Product Design & Development articles from September 2005

Product Design & Development archives from September 2005

Latching solenoid valves.(PD&D Exclusive)
September 1, 2005... These new 10- and 15-mm latching solenoid valves are suitable for applications where low power consumption is required or coil heating is unwanted. The latching feature eliminates the need for continuous power to maintain the position of these...

High-performance stepper drives.(PD&D Exclusive)
September 1, 2005... STAC6 high-performance stepper drives offer advanced features to provide absolute maximum performance benefits. They feature current output from 0.5 to 6.0 A with 90-135 Vac input, 50/60 Hz, and provide software selectable resolutions from 200...

Flush-mount latch.(First Look: Smart Products and Technical Tools for Engineers)
September 1, 2005... A new pull-to-open/push-to-close latch provides options for accessing and securing interior doors and drawers in environments where style and decor are important design considerations. This flush-mount design is available in both curved and...

Linear position actuator.(First Look: Smart Products and Technical Tools for Engineers)
September 1, 2005... A complete one-axis positioning solution, the GLM30 provides 3,000 N of continuously useable linear force when a cooling liquid supply is connected to its integrated motor coil coolant connections. An instantaneous peak-linear-force of 4,500 N...

Bar-code reader.(PD&D Exclusive)
September 1, 2005... A new 1D and 2D bar-code reader is designed to provide industry-standard bar-code metrics and judgments at a low cost. The PresencePLUS P4 BCR vision sensor is a fully integrated pack age that includes a sensor, lens, and lighting. It is priced...

Clutch/brake unit.(First Look: Smart Products and Technical Tools for Engineers)
September 1, 2005... The new Smooth-Start UniModule is an electromagnetic clutch/brake unit that provides consistent, smooth starting and stopping performance throughout its entire torque range, even in the most challenging range from zero to 50 percent of the...

High-performance converters.(First Look: Smart Products and Technical Tools for Engineers)
September 1, 2005... Designed to provide high-quality on-board power solutions in RF power amplifier systems and other distributed power applications, the PKJ-N family of dc/dc converters offers high performance and reduced cost. The future-proofed converters are...

All-digital motion module.(PD&D Exclusive)
September 1, 2005... The new ION Digital Drive is a compact, fully enclosed module that provides high-performance motion control, network connectivity, and power amplification for dc brush brushless dc, or step/microstepping motors Using advanced MOSFETs and...

Writing a new formula for waterproof paper.(Focus On Innovation)
September 1, 2005... This past June, Sally Ramsey, chief chemist at Ecology Coatings Inc. in Akron, OH, was spending a typical summer day in her lab. She was working on a coating project using 100 percent solids UV-curable formulations. She performed her experiment...

Contest provides incentives for teachers.(Extreme Redesign)
September 1, 2005... Last month, the Dimension 3D Printing Group, a business unit of Stratasys Inc., launched its second annual Extreme Redesign contest for high school and college CAD students, (Product Design & Development is the official media sponsor of the...

Brushless DC motors.(Product Review)
September 1, 2005... Brushless dc motors have become standard for a great many applications, creeping up oil the once-dominant brushed dc, as might be expected, but also taking many jobs once handled by ac reduction motors in small sizes. While brushed motors are...

Designing dispense valves: transfer system for food products and chemicals uses 'lock and key'.(Engineering At Work)
September 1, 2005... Innovative products are often the result of teams working together to overcome a problem. This is exactly how a unique new transfer system for food products and chemicals was developed. It began with the need for an environmentally friendly...

Imperatives for innovation: breakthrough in 3D usability.(Tech Watch)
September 1, 2005... Sometimes product development is more than good business. For Wipaire, a manufacturer of floats for amphibious planes, that's true. Its products help people and supplies get to hard-to-reach places and fight forest fires. Since different...

Outside resources enhance medical device innovation: simply put, working with an external engineering firm is a cost- and time-effective approach to unlocking innovation.(From The Field)
September 1, 2005... Medical manufacturers targeting market leadership are able to provide innovative solutions to meet their customer's most compelling needs. To get products out quickly, most companies are utilizing outside technology sources to leverage...

Joint powers provide a lift: fluid power systems have joined forces with electronics, making them more intelligent and capable of greater feats.(Technology Review)
September 1, 2005... Smarter, faster, more robust, and able to control a skid steer loader with greater precision. While it max sound like the trailer for the latest superhero flick, in reality, it is how industry experts describe the next generation of fluid power...

