Product Design & Development articles from July 2004

Product Design & Development archives from July 2004

Thin-profile connectors.
July 1, 2004... SlimStack connectors offer ultra low-profile stacking for tight packaging uses such as cell phones and PDAs. These surface-mount connectors come in single- and dual-row versions. Molex Inc. Use InfoLINK 4G1001 of call 800-287-9964 ...

Surface-mount inductors.
July 1, 2004... Boasting a powerful magnetic shield, these low-profile DR331-7-8-9 Series surface-mount inductors provide EMI circuit protection for power supplies, instrumentation, and test equipment. Their small size makes them especially useful in portable...

Power supplies.
July 1, 2004... Approved for Class I and Class II applications, the ECM Series of single-output ac-dc, 40-60 watt power supplies is said to have the smallest foot-print for units with these ratings. Both measure 2 x 4 in. with a 1.2 in. height. XPiQ Inc....

Brushless torque motors.
July 1, 2004... Megaflux thin ring motors promise high performance in precision positioning systems. They are designed for direct-drive applications. Emoteq Corp. Use Info LINK 4G1004 or call 800-287-9964 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Mix-and-match joysticks for machine control.(What's Hot)
July 1, 2004... This line of joysticks for mobile machine applications offers interchangeable base and grip options. There are mini-rollers and mini-rockers for light-duty machines as well as standard heavy-duty and custom-designed base and grip solutions for...

Device for ice point referenced readings.(What's Hot)
July 1, 2004... Compatible with any standard thermocouple connector or jack, the MCJ Series miniature electronic ice point converts thermocouple voltages into 0[degrees] C referenced signals for use with DMMs, voltage recorders, and other electronic devices....

Machine guarding in slim package.(What's Hot)
July 1, 2004... The MiniProtect MP2100 protective light curtain offers Type 2 guarding on equipment where low risk factors have been assessed. The control circuitry is housed within the transmitter and receiver, which means no separate control box is needed....

Smart and swift code-reading scanner.(What's Hot)
July 1, 2004... Featuring DSP technology, this code-reading scanner is said to be three to eight times faster than previously available readers. Called the Intelligent Scanner XS, it was capable in beta tests of performing more than 100 data matrix reads per...

Vacuum capable pumps.(What's Hot)
July 1, 2004... The Vortex Series of oil-less articulated piston pumps includes vacuum versions suitable for use in mobile applications. The pumps feature a patented all-aluminum crankcase and cylinder that are designed to run cooler, promise service-free...

Extremely compact solution.(What's Hot)
July 1, 2004... Measuring 145 mm high, 72 mm wide, and 140 mm deep, the Altivar 31 general-purpose variable-speed drive incorporates plug and-drive operational simplicity. This plug-and-drive concept means the unit is operational as soon as it's connected....

Led lamps for machine status.(What's Hot)
July 1, 2004... SL2 Series lamp-based LEDs, which are suitable as replacements for incan-descent bulbs, feature 360-degree visibility for use in a variety of stack lights and signal towers. Available in red, yellow, green, blue, and white, the lamps are...

Industrial grade sensors for machine vision.(What's Hot)
July 1, 2004... The In-Sight 5100 and In-Sight 5400 (shown) vision sensors boast four times the processing power of comparably priced vision sensors. Both models meet IEC specifications for shock and vibration and achieve an IP67 (NEMA 6) rating for dust and...

Solid state pressure switches.(What's Hot)
July 1, 2004... Herion 33D Series pressure switches promise highly reliable switching and a typical life of 100 million cycles. Suitable for both pneumatic and hydraulic environments, they are available in electro mechanical and electronic variants. Operating...

Distance measurement sensors.(What's Hot)
July 1, 2004... The DME 5000 line of laser distance measurement sensors is suitable for use in automated storage and retrieval systems and for linear positioning of rail or transfer cars. These rerlex/retro-reflective devices are available in short-, mid-, and...

Laser displacement sensor.(What's Hot)
July 1, 2004... The Microtrak II laser displacement sensor offers CMOS CCD technology in a compact, DIN-mountable package for precise measurement of displacement, position, vibration, and thickness. Typical applications include disk thickness, flatness, and...

Latching relay I/O module.(What's Hot)
July 1, 2004... Designed for applications where the contact state must be maintained when power is removed or lost, the G-1AMPx-LTCH latching relay output module promises to provide fail-safe control by latching the last output contact state (ON or OFF) prior...

Water hydraulic power pack.(What's Hot)
July 1, 2004... Suitable for simple tap water cylinder/motor functions such as lifting platforms and mixers, this small pump unit has ordinary drinking water as its pressure medium for 2,000 psi pressure. Its design relies on water hydraulics, which is an...

