Product Design & Development articles from April 2008

Product Design & Development archives from April 2008

Faster, more accurate pumping action.(First Look)
April 1, 2008... New from KNF Neuberger is their FMM20 OEM micro-diaphragm liquid pump line. The solenoid-driven diaphragm pump is designed to dispense set volumes of 20 [micro]L/stroke and is field-adjustable from 5 to 25 [micro]L. According to the company,...

Greater load button accuracy, customization.(First Look)
April 1, 2008... FUTEK looks to overcome any load button accuracy issues with their lighterweight LLB130 miniature load button for press or in-line compression applications. The load button offers: * A 17-4 PH stainless steel composition. * A 0.38"...

High servo performance.(First Look)
April 1, 2008... Elmo Motion Control recently unveiled the latest addition to their Whistle family of servo drives, the Whistle 20A/100V. The new miniature servo drive can be ideal for robotics and semiconductor manufacturing in which lab automation requires...

Measurement solution for longer axes.(First Look)
April 1, 2008... Schneeberger feels their AMSA-3L integrated magneto-resistive measurement system is more accurate across longer axes. Features include a dual scan head design that enables the carriage to travel over butt joints without interfering with the...

Greater motion control application flexibility.(First Look)
April 1, 2008... New from Performance Motion Devices (PMD) are their Prodigy[R] motion cards. Designed with PMD's Magellan[TM] motion control IC, these units provide board-level, multi-axis motion control for DC brush, brushless DC, step and micro-stepping...

Enhanced positioning simplifies changeovers & cuts costs.(First Look)
April 1, 2008... Bimba's EFP MultiPosition and EFQ MultiForce cylinders offer PTFE-impregnated, hard-anodized bodies and are interchangeable with other compact, extruded cylinders of the same bore size. More specifically: * The EFP is a double--acting,...

Innovation's worst enemy.(At Issue)
April 1, 2008... When it comes to implementing new technology into my personal and professional life, I label myself as an "enthusiastic conservative". I'm more than willing to examine the possibility of using or implementing a new product and its capabilities,...

Field-proven topology generates power.(New Products: Electrical & Electronic Components)
April 1, 2008... Absopulse Electronics' DCW 150R-EH Series single-output DC/DC converter utilizes field-proven topology to generate 100 W of output power. Additional specifications include: * Standard output voltages of 12, 24, 48 or 110 VDC. * Inputs...

An encoder kit that's all about options.(New Products: Electrical & Electronic Components)
April 1, 2008... RENCO Encoders recently unveiled their kit encoder, which comes with a choice of locking connector. According to the company, the RENCO RE200 Series exhibits: * Improvement upon typical read-head style products by providing 6 different...

Reduced harmonics & line regeneration drive efficiency.(From the Cover)
April 1, 2008... New from Yaskawa is their Matrix Converter AC drive, which the company describes as the first low-voltage (208-240V/480-V) matrix converter. It can directly convert input AC voltage to output AC voltage without the need for a DC bus circuit....

Harsh-environment performance.(New Products: Electrical)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Gems[R] Sensors & Controls[TM] introduces the new miniature 950 electro optic level sensor for a range of applications and industries. The company says the ELS-950 features: * Performance in harsh environments....

Power density.(New Products: Electrical)
April 1, 2008... The VI-200 comes from Vicor's series of zero-current-switching component-level DC-DC converters. Operating at frequencies up to 2 MHz, VI-200 converters offer power density, efficiency and ease of use. According to the company, the VI-200 also...

3 ways to control output current.(New Products: Electrical)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] New power supplies from Placid Industries are especially suited for electromagnetic brakes and clutches. The output current can be controlled from 0 up to maximum output via a manual hand-operated potentiometer; a 0-...

LED display improves communication.(New Products: Electrical)
April 1, 2008... Fenwal Controls announces the new SYSTEM ONE gas ignition + temperature controller. The SYSTEM ONE combines automatic gas ignition with Fenwal's flexible Series 59 digital temperature controller featuring a bright 3-digit LED digital display....

