Product Design & Development articles from October 2005

Product Design & Development archives from October 2005

Stainless steel switch.(PD&D Exclusive)
October 1, 2005... The M30 has been incorporated into the existing MSM Series. The new switch mounts in a panel cut-out of 30 mm, topping the range of types for 16, 19, and 22 mm mounting. The MSM Series provides maximum switching power over a voltage range of 5...

Three-arm knob.(PD&D Exclusive)
October 1, 2005... The new PD Series three-arm knob is designed to allow users to make clamping adjustments by pushing/pulling the arm for leverage as opposed to simultaneously having to squeeze and turn the knob. The result is a design that alleviates hand...

Directional control valve.(First Look: Smart Products and Technical Tools for Engineers)
October 1, 2005... The MEMS valve uses electrostatic force to direct the flow of inert gases. It offers clean service by eliminating solenoids, spools, springs, and internal seals. On-board electronics provide last command control and a consistent response time...

Lightweight chip resistors.(First Look: Smart Products and Technical Tools for Engineers)
October 1, 2005... A compact, lightweight chip resistor line meets the visual inspection requirements of MIL-PFIF-38534 and is suitable for use in hybrid applications requiting exclusive characteristics. The resistors range in size form 0202 (0.02 x 0.02 in.) to...

Flexible gas spring.(First Look: Smart Products and Technical Tools for Engineers)
October 1, 2005... The Bloc-O-Lift-T gas spring is designed to allow easy vertical height adjustment while promoting maximum stability and steadiness. The Bloc-O-Lift-T can be used in several applications, including stand-up tables (single-column desks), desks...

Silent pushbuttons.(First Look: Smart Products and Technical Tools for Engineers)
October 1, 2005... The KP01 Series of silent actuation pushbuttons features RGB LED technology. RGB LED technology brings more flexibility to design engineers. With high quality LEDs for color matching, the KP01 with RGB enables designers to create customized...

Pressure/temperature recorder.(PD&D Exclusive)
October 1, 2005... The user-friendly PRTemp1000IS is a rugged pressure recorder that accurately monitors and records pressure and temperature at user programmable reading intervals. The PRTemp1000IS is Factory Mutual certified as intrinsically safe for Class 1,...

Gas flow meter.(PD&D Exclusive)
October 1, 2005... The new M180 gas flow meter with built-in Vortab flow conditioning is designed to provide accurate flow measurement of natural gas fueled plant compressor units and to ensure that they operate efficiently at the lowest cost. In space limited...

Bearings.(Product Review: A comparison of new product capabilities and specifications to help engineers find the right component to fit their designs)
October 1, 2005... Bearings look like simple devices until you try to specie, them, at which point the full magnitude of the engineering involved, and the number of available choices becomes apparent. This month we are covering four types of bearings:...

A slice of design engineering: unique coupling provides solution for veneer production system.(Engineering At Work)
October 1, 2005... Manufacturer Louis Merritt wrote in 1929 of the importance of designing machines that are simple yet modern. Responsible for several patents that led to the international demand for his company's veneer lathes, Merritt worked with his father...

Ultracapacitors provide a highly reliable backup solution.(Tech Watch)
October 1, 2005... Backup power systems are an integral part of most if not all, mission-critical installations. Services as varied as data centers, communications networks, and plant operations all rely on continuous availability of quality power. Traditionally...

The challenges of coding on wire and cable.(From The Field)
October 1, 2005... One of the last things you may think about in your production environment is the process of coding or marking the wire jacket. Of course, because of the extreme environment in which wire and cable is extruded and the varying environments for...

Planning the end of product life: new regulations and recycling concerns are forcing manufacturers to re-think how they design new products.(Technology Review)(Cover Story)
October 1, 2005... Avo Photonics, a Pennsylvania-based contract manufacturer, has developed a process to mount thermoelectric coolers using environment-friendly unleaded solder. In doing so, the company has solved a manufacturing process design problem that--in a...

Designing lean cells for flexibility.(Technology Review)
October 1, 2005... When designing a lean manufacturing cell, a few questions come immediately to mind: How do I set up a lean cell? What are the basic principles of cell design? What are some of the things I need to take into consideration? Becoming lean...

Q&A: rapid injection molding.(Questions & Answers)(Interview)
October 1, 2005... Although traditional rapid prototyping is still widely used, a growing number of engineers are turning to rapid injection molding for prototyping and short-run production. This month's Q&A examines this alternative. Interviewed are Brad...