All-inclusive packaging deal: thousands of designs and displays highlight processing machinery expo.(Show Stoppers)
September 1, 2005... Pack Expo 2005, Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV, Sept. 26-28 In Lets Vegets, there's always a deal to be found--from complimentary tickets to the Cirque du Soleil to the Cosa Bella wedding package at the Bellagio. But from Sept....

Q&A: displaying new types of 'realities'.(Questions & Answers)(Interview)
September 1, 2005... For 182 days this summer, the 2005 World Expo in Aichi, Japan has featured food, entertainment, and emerging technologies from around the globe. One of the attractions wooing visitors is called Nature Contact, an interactive ride that lets...

RGB LED switch.(New Products)
September 1, 2005... The IS Series SmartSwitch is available with RGB LED technology. It enables design engineers to create virtually any illumination with one switch. Principle to the success of RISB illumination in the SmartSwitch is the quality of red, green, and...

Flexible lighting.(New Products)
September 1, 2005... The new Control Tower Stack Light offers manufacturers build-to-order flexibility and easy installation with a 30 mm diameter size designed to help boost productivity and enhance operator safety in environments with more tightly clustered...

Brick converters.(New Products)
September 1, 2005... The AIF-300Vin Series has power density up to 108 W/[in.sup.3]. The new devices can deliver up to 600 W of output power from an input range of 250 to 420 Vdc. The series includes six models with single-output dc voltages of 1.8, 3.3, 5, 12, 15,...

Medical-grade isolation transformers.(New Products)
September 1, 2005... A line of medical-grade power transformers has been expanded up to 6,000 VA. The line is certified to the most recent revision of UL60601-1, the Canadian CSA std c22.2 No. 601.1, the European standard EN 61558-1, and the International...

3D rapid prototyping.(New Products)
September 1, 2005... A new rapid prototyping program is designed for the aerospace industry. It allows high-definition color prototypes to be used for concept visualization, design review, mock-ups for form and fit testing, and patterns for casting applications....

Flow meter interface.(New Products)
September 1, 2005... The K-Factor Scaler is a field adjustable "frequency divider" that converts low level, pulsed frequency output from a turbine flow meter to a scaled, square wave output signal. It provides an interface with PLC, RTU, PC data acquisition cards,...

Test generators.(New Products)
September 1, 2005... The AFG3000 Series of arbitrary/function generators consists of six models with ease-of-use and high-performance capabilities. With the AFG3000 Series, engineers have a powerful function, pulse, and arbitrary waveform generator to shorten test...

Momentary switches.(New Products)
September 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,...

TFE-coated motion assemblies.(New Products)
September 1, 2005... A line of lead screws, linear rails, spline shafts, and ScrewRail actuators is coated with Kerkote TFE coating. Kerkote is formulated to reduce friction and extend the life of assemblies that are suitable for motion control applications in a...

Needle bearing universal joints.(New Products)
September 1, 2005... A line of redesigned needle bearing universal joints is equipped with sealed lubricated needle bearings, making the joints practically maintenance-free while operating precisely at high rpm for extended periods. The needle bearing universal...

One-part epoxy adhesive.(New Products)
September 1, 2005... A one-part epoxy adhesive is designed to replace welding below the fuel-filling ports of many types of automobiles. SC 2002, a structural epoxy with resistance to unleaded gasoline, bonds the funnel to the fuel pipe in the assembly of the new...

Custom electrical terminals.(New Products)
September 1, 2005... These custom manufactured terminals can incorporate inlaid brazing compounds to facilitate wire attachment in automated processes and reduce labor costs. The terminals can be manufactured from virtually all alloys, including medical-grade...

Linear actuator.(New Products)
September 1, 2005... A compact RO-Bug remotely operated linear actuator system integrates a 12 or 24 Vdc serve motor with a 12 or 24 Vdc amplifier for remotely operated applications. Each RO-Bug is tuned and configured for a standard 1 to 2 msec pulse radio...

Industrial pumps.(New Products)
September 1, 2005... The D3B Metering Series of industrial pumps can provide steady, pulse-free metering up to 2,220 gph and pressure up to 1,200 psi in applications from ultra-pure fluids to corrosives and slurries. These positive displacement-type pumps...