Designing for cool result: how combining simple materials and components helped improve ocean studies in Antarctica.(Engineering Answers)
April 1, 2008... While all design engineers can relate to the difficulties presented by their product's operating environment, few have as clear an Understanding as Bob Zook. Just to offer a little perspective on the extreme conditions Antarctica can present, a...

Connection without fluid spray.(New Products: Electrical)
April 1, 2008... Beswick Engineering has released a dry break quick disconnect, which connects without any fluid spray or leakage, and disconnects with minimal dead volume. Other highlights include: * A stainless steel construction that weighs 15 G. *...

Harvesting electrical energy from excess heat.(New Products: Electrical)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Micropelt GmbH has unveiled the TE-Power-Bolt, a voltage-adjustable thermal battery that uses excess heat to generate electrical energy for devices that consume only a few milliwatts of power. With a...

A sensor that fits in limited space.(New Products: Electrical)
April 1, 2008... The E57 inductive proximity sensor from Omega Engineering is designed for a variety of applications with limited space for mounting sensors. These small sensors include: * 5- and 8-mm diameters. * A stainless steel or nickel-brass...

Spec check/sensors.(SENSORS)
April 1, 2008... SpecCheck/SENSORS PANASONIC ELECTRIC BEI DUNCAN ELECTRONICS WORKS The fully integrated The 9600...

Reliable surge protection.(New Products: Electrical & Electronic Components)
April 1, 2008... Phoenix Contact's new VALVETRAB-SQ surge protective devices (SPD) offer safe, reliable surge protection from 40,000 to 200,000 A. The NEMA-style series includes approximately 50 part numbers in 3 different mounting designs designated by CC...

Easy VCO installation.(New Products: Electrical & Electronic Components)
April 1, 2008... Crystek's CVCO55CC-2425-2440 VCO operates from 2,425 to 2,440 MHz with a control voltage range of 0.3 through 4.7 V. It also * A typical phase noise of-113 dBc/Hz at 10 KHz offset. * A 0.5" by 0.5" SMD package. * An 5-V input...

Upwards & Downwards Compatibility.(New Products: Electrical & Electronic Components)
April 1, 2008... ZMD AG has expanded their product portfolio with successive-approximation (SAR) analog-to-digital verters (ADCs). SARah is based on a scalable enabling upwards and downwards compatibility. total of 28 members in all, the SARah family offers a...

Radial lead ammo packs.(New Products: Electrical & Electronic Components)
April 1, 2008... The new CIT Relay & Switch CR1102H and CR1102V Series tactile switches are packaged on radial lead ammo packs. According to the company, product features of the CR1102H Series include: * Actuation force choices including 100, 130, 160 and...

Sockets with 0 insertion force.(New Products: Electrical & Electronic Components)
April 1, 2008... Ironwood Electronics introduce new GHz sockets for SOIC chips including their first release, the SG-SOIC-3000. According to the company, the 0 insertion force sockets deliver: * small footprint that requires about 2.5 mm of extra space...

Highest rated blocks.(New Products: Electrical & Electronic Components)
April 1, 2008... With an operating current rating of 250 A at 600 V, BlockMaster Electronics' new OTB-588 Series is the latest in the company's high-power terminal block line. According to the company, the new OTB-588 Series is highlighted by: *...

Deep subsea operation.(New Products: Electrical & Electronic Components)
April 1, 2008... Solartron ISA presents their new SST Series pressure and temperature transmitters for subsea applications to complement their line of subsea flow meters. According to the company, their SST1500 differential pressure (DP) transmitters feature:...

Eliminating accidental disconnections.(New Products: Electrical & Electronic Components)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] According to Anderson Power Products[R], their high-power 45-A PCB connector and contact series grants: * The ability to be pre-assembled in 1- or 2-row configurations, reducing assembly costs and eliminating...

