Product Design & Development articles from December 2006

Product Design & Development archives from December 2006

Flat-panel monitor.(PD&D Exclusive)
December 1, 2006... The FPM-3121G industrial 12.1-in. XGA flat-panel monitor is specially designed for applications with limited space. The FPM-3121G features direct-VGA signal input to allow a regular VGA control card to be used in a system. Users can upgrade...

Locking assemblies.(First Look: Smart Products and Technical Tools for Engineers)
December 1, 2006... ECOLOC RfN 7003-7006 locking assemblies are single paper, internal locking devices designed to provide higher torques, self-centering ability, and axial capacities in rotating machinery for heavy-duty applications. Applications include...

Miniature ball screws.(First Look: Smart Products and Technical Tools for Engineers)
December 1, 2006... A line of miniature ball screws features internal recirculation inserts with backdriving characteristics to promote smooth running and quiet performance. They enable precise positioning for a wide range of linear-actuation applications in the...

Terminal blocks.(First Look: Smart Products and Technical Tools for Engineers)
December 1, 2006... A line of DIN rail-mounted spring clamp connection terminal blocks is designed to simplify and reduce wiring time. The new range of spring clamp blocks come as small as 4 mm wide, taking up to a 16 AWG all the way up to a 16 mm wide terminal...

Touch feedback.(First Look: Smart Products and Technical Tools for Engineers)
December 1, 2006... The TouchSense System consists of actuators, control boards, and a software development kit (SDK) to supply tactile feedback for a touchscreen user interface, making onscreen buttons feel like they press and release. With the TouchSense System,...

Aerospace locknuts.(First Look: Smart Products and Technical Tools for Engineers)
December 1, 2006... A line of large diameter Iocknuts is designed for use in critical applications. These nuts are available in diameters from 7/8 to 6 in. diameters in hex, 12 point, spline, castellated, and full and thin height FLEXLOC all-metal self-locking...

Color-coated material.(First Look: Smart Products and Technical Tools for Engineers)
December 1, 2006... Sandvik Decorex is a color-coated strip material designed for decorative component producers in the consumer electronics, domestic appliance, and automotive industries. The material combines an extensive and exclusive color range and various...

Imaging lenses.(First Look: Smart Products and Technical Tools for Engineers)
December 1, 2006... Micro Video imaging lenses are designed to meet the needs of automotive and industrial machine vision applications. By incorporating precision optical components inside a sealed optical assembly matched with optimum performance, the harsh...

A test pattern for the future: ease-of-use, connectivity, and instruments are defined by software.(Future Focus)
December 1, 2006... Instruments are become more closely tied to computers, and are increasingly defined as much by their communications methods and software as by their hardware. Several experts weighed in with their thoughts on this trend. Ease-of-Use ...

Q&A: the costs of going low cost: faced with rising raw material costs, OEMs should examine all of their options.(Questions & Answers)(Interview)
December 1, 2006... Ask almost any OEM these days what are the biggest problems affecting their profit margins and inevitably, the cost of materials will show up in their list. Processes for raw materials are skyrocketing in some case, particularly metals. So...

The fabulous 50: the following pages present this year's finalists. It's your chance to tell us who should win the Gold, Silver, and Bronze Awards.(Product Design & Development's 12th Annual Engineering Awards)(Cover story)
December 1, 2006... Our 12th Annual Engineering Awards features 50 products that constitute some the year's finest new technologies. Each of the finalists is the result of the tireless work and creative thinking of engineers and engineering teams from across the...

Partners for lifecycle: product stewardship brings design, manufacturing, and aftermarket together, benefiting the entire product lifecycle.(From The Field)
December 1, 2006... Original-equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have always had difficulty in finding the time and resources to keep their current products viable while ensuring enough investment in new product development. As OEMs face increasing global competition...

Stepping motor and driver.(New Products)
December 1, 2006... The AlphaSTEP stepping motor is RoHS-compliant and uses closed-loop control to eliminate loss of synchronism. The motor uses a newly developed sensor to detect its rotor's position by sensing the change in inductance between the moving rotor...

Blind threaded inserts.(New Products)
December 1, 2006... Heavy-duty Atlas MaxTite blind threaded inserts feature a thicker head and heavier wall than standard types to serve in demanding high-load applications. These fasteners provide permanent metal threads in "blind" attachment applications, where...

Leak test instrument.(New Products)
December 1, 2006... The Sentinel M24 features expanded capabilities on a versatile leak test instrument. The Sentinel M24 features expanded capabilities that provide control for a single station or up to four independent stations. The M24 also provides enhanced...

Sleeve coupling.(New Products)
December 1, 2006... A precision sleeve coupling is designed for use on supported shafts and maintains concentricity to within 0.001 TIR. The coupling features a solid center section that provides a close tolerance fit on ground shafting, includes a keyway, and the...

DeviceNet cables.(New Products)
December 1, 2006... Several new DeviceNet cables include "thin" and "mid" hi-flex cables, mid-standard specification cables, and "thick" tray rated cables. Together with the already existing "thin" and "thick" standard cables, the line offers a complete set of...

Medical tapes.(New Products)
December 1, 2006... 3M Diagnostic Microplate sealing tapes are designed for a variety of adhesive applications in the healthcare industry. Offered in various forms of acetate films, synthetic adhesives, and transparent tapes, these solutions are consistent and...

