Mechanical Engineering-CIME articles from November 2008

Mechanical Engineering-CIME archives from November 2008

Question of the month.
November 1, 2008... QUESTION OF THE MONTH: Take out your crystal ball and take a minute to look 10 years into the future. What trend will impact the practice of the profession most over that period? THE NUMBER OF RESPONDENTS WHO SAID THAT, OVER THE NEXT 10...

The sky is falling.(Editorial)
November 1, 2008... A FEW WEEKS AGO, WE HAD A CHICKEN LITTLE MOMENT. You'll recall the old Chicken Little fable in which an incredulous fowl believes that the sky is falling on Earth after he gets hit on the head one afternoon. The frenzied chicken works...

Distance learning.(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2008... To the Editor: I agree with Ronald Corradin (Letters, June) that distance learning is not accepted in all applications. However, it is alive and well in the field of physical asset management. Monash University has offered its postgraduate...

Taking favors.(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2008... To the Editor: In answer to Catherine Burch, president of the Tulsa-Northwestern Oklahoma chapter of the Society of Women Engineers (Letters, July): When it comes to asking or not asking for preferential treatment--oh, but you do. My son...

Energy is never free.(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2008... To the Editor: Your collection of letters in the June issue was interesting, to say the least--almost a Book of Revelations. I was quite taken by the one about journalists and reporters communicating technical information which they have no...

Flight pioneer.(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2008... To the Editor: I write to you concerning an article published in August 2008, "Landmark in the Air," which is focused on the accomplishments of aviation pioneer John J. Montgomery (1858-1911). Professor Montgomery was the uncle of my...

Smooth microscope mirror.(NEWS & NOTES)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... The mirror you check each day is filled with lumps. Even the finest mirrors have them. Now, a team of physicists has created a quantum stabilized atom mirror, the smoothest surface ever, they write in a September edition of Advanced Materials...

A flywheel record.(NEWS & NOTES)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... A customer described as "one of the world's largest Internet Search engine providers" has placed the largest single order--12 systems--for the flywheel-based uninterruptible power supplies made by Active Power Inc. According to Active...

Eco-minded plastics.(NEWS & NOTES)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... The operator of a Web site containing product information for the plastics industry has added a module to search for so-called "green plastics," which are biodegradable, include recycled content, or are derived from renewable resources. ...

Cash for wind.(NEWS & NOTES)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... The Wind Energy Technology Department at Sandia National Laboratories has received additional funding from the Department of Energy to conduct research on three projects. Sandia, based in Albuquerque, N.M., is sharing a $4 million award...

Extreme redesign.(NEWS & NOTES)
November 1, 2008... A design competition based on 3-D printing for high school and college students is entering its fifth year. The contest, Extreme Redesign: The Ultimate 3D Printing Challenge, is sponsored by The Dimension 3D Printing Group, a business unit of...

NATO to buy cargo jets.(NEWS & NOTES)(North Atlantic Treaty Organization)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... An international consortium of 10 NATO members--joined by Partnership for Peace nations Sweden and Finland--has signed a memorandum of understanding to acquire three Boeing C-17 Globemaster III long-range cargo jets. The agreement sets the...

Another equator.(NEWS & NOTES)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Scientists at the University of York in England have discovered a chemical equator that divides the polluted air of the Earth's Northern Hemisphere from that of the largely uncontaminated atmosphere of its Southern Hemisphere. The...

Algor Inc.(briefly noted)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Algor Inc. of Pittsburgh announced its finite element analysis software is a 32- and 64-bit certified application for Autodesk Inventor 2009. The designation is for products that operate with Autodesk Inventor software.

Zenergy Power plc has entered into a five-year joint development agreement with Honeywell Specialty Products.(briefly noted)
November 1, 2008... Zenergy Power plc has entered into a five-year joint development agreement with Honeywell Specialty Products to develop a range of chemical precursors for volume production of second-generation high-temperature superconductive wire.

Curtiss-Wright Corp. of Roseland, N.J., has acquired Mechetronics Ltd. for $2.8 million.(briefly noted)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Curtiss-Wright Corp. of Roseland, N.J., has acquired Mechetronics Ltd. for $2.8 million. Mechetronics, which makes solenoids and solenoid valves for industrial markets, will become part of Curtiss-Wright's Motion Control segment. Mechetronics...

