Product Design & Development articles from June 2002

Product Design & Development archives from June 2002

Mini and micro ac drives.(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... GS Series ac drives are designed to be easy to program with simple communications connectivity. The GS1 mini features 1/4-2 hp, 115 Vac/230 Vac input, and 230 Vac output. Pricing is $149-$198. The GS2 micro offers 1/2-7.5 hp at 230 Vac...

Self-contained color sensor.(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... The compact BFS-26K optoelectronic sensor uses an integrated, pulsed white light source so that no color goes undetected. Its receiver measures the red/green/blue component of the reflected light in a single processing step. External...

Compact fused inlet.(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... The Series 4707 fused inlet comes with two single- or double-pole slotted screw-type fuseholders for 5 x 20 mm fuses. With a 10 A rating, it's suitable for medical, industrial, and test equipment exposed to dust and liquids. Price is $5.82. ...

Aesthetic solutions.(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... Appearance Engineering is a new technology that helps shave weeks, even months, off the normal process of design, color selection, and sampling by electronically predicting appearance instead of relying on physical color samples. As shown...

Stature matters. (What's Hot).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... Billed as the smallest linear actuator available, the LC Series features a step increment of 0.2 mm (0.0097 in.) per step. The 15-mm captive linear actuator delivers over 4N (1 lb) of thrust and is suitable for applications such as medical...

Illuminating applications. (What's Hot).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... Featuring two diode chips, RAB362 LED illuminators are designed for back and edgelighting applications. They deliver illumination to displays, keypads, and legends, making them easier to read while preserving the lightweight and compact nature...

Striking back. (What's Hot).
June 1, 2002... New varistors have been engineered specifically for the growing ESD protection needs of the automotive marketplace. Designated the CANBus Series, these devices are designed for LED, LCD, and CANBus protection and are part of the TransGuard line...

Tough treatment. (What's Hot).
June 1, 2002... Jacketed wire and cable products can be treated to offer temperature, chemical, abrasion, and friction resistance to small-footprint components used in higher temperatures or harsher environments. A cross-linking process is used to enhance the...

Up to a foot across. (What's Hot).
June 1, 2002... Washers up to 12 in. in diameter are now available. Previously, washer sizes ranged from 0.08 to 2.631 in. in diameter; new capabilities now let end-users specify washers in short, medium, and long runs in all sizes between 0.08 and 12 in. ...

Single strand system. (What's Hot).
June 1, 2002... VarioFlow is a single strand chain conveyor system that lets manufacturers link assembly operations with functions such as parts feeding and packaging on either side of the assembly process. It offers transport speeds up to 50 m per minute. ...

Custom pigment film. (What's Hot).
June 1, 2002... Using premium pigment additives, FlameX film can be matched to PMS color specifications. The flame-retardant film is suitable for furniture, automobile, aviation equipment, and building supply applications. Various colors, gauges, and roll...

In actuators we thrust. (What's Hot).
June 1, 2002... MaxJac, a new line of compact actuators, delivers variable speed control for thrust applications. The actuators offer a number of features that make them suitable for throttle control, fine lift adjustments, and valve actuation. The core...

Generating regulated output. (What's Hot).
June 1, 2002... The ZXCP330E6 switched capacitor dc-dc converter provides a regulated 3.3 V output from a 2 to 4.4 V input with a maximum load current of 40 mA. The capacitor consumes minimal power, drawing an input current of 20 A in normal operation or...

Incremental rotary encoders for tight packages. (What's Hot).
June 1, 2002... The MOD 700 Series of incremental rotary encoders offers a miniaturized encoder solution for integration into motors or other tight package constraint applications. Based on Opto-ASIC technology, these high-performance devices accommodate a...

Spherical plain bearings for industrial applications. (What's Hot).
June 1, 2002... These spherical plain bearings are suitable for a broad range of industrial applications including off-highway vehicles, agricultural equipment, mining and logging equipment, packaging and textile equipment, and robotics. The product line is...

Photomultiplier with high sensitivity. (What's Hot).
June 1, 2002... The 85104 MCP photomultiplier offers high cathode sensitivity, a large cathode area, and photon-counting properties. The unit incorporates a semi-transparent gallium-arsenide photocathode to provide quantum efficiencies of greater than 20...

Slide for high loads and fast speeds. (What's Hot).
June 1, 2002... The High Load Ultran slide is available in 1-1/16 in. bore sizes. The slide provides high load carrying capabilities within an Ultran rodless cylinder. It incorporates a ball bearing system engineered to offer large load bearing capabilities...