Articulating compressor.(New Products)
December 1, 2006... Featuring enclosed designs in both the motor and compressor sections, TASKAIR E Series articulating piston units are built to deliver long, service-free life while standing up to wet and dirty conditions. The compressors provide up to 150 psi...

Ground ball screws.(New Products)
December 1, 2006... TCM precision ground ball screws incorporate a robust internal return system designed for durability and high performance in the most demanding linear-actuation applications. These ball screw assemblies enable precise positioning of moving...

Valve connectors.(New Products)
December 1, 2006... DIN 43650 valve connectors are designed for use with solenoid valves in hydraulic and pneumatic applications. In addition, these connectors can also be used in electrical applications for pressure switches, filter switches, limit switches, and...

Rocker switch.(New Products)
December 1, 2006... The 3131 rocker switch/circuit breaker is a combination high performance switch and thermal circuit breaker certified to IP66 specifications, making it suitable for extreme environmental conditions such as marine, medical, electrical machinery,...

Thermoplastic wheel.(New Products)
December 1, 2006... The Faultless Caster Reinforced Thermoplastic (RT) wheel is designed for use in the Faultless 400, 800, and 1400 standard and stainless steel caster series. The RT wheel combines high performance, durability, and cost-effectiveness. Resistant...

Electrical interconnect.(New Products)
December 1, 2006... The Rocker Power Clip is designed as a low-cost solution for interconnection between two perpendicular power bus bars. It can be used in "N+1" rectifier, power supply, and switching power supply applications. The device's high-performance...

Bus coupler.(New Products)
December 1, 2006... The IL MII BK DI8 DO4-PAC bus coupler allows seamless connection of INLINE modular I/O to the Mechatrolink Motion Field Network. When used in combination with Mechatrolink-compatible drives and controls, the MII BK permits easy integration of...

Rotary switches.(New Products)
December 1, 2006... The FR Series of 10-mm ultra-thin DIP rotary switches has been expanded with dial and metal shaft actuator options for through-hole devices. Previously offered with screwdriver or plastic shaft actuators for through-hole devices, the FR's new...

Molded medical components.(New Products)
December 1, 2006... A line of miniaturized molded components offers medical product designers a way to improve product performance. Miniaturization of components in a broad range of polymers gives the medical designer greater flexibility in designing devices...

Emulation system.(New Products)
December 1, 2006... The MPLAB REAL ICE emulation system is designed for the development of applications employing PIC microcontrollers and dsPIC digital signal controllers (DSCs). Addressing the need for increased controller memory speed and cable interconnection...

Why and when to install multidrives? New technology delivers precise control of multiple motors.(MOTION CONTROL)
December 1, 2006... Extremely compact multidrives, such as the ACS800, offers an array of benefits to integrators, OEMs, panel builders, and end users who are optimizing energy usage through precise control of motors. Since drives are available both in multidrive...

The move to customize servo amplifiers: what are the benefits and trade-off for motion control applications?(MOTION CONTROL)
December 1, 2006... Servo amplifiers are available from numerous vendors and are available in a bewildering variety of forms and capabilities. Each company seems to have its own idea of what functionality is best, or what form of packaging the customer needs most....

Down on the farm: a rotary encoder helps farmers better irrigate their fields.(MOTION CONTROL)
December 1, 2006... With the advent of advanced motion control systems, even the country's core business of agriculture continues to make headway. With programmable mechanical move irrigation systems now in the fields of about one third of the country's farms--and...

Compass Technologies Inc. is offering a free demo CD of its new 6e software.(CDs)
December 1, 2006... Compass Technologies Inc. is offering a free demo CD of its new 6e software. Using multimedia technology, the CD explains the 6e system architecture and contains comprehensive software simulations that demonstrate its power and ease of use. The...

Autodesk has introduced Autodesk Labs (http://labs.autodesk.com), a site that provides free, early access to prototypes, experimental and beta applications, and technologies.(Online)
December 1, 2006... Autodesk has introduced Autodesk Labs (http://labs.autodesk.com), a site that provides free, early access to prototypes, experimental and beta applications, and technologies. The site enables direct feedback that can lead to better products and...

DADCO has updated its product catalog for the LJ Series of nitrogen gas springs.(Catalogs & Brochures)
December 1, 2006... DADCO has updated its product catalog for the LJ Series of nitrogen gas springs. Available in three force models with stroke lengths from 13 to 125 mm, the LJ Series can be operated self-contained or linked using the MiniLink system. MiniLink...

Fairchild's 160-page catalog displays a line of industrial controls, including transducers, precision regulators, volume boosters, pneumatic relays, and a wide range of accessories.(Catalogs & Brochures)
December 1, 2006... Fairchild's 160-page catalog displays a line of industrial controls, including transducers, precision regulators, volume boosters, pneumatic relays, and a wide range of accessories. It also introduces the T 1750 high pressure transducer and the...

Accumulator selection software.(Free Stuff)
December 1, 2006... Parker Hannifin Hydraulic Accumulator Division's release of the latest version of inPHorm sizing and selection software provides a user-friendly format for determining the proper accumulator product for a given application. The new version of...