Product Design & Development articles from February 2008

Product Design & Development archives from February 2008

Circular chart recorders.(First Look)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Circular chart recorders from OMEGA Engineering combine the simplicity and clarity of pen drawing with the versatility of microprocessor control. Product features include: * User configuration via a front-panel...

High-gain, low-profile communication.(First Look)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Pulse introduces their ultra-wide band (UWB) family of high-gain, low-profile internal planar antennas for high-speed, short-range data communication equipment. With the ability to provide high-speed wireless...

Brushless motor benefits with adjustable speed controls.(First Look)
February 1, 2008... Baldor Electric recently unveiled a new series of brushless adjustable speed controls and servo motors designed to provide the benefits of brushless technology for adjustable speed applications, i.e. less maintenance, quieter operation and...

Better adhesive containment and bonding performance.(First Look)
February 1, 2008... Multi-Seals presents an alternative to liquid adhesive for sealing and bonding components. F05 Poly-forms[TM] is a flexible, pre-shaped adhesive designed for bonding diverse materials, including metals, plastics and glass. According to the...

Higher pressure capabilities.(First Look)
February 1, 2008... Sauer-Danfoss has expanded their family of proportional flow control cartridge valves to provide new sizes, including a smaller, more compact design that delivers higher pressure capabilities. According to the company, the new valves grant: ...

Better size, programming and diagnostic capabilities.(First Look)
February 1, 2008... According to Transducers Direct, their made-in-the-USA TDRO-10 meter features: * The industry's smallest footprint for an analog sensor or transducer-programmable meter. * Integrated diagnostics for both input and output. *...

Is it all about results?(At Issue)
February 1, 2008... I promise all New England Patriot fans that this will be the first and last New York Giants/Super Bowl reference. But I couldn't help but wonder if the way in which the Giants' season progressed offers some perspective when comparing it to the...

Flare-in access hardware.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... New from PennEngineering is the PEM[R] threaded flare-in access hardware--a captive screw assembly for permanent installation into nearly any panel hardness or material. According to the company, new product features include: * The...

Trunk in/trunk out wiring.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... Pepperl+Fuchs introduces R2 FieldConnex[R] Segment Protectors. The compact R2 family is features: * The ability to allow the segment protector to be disconnected while leaving trunk communications uninterrupted. * Over-termination...

Large capacity AC drives.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Hitachi America, Industrial Systems Division, recently introduced the high-capacity SJ700 Series of inverters. The SJ700 extends Hitachi's model range up to 500 hp, and according to the company, expands on the...

Electrically conductive, water-based adhesive.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... The LTX-117G is an electrically conductive, water-based adhesive, sealant and coating developed by Master Bond. The LTX-117G is a one-part, UV-stable latex adhesive which achieves electrical conductivity by incorporating nonmetallic graphite...

Screw based indicator.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... The KF Series is the latest addition to the SoLiCo family of daylight visible LED indicators. The new KF is a screw based indicator that is mounted in a 20 mm cutout and fastened to the panel with a plastic nut. Additional product features...

Advanced motion control.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... Control Technology Corp. (CTC) has released new versions of its Blue Fusion[TM] line of web enabled automation controllers that support advanced servo and stepper motion control. The Blue Fusion Model 5300 enhancements include: * Fully...

Servo System.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... YET US introduces the XtraDrive-CAN model to the XtraDrive Servo System family of products. According to YET, the XDA-CAN features: * The ability to interface with CAN while taking advantage of YET's patented NCT technology. * A system...

Linear Rail Systems.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... Haydon Switch & Instrument introduces its latest product line, Linear Rail Systems. The Haydon Linear Rail System uses a precision lead screw assembly to provide controlled positioning along the axis of a linear slide. According to the Company,...

Pluggable electrical connectors.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Wieland Electric introduces its gesis[R] IP+ (Ingress Protection) family of pluggable connectors. According to the company, the IP+ connectors feature: * The ability to reduce on-site system installation tim ...