Hinge for tight-fitting applications. (What's Hot).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... The Weld-On Hinge, designed as an aesthetically pleasing device to provide continuous, smooth operation, eliminates the need for fasteners and leaves. It replaces continuous, butt, or slip hinges in many applications and is especially suitable...

Protective relief valves. (What's Hot).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... Two new compact P-Series diaphragm-type relief valves are designed to protect against excessive pressure buildup in a pneumatic circuit or system. Both models feature a push-pull locking knob with relief ranges from 0 to 100 psig. The P130...

Driver and stepping motor. (What's Hot).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... The AlphaStep Plus combines a two-phase closed-loop stepping motor with an integrated programmable motion controller and driver. The controller and driver have been combined into the compact size of the original AlphaStep driver. The new...

Split-hub couplings for easy assembly. (What's Hot).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... Engineered to meet the technical demands of modern machine design and construction, BK2 Series bellow couplings are manufactured with a split hub and stainless steel bellows. The hub allows assembly of the coupling on existing equipment where...

Compressor/vacuum pump for medical equipment. (What's Hot).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... This 1/2-hp scroll compressor/vacuum pump is suitable for medial product designs needing a quiet, clean, and reliable source of vacuum or compressed air. The double-duty, oil-free unit can provide less than I Tort of vacuum or 20 psig of...

Single-point laser sensor. (What's Hot).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... The CCD-based SPR-02 is a single-point laser sensor for medium-to-long range measurement applications. It uses optical triangulation measurement principles to deliver a resolution as fine as 0.001 in. at up to 1,800 measurement points per...

Liquid level switches. (What's Hot).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... Two new series of liquid level switches feature solid state ultrasonic technology. The single-point ULS-50 Series incorporates submersible IP68 housings of either polypropylene or PFA Teflon. The multi-point ULS-60 Series includes general...

Thin plastic optical fiber backlighting devices. (What's Hot).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... UniGlo panels are thin plastic optical fiber backlighting devices that can backlight full-travel computer keyboards and flat-panel membrane switch keyboard overlays with a single LED as a light source. UniGlo devices provide a thin, rugged,...

Seal plates with optional support rings. (What's Hot).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... Code 61 and Code 62 seal plates are made to locate and provide the proper squeeze on an O-ring to facilitate sealing on two joined surfaces. These seals incorporate optional integrity support rings for structural support for the two joined...

Wire feeders designed for flexibility. (What's Hot).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... A bench-top dual wire version and a Swingarc boom-mounted version of the 70 Series wire feeder are designed for use in heavy manufacturing, metal fabrication, and high-volume welding applications. The bench-top dual wire model is designed...

Directional control valve. (What's Hot).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... A three-way directional control valve that consistently diverts flow between two outlets is available. The valve is precision-balanced for smooth shifting with pressure in any port. It is suitable for positive displacement pump applications...

Ultra-miniature pushbuttons. (What's Hot).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... The GB and G3B Series of washable ultra-miniature through-hole and surface-mount pushbuttons feature a patented contact mechanism. Its design is said to guarantee unparalleled logic level switching reliability because the gold-plated contacts...

Direct-acting solenoid valves. (What's Hot).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... Series 320/420 1/4 in. ported three-way and four-way direct-acting solenoid valves are suitable for a variety of pneumatic applications. Their short-stroke balanced poppet design permits rapid cycling, boasts excellent flow characteristics, and...

Pluggable PC board terminal blocks. (What's Hot).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... New 8113 SEG Series pluggable PC board terminal blocks offer same plane wiring capabilities in through-panel applications. The in-line, double tier, horizontal or vertical header eases wiring access in space-restricted panels and boards. In...

Full-bridge DC motor driver IC. (What's Hot).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... The A3948 is a serially controlled dc motor driver IC. It features a DMOS H-bridge capable of handling continuous currents of [+ or -]1.5 A and operating voltages to 50 V. The DMOS output transistors feature a low RDS(on) rating and are...

Methacrylate adhesive for bonding thin metals. (What's Hot).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... Metal Welder is a structural methacrylate adhesive designed specifically for bonding metals to other metals or to dissimilar substrates such as ABS, PVC, Plexiglas, PMMA, polycarbonate, polyesters, and FRP. The adhesive is engineered to...

Translation woes targeted: two manufacturers rely on data conversion software to get their designs on the road and the runway quicker. (CAD/CAE).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... The conversion of CAD/CAM data can be tricky business. Today's CAD/CAM systems create designs using feature--and history-based modeling techniques, as well as complex geometric modeling of solid models, and trimmed surfaces. Theorem...

