Product Design & Development articles from June 2006

Product Design & Development archives from June 2006

Belt drives.(First Look: Smart Products and Technical Tools for Engineers)
June 1, 2006... A series of belt drives, ranging from 80 to 216 mm, is designed to improve work environment efficiency and safety. The belt drives are enclosed and sealed inside a steel shell, preventing environmental conditions such as water, dust, grit,...

BGA Socket.(First Look: Smart Products and Technical Tools for Engineers)
June 1, 2006... The Flip-Top BGA Socket is designed for development, test, and validation of 1 mm pitch BGA and LGA devices at speeds up to 2.6 GHz (single-ended). The compact design requires no soldering of the IC and needs no external hold-downs or tooling...

Multi-chip LED.(First Look: Smart Products and Technical Tools for Engineers)
June 1, 2006... The 0TLA-0100 high-density, multi-chip LED module offers nine distinct wavelengths of light. It features nine LED chips packaged into a compact, thermally conductive ceramic substrate. It can be used to illuminate a target sample with multiple...

Finite-element analysis software.(First Look: Smart Products and Technical Tools for Engineers)
June 1, 2006... Version 6.6 of ABAQUS, an finite-element analysis software suite within the SIMULIA product portfolio, offers new capabilities in vibration analysis, material failure characterization, tire modeling, and computing performance. Sophisticated new...

High-power rocker switch.(First Look: Smart Products and Technical Tools for Engineers)
June 1, 2006... A high-power normally open rocker switch is designed for use in HVAC furnace door applications. Known as a "tamper switch," the new product is intended for use in furnaces, air cleaners, air conditioners, and power control panels. The switch is...

Power cords and cordsets.(First Look: Smart Products and Technical Tools for Engineers)
June 1, 2006... Swiss 16A power cords and cordsets are designed for equipment rated up to 16 A with service at 250 VAC. They are approved to SEV, Electrosuisse SEV 1011:98, CH-Type 23, Standard-Sheet SEV 5934-2. The Swiss 16A power cords and cordsets are...

Proximity sensors.(First Look: Smart Products and Technical Tools for Engineers)
June 1, 2006... A line of long-range miniature inductive proximity sensors includes 4- and 5-mm unshielded versions. These new sensors have a sensing distance equivalent to an M18 sensor three to four times larger. As extensions of a line that includes a 3-mm...

Portable diodes.(First Look: Smart Products and Technical Tools for Engineers)
June 1, 2006... Three Schottky and three ESD diodes are offered in a 1.4 x 0.6 x 0.5 mm SOD-723 package. The SOD-723 package helps free-up much needed board space in cell phones, PDAs, digital still cameras, notebook computers, consumer electronics, and media...

Materials formulate a future: degradable polymers, nanocomposites, and new alloys will affect the way many products are made in the years to come.(Future Focus)
June 1, 2006... As materials science advances we can expect improvements in properties and increased environmental sensitivity. A number of experts in the field take a look at what's happening with degradable polymers, nanocomposites, and new alloys. ...

USB helps multi-monitor computing go mainstream.(From The Field)
June 1, 2006... In the data-saturated world of today's knowledge worker the measure of productivity is no longer computer processing power--it's the size of their screen. Make no mistake about it, we are living in a display-centric world. The declining cost of...

High-response motors: tough enough for testing.(Tech Watch)
June 1, 2006... Actual on-engine testing of accessory and internal components is expensive and time consuming and often altogether impractical, certainly on a production basis. There is an increasing need for high-performance electric motors that can produce...

Q&A: a drive for energy efficiency.(Questions & Answers)(Interview)
June 1, 2006... These days, energy is on everyone's mind. There is concern for oil prices, and there is concern over the amount of energy that is consumed. Engineers, these days, must be concerned about their designs, especially when it comes to motors and...

Nanotechnology's got game: sporting goods designers interested in reducing weight and increasing strength want nanotechnology on their team.(Cover story)
June 1, 2006... At your last golf outing, did your buddy who was known to hook and slice with wild abandon suddenly Start hitting the ball noticeably straighter? Or maybe at the last Little League game you saw, Junior was swinging the bat with just a bit more...

Instrument maker turns to customized standard enclosures.(Focus On Enclosures)
June 1, 2006... An instrumentation supplier to the process control industry sought to revamp the marketing image of an existing product. While continuous improvement ensured the instrument was state-of-the-art, management felt that the enclosure packaging was...

Rapid tooling solves military supply problem.(Focus On Rapid Tooling)
June 1, 2006... The increased demand for parts used in older weapons systems has resulted in innovative solutions to quickly meet supply needs for the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA). One example is a collaborative effort by St. Clair Die Casting, The North...

Living in a materials world: thousands of exhibitors to show off new plastics, composites, and alloys.(Show Stoppers)
June 1, 2006... NPE 2006, McCormick Place, Chicago, IL, June 19-23 There is more to material formulations than meets the eye. Sometimes, the eve can't even see them, as is the case with nanotechnology. Throw in new technologies such as biodegradable...

Surface mount inductor.(New Products)
June 1, 2006... The DB359 Series surface mount inductor/transformer features a dual coil design in a compact, low-profile package that makes it suitable for a range of applications in miniature and handheld electronic devices designed for the consumer,...

Transducers and transmitters.(New Products)
June 1, 2006... The Model 265 Series of transducers and transmitters is designed to reduce installation costs while increasing overall operating efficiency. Priced at $99 in any quantity for OEMs, the Model 265 Series transducers are suitable for static...

Thermoplastic piping systems.(New Products)
June 1, 2006... PROGEF Natural (natural polypropylene) and Beta Polypropylene thermoplastic piping systems feature the chemical resistance properties of thermoplastics, even to the lowest pH values. They also produce high-quality, cost-effective piping...