Testing new instrumentation: more than 400 exhibitors make control components available for show.(Show Stoppers)
October 1, 2005... ISA Expo 2005, McCormick Place Lakeside Center, Chicago, IL, Oct. 25-27 While the autumn sun shines on Lake Michigan and the Chicago breeze begins to turn ever more crisp, engineers from around the globe will test their will to stay inside...

Spreadsheets just aren't for engineering.(Focus On Software)
October 1, 2005... Virtually any powerful tool can wreak havoc when misused, whether it's nuclear energy, an automobile, a hammer, or, yes, office software. Take spreadsheets. Although ubiquitous, the dirty little secret about spreadsheets is they simply aren't...

Document collaboration: connecting across the supply chain.(Focus On Management)
October 1, 2005... Today product development processes involve manufacturers, suppliers, development and distribution partners, and customers--often with team members working around the globe and around the clock. To sustain innovation and growth, manufacturers...

Industrial panel PCs.(New Products)
October 1, 2005... A line of panel PCs combines an industrial PC and display in one unit. This variant is suitable where installation of a PC and display is required, but the space is limited. Mechanical robustness was given special attention during the...

Power analog ICs.(New Products)
October 1, 2005... Designed in response to the growing demand for power analog ICs that deliver precision power, performance, and value, as well as high speed, high voltage, and low quiescent current silicon design, a new line of power amplifiers combines...

Epoxy sealant and encapsulant.(New Products)
October 1, 2005... A new high temperature-resistant, optically clear, low-viscosity, epoxy adhesive, sealant, and encapsulant is a two-component system. Called EP30-3, it has a 10 to 3 mix ratio by weight and a service operating temperature range of -60[degrees]...

Integrated analysis software.(New Products)
October 1, 2005... Version 6 of Flotherm, an integrated analysis environment for physical design of electronics, has improved communication between thermal and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) simulation. The latest Flotherm and Flo/EMC software packages...

New calculation software.(New Products)
October 1, 2005... Mathcad 13 is a new version of the calculation software. It is designed to promote innovation and improve productivity by capturing and reusing knowledge locked in engineering calculations. The new offering provides expanded support for the...

Recorder/transmitter.(New Products)
October 1, 2005... The OM-CP-RFRTDTEMP101A is a battery-powered precision temperature recorder and wireless transmitter. It is an all-in-one compact, portable, easy to use device that will measure and record up to 5,461 measurements. The OM-CP-RFRTDTEMP101A...

Displacement meters.(New Products)
October 1, 2005... The Keyence LT-9000 Series of laser confocal displacement meters is accurate for 0.01-micron thickness measurements. These measurements are possible on transparent objects using a single sensor head, even when target surfaces are wet, angled,...

Polyetherimide spacers.(New Products)
October 1, 2005... A line of spacers used to mount interconnect devices in telecommunications equipment is molded of high-performance polyetherimide (PEI). The spacers are designed to provide long operating life with lightweight and easy assembly compared to...

Solid modeling software.(New Products)
October 1, 2005... Version 3.13 of AutoSolids and AutoSolids Express includes support for AutoCAD 2006 and AutoCAD 2006-based products. The software also features improved foreign language support. AutoSolids is now available for AutoCAD versions 14.01 thru 2006...

Momentary pushbutton switches.(New Products)
October 1, 2005... Rugged 1200 Series momentary pushbutton switches are designed to handle high resistive loads. For maximum efficiency and safety, the 1200 Series features butt action contacts with double break. Typical applications include industrial controls,...

Shaft-sleeve locking device.(New Products)
October 1, 2005... Torksleeve M rigidly mounts plastic or metal components, including gears, pulleys, sprockets, fans, and sheet metal onto a shaft. It uses an asymmetric thread geometry resulting in better locking capabilities. Torksleeve M eliminates keys,...

Micro-pitch interfaces.(New Products)
October 1, 2005... A line of sub-millimeter micro-pitch interfaces on is available on 0.5, 0.635, and 0.8 mm pitch. The units offer space and cost savings along with the performance features of traditional blade and beam construction. The 0.5mm pitch systems are...

Fiber-optic safety devices.(New Products)
October 1, 2005... Compact, rugged PICO-GUARD Points are designed for use with the PICO-GUARD fiberoptic controller for personnel safety applications. Multiple emitter and receiver points can be arranged to create a customized optical safety grid that meets...