Visteon Corp.(briefly noted)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Visteon Corp., a Michigan supplier of automotive interiors, climate, electronics and Lighting systems, has opened an office in St. Petersburg, Russia. The office, based on Nevsky Prospect, provides an expanded level of service to Visteon's...

Gerber Technology.(briefly noted)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Gerber Technology of Tolland, Conn., which makes CAD, CAM, and PLM software for the flexible materials industry, has released an upgrade to its product data management software, WebPDM Version 5.3.

Cyber peeping tom.(COMPUTING)
November 1, 2008... The growth of shared wireless computer networks has increased the risk that someone is eavesdropping on your Internet communications, according to researchers in Carnegie Mellon University's school of computer science and college of...

Fluid gaming movement.(COMPUTING)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Your avatar likely doesn't move as gracefully as you. The people who create interactive video games can have problems representing realistic body gestures. Now, researchers at two European universities have developed a method they say...

Molecules in 3-D.(COMPUTING)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Real life doesn't appear in two dimensions, so why should a medical encyclopedia? Biologists and biochemists can access 3-D images of proteins and other molecules on the new Proteopedia Web site (www.proteopedia.org), which links written...

Flying CAD files.(COMPUTING)(computer-aided design)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... One French mold maker says that its new 3-D viewing tool acts as a kind of CAD e-mail. A three-dimensional viewer has cut in half the time the automotive mold maker spends translating the CAD files it receives from potential customers. The...

Thermodynamics online.(COMPUTING)(Begell House Inc.)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Looking for an A to Z guide to thermodynamics, heat and mass transfer, and fluids engineering online? It's what a Web site called Thermopedia says it can deliver. The site is an affiliate of Begell House Inc. of Redding, Conn., which...

Report shows high-end computing's potential.(COMPUTING)
November 1, 2008... Researchers will quickly affirm that more powerful computers lead to new scientific discoveries and engineering breakthroughs. With increased pressure on federal budgets, however, the White House Office of Management and Budget and the Office...

CADLearning.(briefly noted)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... CADLearning of Bedford N.H., has released a video tutorial series for users of Autodesk AutoCAD LT 2009. The series is available online or via DVD. The instructor explains multiple techniques for each job, using the various interfaces available...

Forming Technologies Inc.(briefly noted)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Forming Technologies Inc. of Oakville, Ontario, which makes software for the design, simulation, and costing of sheet metal components, has released Forming-Suite Fast Incremental The explicit incremental analysis tool is based on LSTC LS-Dyna...

Mechanical Simulation Corp.(briefly noted)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Mechanical Simulation Corp. of Ann Arbor, Mich., has upgraded its truck simulation tool, TruckSim, to version 7.01. The software is used to simulate the dynamic behavior of heavy-duty trucks and tractor-trailers made up of varied combinations...

CIMdata.(briefly noted)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Consulting and research firm CIMdata of Ann Arbor, Mich., has made available its annual PLM Market Analysis Report. The report provides detailed information and analysis on the worldwide PLM market.

Bricsys.(briefly noted)
November 1, 2008... Bricsys of Merrimack, N.H., has released version nine of its Bricscad CAD product.

DP Technology.(briefly noted)
November 1, 2008... DP Technology of Camarillo, Calif., has upgraded its CAM application to ESPRIT 2009.

Fishbowl Solutions Inc.(briefly noted)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Fishbowl Solutions Inc. of Minneapolis has released Inspection Report Automation, an out-of-the-box solution for PTC's Pro/Engineer. The software package automatically creates inspection report spreadsheets, which are often needed during the...

Metris.(briefly noted)
November 1, 2008... Metris of Leuven, Belgium, is now shipping its LC60D digital 3-D Line scanner. The scanner is used in the digital inspection process to scan parts.

Open Cascade S.A.S.(briefly noted)
November 1, 2008... Open Cascade S.A.S. of Paris has upgraded its simulation integration tool, Open Cascade Technology, to version 6.3.