Sensorless vector AC drives.(What's Hot)
July 1, 2004... Available in 1 to 100 hp models, DURApulse Series sensorless vector ac drives offer sensorless vector and closed loop control, autotuning, 175 percent starting torque, and 150 percent rated current for one minute. Automatic torque and slip...

Zero backlash curved jaw couplings.(What's Hot)
July 1, 2004... Jawflex jaw couplings are made of two hubs with curved jaws and an elastic element. The polyurethane spider provides dampening of impulse type loads, minimizing shock to the motor and other sensitive equipment. Available in two hardness levels,...

Power connectors.(What's Hot)
July 1, 2004... Single and dual Power Links are connectors appropriate for situations where the power supply is difficult to access including automotive and industrial applications. The connectors feature a single-piece housing, modular construction, and...

Latch-and-release system for rapid-charge connectors.(What's Hot)
July 1, 2004... Designed to reduce mating forces and stress on the operator, a new latch-and-release system for the EBC320 rapid-charge connectors promises to improve ergonomics and safety. The system locks the mated connector halves together to prevent...

High-current toroid inductors for noise suppression.(What's Hot)
July 1, 2004... Available in both horizontal and vertical mounting configurations, 2300 Series high-current toroid inductors, which are designed for high-performance noise suppression, feature an iron powder core that reduces the effect of coupling and...

Fuseblock solution.(What's Hot)
July 1, 2004... An all-in-one fuseblock solution comes pre-loaded with a 5x20mm fuse and a fitted cover. The "easy-grab" OGN Series cover is designed to "grab hold" of the fuse, removing it when the cover is lifted. It's engineered not only to simplify removal...

Cooling for enclosure cabinets.(What's Hot)
July 1, 2004... New 316 stainless steel cabinet coolers circulate 20[degrees]F air throughout electrical enclosures to prevent high temperature malfunction. They also resist heat and corrosion that can harm internal components. Applications include cooling...

Mesh modification tool.(What's Hot)
July 1, 2004... ParaMesh 2.3 is a standalone software package that promises quick and easy modifications of existing meshes from engineering design tools including ANSYS, MSC.Patran, MSC.Nastran, EDS NX Nastran, Fluent, Star-CD, and Abaqus. It allows users to...

Motion control development software.(What's Hot)
July 1, 2004... Motion Assistant 1.1 motion control software for prototyping and building motion applications features configurable trigger outputs that comply with standard industrial I/O lines. With it, factory automation engineers and machine builders can...

Two-phase nano driver.(What's Hot)
July 1, 2004... The SND100 is a uni-polar constant-current 24-Vdc stepper driver developed to meet OEM machine building and semi-conductor processing equipment design applications. With the ability to execute the smallest degree step angle possible within...

Desk consoles.(What's Hot)
July 1, 2004... Gold Series desk consoles, designed with features found in custom consoles, can be used in a variety of monitoring and control station environments including packaging, printing, material handling, machine tool, injection molding, and food and...

Compact step motor in three lengths.(What's Hot)
July 1, 2004... The 211, a new compact and lightweight step motor, offers high torque in a small package. The 1.8-degree NEMA size 11 bipolar stepper is designed for flexibility in applications with limited space. It measures 1.1 in. square and is available in...

Niobium oxide multi-anode capacitors.(What's Hot)
July 1, 2004... Featuring a multi-anode configuration in a standard "E" (7343-43) case package, new Niobium Oxide Multi-anode (NOM) capacitors have been designed to deliver low-ESR, high-capacitance, high-ripple current capacitor performance. Designated the...

High-temperature terminal blocks.(What's Hot)
July 1, 2004... A new series of surface-mount-compatible PC board terminal blocks can be integrated into surface-mount manufacturing processes, eliminating hand soldering. The one-piece, high-temperature terminal blocks in the MKDS... -HT family are available...

All-thermoplastic ball valve.(What's Hot)
July 1, 2004... The Quarter-Bloc PVC True-Union ball valve for water and light chemical applications is NSF-61 approved and features all-thermoplastic construction with no metallic parts. The valve's flow characteristics benefit from a full orifice opening...

Upgraded CAD software.(What's Hot)
July 1, 2004... TurboCAD Professional version 10, by including the LightWorks 7.3 Photorealistic rendering engine, yields images up to 40 percent faster than previous versions. This latest upgrade also includes an updated Spatial 3D ACIS R11 engine that boosts...

Automotive current sense resistors.(What's Hot)
July 1, 2004... Members of the OARS series of precision, surface mount, current sense resistors for automotive applications feature a resistive element with an open air design that keeps the resistor's hot spot off the PC board, contributing to cooler...