Direct integration.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... alpha & WITTENSTEIN have developed a method to integrate torque and force sensors directly into the housing of servo gear reducers, allowing for the most accurate measurement of torque, axial loading and radial loading. The advanced sensor...

Drag and wear elimination.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... Kerk Motion Products offers its VHD Series for eliminating drag and wear associated with high pre-load forces. The Kerk VHD Series features: * An anti-backlash assembly that provides the maximum load-carrying capability and the highest...

Integration takes center stage in the square: the design crew for the New Year's Eve Times Square ball was "on the ball" when it came to dropping everything in place.(DESIGN PROJECT INTEGRATION: Design Integration In Action)(Cover story)
February 1, 2008... Who better to shed some light on the topic of design integration the crew who renovated the 2007 Times Square New Year's Eve ball for its 100th birthday? It may look like a simple (albeit enormous) ball of light from your TV screen, but this...

Multi-function digital cameras.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Allied Vision Technologies (ATV) introduces a new Stingray family of cameras. The Stingray family is equipped with: * A fast FireWire IEEE 1394b interface. * 2 connectors that allow several cameras to be...

Auxiliary transformer coolers.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... Unifin now offers ForZair[TM] HeatSink auxiliary transformer coolers. According to the company, the portable and efficient cooler allows increased overload and extends transformer life. Additional product features include: * The ability to...

Piezoelectric composite components.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... Morgan Electro Ceramics (MEC) introduces their new piezoelectric composite components. According to the company, components manufactured with piezocomposite materials offer improvements over traditional transducer materials, which result in...

Miniature ball valves.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... Beswick Engineering now offers a series of miniature ball valves in standard shut-off (MBV-1010), 3-way diverting (MBVT-1010) and 3-way mixing diverting (MBVMD-1010) configurations. According to the company, series features include: *...

Compact I/O solutions.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... Phoenix Contact has added 2 new bus couplers and a backplane expansion module to its inline modular family of products. The new Modbus TCP/UDP bus coupler features: * 8 digital inputs and 4 digital outputs. * A built-in Ethernet...

Event detection.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... Trek introduces the TREK Model 900 ESD Event Detector, a diagnostic tool for manufacturing environments that are sensitive to electrostatic discharge (ESD), including electronic, assembly. Electrostatic discharge events are important indicators...

Corner relief fills.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] M.E. Solutions now features sheet metal corner relief fills to eliminate sharp bends on sheet metal designs. With this product, according to the company, sheet metal can now have that jelly bean look--just like...

Linear micro motors.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... New Scale Technologies now features an evaluation kit for its SQL Series SQUIGGLE[R] linear micro motors. The starter kit simplifies evaluation of the patented piezoelectric motor technology. The starter kit includes: * A SQL-1.8-6...

SpecCheck/switches.(SWITCHES)
February 1, 2008... Spec Check/SWITCHES [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] C&K COMPONENTS CORPS. CROUZET NA The KSC ST Series sound- The Crouzet miniature and ...

Specialty Air Filter finishes.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... Universal Air Filter now produces a range of specialty metal finishes designed to increase their air filters' performance in harsh, challenging environments. New product specifications include: * Chrome-free, RoHS-compliant finishes that...

Off-line switching regulators.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... Allegro MicroSystems announces a new family of off-line switching regulators targeted at the consumer and industrial markets. Allegro's new STR-W6250D Series is composed of current-mode pulse-width modulated ICs that incorporate both controller...

Simultaneous gas detection.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] New from GfG Instrumentation is the intrinsically safe G460-a rugged, compact instrument for simultaneous detection of up to 6 gases. Installed sensor options include infrared (NDIR) for C[O.sup.2] and PID for VOC...

High-load slides.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Electric Ultran high-load slides are the first standard electric slide models from Bimba Manufacturing. According to the company, the slides exhibit: * Higher positioning accuracy, smoother operation and facility...