Knowledqe sharing expanded between engineering and non-engineering groups. (CAD/CAE).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... Featuring a series of new Web components, Solid Edge software now allows non-engineering users to access and view current product information via Internet Explorer. For instance, shop floor employees can view the latest revision of a drawing or...

Battery protection IC for portable devices. (Batteries & Power Supplies).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... Described as the smallest LI-ION battery protection IC available, the S-8261 BPIC boasts accuracy for over-charge, over-discharge, and over-current detection voltages and incorporates a third level of over-current detection for added...

Battery solutions for minicomputers. (Batteries & Power Supplies).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... PoLiFlex lithium polymer batteries are suitable for minicomputers (palmtop, PDAs), medical applications, mobile phones (GSM, cellular), scanners, security systems, instrumentation, and other portable electronic devices. Sizes include 35 x 71 x...

AC/DC switching power supply for datacom/telecom use. (Batteries & Power Supplies).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... Measuring 1.25 x 3 x 5 in., the Model AAD130 power supply boasts 83 percent efficiency. The high-density, power-factor-corrected switching power supply is suitable for data communications and telecommunication and other 1U applications. The...

High-density power supply for non-standard voltages. (Batteries & Power Supplies).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... The design of Vega Series power supplies relies on off-the-shelf modules and converters so that custom output specifications can be quickly assembled. The configurable switch-mode power supplies boast a high level of reliability due to the...

Din-rail mounted switchers. (Batteries & Power Supplies).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... DRL Series DIN-rail mounted enclosed switching power supplies are designed for industrial control and embedded rack systems. All models feature a cage-covered package with snap-on DIN rail mounts and are suitable for size-restrictive...

Supercapacitor for mobile communications. (Batteries & Power Supplies).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... The BestCap electrochemical supercapacitor offers voltages in the standard ranges of 3.5, 4.5, and 5.5 V, along with custom ranges from 1.5 to 10 V, in the same package, eliminating the need for multiple device layouts. It is designed to store...

Point of load DC/DC converter. (Batteries & Power Supplies).
June 1, 2002... A new 25 W point of load dc/dc converter has wide input and output voltage ranges--1.8 to 13 V in and 0.9 to 3.6 V out--and options such as output voltage adjustability, active current sharing between paralleled units, and output status...

Space-saving motors with high power. (Batteries & Power Supplies).
June 1, 2002... The Jones Punchline AC/DC Series motors are engineered as space-saving solutions for medical devices, industrial equipment, and material handling machines. The motors pack high power into a compact size and can operate like brushless dc and ac...

Keeping an eye on the sky: designers of the Falcon 2000EX set their goals high. They rejected the traditional path of fixing noise and vibration problems after an aircraft is built. Instead, they decided to get rid of such problems before they exist. (Power Transmission).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... If we can predict our challenges, then we might be able to keep them from becoming problems. That's a motto that Lord Corp. and Dassault Aviation embraced in their recent project involving the Falcon 2000EX aircraft. Early in the planning...

The truth about compressed air! If you think compressed air is too expensive and noisy--read this. The facts will surprise you!(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 1, 2002... Compare these Blowoffs There are a variety of ways to blow the water from the bottles shown in the photo below, but which method is best? To decide, we ran a comparison test-on the same application using four different blowoff methods:...

Testing your acrylic IQ: understanding the characteristics of a specific compound can mean the difference between success and failure. Here's a look at the benefits and nuances inherent with the ever-popular acrylic. (Plastics).(Brief Article)(Interview)
June 1, 2002... Acrylic offers numerous advantages for applications requiring optical clarity, high impact resistance, rigidity, and weatherability. Understanding the characteristics of acrylic and selecting proper molding techniques can mean more efficiency...

Paving the way to reliability. (New Products).
June 1, 2002... These patented paver beatings provide positive sealing against abrasive aggregates and hot contaminants in the auger and conveyor positions. They have multiple levels of protection and can stand up to severe operating environments with...

On the road again: Indian motorcycles use latest design technique to return to the hearts and minds of bike aficionados. (Real-World Engineering).
June 1, 2002... David Hansen, owner of a Southern California motorcycle institution known as The Shop, has two favorite bikes: a `33 Indian Chief and an `87 Harley. He likens the cruisers to the pair of wives in the film "Captain's Paradise," one in Gibraltar,...

Silver-filled silicone adhesive/sealant. (New Products).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... Master Sil 7055 is a single-component, room-temperature-curing silver-filled silicone adhesive/sealant. Billed as easy to use, it is non-corrosive and has a low volume resistivity of 1 x 10 ohm-cm. It cures readily at ambient temperatures when...