Touchscreens and drivers.(New Products)
June 1, 2006... IDEC touchscreens are able to remotely communicate simultaneously with up to 16 devices in an Ethernet network. The units feature three new drivers and additional enhancements in the updated WindO/I-NV2 3.01 programming software. With the newly...

Motion controllers.(New Products)
June 1, 2006... A line of motion controllers and drives features an enhanced backlash and lead screw compensation option with a 2D correction algorithm that allows position corrections for 2D systems such as XY tables. In addition to 2D error correction, the...

Mid-power micro modules.(New Products)
June 1, 2006... Seven mid-power micro DC-DC converters have been added to a high-density 300 VDC input family. The additions include two 50 W models, one model at 3.3 Vout and 5 Vout, and five 75 W models at 12, 15, 24, 28, and 48 Vout. The addition of these...

String encoders.(New Products)
June 1, 2006... PT5600 string encoders consist of industrial rotary encoders mated to durable linear cable reels. The string encoders are commonly used when end users need a linear measurement, but require a signal output provided by a high-resolution...

Single-pole circuit breaker.(New Products)
June 1, 2006... The 4140 is a high-performance, single pole circuit breaker. It is designed to be significantly smaller than Mil-Spec 24571 requirements and 10 percent lighter than most devices, yet to provide current ratings from 20 to 50 A. Even with...

Miniature momentary switch.(New Products)
June 1, 2006... The SH Series miniature illuminated momentary switch features single- or bi-colored LED options and a variety of cap and actuator colors. The SH Series is designed as a high-quality, versatile switch offering a variety of non-illuminated and...

Anti-backlash linear actuator.(New Products)
June 1, 2006... The ZBX Series anti-backlash assembly is a linear actuator for design operations requiring precise positional accuracy and repeatability, at a minimum cost. The inherent damping qualities of the ZBX design make it suitable for vertical...

Rigid coupling adapters.(New Products)
June 1, 2006... Priced according to configuration, size, and quantity, a line of rigid clamp-type coupling adapters is designed to fit securely over an output shaft to extend its length or change the mating configuration. The rigid coupling adapters have a...

Compact cylinder.(New Products)
June 1, 2006... The RLQ series is a compact cylinder with a lock and air cushion. This cylinder series integrates a locking mechanism and a new style of air cushions while maintaining a short overall length. Typical applications include drop prevention and...

Electrical switches.(New Products)
June 1, 2006... A line of custom fabricated electrical switches and terminals can be integrated with discrete component overmolding for producing medical and surgical devices. They are designed offer better strain and flex relief, assembly efficiency, and...

Cylindrical lenses.(New Products)
June 1, 2006... A line of ZnSe cylindrical lenses is offered with a variety of focal lengths and sizes for refocusing a laser beam into a line shape. C[O.sub.2] Cylindrical Lenses feature focal lengths from to 30 in. with [+ or -] 0.5 percent tolerance....

Magnetic valve.(New Products)
June 1, 2006... The MAG-JET valve is designed for jetting applications. It uses a special stainless steel magnetic valve and a super strong corrosion-resistant magnet to hold one inlet valve open, creating a strong pulse-jetting action to power nozzles through...

Dispensing robot system.(New Products)
June 1, 2006... The Ultra TT Automation Series is a cost-effective, easily implemented dispensing robot system that vastly improves productivity when making repetitive deposits of adhesives, epoxies, sealants, solder pastes, and other assembly fluids. The...

Polyethylene tapes.(New Products)
June 1, 2006... The Pres-Mount line of polyethylene tapes includes three foam-tape solutions designed for OEM tasks, including mounting, fastening, sealing, joining, splicing, cushioning, and insulation. Strong enough to bond metal, paper, paint, and most...

Two-part epoxy system.(New Products)
June 1, 2006... EP37-3FLSP is an optically clear, flexible, low viscosity two-part epoxy system formulated for large volume castings. It features a long working life, low exotherm during cure, and very low shrinkage, as well as dimensional stability. The "pot...

Suction cups.(New Products)
June 1, 2006... A line of suction cups feature a vacuum attach probe with an internal check valve that remains closed until it touches a load to prevent air loss and improve automation equipment efficiency. The Vacuum Probe Cup features a small, spring-loaded...

'Extreme Redesign' contest seeks student entries.(Extreme Redesign)
June 1, 2006... The Dimension 3D Printing Group, a business unit of Stratasys Inc. announced the launch of the third annual Extreme Redesign: The Ultimate 3D Printing Challenge, a global design and 3D printing contest for high school and college students that...

Keeping track at the track.(AUTOMOTIVE DESIGN)
June 1, 2006... The world of motorsports is fast moving. Not only do the cars, motorcycles, and snowmobiles of these sports move at a blurry pace, but the business of motorsports also moves at express speeds. Westhold Corp. of La Jolla, CA knows this all too...

A shining light for SUVs.(AUTOMOTIVE DESIGN)
June 1, 2006... Sport utility vehicles (SUVs) are meant for tough uses. Sure, these behemoth automobiles are used by millions of Americans for daily tasks in common conditions, but for other owners they become useful tackle in difficult environments. For all...

Aerospace fastener superalloys brochure.(Free Stuff)
June 1, 2006... SPS Technologies Aerospace Fasteners Group has published a 14-page, full-color brochure describing its line of superalloys designed for use in aerospace fasteners. Physical and mechanical properties, performance data, and application...

Catalogs & brochures.(Free Stuff)
June 1, 2006... * A new brochure featuring leak test accessory products is available from Cincinnati Test Systems. The two-page, full-color brochure includes the latest additions to the company's line, including a digital vacuum gauge, a portable leak finder,...