Product Design & Development articles from February 2003

Product Design & Development archives from February 2003

Low value chip resistors.
February 1, 2003... The CRL Series of low value chip resistors can be used in current sense applications with low power loss. Available in tape-and-reel packaging, the new series offers E24 values from 0.01 to 9.1 ohms and packaging sizes from 0603 to 2512....

Absolute encoders.
February 1, 2003... The Dynapar Acuro Series of absolute encoders boasts a compact design, high resolution, and innovative reliability features that help prevent downtime. The encoders come in single-turn and multi-turn configurations with solid-shaft or...

Strain-relief bushing.
February 1, 2003... The flat sides at both ends of the new Double D Lockit prevent it from turning, allowing the strain-relief bushing to protect current-carrying wires from twisting or pulling. It snaps into place without tools, sealing electrical housing and...

Magnetically driven pumps.
February 1, 2003... MPH Series pumps are engineered for low-flow, high-head, high-temperature applications. These close-coupled, seal-less, magnetically driven pumps promise cost-effective and efficient fluid handling at temperatures up to 536[degrees]F with no...

PLC and motion control functions. (What's Hot).
February 1, 2003... Priced under $1,000, the CX1000 embedded PC is a modular, DIN-rail mounted, small-format industrial PC suitable for mid-range PLC and motion control solutions. Applications include robotics, machine control, process control, injection molding,...

In-line alternative. (What's Hot).
February 1, 2003... The C-ES45-C family of 2 to 8 in. turbine flow meters uses one moving part--a precision-machined helical rotor. Rotation of the rotor is electronically detected and processed. High-quality jewel bearings and polished tungsten-carbide shafts...

Connecting via firewire. (What's Hot).
February 1, 2003... The NDrive is a networked digital drive that is available in 10, 20, and 30A, PWM, and linear versions. It includes integral digital and analog I/O, support for square-wave and sine-wave encoders, a 100 Base-T Ethernet interface for I/O...

Handling supression. (What's Hot).
February 1, 2003... The E3Z-LS diffuse photoelectric sensor offers both foreground and background suppression. The background suppression (BGS) function handles applications where the background can cause false detections. Foreground suppression (FGS) is used with...

Hydraulic coverage. (What's Hot).
February 1, 2003... The HWX family of in-line process pumps consists of 11 types including the OH3 (bearing frame), OH4 (rigid coupled), and OH5 (directly coupled) designs. The heart of the in-line family is the HWX, OH3 design, which has only two bearing housing...

Wired for speed. (What's Hot).
February 1, 2003... New Insulation Displacement Connection (IDC) terminals and wiring accessories are designed to speed routine wiring installation and increase connection reliability The new terminal blocks eliminate the need to strip the wire insulation before...

Four-way action. (What's Hot).
February 1, 2003... The high-flow Skinner 71417 and 71477 four-way direct-acting solenoid valves are mountable in any position. Features include a high-performance operator assembly for reliable service, a brass body, and dual-frequency rated coils as well as an...

Uber thin solution. (What's Hot).
February 1, 2003... Ultra-thin TF Series negative temperature coefficient thermistors boast 500 m thickness, superior electrical insulation, fast response time, elasticity, and solderability. They are suitable for applications with very tight space constraints and...

A spectrum of color. (What's Hot).
February 1, 2003... With five technologies geared to add see-and-feel effects, the Fantasia program for engineering resins is billed as a one-stop solution for colors and special effects. Aura is a proprietary color infusion technology that applies colors to...

Laser bar-code scanner windows. (What's Hot).
February 1, 2003... Diamonex Aegisglass Plus windows are designed for laser bar-code scanners. They are suitable for scanners used in supermarkets and other retail stores. They have a hard, low-friction, diamond-like surface that maintains scratch and wear...