Hyperboloid contact.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... QA Technology announces the expansion of the integraMate[R] hyperboloid contact and connector product family with the addition of 1.5-mm contacts and a 3-pin power connector. The new contacts grant: * A current rating in excess of 12 amps....

Fiber rod assemblies.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... igus[R] now offers improved integral fiber rod assemblies inside their multi-axis Triflex[R] R robot cable carriers. After many series of tests, igus has implemented an iglide[R] bearing on the moving tips of their fiber rods to increase...

Piezoelectric stacked actuators.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... PI recently unveiled the P-212, P-216, P-225 and P-235, 4 new series of piezoelectric-stacked actuators. PICA[TM] stacked actuator technology enables applications in which extremely high forces and dynamics are required, or high levels of...

Patented transducer technology.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... The new Ashcroft[R] Xmitr[TM] combines the advantages of the Ashcroft[R] pressure gage with patented transducer technology to create a single, dual-function instrument with half the number of instruments to install. According to the company,...

Euro ball transfer units.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Uniquely designed versions of Euro ball transfer units from SKF[R] incorporate integral spring clips to enable quicker installation on floors or other surfaces. According to the company, the clips eliminate the need...

Blower application requirements.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... AMETEK Technical & Industrial Products introduces the Windjammer[R] low-voltage variable-speed brushless DC blower, which is offered in bypass and through-flow versions to satisfy blower application requirements. These compact, low-noise blower...

Optical packet switch.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... According to Endicott Interconnect Technologies, their award-winning controller board functions as the intelligence of the most powerful and advanced optical packet switch, which is by IBM Zurich Research Lab. The board was fabricated as 2...

Right-angle prism.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... Contrinex's new M18 photoelectric sensors include an integral right-angle prism to improve the reliability of conveyor control. According to the company, the M18 also offers: * A flush-mounted design attached to a conveyor side looking...

Direct-acting latching valves.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... Humphrey Products introduces 2 latching valves, the model MI 210 2-way direct-acting latching valve and the model PI 300 3-way direct-acting latching valve. Both valves are designed to provide positive positioning in the actuated state without...

PLC with water-tight enclosure.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... Divelbiss Corp. announces the HEC-2000 PLC addition to their family of harsh-environment controllers. Based on patented PLC on a Chip[R] technology, the HEC-2000 controller offers a sealed, water-tight enclosure with pluggable connectors....

4,096 colors.(From the Cover)
February 1, 2008... Panasonic Electric Works has expanded their line of touch screens with the introduction of the new 3.5" GT05 series. According to the company, the GT05 offers: * Increased functionality and image quality. * The support of 4,096 colors....

Increased attenuation performance.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Schaffner EMC has extended their FN9222 inlet filter series to include the new FN9222E, which features an earth line choke for applications requiring greater attenuation performance or additional attenuation on the...

Bearing protection ring.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... According to Electro Static Technology, the new split-ring version of the AEGIS SGR Bearing Protection Ring[TM] comes in halves for easy field installation with little or no disassembly of equipment. For variable-frequency drive-controlled AC...

Combination UL male tab.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... A new UL male tab that accepts traditional "push on" quick-connects as well as their new patented FlatSnap[R] vibration-resistant, snap-in unisex connector has been introduced by ETCO Inc. The ETCO Combination UL Male Tab features: *...

Stop packages precisely.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Interroll has developed a high-performance brushless RollerDrive that, according to the company, minimizes the after-run of products, enabling the user to stop packages precisely. Designated the EC 100, the...

Ruggedized backplane.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Carlo Gavazzi Computing Solutions has released their 6-slot 3U VPX ruggedized enhanced design implementation (REDI) backplane. Carlo Gavazzi's new product offers: * A commercial off-the-shelf solution. *...

Single-chip demodulator.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... Fresco Microchip announces the FM2050 low power single-chip demodulator for high quality universal analog terrestrial (NTSC, PAL, SECAM), analog cable and DVB-T digital television broadcasts. According to the company, the FM2050 offers: *...