Geometric Technologies Inc.(briefly noted)
November 1, 2008... Formerly known as TekSoft Inc., Geometric Technologies Inc. of Scottsdale, Ariz., has released a new version of its CAM software, CAMWorks 2009.

Visual Components.(briefly noted)
November 1, 2008... Visual Components of Helsinki, Finland, has upgraded its software for 3-D factory simulation. The current software version is designated Visual Components 2009.

CAD into illustrations.(SOFTWARE EXCHANGE)
November 1, 2008... Capability: The developer's Deep Exploration 5.5 software now includes a perpetual licensing option. The Deep Exploration software transforms original 3-D data from its native file format into lightweight, optimized, graphical models. Users can...

Student reference.(SOFTWARE EXCHANGE)(I Get It)
November 1, 2008... Capability: The I Get It Academic Program enables colleges and universities to access engineering learning content. The program grants engineering students access to more than 90 extensive online courses and assessments at no cost. The program...

Widget on the job.(SOFTWARE EXCHANGE)
November 1, 2008... Capability: Programs from SolidWorks labs, the research and development arm of the CAD developer, allow the CAD program's users to step behind the curtain and play with not-yet-released technologies and to test-drive software prototypes. For...

Linetype additions.(SOFTWARE EXCHANGE)
November 1, 2008... Capability: AutoLine 2009 Linetype Manager adds more than 100 linetypes to the CAD programs AutoCAD from Autodesk and Autodsys from AcceliCAD. The application includes a function to manage linetypes and an interface to modify them. Users can...

Drafting in 2-D.(SOFTWARE EXCHANGE)
November 1, 2008... Capability: Solid Edge 2D Drafting includes drawing layout, diagramming, and dimensioning. It features a built-in command finder so users don't have to look up AutoCAD-equivalent commands. It also includes import wizards and matched fonts and...

What robots learn.(TECH FOCUS: power transmission and motion control)
November 1, 2008... As the tasks that we ask of robots--especially service robots designed to help humans--grow more complicated, teaching robots how to perform those tasks has grown ever more complex. That's why robot developers may want to look at the work of a...

Tracking in two dimensions.(TECH FOCUS: power transmission and motion control)
November 1, 2008... OPTICAL ENCODERS ARE DEVICES THAT SIT ON MOVING PARTS AND CONTINUOUSLY MONITOR THEIR POSITION BY READING NARKS ON A RULER-LIKE INCREMENTAL TRACK. The information goes to a controller, which uses it to adjust the part's speed and location. ...

Positioner lightens up.(TECH FOCUS: power transmission and motion control)(Baldor Electric Co.)
November 1, 2008... Baldor Electric Co. of Fort Smith, Ark., has developed a new x-y positioning base that integrates two linear stepper motors into a single plane in a lightweight honeycombed platen, or base. Ordinary positioning bases use two separate sets of...

Encoders for drag racing.(TECH FOCUS: power transmission and motion control)(RLS d.o.o.)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] MAGNETIC ROTARY ENCODERS MADE BY GREAT BRITAIN'S RENISHAW PLC ARE USED AS POSITION SENSORS IN A WIDE RANGE OF APPLICATIONS, FROM FORMULA ONE RACE CARS TO OIL FIELDS. Among the more colorful uses has been in the...

Motor untracks magnets.(TECH FOCUS)(Siemens Energy and Automation Inc.)
November 1, 2008... A new linear motor turns the usual recipe for such devices on its head. Linear motors are essentially rotary motors with their stators rolled flat. The shuttle, or primary section, contains an electromagnet. It rides along the secondary...

Power electronics growing rapidly, says study.(TECH FOCUS)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... The market for power electronics products and systems, which approached $10 billion in 2007, will grow 11.6 percent annually to reach $17.7 billion in 2013, according to a new study by market researcher BCC Research of Wellesley, Mass. ...

Moving on their own: technology is advancing toward a future supported by a workforce of autonomous, mobile robots.(FOCUS ON ENGINEERING TOMORROW)(Cover story)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE WORD "ROBOT" dates back to the early 1920s. It was introduced in a play called R.U.R. by a Czech writer, Karel Capek. The idea of an automaton existed in antiquity, the subject of myths and fiction, but the first...