ZPSA20 series PCB-mountable power.(New Products: Electrical & Electronic Components)
April 1, 2008... Lambda has unveiled their latest series of compact PCB-mountable 20-W AC-DC power supplies. According to the company, the single output ZPSA20 Series features: * A 0.79" profile and a 2" by 3.5" footprint. * Available output voltages...

Stable miniature low pressure sensors.(New Products: Electrical & Electronic Components)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Sensortechnics' HCL pressure sensors measure gage or differential pressures from 2 in H2O to 1 PSI. These miniature devices are precision-calibrated and temperature-compensated, and offer ratiometric mV output...

4 loops of PID.(New Products: Electrical & Electronic Components)
April 1, 2008... Athena Controls unveils their new C Series multi-loop controller, which offers 4 loops of PID control with cascade and feed-forward capabilities. According to the company, the controller also includes: * User configurability. *...

Silent operation.(New Products: Electrical & Electronic Components)
April 1, 2008... EAO introduces a range of compact switches. Already in some high-end audio mixers, EAO's Series 95 pushbuttons are designed specifically for silent operation within studio, audio/ video and broadcast applications. According to the company, the...

High-Temperature Preamplifier.(New Products: Electrical & Electronic Components)
April 1, 2008... The Automotive Sensors Division of PCB Piezotronics (PCB) releases a new high-temperature preamplifier designed to overcome high-temperature testing challenges, and broaden options for noise, vibration and harshness test engineers who collect...

Precision industrial automation.(New Products: Electrical & Electronic Components)
April 1, 2008... Micronor's new ENA361M (hollow shaft) and ESA361M (solid shaft) Series high-resolution analog output encoders provide 12-bit resolution with a choice of analog output which, according to the company, is ideal for high reliability and...

High-Powered White LEDs.(New Products: Electrical & Electronic Components)
April 1, 2008... Allegro[R] now offers their high-powered white InGaN multi-chip LEDs, which can be used in general lighting applications, amusement and gaming equipment, and for backlighting TFT displays. Each module combines either 6 or 8 LEDs in 1 to 4...

The brainstorm.
April 1, 2008... The Brainstorm is the section in Product Design & Development where we talk with industry leaders to get their perspective on critical issues in the design engineering marketplace. In this issue, we ask: Looking at things from an...

Handling aggressive gases.(New Products: Hydraulics & Pneumatics)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Lee Company's new perfluorinated semi-inert solenoid valve is specifically designed to handle moderately aggressive gases and liquids in a range of fluid handling applications. The valve can be used in anesthesia...

Air preparation equipment.(New Products: Hydraulics & Pneumatics)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Bimba Manufacturing has announced the availability of their new line of air preparation equipment featuring 3 sizes of filters, regulators and lubricators (FRLs). The new line includes: * The Miniature Series...

Shock-absorbing coupling solutions.(New Products: Hydraulics & Pneumatics)
April 1, 2008... Ruland offers shock-absorbing jaw couplings for high acceleration/deceleration applications. The company has expanded their line of zero-backlash jaw couplings to include more compliant spider elements for applications in which greater shock...

Integral piloting.(New Products: Hydraulics & Pneumatics)
April 1, 2008... The new HydraForce SVCL and SPCL Series valves can provide integral piloting or load-signaling in a solenoid-operated on/off or proportional cartridge valve. The SVCL and SPCL products are released in the 10-size version, using the VC103 cavity...

Trying nano on for size: nanotechnology developments have started to dwarf design apprehension.(Tech Feature)
April 1, 2008... One billionth of a meter? What good can come of something so small? The term nanotechnology involves any technology that pertains to small matter--approximately 100 nm or smaller to be more exact, although no standard measurement has been...

Extended motor life.(New Products: Motion Control)
April 1, 2008... The new AEGIS SGR[TM] Conductive MicroFiber[TM] shaft grounding brush from Electro Static Technology improves the reliability of HVAC/R systems by extending motor life. By protecting bearings from electrical damage for the life of the motor,...