Power system controller.(New Products)
October 1, 2005... The PS-2606 power system controller provides a power management solution for up to six non-isolated DC-DC converters and one intermediate bus in telecom, networking, and data storage applications. This highly integrated chip enables users to...

New software simulates aerospace composites.(AEROSPACE DESIGN)
October 1, 2005... Composite materials have established a foothold in aerospace engineering because they offer the advantage of high strength with lower weight. In ambitious new commercial projects, both Boeing and Airbus are exploring the potential for replacing...

String pots keep aircraft ground testing secure.(AEROSPACE DESIGN)
October 1, 2005... The testing of newly designed aircraft is a challenging endeavor, due to the many safety concerns and life cycle demands that are involved with aerospace flight articles. Extensive structural ground testing must be completed before any new...

Compact actuator remotely controls weapon positioning.(AEROSPACE DESIGN)
October 1, 2005... High-performance servo system manufacturer Danaher Motion Aerospace and Defense in Radford, VA and Canadian defense system integrator Oerlikon Contraves recently teamed up to develop Oerlikon's Advanced Reconnaissance and Remotely Operated...

Hermetically sealed transformers.(CE DESIGN)
October 1, 2005... A line of hermetically sealed transformers and inductors meets MIL-T-27 requirements and is suitable for use in military and commercial applications. These products feature glass-to-metal hermetically sealed terminals, MIL-SPEC paints and...

Satellite/spacecraft optoelectronics.(CE DESIGN)
October 1, 2005... A line of high-reliability commercial off-the-shelf products is available in accordance with standards established by the U.S. Mil-Std 19500 and ESA (European Space Agency) ESA/SCC-5000 PRF. They are manufactured and tested with QCI screening,...

Timing belt pulleys.(CE DESIGN)
October 1, 2005... A line of high-quality timingi belts includes a complete assortment of matching pulleys, clamps, tensioners, and slider beds. The performance of timing belts in a belt drive is highly dependent on the precision and quality of the pulleys and...

Ball transfers for air cargo and baggage handling.(CE DESIGN)
October 1, 2005... Designed specifically for air cargo and baggage handling applications, this new line of ball transfer units handles loads up to 125 kg. An alternative to wheel casters, these stainless steel Type 3274 ball transfers smoothly and precisely move...

Vacuum-rated motors.(CE DESIGN)
October 1, 2005... A line of vacuum-rated, laboratory-grade serve and stepper motors is designed to survive pressures as low as [10.sup.-7] Torr. The line is temperature-rated at 130[degrees]C internal, and 105[degrees]C for the case. The units meet the...

A past winner revisited.(Extreme Redesign)
October 1, 2005... In March, as Mark Kujawski, then a senior engineering student at Central Michigan University, showed off his stair-climbing robot, a first-place winner in the Dimension 3D Printing Group's Extreme Redesign contest, he told a reporter, "I feel...

Sample kits.(Free Stuff: Tools to help engineers get information on new products, components, and technologies)
October 1, 2005... * Providing design engineers with a supply of precision resistive devices for prototyping and design work, TT Electronics' BI Technologies Electronic Component Division has developed an engineering sample kit of its SOT-23 packaged precision...

CDs.(Free Stuff: Tools to help engineers get information on new products, components, and technologies)
October 1, 2005... * The latest edition of the A-Z CD from McCrometer features two Flash application presentations for the V2-Municipal flowmeter and the Ultra Mag flowmeter. The V2-Municipal features a built-in transmitter with flow computer and a high-accuracy,...

Catalogs.(Free Stuff: Tools to help engineers get information on new products, components, and technologies)
October 1, 2005... * Beswick Engineering announces the release of a new 2006-2007 catalog with more than 200 new products. These new products are highlighted for easy identification. Catalog #705 describes the company's line of miniature valves, fittings,...

Online.(Free Stuff: Tools to help engineers get information on new products, components, and technologies)
October 1, 2005... * Allied Electronics has launched an online RollS Knowledge Center to help design engineers, purchasers, and other industry professionals comply with emerging green laws, such as the European Union's Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS)...

Sound and vibration blog.(Free Stuff: Tools to help engineers get information on new products, components, and technologies)
October 1, 2005... Sound Answers is a new blog meant to serve as a resource for engineers facing sound and vibration testing and design challenges. It is developed and maintained by a team of sound and vibration consultants and applications engineers at MTS....