Fluoropolymer material. (New Products).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... MACbond IB-2180 is a fluoropolymer material used to cover a cell phone's speaker and microphone, preventing moisture penetration into the unit's sensitive components. It's a double-sided tape version of IF-2090 film, which bonds to low energy...

Vacuum generator with three-way valve. (New Products).
June 1, 2002... Described as an energy-efficient alternative to electric and multistage air-powered pumps, a new vacuum generator is a combination venturi vacuum generator and fully ported three-way valve. Both units are contained in a single modular plug-in...

Self-contained incremental encoder. (New Products).
June 1, 2002... The RS15 self-contained incremental encoder provides a three-channel signal output in a housing with shielded or sealed ball bearings. A single LED and sensor arrangement reduces unit cost while improving stability. Housing diameter is...

Reed switch for small signal applications. (New Products).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... Billed as the smallest reed switch available, the RI-80 is suitable for high-reliability small signal automatic test equipment, sensor applications in medical electronics including pacemakers and hearing aids, miniature industrial position...

Latching relay with high isolation distance. (New Products).
June 1, 2002... The DQ is billed as a tiny but powerful latching relay. It measures 38 mm (1.4696 in.) long, 17.3 mm (0.681 in.) high, and 29 mm (1.142 in.) wide. Either one or two coil latching is available. The DQ is designed with a high insulation...

AC/DC switching supplies. (New Products).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... Designed to meet space and performance requirements in instrumentation, control, and telecommunication systems, OFM Series ultra-miniature open-frame modular switching power supplies provide output power over the range of 5 to 22 W. All models...

Power controllers with four inputs. (New Products).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... A&B Series controllers are designed with four field-selectable inputs: 2,200 ohm, 135 ohm, 4-20 mA, and 0-10 Vdc. With multiple inputs, they create a 4-in-1 controller solution to reduce inventory requirements and simplify changeover in the...

Insulation displacement contact style connectors. (New Products).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... A new addition to the MTA family of insulation displacement contact style connectors, the MTA-50 connector system is a reduced centerline product with 0.5 in. contact centerlines in a single, staggered row. The miniaturized design reduces board...

Custom configurable pressure transmitter. (New Products).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... The Model FPB pressure transmitter is designed for barometric pressure ranges of 16-32, 26-32, and 0-30 in. Hga. The transmitter is custom configurable to meet specific application needs. User-selectable parameters include a choice of 0.1...

Solenoid-operated pumps. (New Products).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... SV500 Series solenoid-operated pumps are available for industrial liquid dispensing and metering applications. These self-priming pumps can start from a dry condition and lift up to six feet of water. Available in four models, they can...

Cabinet Cooler. (New Products).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... The ETC (electronic temperature control) Cabinet Cooler is designed to keep electrical enclosures cool while maintaining the temperature within [+ or -] 1[degrees]F of the dial setting. Such precise control minimizes compressed air use by...

Magnetic absolute encoder in two versions. (New Products).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... The MagRes magnetic absolute encoder features up to 10-bit resolution in a single-turn configuration. It is designed to improve speed, direction, and position monitoring. Available in a standard encoder style housing or in a non-contact...

Amplifying alternatives. (Show Stoppers).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... The ZX smart laser measurement sensor's amplifier can interface with three visible red through-beam and eight visible red displacement sensor heads. As a result, the user can use the same sensor amplifier platform for a variety of different...

Inert isolation. (Show Stoppers).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... The Oligo Series inert isolation valve is engineered to meet the demands of next-generation bio analytical and analytical instrumentation applications. Its design combines inert materials and a proprietary perfluoroelastomer diaphragm for...

Foam formulations. (Show Stoppers).
June 1, 2002... Celluflex polyolefin foams are engineered to possess a special combination of resiliency and compression-set resistance. These fine-celled materials are manufactured in various formulations to accommodate a wide range of applications such as...

Rolling replacement. (Show Stoppers).
June 1, 2002... Self-lubricating Power-Core rollers can be used in place of traditional steel cam followers in demanding load-bearing applications where noise, moisture, shock, temperature, or extraordinary rail wear is problematic. A long-wearing composite...

Servo solution. (Show Stoppers).
June 1, 2002... A new [FlexDrive.sup.II] brushless servo control is available in 460 Vac. It accepts [+ or -] 10 Vdc input velocity or torque command, or master encoder follower input. It includes protection for overcurrent, over-temperature, overvoltage, loss...

Controlled connections. (Show Stoppers).
June 1, 2002... The Micro-Link shielded connector features a 360-degree aluminum mylar foil shield to minimize electrical interference that can disrupt the signal from the connector to the control device. It's designed with gold-plated contacts for longer...