The hot and cold of thermal controls: the range of sophistication among devices varies greatly. Here are guidelines to help you find the best solution.(News & notable: heating & cooling)
July 1, 2004... The list of products that demand reliable temperature control seems endless. They can be found in almost every area of life from everyday items such as refrigerators and toasters to more complicated applications in the telecommunications,...

Q&A: the nuances of drives: it's surprisingly easy to overlook some of the most important features technology has to offer. To get readers the data they need, this article takes a look at the inner workings of today's ac drives.(In focus: motion control)
July 1, 2004... The advantage that can be reaped from using ac drives are too frequently ignored. That's the opinion of Rhode Nelson, who is the product manager of the AllenBradley Drives Business in Mequon, WI, and has worked with drives for 15 years....

Breaking down barriers: inter-network communication is a lesson in complications due to incompatible networks in the U.S. and Europe. Here's one company's answer to this language quagmire.(Tech update: interconnects)
July 1, 2004... According to engineer Trevor Lang, the last barrier to industrial networking has fallen. Such a statement might seem astonishing to some, but it captures the enthusiasm Lang has for a product line his company, HMS Industrial Networks Inc., has...

D-sub power connections.
July 1, 2004... The PCS series offers size 16 power contacts in variants from 3 to 30 contacts. Termination styles include right angle and straight solder, crimp, and press-fit. Sequential mating options allow grounds to engage prior to system voltage....

Metal-free cables.
July 1, 2004... Madison Cable lead-and heavy-metal-free cables are designed to conform to the requirements of European Union WEEE and RoHS directives as well as California Proposition 65. The cables are also designed to meet current applicable UL, CSA, and...

CAN-ready transducers.
July 1, 2004... Members of a series of rotary and linear position sensors comply with the SAE J1939-based CAN protocol, which they use to transmit 16-bit absolute position data. The sensors do not require perfect alignment to operate properly. Linear...

PC board inserts.
July 1, 2004... Power and signal can now be combined into one IP 67 rated industrial plug connection system with Variocon PC board inserts. Available for through panel applications direct to the PC board, these modular contact inserts are available in 90...

Potentiometric transducers.(New Products)
July 1, 2004... LWG Series position transducers, featuring standard M12 connectors, have backlash-free pivot heads to provide the free movement required in mechanical, automotive, and robotic applications. They combine linearity to [+ or -] 0.05 percent with...

One-piece V-cup seal.(New Products)
July 1, 2004... A new piston V-cup seal that features a single part boasts better seal life than two-part designs. In addition, the one-part seal is said to simplify and speed up assembly, improve efficiencies, and reduce labor content and costs. ...

Connector system.(New Products)
July 1, 2004... The HandyLink connector system has been designed for cellular phones, PDAs, retail scanners, bar-code readers, GPS devices, human and vehicular tracking devices, and portable medical and industrial devices. With a 0.8 mm pitch, it promises...

Planetary gear reducer.(New Products)
July 1, 2004... Promising low noise levels, the ABLE servo planetary gear reducer has been designed for use with any manufacturer's servomotor. It is especially suitable for applications in packaging and printing machines as well as for pick-and-place...

Machine vision products.(New Products)
July 1, 2004... Three new products--an Ethernet I/O assembly, an industrial power supply, and an intelligent breakout board--have been engineered to help provide easier industrial machine vision solutions. In fact, their goal is to make machine vision systems...

High pressure speaker.(New Products)
July 1, 2004... The SCG-16A dynamic speaker boasts broad frequency response characteristics, including wide resonant peaks, that allow for the creation of numerous audio tones. Using a proprietary design that combines strong audio performance with a compact...

Corrosion-resistant valve.(New Products)
July 1, 2004... The Type 375 true union ball valve has been designed for any application that requires a durable and compact industrial ball valve in a viscous chemical or water environment. The corrosion-resistant valve is NSF 61 certified for potable...

Small, modular DC motors.(New Products)
July 1, 2004... Pittman LO-COG 22-mm brush-commutated dc motors are appropriate for applications requiring the power of an "ironless core" or coreless motor without the associated cost. Typical applications include those in the data storage, medical, biotech,...

Power of water: water hydraulic systems are making a splash thanks to the benign properties of [H.sub.2]O. Engineers are rethinking the use of hydraulic oils and taking a closer look at water-based solutions to save money, improve safety, and avoid contamination problems.(Real-World Engineering)
July 1, 2004... While many of us consider throwing our modern conveniences away and escaping to a lower-tech lifestyle, it rarely happens. However, in the case of hydraulic systems, there has been a trend toward returning to a pure and simple technology of the...

