Product Design & Development articles from January 2005

Product Design & Development archives from January 2005

Fuseholder-style circuit breaker.(PD&D Exclusive)
January 1, 2005... The T9 Series circuit breaker is equipped with features such as a fuseholder body style, snap-in mounting (5/8 in. or 16 mm diameter hole), and a push-to-reset button. Its tripping operation is (cycling) trip-free. Fuseholder-style circuit...

Pressure sensors for water and gas.(First look: smart products and technical tools for Engineers)
January 1, 2005... A new line of wet/wet differential pressure sensors is designed for use in water management, gas pipeline instrumentation, filtration, natural gas compressors, and other applications where corrosive liquids and gases are present. They translate...

Exhaust valve with all-brass construction.(First look: smart products and technical tools for Engineers)
January 1, 2005... The J-Series inline exhaust valve offers fast response time and high flow rates with its 1/8- and 1/4-in. ports. The all-brass construction and 100 percent testing ensures high quality levels. Although the primary function of the new valve is...

Cylinder with two rigid guide rods.(First look: smart products and technical tools for Engineers)
January 1, 2005... The Guided Pneumatic Cylinder is equipped with two rigid guide rods supported by either slide bearings or ball bearings, which guarantees a high level of stability. The main benefits provided by the guided cylinder are high force, precise...

Video filter/drivers with integrated functionality.(First look: smart products and technical tools for Engineers)
January 1, 2005... A new family of highly integrated video filter/drivers includes three models--the FMS6143, FMS6145, and FMS6146. Featuring integrated functionality, these multi-channel devices offer designers an active approach that provides a number of design...

Fiber-optic converter system.(First look: smart products and technical tools for Engineers)
January 1, 2005... PSI-MOS converters enable users to transmit fiber-optic data for the most popular serial communication interfaces and bus systems. They allow complete isolation of Interbus, Profibus, Modbus, DeviceNet, CANopen, RS232, and other RS485 networks...

3D visualization upgrade to CAD software.(PD&D Exclusive)
January 1, 2005... A new visualization feature has been added to SolidWorks software. The feature, supplied by StereoGraphics, allows SolidWorks users to visualize and communicate solid models in Stereo3D when using CrystalEyes, electronic eyewear from...

Cable assembly with high data rate.(First look: smart products and technical tools for Engineers)
January 1, 2005... The EEDP Series provides a flexible high-speed cable system for edge card interfaces with a variety of mounting options. The cable assemblies are manufactured with 30 AWG low dielectric constant twin-ax cable. They are suitable for longer cable...

DC power supplies.(Product Review)
January 1, 2005... DC supplies power the infrastructure that keeps industry going. They provide the low-voltage power that makes the relays click, the PLCs control, and the inidcator lights shine, and they do it at low cost and with high reliability,...

Using plastic bearings to smooth out bumpy rides: new concept helps better buffer shocks on mountain bike design.(Engineering At Work)
January 1, 2005... Doesn't the sound of a nice bike ride on a warm day sound relaxing? For many, that question may invoke the thought of steady peddling, then coasting over a nice smooth roadway in the country. But for some, a nice bike ride has a different...

Time to start getting smarter about machine vision: smart cameras have come a long way and are a promising inspection tool.(Tech Watch)
January 1, 2005... While machine vision has made enormous strides in recent years, it has just scratched the surface in terms of the vast potential it has in the manufacturing industry worldwide. Human inspection cannot provide a 100 percent inspection rate or...

Diaphragm pumps for liquids dosing.(Advertisement)
January 1, 2005... SMF 2 Series miniature diaphragm pumps offer an attractive, cost-effective alternative for medical, laboratory, industrial, or food and beverage applications requiring high accuracy dosing of low-viscosity liquids. These compact pumps--3.35...

Low voltage linear pumps.(Advertisement)
January 1, 2005... Series 6000 linear pumps from Rietschle Thomas offer long life, low sound level, high and clean air flow, and excellent efficiency. These characteristics, combined with low-voltage DC motors, make Series 6000 pumps ideal choices for a wide...

Versatile WOB-L[R] Piston pumps.(Advertisement)
January 1, 2005... Series 2770 WOB-L[R] Piston pumps offer long life, clean air flow and field serviceability, making them excellent choices for a variety of medical, dental, HVAC and other OEM applications. These pumps incorporate stainless steel valves with a...

Consider circuit protection early in the design process.(From The Field)
January 1, 2005... Circuit protection devices seem straightforward. Sometimes it's tempting to procrastinate and not worry about circuit protection until the design is nearly complete. This is usually a mistake. The end of the design process is not the time to...

The changing role of CAD: new trends in CAD software are not only altering the way engineers create designs but also the way OEMs approach the entire new product development process.(Technology Review)(Cover Story)
January 1, 2005... In the small hamlet of Welcome, NC, the current state of CAD software is on full display. It is here, 20 miles south of Winston-Salem, where a team of engineers for Richard Childress Racing plots, analyzes, and directs every manufacturing...