Design for market systems: integrating social, economic, and physical sciences to engineer product success.
November 1, 2008... Product success depends on successful planning of both the big picture and the details. Mechanical engineers tend to focus on the details--making products work as intended physically--and they leave it to managers and government to interpret...

Web mining for innovation: automatically combing user reviews and patent databases turns up plenty of innovative ideas.
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Think of the Web as a massive search space. What if companies could mine its myriad data to discover customer and expert reviews of products and services, and then use the feedback from those reviews to drive...

To go beyond: experiments with an advanced electromagnetic engine aim for high-speed, long-distance transportation to reach farther into space.
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] FIFTY-ONE YEARS AGO, the Soviet Union launched the artificial moon Sputnik, the first man-made satellite to circle Earth. The United States followed four months later with the launch of Explorer I. On America's first...

What part of yes don't you understand? When dealing with Asian businesses, this common word can take on many shades of meaning. It pays to know them.
November 1, 2008... The Chinese often answer with a very quick "yes" whenever you ask a question. This happens even when we know they haven't thought about the question long enough to even answer. Why do they say "yes" when they can't possibly mean it, and what do...

Biomedical Applications of Vibration and Acoustics in Therapy. Bioeffects and Modeling.(ASME BOOKSHELF)(Brief article)(Book review)
November 1, 2008... Biomedical Applications of Vibration and Acoustics in Therapy. Bioeffects and Modeling. Edited by Ahmed Al-Jumaily and Azra Alizad. ASME Press, Three Park Ave., New York, NY 10016-5990. 2008. 350 pages. ASME members, $111; list, $139. ISBN...

John Penn and Sons of Greenwich.(ASME BOOKSHELF)(Brief article)(Book review)
November 1, 2008... JOHN PENN AND SONS OF GREENWICH. Richard Hartree. Landmark Publishing Ltd. Orders: Richard Hartree, Stables Cottage, Sibford Ferris, Banbury, OX 15 5RE, UK; e-mail: richard@hartree.org.uk. 2008. Softcover. 128 pages. 14.99 [pounds sterling] +...

Dependable Engines: The Story of Pratt & Whitney.(ASME BOOKSHELF)
November 1, 2008... DEPENDABLE ENGINES: THE STORY OF PRATT & WHITNEY. Mark P. Sullivan. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 1801 Alexander Bell Dr., Suite 500, Reston, VA 20191-4344. 2008. 182 pages. $29.95. ISBN 978-1-56347-957-1. The Pratt &...

Large-Scale Disasters: Prediction, Control, and Mitigation.(ASME BOOKSHELF)(Book review)
November 1, 2008... LARGE-SCALE DISASTERS: PREDICTION. CONTROL. AND MITIGATION. Mohamed Gad-el-Hak, Editor. Cambridge University Press, 32 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10013-2473. 2008. 604 pages. $200. ISBN 978-0-521-87293-5. Large-Scale Disasters...

Design Patterns for Flexible Manufacturing.(ASME BOOKSHELF)(Brief article)(Book review)
November 1, 2008... DESIGN PATTERNS FOR FLEXIBLE MANUFACTURING. Dennis Brandl. Instrumentation, Systems, and Automation Society, 67 Alexander Dr., P.O. Box 12277, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709. 2007. Softcover. 232 pages. ISA members, $89; list, $99. This...

ASME codes & standards.(American Society Of Mechanical Engineers)
November 1, 2008... ASME International, Codes & Standards, Three Park Ave., New York, NY 10016-5990 [212] 591-8500 Fax: [212] 591-8501 e-mail.: cslaasme.org We invite you to visit our Web site: www.asme.org/codes. If you are looking for...

ASME publications.(Bibliography)
November 1, 2008... APPLIED MECHANICS REVIEWS ARTICLES Asymptotic and Probabilistic Approach to Buckling of Structures and Materials. K. Ikeda and K. Murota. Vol. 61, No. 4, July 2008. 16 pages. A Review of Robust Control. of Piezoelectric Smart...