Transducer trends. (Show Stoppers).
June 1, 2002... The latest transducer technology is seen in the Ashcroft KM10, a compact unit designed to address some of the most severe OEM applications involving shock, vibration, and temperature extremes. It's especially suitable for pressure monitoring...

Secure sensing. (Show Stoppers).
June 1, 2002... Featuring capacitive sensing technology, the non-mechanical LI Series level sensor is engineered for overflow protection in fluid sensing applications. It can be used as an independent overflow protection device or with other level sensors for...

Engineered enclosures. (Show Stoppers).
June 1, 2002... DiamondShield enclosures boast a "no limits" panel management system. In other words, any panel of any size can be mounted at any height or depth and hinged in any direction within these fiberglass enclosures--even on the doors. Every cubic...

Patented composite cables with high frequency shielding. (New Products).
June 1, 2002... HomeChoice is a line of composite cables for intelligent home and smart office applications. These cables are UL verified to Category 5e and provide a wide range of services. Through a single HomeChoice composite cable, any room in the home or...

Stainless steel valves. (New Products).
June 1, 2002... These C Series valves are constructed of rugged Hastelloy C or 316L stainless steel to provide accurate pressure regulation or relief of corrosive solutions. They feature smooth, chatter-free bypass and minimal pressure surge. Wanner...

Casting process for high-precision components. (New Products).
June 1, 2002... The ZA-12 casting process is suitable for the manufacture of high-precision components for medical equipment. The process uses permanent graphite molds to produce parts from a zinc-aluminum alloy. It's an alternative to die casting, investment...

Liquid-tight fittings with metric hubs. (New Products).
June 1, 2002... These precision-molded liquid-tight fittings with metric hubs provide 35 lbs of strain relief protection to the cords running through them. In other words, they protect cords from the forces of push, pull, and flex. The fittings are...

Ultra high-temperature dip test sockets. (New Products).
June 1, 2002... Suitable for ultra high-temperature and short burn-in-time applications, these DIP test sockets feature a high-temperature ceramic body and high-conductivity stainless steel contacts. They handle 350[degrees]C and 500[degrees]C applications and...

Pluggable transducers. (New Products).
June 1, 2002... The 786 Series of pluggable modules can convert 0-10 V or 4-20 mA signals into a 0-10 V, 0-20 mA, or 4-20 mA signal. An isolation rating of 4 kV enhances safety, and the modules reduce installation time by plugging directly onto the...

High-purity polyimide parts. (New Products).
June 1, 2002... Pyropel HD is a high-purity thermoset polyimide machining stock suitable for the manufacture of parts subject to high temperatures or chemical attack. With temperature resistance to 550[degrees]F, it exceeds the upper continuous use temperature...

Hydraulic-setting ceramic compound. (New Products).
June 1, 2002... Cermacast 646 is a hydraulic-setting, zirconium oxide based ceramic compound suitable for encapsulating and potting high-temperature electrical components such as resistance heaters, hot gas igniters, oxygen analyzers, thermocouples, and strain...

Hot temperature controller. (New Products).
June 1, 2002... The Model 2692 hot temperature controller is designed for a variety of heating applications requiring temperatures in the range of 50 to 290[degrees]F. Key features include a load-active red LED indicator, potentiometer adjustment, and...

Compact zero-backlash gearheads. (New Products).
June 1, 2002... PSA-G harmonic drive gearheads are suitable for factory automation applications such as robotics and the handling of small components during assembly. Available in standard gear ratios ranging from 50:1 to 100:1, they are designed to handle...

Timer and counter control. (New Products).
June 1, 2002... The 385 controller incorporates three set preset times or counts with a built-in totalizer that accumulates the number of completed cycles. Its design, which features dual DPDT relays, can replace two or three standard timers in one unit. An...

Free stuff! (catalogs * cds * brochures * samples).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... See something you like? Just write in the number on our reader service card. Or jump onto www.pddnet.com. Blowoff And Cooling Products Designated Catalog 18, this 96-page technical guide offers solutions to common industrial blowoff,...

Custom controls can calm rough economic waters. (Custom Services).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Current economic conditions are forcing engineers to rethink control component specifications in both new and existing products as they struggle with material and manufacturing costs. Many have already squeezed suppliers on price or asked them...

Motion control answers. (Custom Services).
June 1, 2002... Danaher Motion has a new custom program for unique high-end applications. It allows for the creation of specialty stepper and servo as well as direct-drive motor/drive products in nearly any configuration. Custom innovations have included...