Solid-state pressure switch.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... American Sensor Technologies has developed the Model 1000 high-accuracy solid-state pressure switch for the measurement of gases and liquids compatible with stainless steel. According to the company, additional features include: * A...

Single-port power injector.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... SL Power Electronics now produces a next-generation single-port power injector for Power-over-Ethernet (POE), Gb-compatible applications (10/100/1,000 MbPS data rates). The Ault PW182 family provides power to devices through RJ45 jacks and...

Mold area growth.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... The maximum Protomold part XY area has been expanded to up to 13.5" by 30.5", with a maximum projected mold area of 175" square and a maximum part volume of 59" cubed. Protomold's increase over their former size limitations encourages...

A bigger piece of cheese: CAD designers can achieve more control over their CAD design projects with advanced mice.(New Product)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] mMSI/Design's TurboCAD[R] Deluxe 14, TurboCAD Pro 14 and TurboSketch[TM] Studio now support 3Dconnexion's award-winning line of 3-D mice. These advanced 3-D mice are compatible with more than 120 of today's most...

Upgrade supports electromechanical and detailed design.(New Product)
February 1, 2008... PTC, The Product Development Company[R], has announced the availability of Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire 4.0--a major release of their integrated 3-D CAD/CAM/CAE software and a key component of the PTC[R] Product Development System. According to...

Test and measurement graphical programming within a few clicks.(New Product)
February 1, 2008... The DASYLab 10 data acquisition system laboratory is Computing's latest test and measurement graphical programming environment. With intuitive worksheets, modules and wire functions, complete applications are only a few clicks away. ...

No need for translation or copies.(New Product)
February 1, 2008... Fomerics' EFD.Pro, a fully embedded computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solution for Pro/ENGINEER, now supports the recently released Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire 4.0. EFD.Pro belongs to a breed of CFD tools that offers fluid flow and heat transfer...

Better perform and manage simulation.(New Product)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dassault Systemes recently released SIMULIA SLM, a new product suite dedicated to helping organizations better perform and manage their simulation processes. SIMULIA SLM accelerates the product development lifecycle...

Single-passage rotary unions.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Advanced Machine & Engineering, the exclusive partner of OTT-Jakob in North America, introduces improved OTT-Jakob GD single-passage rotary unions. The rotary unions fit into OTT-Jakob unclamp units and also work...

High-power applications.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... Phihong USA introduces a 4-port Gigabit Power-over-Ethernet (Poe) Midspan for high-power applications. Designated the POE 125U-4HP, the midspan provides up to 36 W of power per port. According to Phihong, additional features include: * A...

Common mode sensing.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... The new ZXCT1080 current monitor from Zetex Semiconductors has an extended, common-mode-sensing voltage range of 3 to 60 V. According to the company, this simplifies high-side current sensing in a wide range of high-voltage circuit protection...

Iris spring shielding.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... Binder-USA introduces iris spring shielding technology its industrial network and sensor connectors. This new addition is an effective and simple way to protect equipment from EMI (electromagnetic interference). The iris spring technology...

Industry first converter.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] National Semiconductor now features the industry's first high-speed, continuous-time sigma-delta (CTSD) analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The ADC12EU050, a new member of National's PowerWise[R] energy, efficient...

Discrete back lighting.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Custom membrane switches that feature precise graphic icon and key ring lighting in an ultra-thin package for a wide range of OEM applications, where capacitive and mechanical switches would be too thick, are now...

Bypass with brains.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... ABB has released the next generation of bypass technology in motors drives, which are used throughout the HVAC industry. Ideal for wall mounting and/or fitting into air-handling units and pumping packages, additional features of the bypass...

High bond tape.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... Series #19-HB UHMW High Bond polyethylene tape from CS Hyde sticks to difficult to bond surfaces. According to GS Hyde, this slippery, abrasion-resistant tape also features: * A super-high bond adhesive. * The ability to bond low...