Electronic valve.(NEW PRODUCTS)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CLIPPARD INSTRUMENT LABORATORY INC., CINCINNATI, OHIO. At just over an inch tall, and less than 3/4 in. in diameter, Clippard's EM valve comes in two- and three-way configurations and uses the company's special...

Spindle alignment tool.(NEW PRODUCTS)
November 1, 2008... PINPOINT LASER SYSTEMS, PEABODY, MASS. Pinpoint has a new measuring and alignment system for lathes, turning equipment, spindles, and related machinery. This spindle alignment tool is said to be easy to use, versatile, and affordable for use...

Power converter for wind energy.(NEW PRODUCTS)
November 1, 2008... AMERICAN SUPERCONDUCTOR CORP., DEVENS, MASS. The PowerModule PM3000W is a fully programmable, flexible, and modular power converter developed specifically for wind power applications. The PM3000W is based on AMSC's core capabilities in power...

Electronic hygrotherm.(NEW PRODUCTS)
November 1, 2008... OMEGA ENGINEERING INC., STAMFORD, CONN. Omega's new series of electronic hygrotherm senses the ambient temperature and relative humidity in an enclosure with electrical/electronic components and turns on a heater (or alternatively, a fan) at...

Washers and collars.(NEW PRODUCTS)
November 1, 2008... MISUMI USA INC., SCHAUMBURG, ILL. The company has expanded its lines of precision washers and collars for machine and equipment assembly. New precision and ultra-precision grades of washers are now available, many in configurable dimensions of...

Servo motors.(NEW PRODUCTS)
November 1, 2008... AMETEK TECHNICAL & INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS, KENT, OHIO. MCG brand ID Series brush-commutated dc servo motors incorporate higher inertia armatures to provide improved motor-to-load inertia matching capability for medium to high reflected load...

Higher resolution.(NEW PRODUCTS)
November 1, 2008... RENCO ENCODERS INC., GOLETA, CALIR One can improve system performance by replacing the company's size 15 Resolver with the new Renco R35i. The R35i now comes with a servo-groove mounting option, which allows direct fitment into an existing size...

Pressure relief insert.(NEW PRODUCTS)
November 1, 2008... THE LEE CO., WESTBROOK, CONN. The 281 zero leak PRI is a new pressure relief insert for thermal relief and low-flow hydraulic pressure relief applications where zero leakage is needed. Weighing 6 grams, the device handles typical flow rates...

Compact magnetic encoder.(NEW PRODUCTS)
November 1, 2008... THE TIMKEN CO., CANTON, OHIO. According to the company, the M15 modular magnetic encoder provides more reliable feedback than optical encoders to keep motors and factory-automated equipment running longer, even in harsh environments. Encoders...

Wiring devices.(NEW PRODUCTS)
November 1, 2008... MARINCO ELECTRICAL GROUP, NAPA, CALIF. The company says its new series of specification--and hospital--grade NEMA wiring devices make for faster, easier assembly of electrical terminations. It also promises safer, more reliable, and...

Vision platform.(NEW PRODUCTS)
November 1, 2008... BROWN & SHARPE TESA, NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. This Hexagon Metrology company's Tesavisio 200 non-contact video measuring machine is a high-precision, scalable system that can be reconfigured at any time. Its measurement range is 200 x 100 x 150...

An old name and a lightweight bus.(INPUT OUTPUT)(Fisher Coachworks LLC)(Company overview)
November 1, 2008... A Fisher is back in the coach-building business in Michigan, this time with a fuel-saving bus. It is a new company, Fisher Coachworks LLC in Troy, Mich., and its CEO is a grandson of one of the original brothers who founded the old Fisher...

The 2007-2008 ASME fellows ...(American Society Of Mechanical Engineers)
November 1, 2008... THE ASME FELLOW The ASME Board of Governors confers the distinction of Fellow grade of membership on worth candidates to recognize their outstanding engineering achievements. Nominated by their peers, and selected by the Fellow Review...

The 2007-2008 ASME Fellows....(Josua P. Meyer-Dong Zhu)
November 1, 2008... Josua P. Meyer [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Professor Meyer is an outstanding academic, recognized internationally as a leading figure in thermal sciences and engineering education. At RAU he developed the largest post-graduate program in...