Emergency maintenance, services.(New Products: Motion Control)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] LEE LINEAR[R] now offers emergency services. This service, which provides LEE products at reduced lead times, is a value-added benefit for LEE customers. The breakdown of a key linear component can cost thousands of...

Power & Intelligence.(New Products: Motion Control)
April 1, 2008... Dunkermotoren presents both the BG 42 brushless DC motor with Hall sensors and flying leads, as well as the BG 45 brushless DC servo motor with integrated power and logic electronics. According to the company, the new products offer: *...

Quick delivery program.(New Products: Motion Control)
April 1, 2008... Designed for moist or otherwise corrosive environments, The Precision Alliance and KSS now offer stainless steel ball screws via a stocking program for quick delivery. According to the company, the ball screws feature: * 6-, 8- and 10-mm...

Digital drive control.(New Products: Motion Control)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The TNC 620 contouring digital-drive control from HEIDENHAIN Corp. is a new control for use on both milling machines and machining centers with up to 5 axes plus a spindle. The TNC is based on the NC Kernel software...

Smart microstep positioning.(New Products: Motion Control)
April 1, 2008... Advanced Micro Systems (AMS) now offers the mSTEP-407. This intelligent microstep positioning system packs features for accurate, high-torque positional control into a 3.0" by 2.5" by 1.5" (76.2 by 63.5 by 38.1 mm) footprint. According to AMS,...

Optimizing your product development cycle.(Application Notes)
April 1, 2008... Organizations involved in the design of plastic parts face continuous pressure to get products to market faster. These compressed development cycles often result in simulation only being used to troubleshoot or validate designs. Failure to...

Software that can read your lips.(New Product)
April 1, 2008... XPresso speech recognition software empowers SolidWorks[R] users to design with their voice, saving time and increasing productivity. Developed by certified SolidWorks professionals, Xpresso allows users to say commands, thus reducing overall...

In control with graphical project development.(New Product)
April 1, 2008... Control Technology Corp. (CTC) recently released QuickBuilder[TM] graphical development environment software for their Model 5300 line of controllers. QuickBuilder is a comprehensive graphical project development tool that enables users to...

Comprehensive sound & vibration measurement.(New Product)
April 1, 2008... National Instruments (NI) presents the NI Sound and Vibration Measurement Suite, Version 6.0, and the NI PXI-4495 16-channel sound and vibration data acquisition module. This suite contains a comprehensive collection of analysis and...

Ready for battle: a greater focus on ergonomics and material selection helps firefighters do their job knowing a well-tested Warrior is at their back.(Engineering Answers)
April 1, 2008... Sperian's Warrior[TM] self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) offers another interesting example of environment dictating design. Aided by new National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) requirements, the next generation of these devices for...

Improved contact geometry.(New Products: Motion Control)
April 1, 2008... SKF[R] cylindrical roller bearings feature unique logarithmically crowned rollers that provide improved contact geometry between the roller and the raceway. According to SKF, additional specifications include: * A roller profile that...

Precise position & velocity.(New Products: Motion Control)
April 1, 2008... The 2-phase linear stepper motor from H2W Technologies with 1-[mu] (0.00004") resolution is designed for integration into new and existing applications. According to the company, the 5-lb. linear stepper features: * A travel of 80 in./s (2...

EPL enabled.(New Products: Motion Control)
April 1, 2008... Parker's Electromechanical Automation Division has announced that their Compax3 digital servo drives have been enabled with ETHERNET Powerlink (EPL) motionbus technology. With 12 power levels of the Compax3 drives now EPL enabled, system...

Wear-resistant slewing rings.(New Products: Motion Control)
April 1, 2008... igus'[R] slewing ring bearings use 2 self-lubricating, low friction polymer sliding elements in place of ball bearings. The low noise PRT modules are wear resistant, easy to install and completely maintenance-free, according to the company. The...