Slotless brushless DC servo motors. (What's Hot).
February 1, 2003... Designed with patented coil and winding technology, new small, power-dense, high-performance motors are suitable for military and aerospace applications where efficiency and cost effectiveness are necessary. These slotless brushless dc...

Inductive sensor for large vehicles. (What's Hot).
February 1, 2003... The Load Dump sensor is designed to solve application problems associated with such large vehicles as garbage trucks, lift equipment, and military vehicles, which use battery-operated systems. The problems are due to high voltage transients....

Infrared-to-analog converter module. (What's Hot).
February 1, 2003... The OmegaScope Model OSM100 infrared-to-analog converter module is a low-cost, battery-powered portable unit. The miniature design converts non-contact infrared energy to compensated K-type thermocouple output, which can go to any thermocouple...

Rapid prototyping system. (What's Hot).
February 1, 2003... The FDM Titan is a rapid prototyping system that builds models from polycarbonate and ABS plastic. It now features improvements in its surface-finish resolution and support-removal automation for ABS modeling. Resolution of model-layer...

Membrane vents. (What's Hot).
February 1, 2003... Membrane vents are available in standard metric M12 thread sizes for screw-in applications. The new configurations offer fluid resistance and breathability through the use of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene. A highly porous structure of...

Compact stepping motor control. (What's Hot).
February 1, 2003... The VXM is a high-performance stepping motor controller with a single chip microcontroller, preset pulse width modulation, and 4X oversize motor drives for long life and overload tolerance. It is available in two versions for one or two motors....

Auxiliary switch with unidirectional indexing. (What's Hot).
February 1, 2003... A new auxiliary switch provides unidirectional 90-degree indexing. Designated the Series 102, the switch features up to 24 poles, making it suitable for a variety of industrial and power industry applications. A snap-action rotary switch,...

Panel PC with open-frame architecture. (What's Hot).
February 1, 2003... The AMB-1200 Series is designed as a fully functional, open-frame industrial panel PC. It is suitable for any customized kiosk integration or industrial automation. It features high brightness displays, integrated multimedia functions, and...

Disconnect enclosures. (What's Hot).
February 1, 2003... The A26 Series of low-profile disconnect enclosures is an off-the-shelf line that supports the maximum 60-in. height requirement of the "lean manufacturing" doctrine. These enclosures are sized to provide a clear line of sight across the...

Remote control for PC uses. (What's Hot).
February 1, 2003... RemotePoint Navigator is a ergonomically styled remote control for PC-based slide presentations. It has a polished metal topcase and tactile control icons. Its RF wireless technology is designed to guarantee operation no matter where the...

Ultrasonic level switch. (What's Hot).
February 1, 2003... The LU72-74 Series Ultrasonic Echo switch provides non-contact level detection up to 10 ft in a 1-in. mount. Optional 2-in. mount versions are available with measurement spans up to 25 or 40 ft. Resolution is 0.125 in. with repeatability of...

Sensor with adhesive mounting. (What's Hot).
February 1, 2003... The FI22 inline fiber-optic sensor is designed to be used without an enclosure and does not require DIN-rail mounting. Instead, it features a snap-mount bracket and adhesive mounting for location flexibility. Its rugged, lightweight,...

Flame-retardant rigid cure epoxy. (What's Hot).
February 1, 2003... The new flame-retardant EP-211FRHTC is a UL94V-0 approved compound. It is a rigid cure epoxy that offers high thermal conductivity and flame retardancy. When cured at room temperature, the epoxy has a service temperature up to...

Integrated controller. (What's Hot).
February 1, 2003... The Controller-E, a high-speed AS-i master and PLC integrated into a compact housing, can be used as a gateway to higher-level bus systems or as a standalone PLC. It supports all AS-i 2.1 specifications, provides detailed diagnostics on...

Signal conditioner. (What's Hot).
February 1, 2003... The Model 163MK strain gauge signal conditioner is designed to offer turnkey signal conditioning for virtually any strain gauge based measurement. It can accommodate 1/4, 1/2, and full wheat-stone bridge applications. The unit offers 1/4...