Look, but don't touch: a recent survey offers perspective on the collaboration challenges that exist between design and production teams.(DESIGN DATA INTEGRATION: Feedback & Collaboration)
February 1, 2008... We're taught about the importance of sharing at an early age. Of course at that point it's more about giving. For a design engineer, however, the mandate to share centers around taking. More specifically, taking feedback from all the parties...

SpecCheck/transducers.(TRANSDUCERS)
February 1, 2008... SpecCheck/TRANSDUCERS [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] AMETEK U.S. GAUGE ASHCROFT INC. The OCT pressure The Heise[R] DXD digital ...

Reliable non-contact level measurement.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... According to Automation Products Group, the PR Series Pulse Radar level sensor delivers accurate, reliable non-contact level measurement in challenging environmental conditions. Additional product features include: mAn output of 4 to 20 mA. ...

Lithium cell.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... Eleetrochem Commercial Power has unveiled their patent-pending DDMR125/150, a new primary lithium cell ideal for oil and gas measurement-while-drilling (MWD) applications. According to the company, product specifications include: * A...

Bridging the gap.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... BRECOflex CO. presents the new timing belt design, the ATS 15, bridging the tooth pitch gap. The ATS 15 features: * An increased tensile strength. * An increased tooth shear strength. * Availability in 25, 32, 50, 75, 100 and 150...

Extended current rating.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... ITF Interconnect Solutions has extended the current rating of its Cm5 Series servomotor connector. According to ITT, the new features include: * The capability of handling current to 40 A in a low profile design. * A vibration...

Gigabit combo.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Advantech introduces the EKI-7626C 16+2 gigabit combo unmanaged industrial Ethernet switch. According to the company, the EKI-7626C features: * 16 10/100 Base-TX fast Ethernet ports. * 2 10/100/1000 Mbps...

Direct acting valves.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Parker Hannifin offers the XM Series Inline Valve for multiple industrial applications in a variety of pneumatic markets. XM Series direct acting valves are available in both 3-way and 4-way versions. The XM Inline...

Wide inductance range.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... The new DR370-1, -2 and -3 Series Radial Leaded Inductors from Datatronic Distribution combine high performance over a wide inductance range in challenging EMI operating environments with rugged packaging, ROHS compliant lead material,...

Anti-corrosion mechanical design.(New Products)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Computer Dynamics, a GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms company, has announced the SeaBrite[TM] family of flat-panel monitors. Resistant to shock and vibration and designed to fulfill the requirements of the marine...

Standardized Metric components.(Distributor Data)
February 1, 2008... All Metric Small Parts (aMsp) recently became the exclusive distributor for Tochigiya, a manufacturer of metric standard industrial machine components. These parts are used in the design of devices that contain moving parts and enclosures....

Brush-commutated motors and gearmotors.(Distributor Data)
February 1, 2008... Allied Electronics, a subsidiary of Electrocomponents plc, recently signed a distribution agreement AMETEK Technical & Industrial Products to distribute their Pittman-brand DC motors. Allied now stocks Pittman LO-COG[R] brush-commutated motors...

Industry-first RGB Led backlight products.(Distributor Data)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Mouser Electronics has inked a distribution agreement with Displaytech Ltd., a graphic modules supplier, to be the sole catalog distributor for their industry-first RGB LED backlight display products. According to...

Linear motion distribution.(Distributor Data)
February 1, 2008... LEE LINEAR[R] makes their linear motion products available through bearing, power transmission and linear motion distributors throughout the world. LEE produces roller bearing pillow blocks, precision linear ball and composite bearings and...

Preventing unintentional disconnects and shocks.(Distributor Data)
February 1, 2008... Newark, part of the global Premier Farnell Group, is among the first to carry the new Tyco Electronics Light-N-Lok connectors for fluorescent ballast applications. Designed to meet both the U.S. and Canadian electrical codes, and prevent...