Q&A: high-efficiency motors: this month's Q&A examines the high stakes involved in motor selection. The following interview with David Brender, P.E., an expert on motor efficiency, shows how efficiency ties into the bottom line. Brender serves as the national program manager of the Copper Development Association, directing initiatives on energy efficiency and power quality.(Q&A)
January 1, 2005... Designing for energy savings is a trend that is having a significant impact on product engineering. Because engineers now recognize energy efficiency as an important selling point for their products, they are specifying high-efficiency...

Wirewound coil inductors.(From The Cover)
January 1, 2005... Designed for high current, high temperature applications in rugged environments, DR360, DR361, and DR362 Series units combine high performance, long-life, and economical cost. When electronic equipment operates in demanding environments that...

Accurate adhesives.(Examining medical devices: hundreds of exhibitors to make latest technologies available for close inspection)
January 1, 2005... Doctors can't have sticky situations resulting from poor precision. Neither can medical device engineers. At booth 3108, attendees will find the 2004 Dispensing Workstation, a precision dispensing system that applies accurate, consistent...

Catheter systems.(Examining medical devices: hundreds of exhibitors to make latest technologies available for close inspection)
January 1, 2005... Two systems for high-yield catheter production are available for viewing at booth 2126. The PIRF II system is designed to form complex, small profile catheters by concentrating heat in bands less than 1 mm. This precise heat placement produces...

Small wonders.(Examining medical devices: hundreds of exhibitors to make latest technologies available for close inspection)
January 1, 2005... As the demand for smaller medical devices increases so too has the demand for smaller medical connectors. These smaller connectors, available at booth 1542, have the same basic specifications as larger connectors but with reduced pin and...

Stent saver.(Examining medical devices: hundreds of exhibitors to make latest technologies available for close inspection)
January 1, 2005... VascuLAST is a coating that has demonstrated its ability to reduce restenosis after stent implantation. Not only can it be applied to virtually any stent design without delamination or flaking, but also it can be incorporated into a number of...

Motor medicine.(Examining medical devices: hundreds of exhibitors to make latest technologies available for close inspection)
January 1, 2005... At booth 1533, the quiet, low-vibration WOB-L piston-design Model 2250 motor is set to help medical device manufacturers give medical motors a makeover. It has magnesium components that limit its weight to 2.5 lbs. A highly efficient brushless...

Nixing needles.(Examining medical devices: hundreds of exhibitors to make latest technologies available for close inspection)
January 1, 2005... Patients aren't the only ones who want to avoid needles--so too do designers. A line of swabable luer valves, which are designed as substitutes for needle ports in IV applications, will be on display at booth 2460. These needle-less valves...

Panel-mounted counters and timers.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... The small panel-mounted 1/32 DIN DP-CH counters and DP-TH timers incorporate a 0.3 in.-high liquid crystal display for easy viewing. Powered by an internal battery, they have a data retention life of 10 years minimum, with no connection to any...

High-durability joystick.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... Designed for demanding applications, the AJ4 joystick is designed to be durable and reliable with a life cycle of more than six million actuations. It combines flexibility with high mechanical strength and can accommodate various standard or...

Flexible data links.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... A line of flex data links is available with socket and terminal strip interfaces on 0.5 mm pitch (HFHM2-DP Series) and 0.8 mm pitch (HFEMSE, HFEM-DP, and HFEM2-DP Series) for high speed board-to-board connections. Typical performance for the...

Metal blind threaded inserts.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... Atlas SpinTite units are designed for use in "blind" attachment applications, where only one side of a workpiece is accessible for fastener installation and final component assembly. These aluminum, brass, steel, and stainless steel threaded...

Linear motion slide.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... The RGS 10000 slide is designed for linear motion applications, providing both value and performance to engineers in the packaging industry. This screw-driven slide is suitable for use in a variety of industrial packaging applications,...

Sub-microliter dispenser.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... The new Model SMTRH is designed for precision ultra-low volume sub-microliter dispensing making it suitable for medical diagnostic, biomedical, and analytical instrumentation. The pump is driven by a stepper motor and will dispense from 500 nL...

Real-time spectrum analyzer.(From The Cover)
January 1, 2005... The RSA3408A is a high-performance dc to 8 GHz analyzer that provides real-time triggering and capture capabilities. Its enhanced resolution enables engineers to view RF signal instabilities and transients that were previously not possible....

Linear guide cover strips.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... An addition to Monorail BM linear guideway accessories is designed as an alternative to the traditional plastic caps that cover the counter-bored mounting holes in a profile rail of a precision linear guideway assembly. BAC cover strips are...

Laser beam profilers.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... A line of laser beam profilers uses FireWire cameras. Designated the LBA-FW, the profilers' FireWire cameras connect directly to laptop computers without a frame grabber card, providing a portable beam analysis instrument. Both CCD and...

Two- or three-phase solitrons.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... A new addition to the RJ Series of solitrons can switch two or three phases. It is suitable as a replacement for electromechanical contactors or mercury contactors in high switching frequency applications. It has an integral heat sink. Carlo...

Communications protocol development kit.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... The Picdem Z 2.4 GHz demonstration kit supports the ZigBee standard protocol for wirelessly networked control and monitoring applications. The Picdem Z platform is designed to accelerate designs by providing hardware and a free ZigBee protocol...