Thin, transparent splicing tape. (What's Hot).
February 1, 2003... ARclad 9059 is a 2-mil, single-coated, pressure-sensitive, red acrylic splicing tape designed for caliper restricted applications. It provides temperature resistance and adhesion to a variety of different substrates. The reddish-colored,...

Transmitter for pressure sensing. (What's Hot).
February 1, 2003... The Ashcroft A2 transmitter allows users to select from a variety of configurations to meet virtually every application need for engines, compressors, turbines, pumps, and other common heavy industrial equipment. Where applications include a...

Symmetry is the key: a new modular system simplifies cabinet design and redesign. (Fasteners & Assembly Components).
February 1, 2003... Using a modular concept for a locking-and-latching system can bring new freedom to makers of cabinets and enclosures. In fact, manufacturers can draw from a broad range of latches, locks, and hinges, combining them over and over in a single...

A breath of fresh air. (Hydraulics/Pneumatics).
February 1, 2003... Industrial machines are prone to static electricity, dust, and other contaminants. These are not problems that should be blown off--or should they? Forced air devices are typically used to eliminate contaminants, but they sometimes have a down...

A customizing movement: seeking better performance to set their motion control systems apart from the field, many companies are turning to customized solutions for help. (Hydraulics/Pneumatics).
February 1, 2003... Design engineers are seeking new ways to create next generation machines with significant competitive advantages for their customers. Today's pace of innovation is so rapid that a 2 to 3 percent increase in machine throughput or efficiency can...

Wire-reinforced PVC hose.
February 1, 2003... Wire-reinforced Vardex PVC hose boasts kink and crush resistance. A clear, flexible hose, it has been designed to combine the properties of PVC--such as abrasion resistance and a smooth surface--with the strength of steel, offering resistance...

Industrial pressure transmitters.
February 1, 2003... KTU6000 pressure transmitters have an operating pressure that ranges from 15 to 2,000 psi gage or absolute. Any preferred pressure unit and intermediate span between these limits can be specified. Typical accuracy is 0.1 percent for combined...

Tackling tall trees: those lovely palm trees have a dark side. They're difficult to prune, requiring maintenance far above terra firma, and can harbor bees and rats. Engineering ingenuity, however, has come up with a way to trim these trees safely without leaving the ground. (Motors & Drives).
February 1, 2003... As a palm tree grows, its oldest fronds dry out, turn brown, and eventually fall off. For aesthetic reasons, it's often preferable to speed up this process by manually removing the dying fronds. However, this is not the easiest task to...

When the going gets tough. (Motors & Drives).
February 1, 2003... Many companies have gotten their start because their founder was looking for an answer to a real-world problem. That's the case with SwimEx in Rhode Island. Stan Charren created the first SwimEx machine because of his chronically bad back. ...

What to do when it's crunch time: new simulation software makes it easier to more accurately model the real world. (CAD/CAE).
February 1, 2003... Version 6.3 of Abaqus, an FEA software package for solving sophisticated problems in non-linear analysis, offers new tools for advanced linear and dynamics applications as well as finite element modeling and post-processing. Abaqus is used...

Electrical CAD solution. (CAD/CAE).
February 1, 2003... Many companies collaborate with international partners on global scale projects. EPLAN 21, an electrical CAE software system specifically engineered for electrical controls design, is geared for this global market. With its non-language and...

Compact linear actuators. (New Products).
February 1, 2003... Featuring fully integrated intelligent servomotors, new self-contained SmartDigit and SmartBug linear actuators feature an optical encoder, digital servo amp, indexer, local power supply, and serial communications interface. Absolute position...

Wireless communication analyzers. (New Products).
February 1, 2003... The WCA200A Series of wireless communication analyzers combines vector signal analysis and spectrum analysis in one instrument to improve an engineer's view and enable next-generation (2.5 and 3 G) wireless design and manufacturing. The...

