High-tech toasters
Toasters have reached a new level, thanks to researchers at the Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories. They have mounted a hot air gun onto a computer-controlled X-Y control system so that they can use it to print images on toast. The hot air gun is intended to be the printing head of their 3D sugar printer, where it serves to selectively fuse the printing media together. They succeeded in mounting the hot air gun to the carriage of the printer. The next step was testing the XY motion control system without the Z axis installed. It turns out that some interesting things can be done with just the print head and the X-Y gantry.
Check out the video and tell us what you think!

Detecting reflective targets
Targets with highly reflective surfaces can bounce enough light back to the sensor to effectively pass unseen in front of it. The reflective properties of plastic make it a notorious offender in this regard. The problem even extends to those objects covered in shrink wrap. Polarizing filters help block false readings from shiny objects. Polarized retroflective sensors transmit light along one polarization axis. The light is then reflected back to the sensor from a corner-cube reflector. Corner-cube reflectors have two distinct reflective properties. First, light always reflects back to the source regardless of the angle at which it enters the reflector. Second, it rotates polarized light 90° due to multiple reflections inside the reflector. The receiver’s polarizing filter aligns with the polarization of the reflected light.
Full Article

Machine Design Editor Leland Teschler: Why you can't always believe published research
Take with a grain of salt any conclusions coming from scientific research: A lot of them are likely to be wrong. That’s the premise put forth by John P.A. Ioannidis, a medical researcher in Greece and adjunct professor at Tufts University School of Medicine. Ioannidis has modeled what can happen when unconscious biases creep into hypothesis testing. The field he had in mind was medical research, but others commenting on his work see parallels in areas ranging from brain mapping to parapsychology.
Full Article

Unmanned seaplane takes off and lands on water
An unmanned seaplane with a 7-ft wingspan developed at the University of Michigan was inspired by flying fish. The autonomous craft is said to be the first that initiates and performs its own takeoffs and landings on water. The seaplane, which is funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa), advances the agency's "persistent ocean surveillance" program. "We studied sea birds seriously," says Guy Meadows, director of the U-M Marine Hydrodynamics Laboratories.
Full Article

Engineering an ad
How do you convince a doubting public your truck is tough? You show them. Every once in a while, a series of television commercials comes along that is more interesting and compelling than the programs it is sponsoring. Case in point: the recent spots touting the Tundra pickup truck from Toyota. Each commercial lets has truck demonstrating its prowess on a piece of oversized playground equipment. Many viewers think the ads are doctored, with perhaps a touch of computer-aided chicanery, but companies responsible for the commercials and the truck insist that what you see really happened.
Full Article

Leak and flow detector
The Uson Sprint iQ multi-function leak and flow tester tests up to 4 parts simultaneously. It uses a 24-bit analog to digital converter for accurate measurement of minute pressure and flow changes as low as 0.001 psig and flow ratings as low as 0.01 sccm. The tester is available with dual USB ports, RS232 serial port, and optional Ethernet. The Sprint iQ performs leak and flow tests of pressure decay, pressure increase (chamber), sealed component, volume verification, inter-lumen, vacuum decay, occlusion tests, back pressure and mass flow, check valve cracking, etc.
More Information:
Uson L.P.

Direct-digital synthesizer
Specifically designed for wireless, handheld equipment, the AD9913 is the first direct-digital synthesizer to deliver a 250-MHz clock rate while consuming 50 mW of power. The device includes a 10-bit high-speed DAC, 0.058 Hz or better frequency resolution, 0.022° phase-tuning resolution, eight frequency or phase offset profiles, and operates on 1.8 V. Phase noise ≤ –135 dBc/Hz at 1-kHz offset with the DAC output and <115 dBc/Hz when using the onboard PLL multiplier. The IC also has a programmable modulus in the frequency equation, a dynamic performance of >80-dB SFDR at 100-MHz (±100-kHz offset) at AOUT, and comes in a 32-pin leadframe chip-scale package (LFCSP).
More Information:
Analog Devices, Inc.

