance store to test a novel idea in steelmaking. Jiann-Yang Hwang, an associate professor of materials science and engineering and the director of Michigan...

Nylon rocker covers.(Materials and Assembly)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Some V6s have lost a bit of weight this year. DaimlerChrysler Corp. is using mineral-reinforced nylon valve covers on the 3.3 and 3.8-liter V6 engines in its 2004 Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Caravan, and Grand Caravan. The nylon is...

Easy-to-see safety handle.(Materials and Assembly)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... A manufacturer of bed covers for pickup trucks needed to make an easy-to-spot safety latch to provide emergency egress for anyone trapped inside. The covers had been designed with a steel pin that was not readily visible to anyone trapped...

Low-smoke conduit.(Materials and Assembly)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... A conduit that carries fiber-optic cable in underground railway tunnels must meet stringent fire safety requirements designed to prevent excessive smoke and toxic fumes. Metal conduits that are often used in these applications are shipped in...

In election year, manufacturing takes center stage.(Washington window)
May 1, 2004... To hear some folks in Washington tell it, the United States is rapidly approaching manufacturing Armageddon--rocketing toward the abyss with little ability to slow our descent. The fact is, though, the U.S. manufacturing sector is strong. While...

Shrinking the lab down to size: much of the technology is still in development, but some labs-on-a-chip are already on the market.(Feature focus: microfluidics)
May 1, 2004... What's smaller than a postage stamp and capable of finding one bad cell out of thousands? A lab-on-a-chip, the catchall term used to describe chemical analysis devices that operate on a nanoscale. A chip can perform sensitive, selective...

Water paper glass: the inability of some fluids to mix makes for a fine focus in a tight space.(Feature focus: microfluidics)
May 1, 2004... Scientists and engineers at Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands are developing a fluid lens that loosely duplicates the way in which they see with their own eyes. Called the FluidFocus lens, it focuses by adjusting the shape of tire...

Taking the mechanical pulse: data acquisition systems go well beyond just counting the numbers.
May 1, 2004... Let's say you work for a company that makes small actuators that control an airplane's wing flaps. Naturally, before you make even one actuator, you need assurance they'll actually work for the life of the plane. You want to know the actuators...

Murphy's lawyers: watching for whatever can go wrong, because it will.(predictive maintenance of machinery)
May 1, 2004... Steve Goldman, the late proprietor of Goldman Machinery Dynamics Corp. of West Nyack, N.Y., once wrote a book on vibration spectrum analysis, partly in response to what he called a "reluctance to travel." An engineer at Nash Engineering in the...

Maintaining know-how: once they learn all the techniques, plant engineers are set to retire.
May 1, 2004... It seems that most organizations today are promoting the latest engineering and maintenance technologies. Technology advancement is necessary, but what about the basics? A problem that has existed for many years is that engineering...

Benchtop controller.(new products)
May 1, 2004... OMEGA ENGINEERING INC., STAMFORD. CONN. The new CSi8D Series benchtop controller is built around Omega's award winning family of meters and controllers. This prewired, ready-to-go unit features a portable, rugged, metal case with tilting...

Nonstandard thermocouple.(new products)
May 1, 2004... WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING CO., ST. LOUIS. MO. A new nonstandard thermocouple, Watcouple, is designed to provide more accurate measurements and exhibit three times less drift than Type K thermocouples. The result is a longer-lasting sensor...

Pressure gauges.(new products)
May 1, 2004... SWAGELOK CO., SOLON, OHIO. Industrial process thermoplastic pressure gauges monitor vacuum and positive system pressures up to 15,000 psi (100,000 kPa) in the chemical, petrochemical, oil and gas, power, pulp and paper, and other general...

Air bearing.(new products)
May 1, 2004... CANON U.S.A. INC., LAKE SUCCESS. N.Y. The AB Series of air bearings is suitable for head testing and media certification applications. These products are designed to serve as key components of ultra-high processing technology. The AB Series...

Process control valves.(new products)
May 1, 2004... PARKER HANNIFIN CORP.. NEW BRITAIN, CONN. The Fluid Control Division has added the Sinclair Collins SCV-100 Series of process control valves. These diaphragm-operated valves include models for numerous application requirements. The valves can...

Sound level meter.(new products)
May 1, 2004... AEMC INSTRUMENTS, FOXBOROUGH. MASS. This sound level meter, Model CA832, is designed to access sound ambiences or nuisances in accordance with international safety and quality standards. It features two weighting curves, A and C, for...

Rigid liner board.(new products)
May 1, 2004... CERTAINTEED CORP., VALLEY FORGE, PA. The company has extended its new moisture-resistant enhanced surface to its ToughGard rigid liner board, which is used primarily as an acoustical liner in large sheet metal ducts, plenums, and equipment...

'Flying' reel lamp.(new products)
May 1, 2004... SPECTRONICS CORP., WESTBURY, N.Y. The Spectroline SB-100PR high intensity ultraviolet lamp provides NDT inspectors with a useful safety feature. The lamp is equipped with a 30-foot-long cord that is housed in an automatic retracting 'flying'...