Ultrasonic loop controller. (New Products).
February 1, 2003... The Sona-Trol ST-6 ultrasonic loop controller boasts true diameter measurements for controlling the speed or tension of paper, film, foils, and heavy stock. It features a sensor head that can be mounted from 18 in. to 20 ft above the stock and...

Transmitters for measurement and control. (New Products).
February 1, 2003... Boasting built-in common transfer functions, totalizer and process alarm, and on-line calibration adjustments, B30 transmitters and B40 transmitters-controllers provide measurement and control of differential pressure, absolute pressure, and...

Sealed bearings for machine tool spindles. (New Products).
February 1, 2003... Suitable for high-speed metal cutting, woodworking, milling, and other precision machine tool applications, CD/ACD Series angular contact ball bearings for machine tool spindles have been designed to protect against premature machine tool...

Rectifiers for armature-actuated brakes. (New Products).
February 1, 2003... For use with armature-actuated electric brakes, QUICK Set and Quick Set/Release rectifiers reduce brake set time or armature attraction time for specific applications. The "quick set" feature was developed to provide quicker coil turn-off...

Liquid flow sensors. (New Products).
February 1, 2003... New compact 101 and 102 Series Flo-Sensors are engineered to provide precise liquid flow measurement. They can be constructed from plastic or brass and offer a 0-5 Vdc analog output proportional to flow rate. Flow rates can be measured as low...

Poppet valves with rotatable inlets. (New Products).
February 1, 2003... MAV-2R and MAV-3R poppet valves boast a short length and side ports to ease installation in tight spaces. These stem-operated, normally closed devices have a rotatable side inlet that can be positioned to align with the outlet or at any angle...

Three-lobe knob. (New Products).
February 1, 2003... The Triad clamp knob features a soft touch surface and a hand-friendly form designed to make quick adjustments secure and comfortable. With Pure Touch thermoplastic elastomer covering a round-edged, glass-filled polypropylene body, the...

Miniature circular connectors. (New Products).
February 1, 2003... Micro-C Series miniature circular connectors are available with a choice of threaded or J-lock bayonet coupling mechanisms. Designed to meet the critical needs of the aerospace, medical, sensor, and geophysical industries, they are available...

Swing time: to push performance, golf clubs are taking advantage of space-age materials and methods. Although steel still plays a key role in building clubs, titanium has come on strong as a contender for making long-distance drivers. And in the wings, wait other new-age materials to improve club performance. (Real-World Engineering).
February 1, 2003... The trend to have aerospace technology, materials in particular, adopted by sporting goods manufacturers is alive and well and improving the performance of golfing equipment--specifically, golf clubs. Witness, for instance, the growing use...

AC drive with sensorless vector control. (New Products).
February 1, 2003... The PowerFlex 40 ac drive is available in 115, 230, and 460 V for applications up to 10 hp. It has sensorless vector control to meet low speed torque demands. With flexible packaging options and an uncomplicated programming structure that...

Ball transfer/transfer systems. (New Products).
February 1, 2003... New ball transfer/transfer systems feature hollow balls that are said to be 60 percent lighter than solid balls and provide a 6,000-lb crush strength minimum per unit. They are suitable for palletizers, air cargo, ball tables, and steel...

Workgroup color printer. (New Products).
February 1, 2003... The Phaser 7300 tabloid color printer produces 30 pages per minute in color and 37 in black and white. It features a 500 MHz processor and up to 2400 dpi resolution. Its single-pass technology makes it possible to transfer a full-color image to...

Low-power processor board. (New Products).
February 1, 2003... The CP321 is a low-power 3U CompactPCI processor board featuring the Motorola Kahlua II PowerPC processor. It's suitable for mission-critical industrial or military applications that require high reliability and low power consumption in harsh...