Tie-rod hydraulic cylinders
The G-Series large-bore tie-rod hydraulic cylinders feature stronger materials and a heavy-duty rod cartridge of nitrided steel. The products have bore sizes from 10 to 30 in., stroke lengths to 300 in., and best-in-class options. The cylinders feature ultraheavy-duty rolled tie rods, high-yield-strength tubes and pistons, steel heads/caps, a secured piston rod for continuous performance, a cushion design that increases linearity and smooths operation, and a piston and rod sealing system for more flexibility, customization, and increased life.
More Information:
Eaton Corp., Hydraulics Operations

Fuse terminals for short-circuit and overload protection
WSI 4 fuse terminal for short-circuit and overload protection measures 1.55-in. tall. It features a standard 2.5-sq-mm screw-clamping system (22 to 12 awg), and accepts a standard 5 20-mm fuse. Various LED options provide blown fuse indication across a voltage range of 10 to 250 V. The terminals can be ganged together with an interlocking disconnect lever, a quick way to disengage a two and three-phase application. It is UL rated for 300 V, 15 A, and mounts on TS-35 DIN-rails.
More Information:
Weidmuller

Experience National Instruments Technologies From the Comfort of Your Own Computer!
With more than 200 on-demand webcasts, videos, interactive tutorials and demos available for users of any experience level, it is easier than ever to learn about the newest products and features available from National Instruments.
Begin your search here with a collection of webcasts specifically chosen for design and automation engineers.

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UPCOMING WEBCASTS

Power Transmission Technologies:
The Advantages and Applications of Belt Drive Solutions
Sponsored by Gates Corporation
DATE: February 19th, 2008
TIME: 2:00pm ET

Today's designers choose from a variety of technologies for transmitting power in mechanical systems. With increasing demands to optimize systems for efficiency, noise, package size and low maintenance, choosing the right power transmission technology for the job is a challenge. Brent Oman with Gates Corporation will share his knowledge about selecting power transmission solutions. The presentation will review the pros and cons of different technologies and demonstrate the various capabilities of belt drive systems in particular.

ARCHIVED WEBCASTS AVAILABLE FOR FREE VIEWING

Flux Capacitor
Back to the Future fans, here is a gadget just for you: a replica of Dr. Emmit Brown's own flux capacitor. This high-tech recreation features full lighting effects and adjustable power settings. It requires 1.21 jigowatts of power to run, so you’ll need to get your DeLorean up to 88 MPH before it will work. Once you hit the appropriate speed, you will be transported through space and time to arrive at your pre-programmed destination. Unfortunately, Doc Brown is only a character from a movie, and thus this is only a prop replica. It measures sixteen inches tall by twelve inches wide and runs on three AAA batteries. You can purchase it starting on April 30, 2008 for $275. You can pre-order it until the end of the year with a $55 discount.
More information:
Things From Another World

Move over Rubik's cube the Isis is here
Are you a good puzzle solver? If so, the Sharper Image has a challeng for you: The Isis. For more than a year, the ISIS has challenged the most accomplished puzzle experts in the United Kingdom. Known as the "the most difficult puzzle ever" Isis has come to America. Each ISIS is unique, with just one solution. The puzzle is an orb, made in England of aluminum and moveable bands. Each band is etched with hieroglyphics; the challenge is to position those bands in the right combination to unlock the ISIS. You are given 10 encrypted clues to decipher. Crack the ISIS code and receive access to the Award Zone, where you will have the chance to win such prizes as $1,000 cash or a massage chair worth $2,000! Keep in mind that alll sales of ISIS are final because of their unique nature.
More information:
The Sharper Image

Westinghouse: A high definition documentary film
Westinghouse is a feature-length documentary about the life and times of George Westinghouse, his companies, legacy, personality, partnership with Nikola Tesla and conflict with Thomas Edison. George Westinghouse is considered America's greatest industrialist and the only man who would go up against Thomas Edison, and win. His victory over Edison during the Battle of the Currents set the stage for the entire future of electric power. The Westinghouse air brake is considered one of the most important inventions in history. Automobile shock absorbers, railroad signaling and the modern day weekend all owe their existence to the man who Andrew Carnegie called "A genius who can't be downed."
More information

Omron STI 2007 Machine Safeguarding Design Guide
This 2-volume set includes over 200 pages of engineering and regulation data. The balance of the 1400 pages includes product specifications and selection guides for the following safety products: Light Curtains, Laser Scanners, Mats, Interlocks, Relays, Network Controllers, Contact Strips, Edges, Two Hand Controls, and Enabling Switches. Get the catalog

Guide features incremental and absolute encoders
Stegmann has a free Encoder Selection and Application Resource Guide. It has product specifications and selection guidelines on its family of encoders and servomotor feedback systems. Information is included about the company's CoreTech encoders, with two to three-day delivery on most line counts or resolutions. Get the guide

Is that hard-guard adequately protecting your machine operators?
Based on revised anthropometric data, the 'Gotcha Stick' from STI is a three-segment safe-distance scale used to verify openings in machine hard-guards will not allow the point-of-operation to be accessed by the operator. Register to receive a free 'Gotcha Stick': Get the stick

Northwire's 300V/600V dual-rated EnduroFLEX® XM cable–for sensors, switches and actuators in continuous flexing applications–exceeds 10 million bending and torsional flex cycles. 1-877-210-9946; www.northwire.com/mdef

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