Emergency stop switch.(New Products)
September 1, 2005... An emergency stop solution combines optimal functionality with usability throughout assembly, mounting, and operation. The emergency stop ranges are available with many options, whatever the size of machine or equipment. Options include: LED...

Flow transmitter.(New Products)
September 1, 2005... The MR flow transmitter is a variable area flow meter that provides a digital display of both flow rate and total accumulated flow. Both can be displayed in any one of a number of user-selectable measurement units. The MR unit combines...

Open-frame solenoids.(New Products)
September 1, 2005... The 1327 Series of dc solenoids is suitable for a variety of applications. These rugged open-frame solenoids are 1.625 x 0.937 x 0.812 in. and provide up to 80 oz of hold force at 20[degrees]C with intermittent duty forces up to 7 lbs. They...

DC/DC power supply.(New Products)
September 1, 2005... An off-the-shelf 400 W dc/dc converter, designated the MCC, is designed to meet MIL-STD-1275A/B input requirements, MIL-STD-461E EMI specifications, and MIL-STD-810F shock and vibration integrity standards. With up to four outputs and an...

Calibration tools.(New Products)
September 1, 2005... The new Traceable One-Shot conductivity standards are single-use standards used to calibrate all conductivity meters and probes for maximum accuracy. One-Shot standards eliminate concern about external container contamination. Calibration is...

Control system.(New Products)
September 1, 2005... This new I/O system has been expanded to offer pluggable connectors for I/O module wiring. The series, designated the 753 Series, allows users to not only harness the flexibility of the original 750 Series I/O system but also to utilize...

DC motor speed controller.(New Products)
September 1, 2005... The 200XLV is a miniature, fast response dc motor speed controller for driving brushed dc motors, gearmotors, low inductance printed motors, and linear actuators rated up to 100 W. The 200XLV is suitable for low power applications such as...

Position controller.(New Products)
September 1, 2005... The CJ1W-NCF position controller offers up to 16-axis high-speed positioning using a single controller, dramatically reducing the cost of cabling and programming each positioning drive individually. The controller is compatible with the...

Composite heat sinks.(New Products)
September 1, 2005... eGraf HS-400 material-based heat sinks are designed for applications where aluminum cannot meet power dissipation requirements and copper is too heavy. The eGraf material is a composite of natural graphite and features dramatic weight...

Mezzanine connector module.(New Products)
September 1, 2005... The SI-C6713DSP-PMC module enables system integrators to easily add real-time signal processing capabilities to their systems. PMC (PCI mezzanine connector)is a widely used industry standard for small-sized mezzanine modules. Most recent...

Shaft collars.(New Products)
September 1, 2005... A standard line of shaft collars is offered with bores that match various shaft configurations. The shaft collars are designed to simplify the job of machinery builders. They are offered with various types of threaded, square, smooth, hex, and...

Advances pave the way for shrinking encoders.(PRECISION IN MOTION)
September 1, 2005... As space becomes more of an issue on many plant floors, manufacturers are hard pressed to save space by going with smaller machines. The constant demand for smaller and faster machines means that the components that make up these machines must...

Lead screw helps packaging OEM's upgrade keep moving.(PRECISION IN MOTION)
September 1, 2005... These days, manufacturers in the food and beverage industry are looking to cut costs. One way to accomplish that goal is to create innovative packaging technologies to eliminate high-cost cardboard boxes. That has led many companies to turn to...

Considerations for selecting LVDTs.(PRECISION IN MOTION)
September 1, 2005... Linear variable differential transformers (LVDTs) are a common type of linear position sensor widely used in electromechanical systems today. An LVDT consists of two basic elements: a stationary coil assembly and a movable core or armature....

Integrated motion controller.(PRECISION IN MOTION)
September 1, 2005... The MiniPak is an integrated product that combines a size 11 step motor and a drive/control board using the TMC222 drive chip, making it suit. able for small applications. The NEMA size 11, 1.8 degree motor measures 1.1 in. square and is...

Rigid couplings.(PRECISION IN MOTION)
September 1, 2005... A line of rigid couplings includes small bore sizes. These one- and two-piece rigid couplings are offered with bores as small as 1/8 in. to support the increased use of rigid couplings in motion control applications. The couplings are...