Rotary shaft seals for high-intensity conditions. (New Products).
February 1, 2003... Rotaflon seals have been developed for such high-intensity operating conditions as high surface speed, high temperature, high pressure, and insufficient lubrication--conditions that previously eliminated the successful use of most...

Power load monitor for pump systems. (New Products).
February 1, 2003... The Power Load Monitor has been engineered to protect any motor-driven pump or pump system against over-load or underload conditions created by over-pressure, cavitation, or an empty tank. It can handle single- or three-phase motors up to 50...

Multiple line counts with one module. (Show Stoppers).
February 1, 2003... A new 35-mm ROSE (reflective optical sensing) encoder, engineered for use with Lo-Cog brush-commutated and Elcom brushless dc motors, features a PC board-based modular design and mutlitracked code discs to enable a wide range of resolutions...

Twist and Clamp. (Show Stoppers).
February 1, 2003... The Twist Clamp cylinder incorporates an internal mechanism to produce rotary piston motion throughout stroke. It's based on the EF1 cylinder. By attaching a clamp arm, the actuator becomes a clamping mechanism for light-duty holding...

Getting into the fold. (Show Stoppers).
February 1, 2003... PlusTite threaded steel inserts are designed for "blind" attachment applications. They feature a pre-bulbed slotted body, which provides increased pullout resistance when the inserts are installed in sheets, both metal and non-metal, as thin as...

What space limitations? (Show Stoppers).
February 1, 2003... PCE800 Series servo drives are DSP-based units featuring 480 Vac operation. They have a footprint up to 40 percent smaller than comparable drives and are small enough to fit into a 10-in. cabinet. They are designed to keep complex mechanical...

Universal design. (Show Stoppers).
February 1, 2003... Quint power supplies provide a universal 24 V supply with output currents of 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 30, and 40 A. They accommodate a wide input voltage range of both ac and dc. Output currents are available with a regulated and adjustable output...

Focus on stainless. (Show Stoppers).
February 1, 2003... Type PFC4 self-clinching panel fasteners are engineered to install flush into thin stainless steel sheets. They promote lighter stainless designs because they install permanently in sheets as thin as 0.03 in. The patented devices boast reliable...

The long and short on sensing. (Show Stoppers).
February 1, 2003... Designed for accurate position sensing in limited space applications, the Temposonics L Series LD4 position sensor boasts a short installed height. The short sensing element and overlapping electronics module allow the complete assembly to be...

A valve with a click. (Show Stoppers).
February 1, 2003... The Model 8273, a new valve in the Series 8 family, is a two-way diaphragm unit available in stainless steel. It has a click-on coil that can be exchanged to accommodate various coil voltages by pulling back on a metal clip. The unit operates...

Digital and analog. (Show Stoppers).
February 1, 2003... ECO Fieldbus couplers can process digital signals as well as a small number of analog signals. They are equipped with 8-bit processors compared to the standard couplers designed for 16-bit processors. They are designed to be economical and...

Moisture-resistant underfill encapsulant. (New Products).
February 1, 2003... Ablefill UF8807 encapsulant is a high-flow liquid underfill developed for chip scale packages. It provides high glass transition temperature and low coefficient of thermal expansion characteristics that help reduce thermal and mechanical...

Quick-disconnect adapters. (New Products).
February 1, 2003... A new line of quick-disconnect products includes adapters, connectors, and cable assemblies for BNC, F, N, TNC, and Mini-UHF interface applications. The series features the RFF-1445-5, F male QD to F female; RFT-1242, TNC female to TNC male QD;...

CPCI power supplies. (New Products).
February 1, 2003... Designed to facilitate telco and industrial computer applications, the CMP/DMP Compact Peripheral Component Interface (CPCI) power supply family is based on the PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group specification 2.11. The series offers...

Vibration measuring system. (New Products).
February 1, 2003... The Model 8501 piezoelectric accelerometer is a self-contained vibration measuring system with a built-in amplifier. Designed for the measurement of low-level broadband frequency vibrations, it incorporates a hybrid electronic assembly within a...