Integrated connector modules.(New Products)
July 1, 2004... New single-port MagJack integrated connector modules are magnetic-based solutions for high-speed networking and computing applications. These vertical-mount devices can be ordered with circuit options for 10/100 Base-T, T1/E1, and...

Open-frame switching power supplies.(New Products)
July 1, 2004... With prices starting at $16 in OEM quantities, the OFM 40/60 Series of ultra-miniature open-frame modular switching power supplies offers output power of 40 and 60 watts. All models accept universal input from 85 to 265 Vac. There are 27...

Fuel tank level sending sensor.(New Products)
July 1, 2004... The TR30240 Fuel Level Sender is a compact level transmitter that provides continuous output tank monitoring to marine and stationary fuel gauges. The vertically mounted sensor is manufactured in 316L stainless steel with a Buna-N float...

Thermal printer subassembly.(New Products)
July 1, 2004... The DPU-30 is a panel mount thermal primer subassembly available off-the-shelf for a wide range of kiosk, vending, voting, medical, and parking applications where space is at a premium. The self-contained printer, which can be flush-mounted in...

Thermally conductive adhesive.(New Products)
July 1, 2004... EP21AO is a two-component, thermally conductive, electrically isolating epoxy adhesive with a forgiving 1-to-1 mix ratio by weight of volume. It adheres to a variety of similar and dissimilar substrates, has a low coefficient of expansion, and...

Non-contact fluid sensor.(New Products)
July 1, 2004... A new product has been engineered to provide automotive design engineers with a non-contact means of detecting liquid through transparent tubing. Designated the OPB350, this optoelectronic sensor is packaged in a housing designed to accommodate...

Universal phase monitors/relays.(New Products)
July 1, 2004... SLL phase monitors protect motors, pumps, and compressors against phase loss, over- and under-voltage, unbalance, and incorrect phase sequence. Packaged in a combination surface and DIN-rail mounting enclosure, they accept a wide range of...

Linear measurement system.(New Products)
July 1, 2004... The new Kubler by Turck linear measurement system is a high-resolution linear encoder that allows measurement of linear position or speed without contact between the sensor head and scale. It lees users specify a resolution of either 20 or 100...

Transmitters with low hysteresis.(New Products)
July 1, 2004... The 20300 Series low differential pressure transmitters have been designed as low-cost alternatives for HVAC, wafer fab, pharmaceutical clean room, laboratory, and hospital applications. Price is $128. The heart of the transmitter is an...

Forged-body needle valves.(New Products)
July 1, 2004... F10 Series forged-body needle valves have working pressures up to 10,000 psig (690 bar) and come in straight, 90-degree, and oblique-angle configurations. A non-rotating hardened needle provides positive shutoff. Other features of the...

Switch control catalog.(catalogs * cds * brochures * samples)
July 1, 2004... This 180-page master catalog examines new switch control products for includes data on multi-function pushbutton switches, touch sensitive switches, door pushbuttons and indicators, and hundreds of LED indicators. Switch control solutions for...

Rotary encoder catalog.(catalogs * cds * brochures * samples)
July 1, 2004... This new catalog features detailed information on incremental and absolute rotary encoders. The guide includes product features, technical data, and ordering information as well as color photos, charts, and schematics. In addition, there is a...

Connectors and pressure testing.(catalogs * cds * brochures * samples)
July 1, 2004... This 44-page guide looks at connectors for pressure testing and processing, offering application and specification information for various styles of male and female products. Examined are hand-operated quick connectors as well as lever- and...

Temperature probe design guide.(catalogs * cds * brochures * samples)
July 1, 2004... A new guide has been put together to answer key design questions concerning NTC thermistors used in temperature-sensing applications. A thermistor is a thermally sensitive resistor that changes resistance with a change in temperature. An NTC...

Industrial fastening system.(catalogs * cds * brochures * samples)
July 1, 2004... This CD-Rom shows how the FAS-NER fastening system automatically feeds, punches, inserts, and locks self-piercing FAS-NERs into an assembly An alternative to spot welding and riveting, the system is a simple punch and die operation that...

Temperature Handbook.(catalogs * cds * brochures * samples)
July 1, 2004... Volume MMV, fifth edition, of the "Temperature Handbook" otters detailed information and specifications on more than 50,000 products [of process measurement and control in its 1,800 pages. This edition boasts the latest technology and new...

Simulating underwater shock response.(End notes: marine design)
July 1, 2004... The response of marine structures such as surface ships, submarines, and even offshore oil platforms to nearby non-contact underwater explosions is of considerable importance in their design. Most naval organizations require that some form of...