Black chrome plating.(New Products: Motion Control)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] MISUMI USA has announced the immediate availability of low-temp, black chrome plating on a variety of the company's motion components including linear shafts, linear bushings, linear guides, ball screws and others....

Non-magnetic, vacuum compatible.(New Products: Motion Control)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] PI now offers 3 types of ceramic, non-magnetic linear motor actuators. The 3 types are distinguished by force, travel range, speed and precision. For short travel ranges (less than 1 mm), high forces, and rapid...

Lower power module.(New Products: Motion Control)
April 1, 2008... New Scale Technologies has added a smaller, lower-power module to its SQL-M line of SQUIGGLE[R] micro-actuator modules. Each module incorporates a patented piezoelectric, SQUIGGLE motor with optical limit switches in a compact polymer housing....

Ramping up at preset rate.(New Products: Motion Control)
April 1, 2008... Trust Automation introduces the programmable TA2230 constant velocity drive. The TA2230 drive is designed to run a brushless motor at a constant velocity using the motor's Hall sensors for velocity feedback: Using an RS232 interface, the drive...

Increased connection integrity.(New Products: Motion Control)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Haydon Switch & Instrument has announced that their size 14 hybrid linear actuators are now available with an integrated connector. Offered alone, or with a harness assembly, this connector is Rolls compliant and...

High strength, low noise.(New Products: Motion Control)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] DC gearmotors for OEM applications are now available from Source Engineering. These 12-to 50-mm DC gearmotors are available with cut steel gears for high strength applications, plastic gears for low noise...

Precise positional accuracy.(New Products: Motion Control)
April 1, 2008... Kerk Motion Products now offers the ZBX Series anti-backlash assembly, a linear actuator for design operations requiring precise positional accuracy and repeatability. The inherent damping qualities of the ZBX design make it suitable for...

Reliable electrical interconnections.(New Products: Motion Control)
April 1, 2008... Adhesives Research offers a product line of electrically conductive pressure-sensitive adhesive systems for reliable electrical interconnections. These products feature: * Patented, uniform conductive adhesive technology for new levels of...

Chemical & plasticizer resistance.(New Products: Motion Control)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Scapa North America now offers 2 acrylic transfer adhesives designed for sound attenuation, vibration dampening, rubber extrusion mounting and general product assembly applications. According to the company, the...

Low viscosity.(New Products: Motion Control)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Master Bond has unveiled a new 1-component, optically clear, non-yellowing UV and/ or heat curable polymer system called the UV15-7DC. According to the company, this system includes: * The capability for bonding,...

Double-sided adhesive.(New Products: Motion Control)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CS Hyde Co. has announced a new product--Teflon[R] (PTFE) tape with adhesive on both sides. According to the company, additional features include: * Pressure-sensitive adhesive available in thicknesses of 0.005"...

Specific sealing requirements.(New Products: Motion Control)
April 1, 2008... Interstate Specialty Products (ISP) introduces custom-fabricated cellular silicone gaskets and seals for critical applications. ISP gaskets and seals are custom-fabricated from open- and closed-cell substrates to match specific sealing,...

Cure in seconds.(New Products: Motion Control)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] New light-cured Tru-Bond Series adhesives from Devcon cure in seconds when exposed to ultraviolet light, whether from direct sunlight or a special UV lamp, according to the company. Paired with the ability to...

Detailed, accurate testing.(New Products: Motion Control)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The new Benz DIN Abrader (DIN 2200) from Benz Materials Testing Instruments features a digital speed adjustment and test timer for more detailed and accurate testing. According to the company, this product includes:...

Improved chemical resistors.(New Products: Motion Control)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Apple Rubber offers a line of ISO 9001-2000 certified rubber parts and sealing solutions with USP Class 6 grades available. In addition to silicone, the company produces medical-grade elastomers such as Viton[R]...

High heat resistance.(New Products: Motion Control)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] IDI Composites International has announced the AV-206, a corrosion-resistant, lightweight sheet molding compound. The AV-206 features: * High-heat and creep-resistant properties. * The ability to withstand...