Machinable ceramic. (New Products).
February 1, 2003... Aremcolox 502-1100-FF is a machinable alumino-silicate ceramic that can be used to produce high-temperature burner nozzles for combustion applications to 2100[degrees]F as well as a variety of industrial parts such as electrical and thermal...

Cable for fiber-optic conduction. (New Products).
February 1, 2003... Chainflex CFLG cable is designed specifically for fiber-optic conduction. Its glass fiber-optic design combines the high-quality transmission rates of glass fibers with the cable flexibility required for the automation industry. It is...

Industrial current converters. (New Products).
February 1, 2003... New current converters handle current signals for industrial instrumentation and control systems and remote data acquisition systems. They are suitable for a variety of uses including military, aerospace, and power generation applications. For...

Clutch/brake mount. (New Products).
February 1, 2003... A new Clamped-Split-Quill mounting system for oil-shear clutch/brakes offers the convenience of double C-face mounting. The design stops play, which can deform the key and keyway in high-torque, rapid-cycling operations. The system is available...

Compact valves in brass, bronze, stainless. (New Products).
February 1, 2003... A new range of brass, bronze, and 316 stainless steel valves can handle corrosive fluids, air, steam, and vacuum. Features include a water-hammer-free design, working pressures up to 600 psig, and an actuator that can rotate 360 degrees. They...

Non-contamination diaphragm valve. (New Products).
February 1, 2003... The Model DV509 diaphragm valve dispenses medium to low viscosity fluids, such as cyanoacrylates, reagents, UV adhesives, and volatile substances, while keeping the wetted parts separated from the operating air supply. Micro shot sizes are...

Brake for emergency stop applications. (New Products).
February 1, 2003... Billed as one of the largest production multiple-disk, spring-applied brakes in the industry, this new brake is capable of producing torque in excess of 23,000 lbs-ft. It's designed for emergency braking on electric motors used in construction...

Transmitter for temperature applications. (New Products).
February 1, 2003... The Model TH transmitter for HART communication can be configured with a PC and HART modem. The unit allows thermocouple and RTD sensors to be integrated with systems and equipment using HART. The transmitter offers an accuracy of [+ or -]...

LCD monitor. (New Products).
February 1, 2003... The GDO 18 TFT LCD display features 235 nits of brightness with SXGA resolution of 1280 x 1024 pixels, 0.281 mm dot pitch, and an optional resistive touchscreen. It is designed to stand up to 2-g peak-to-peak vibration at frequencies from 28 to...

Power inductors. (New Products).
February 1, 2003... PM104SH Series shielded surface-mount power inductors are for high-current applications with small packaging restraints. Magnetically shielded construction emits a low level of radiation when operated at high frequencies and at high ripple...

Conductive elastomer EMI gaskets. (New Products).
February 1, 2003... Cho-Seal 6371 is a conductive elastomer for shielding applications requiring EMI gaskets that are rated UL94V-0 for fire resistance. Cho-Seal 6371 materials can be fabricated into virtually any shape using both compression and injection molding...

Photodiode with low dark current. (New Products).
February 1, 2003... The EFD Series is an ultra high-speed, low dark current InGaAs PIN photodiode. The low dark current allows the unit to have a high sensitivity when detecting incoming light. It responds to near IR, allowing longer fiber-optic cables to be run....

Overmolding material. (New Products).
February 1, 2003... There are three base materials in the PolyTect Soft Molding polymer product line for overmolding fully populated PC boards. The PolyTack base material is suitable for applications where adhesion to all components is required for maximum...

Self-contained power supply. (New Products).
February 1, 2003... The HPS 100 is a self-contained power supply and display for gas mass flowmeters, pressure transducers, or any device with a voltage output. The unit features an automatically generated setpoint (0-5 or 0-10 V), making it suitable for use with...