Servo/Stepper motors.(PRECISION IN MOTION)
September 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. They are temperature-rated at 130[degrees]C internal and 105[degrees]C for the case. They meet the specialized vacuum...

Servo motors.(PRECISION IN MOTION)
September 1, 2005... The ValueLine family of NEMA 23 serve motors is available in a 4-in. long version to complement the existing 2- and 3-in. versions. The 4-in. version produces more than 50 percent more torque than the 3-in. model. ValueLine serve motors are now...

Inverter/servo drive combination.(PRECISION IN MOTION)
September 1, 2005... The current version of Acopos serve drives supports the operation of all conventional motor types: synchronous motors, asynchronous motors with or without a feedback system, linear motors, and direct drives. The adaptive, asymptotic control...

Linear motors.(PRECISION IN MOTION)
September 1, 2005... New LinMot linear motors with LinMot H guides deliver more than a billion cycles for demanding packaging and material handling applications. Together with LinMot E1100 Series controllers they comprise the MPC System. These motors offer accurate...

Brushless servo system.(PRECISION IN MOTION)
September 1, 2005... The SureServo family of digital ac brushless servo systems can be used in a wide range of applications. The line includes eight standard servo motors in both brake and non-brake models that can be operated in combination with one of three...

Animatics.(Catalogs & Brochures)
September 1, 2005... Animatics has released a catalog that features both integrated servos built on traditional high-speed brushless SmartMotor servo motor platforms as well as the new fully commutated "servoed" ServoStep step motor platforms. Machine designers,...

Horton Inc.(Catalogs & Brochures)
September 1, 2005... Horton Inc.'s Global Products Catalog is a complement to the North American heavy-duty catalog released in 2004. It features the expanded line of WindMaster fans, including metal, plastic, and composite units., also highlights VMaster viscous...

The SC-Master1.(Catalogs & Brochures)
September 1, 2005... The SC-Master1 catalog from Bosch Rexroth contains more than 700 pages of technical and ordering details regarding industrial pneumatic cylinders and actuators. There are 23 product lines represented, including TaskMaster aluminum profile,...

MTS Sensors.(Catalogs & Brochures)
September 1, 2005... MTS Sensors has developed a new product selector guide for its recently updated Temposonics family of industrial linear position sensors. The guide offers a side-by-side comparison of the R-Series, G-Series, and E-Series linear position sensors...

Scientific Technologies Inc. (STI).(Catalogs & Brochures)
September 1, 2005... Scientific Technologies Inc. (STI), Automation Products Group, has introduced its 2005-2006 Selection Guide to Measurement Automation Products. Featured technologies include ultrasonic sensors, pressure products, liquid level sensors, solid...

Pepperl+Fuchs.(Design Guide)
September 1, 2005... Pepperl+Fuchs has introduced The Quick Reference Guide to Corrosion Monitoring. This pocket guide discusses general and localized corrosion, as well as traditional corrosion monitoring techniques, such as mass loss, resistance measurements,...

Baldor Electric Co.(CD-ROM)
September 1, 2005... Baldor Electric Co. offers Version 10.0 of its interactive electronic catalog on CD-ROM. The CD-ROM software is an improved version of the more than 650,000 copies of previous versions in circulation. Users are able to instantly access a wide...

Advanced Circuits'.(Online Offerings)
September 1, 2005... Advanced Circuits' FreeDFM.com service can check designs for boards with up to 10 layers. The free Web-based tool is a design-check for manufacturability. Prior to submitting boards to manufacturing, engineers upload Gerber files to FreeDFM.com...

AutoCAD users.(Online Offerings)
September 1, 2005... AutoCAD users can download a free software component from SolidWorks Corp., enabling themselves to work with any DWG file, regardless of the AutoCAD software version that produced it. The DWGgateway data translation tool, which may be...

The MOTIONExpress.(Online Offerings)
September 1, 2005... The MOTIONExpress program from PennEngineering Motion Technologies allows users to choose from more than 100 motor products available for immediate shipment. MOTIONExpress can be accessed at www.pennmotion.com.

Color calculating software.(Free Stuff)
September 1, 2005... The Color Calculator 1.0 is a free software utility that performs a variety of colorimetric and photometric calculations and conversions. The Color Calculator provides a simple means to plot data points on a CIE Chromaticity Chart. It can be...