High-quality metallic gloss.(New Products: Motion Control)
April 1, 2008... MAKROFOL[R] 3D Metallic FG film from Bayer Films Americas, a division of Sheffield Plastics, boasts a high-quality metallic gloss and an eye-catching appearance, according to the company. Additional product features include: * A...

Spec check/displays.(DISPLAYS)
April 1, 2008... SpecCheck/DISPLAYS ENDICOTT RESEARCH GROUP RED LION CONTROLS Designed for a range of This programmable large industrial LCDs, these digital display for 2...

Reusable metal threads.(New Products: Fastening & Thermal Solutions)
April 1, 2008... SI[R] threaded inserts from PennEngineering provide strong, reusable metal threads in plastics to allow for subsequent access to assemblies when required. These brass, stainless steel or aluminum threaded inserts serve as an alternative to...

Compact cabinet coolers.(New Products: Fastening & Thermal Solutions)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Noren Products has released their smallest air-to-air heat exchanger, the Mighty Mini CC100. The CC100 is designed to provide small form factor protection against overheating in all types of electrical, electronic,...

AC fans for electronic equipment.(New Products: Fastening & Thermal Solutions)
April 1, 2008... Orion Fans has developed a line of dual-voltage AC fans designed for electronic equipment and industrial enclosures. Designated the OA109AP-11/22 Series, the fan, according to the company, provides: * 3 available standard models: a...

Low thermal expansion.(New Products: Fastening & Thermal Solutions)
April 1, 2008... CPS Technologies now offers AlSiC (Aluminum Silicon Carbide) metal matrix composite pin fin substrates for liquid-cooled high-power module systems. According to the company, the new offering features: * Liquid cooling to dissipate heat (1...

Long-lasting data integrity.(New Products: Computing Hardware & Peripherals)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Advanced Media has added the Ridata 2.5" IDE Ultra-S solid-state drive (SSD) in a 32-GB capacity to their Ridata SSD product line. This solid-state flash disk is an alternative to hard-disk drives. According to the...

Microsoft certified.(New Products: Computing Hardware & Peripherals)
April 1, 2008... Comtrol Corp. recently released Microsoft-certified Vista drivers for their line of PCI Express and PCI-X serial expansion cards. The "Certified for Windows Vista" logo identifies the Comtrol RocketPort EXPRESS and RocketPort INFINITY product...

Resolution upgrade.(New Products: Computing Hardware & Peripherals)
April 1, 2008... National Instruments has announced a new line of M Series USB data acquisition (DAQ) devices with 18-bit analog input accuracy at sampling rates up to 625 kS/s. The NI USB-6281 and USB-6289 feature an 18-bit ADC, which provides 4 times the...

Thinner backlight.(New Products: Computing Hardware & Peripherals)
April 1, 2008... Global Lighting Technologies introduces a thin LED-based backlight. The new backlight provides increased brightness and unifornaity, while using fewer LEDs. The backlight features: * MicroLens[TM] light extraction technology that extracts...

Smaller size & higher efficiency.(Distributor Data)
April 1, 2008... Newark, part of the global Premier Farnell Group, has announced that they are now stocking a new solution recently introduced by industrial power manufacturer, Sola/Hevi-Duty. Next-generation SDN-C Series power supplies offer a smaller size and...

Reed-based liquid level sensors.(Distributor Data)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Digi-Key Corp. and Cynergy3 Components have entered into a global distribution agreement. Cynergy3, a provider of high-voltage and RF reed relays and liquid level/flow sensors, has agreed to now have their products...

Wide viewing angles.(Distributor Data)
April 1, 2008... Mouser Electronics has signed a distribution agreement with Noritake Co., a technology manufacturer of vacuum fluorescent display (VFD) modules. According to Noritake, their VFDs offer high brightness, wide viewing angles, wide temperature...