Explosion-proof valves.(new products)
May 1, 2004... PETER PAUL ELECTRONICS CO. INC.. NEW BRITAIN, CONN. Miniature, explosion-proof valves have a variety of applications, meeting modern demands for economy of space and minimal energy consumption. The Series 50 ELW and 50 ELLW miniature valves,...

Flatness measuring kit.(new products)
May 1, 2004... PINPOINT LASER SYSTEMS, NEWBURYPORT, MASS. This flatness and measuring and alignment kit, the MG-2000, enables machine beds, rollers, web assemblies, x-y stages, and mechanical slides to be precisely checked to 0.0005 in. The use of a narrowly...

Transceiver.(new products)
May 1, 2004... FAULHABER GROUP, MICROMO ELECTRONICS INC., CLEARWATER, FLA. The LT-1 transceiver converts single-ended signals to differential signals and vice versa. The LT-1 can transmit signals up to 4,000 ft. Configured in the receive mode, it has the...

Refrigerant monitor.(new products)
May 1, 2004... MSA INSTRUMENT DIVISION, PITTSBURGH, PA. The Chillgard RT refrigerant monitor is capable of detecting R-245FA. This is a new refrigerant with zero ozone depletion potential and low global warming potential. While R-245FA is still under study by...

Fuel gas heaters.(new products)
May 1, 2004... GAUMER PROCESS HEATERS, SYSTEMS & CONTROLS, HOUSTON, TEXAS. The company's fuel gas heaters can be used to preheat natural gas to keep the gas above the dewpoint before combustion. The heaters are skid mounted and prewired for ease of...

Joint sealant.(new products)
May 1, 2004... W.L. GORE & ASSOCIATES INC., ELKTON, MD. According to the manufacturer, Gore-Tex joint sealant is now twice as strong as before, making it more creep-resistant than ever. Since the product was pioneered by Gore more than 30 years ago, it has...

Refrigeration system.(new products)
May 1, 2004... HEATCRAFT REFRIGERATION PRODUCTS LLC, STONE MOUNTAIN, GA. The Tri-Pak is a multiple-compressor condensing unit in a single cabinet that can accommodate up to three compressor modules and an additional condenser surface for remote condenser...

Vacuum control.(new products)
May 1, 2004... NOROREN INC., LITTLETON, COLO. Developed as a vacuum management tool, SmartPump offers built-in intelligence for reliable vacuum control. This is then combined with the efficient use of compressed air in a compact package. Designed for use in...

Turbine flow meter.(new products)
May 1, 2004... BLANCETT FLOW METERS, FORT WORTH, TEXAS. The FloClean sanitary turbine flow meter can be used in a variety of food, beverage, and pharmaceutical applications. Designed to with stand clean-in-place and sterilize-in-place environments, the flow...

Water temperature control.(new products)
May 1, 2004... MOKON, BUFFALO, N.Y. The company's expanded line of Duratherm, Dual Zone Duratherm, and Duratherm HTP circulating water temperature control systems is designed to accommodate larger applications. Featuring the same control efficiency and...

Continuous hydrogenation unit.(new products)
May 1, 2004... CHEMICAL EXCHANGE INDUSTRIES INC., HOUSTON. TEXAS. A unique, 10-in.-diameter, fixed-bed hydrogenation unit that can operate at pressures up to 2,000 psi is now available for contract manufacturing, according to the company, also known as CXI....

Centrifugal pumps.(new products)
May 1, 2004... WANNER ENGINEERING INC., MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. Start-Cot Series pumps now Feature Streamline cassette seals. These seals provide significant cost savings in industries that pump highly abrasive fluids by reducing inventory requirements and...

Mold control.(new products)
May 1, 2004... STERIL-AIRE INC., CERRITOS. CALIF. The company has broadened its line of UVC Emitters for mold and microbial control in HVAC systems, food processing lines, and other commercial applications. The UVC devices are now available with a 277-volt...

Portable reels.(product information)
May 1, 2004... HANNAY REELS, WESTERLO, N.Y. The company's catalog provides reformation and updated specifications on portable hose and cable reels. The reels are lightweight for easy transfer to the job site. Featured in the catalog are hose and cable...

Motion control solutions.(product information)
May 1, 2004... DANAHER MOTION, MAYFIELD HTS., OHIO. A 12-page brochure outlines the company's capabilities in providing aerospace and defense customers with a wide variety of mechanical and electromechanical motion control solutions. Entitled Aerospace and...

Test tools.(product information)
May 1, 2004... WAVETEK METERMAN TEST TOOLS, EVERETT, WASH. Wavetek's 20-page Meterman catalog, Volume IV, is for electricians, electronic technicians, and environmental/HVAC technicians. The publication features the company's Meterman XR Series digital...

Brazing filler metal.(product information)
May 1, 2004... WALL COLMONOY CORP., MADISON HTS., MICH. A technical data sheet covers Nicrobraz 31 brazing filler metal for plate-and-fin heat exchangers and automotive components, such as exhaust gas recirculating systems, radiators, and catalytic...

Off-the-shelf optics.(product information)
May 1, 2004... ROLYN OPTICS CO., COVINA. CALIF. A 140-page catalog contains product data, photos, performance graphs, and ordering information with new items added in the past year. Product categories include simple and compound lenses, prisms, optical flats,...