Ethernet bus bridge.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... A powerful PCI-X to PCI-X bridge targets bus expansion in next generation high-bandwidth data communication and telecommunication applications. The two-port PI7C21P100 supports the full 64bit/133MHz specification for PCI-X, and is also backward...

Stainless steel servo motor.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... A new stainless steel brushless servo motor, designated the SSBSM Series, has been designed for durability. It can handle IP 67 and 1,500 psi washdown conditions and be used in harsh, corrosive food/liquid, high hygiene environments. Typical...

Expansion bolts/clamps.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... BoxBolt expansion bolts as part of the line of BeamClamp steelwork connectors. BoxBolt units feature an expansion anchor to provide for simple, safe, and secure connections to square, circular, rectangular, and other types of structural steel...

Lead-free switches.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... Designed to be in line with imminent worldwide legislation, a line of switches is available in lead-free versions. The devices are also free of cadmium, mercury, and other toxic substances such as hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls,...

Miniature ceramic motor.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... New Scale Technologies and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center have developed Squiggle motors at 4[degrees] Kelvin. The ceramic motors will be used in future spacecraft missions as well as in commercial cryogenic applications. A cryogenic Squiggle...

Filters and resonators.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... A line of filters and resonators for automotive and short-range device applications has been integrated into smaller ceramic packages. By implementing advanced design techniques, more powerful simulation software, and advances in surface...

Servo amplifier/controller.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... The LC8 is a servo amplifier/controller for LJ, LG, and LTF Series actuators. Up to seven LC8s can be slaved together for control from a single PLC, which can execute 117 steps that can command any or all of the actuators to move to a specific...

Fiber-optic connector system.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... A new duplex-style SMI POF connector system is a plastic fiber-optic connector system able to operate at S200 (250 Mbps) speeds for up to 50 m. The system meets 1394b high-speed signaling specifications, and can accommodate S400 bandwidth as...

Power relays and relay bases.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... Designed to provide flexibility to meet the demands of cost-sensitive applications, a line of relay and relay base products has been expanded to include the PR Series. Three versions are available. The PR1 Series uses 12.7-mm miniature power...

Pulsed fiber lasers.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... A family of pulsed fiber laser products includes the Model PF1550-36. The Model PF1550-36 delivers diffraction-limited, short-pulse output over a wide repetition rate range. It produces 4 W of average power at repetition rates over 50 kHz and...

CD-ROM design guide.(Free stuff: complementary tools to help engineers get information on new products, components, and technologies)
January 1, 2005... A new CD is available from the Gortrac Division of A&A Manufacturing Co. Inc. It features the company's Nylatrac Automation line of cable and hose carriers. Designed specifically to handle speeds and high accelerations, these carriers are...

TruSeal Technologies.(Online Offerings)
January 1, 2005... * Sealant manufacturer TruSeal Technologies is offering product samples from its Insuledge and DuraSeal lines. Available in blister packs, the 5 x 7 in. samples can be obtained from the company's website, www.truseal.com. Once on the site,...

Universal Flow Monitors Inc.(Online Offerings)
January 1, 2005... * Universal Flow Monitors Inc. has launched a website that is designed to function as a virtual information source for flowmeter technologies. The website (www.flowmeters.com) offers a "live help" service for immediate two-way communication...

Janos Technology Inc.(Online Offerings)
January 1, 2005... * Janos Technology Inc. has made a new e-store available featuring the company's lines of precision infrared optical components, lenses, and assemblies for defense, aerospace, and OEM commercial markets. The website, www.janostech.com, features...

A four-page bulletin profiles the StickScrew System for fast and accurate small-screw insertion.(Brochures & Bulletins)
January 1, 2005... * A four-page bulletin profiles the StickScrew System for fast and accurate small-screw insertion. Bulletin SST, published by PennEngineering Fastening, features a step-by-step chart to guide users in selecting screw options to meet application...

New literature from Henkel Corp. profiles the Loctite 7700 handheld LED light source, a high-powered, portable-curing system designed to cure UV/visible light curing adhesives in seconds.(Brochures & Bulletins)
January 1, 2005... * New literature from Henkel Corp. profiles the Loctite 7700 handheld LED light source, a high-powered, portable-curing system designed to cure UV/visible light curing adhesives in seconds. It describes the Loctite 7700 light as suitable for...

Describing the NS Series non-clog handling pump line from A-C Pumps, a new 12-page brochure features cross-sectional renderings to provide in-depth information on product features.(Brochures & Bulletins)
January 1, 2005... * Describing the NS Series non-clog handling pump line from A-C Pumps, a new 12-page brochure features cross-sectional renderings to provide in-depth information on product features. The renderings outline materials of construction, mounting...

Power products databook.(Free stuff: complementary tools to help engineers get information on new products, components, and technologies)
January 1, 2005... Designed to speed the process of identifying, comparing, and selecting dc/dc converters, power supplies, magnetic products, digital panel meters, and data acquisition products, the first issue of a new databook published by C&D Technologies...