October 25, 2007

Single-axis actuators come in 208 configurations and work with most servomotors.

Flexible siliconcoated flat cables prov ide h igh flexibility, low weight, long life, withstand temperatures from –45 to 260°C, and can be shaped to fit very tight spaces.

Three new natural-gas-powered diaphragm pumps meet Canadian Standards Association (CSA 2.01) requirements and are ice and stall-free.

MasterSil 151, a two-component, low-viscosity silicone, is tough and flexible.

A new cam-lock, quick-connect coupling made from polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) joins a line of Fluor-O-Flo PTFE threaded pipe components.

Single-piece V-bearing guide wheels plus thru-hole mounting studs can now be spec’d with custom stud lengths.

Roller Bearing Slide Tables with self-aligning linear ball bearings or Teflon composite linear bearings will accommodate a variety of drives.

The low-profile mini spring clip makes electronics cooling-air filters easier to install and service.

Lupranol Balance 50 is a polyol made from renewable castor oil.

Companies are always looking for ways to make their products safer for consumers.

Ultrason P 3010, a polyphenylsulfone (PPSU), joins a family of polyarylsulfones that include Ultrason S (PSU) and Ultrason E (PESU) grades.

The full-hand lever trigger of the TEC 810 hotmelt stick gun controls flow better.

Steel It, a two-part stainless-steel epoxy paint, protects nonsubmerged structures from water, salt air, detergents, and solvents.

The BIM-UNT universal magnetic-field sensor detects piston position on standard pneumatic cylinders.

Start with flow rates, not port sizes, to properly spec control valves.

The C-Series of noncontact sensors are said to be small, embeddable, and highly repeatable.

Disc springs are conical washers that provide high-deflection resistance within a very small space.

The SeaPac-LX touchscreen computer combines an AMD Geode processor with a number of touchscreen LCDs and I/O expansion modules for numerous configuration options.

EP21TDCSFL, a silver-filled epoxy, has a service operating temperature range of 4K to 250° F, a volume resistivity of <10–3 Ω-cm, is highly flexible, and has an elongation of >60%.

Engineers pressed into the role of project manager often fall short relating their game plans to the overarching strategy of the organization.

The FinePoint MPD-9xx Series of pen-based input devices contains battery-powered and battery-free pens and a digitizer behind the LCD screen communicating with the pen as it moves across the surface.

The 2446 family of streamingvideo servers accepts either standard or high-definition NTSC or PAL video inputs with synchronized audio.

The HB 220 Hot Melt Glue applicator features a mechanical-stroke limitation mechanism that controls the amount of adhesive applied.

Genioplast Pellet S is a pelletized, ultrahigh- molecular-weight polysiloxane for thermoplastic compounding. It improves flow and reduces deposits on dies.

The handheld BOS Streamline enclosure, constructed of ABS plastic, is designed for use in mobile data recording and processing.

The UEILogger Series now logs CAN and ARINC-429 bus data as well as data from RS-232, 422, and 485 ports.

A special low-surfaceenergy (LSE) adhesive provides aggressive tack and long-term performance on difficult substrates.

Texin thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs) are plasticizer-free and bridge the gap between hard thermoplastics and rubber.

A new family of Ultra Low Outgassing silicone adhesives retain elasticity and low modulus over a broad temperature range (–130 to 260°C) and exceed NASA SPR- 0022A and ESA PSS-014-702 specifications for maximum allowable Total Mass Loss (TML) of 1.

The iIS-010 Smart Camera, uses a high-performance CCD camera, control unit, and software to simplify machine vision without compromising accuracy.

Low Permeation PFA Tubing is for applications where permeation and oxidation can cause premature failure of the tubing and foul the purity of the chemical or process media inside the tube.

Celcor-600/2-substrates, a next-generation ceramic for light-duty gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles, reportedly helps lower fuel consumption and boosts engine power by helping lower exhaust system back pressures.

Alibre Design 10.0 parametric 3D CAD software for mechanical design includes a Fast Views feature that projects 2D views of large or complex models 10 to 25% of the time previously needed.

The MicroRay Xtreme+ infrared thermometer measures temperatures from –22 to 1,832° and can store data in internal memory, including maximum and minimum temperatures, difference between them, and average temperature.

New 3100/3200 Series pressure transducers provide a full-scale accuracy of 0.25%.

The Super Drive feed-roller system puts replaceable throwaway tires on hubs fabricated using CNC technology.

I started using the TurboCAD solid modeler in 2002, and still get excited about it.

What I disliked most about Lincoln’s five-passenger (midsize) SUV was giving it up.

Universal joints, including needle roller U-joints with sealed bearings, meet DIN 808-W and have little backlash.

The DVS rotary distributor supplies tools, gripper modules, or linear units with air, fluid, or electrical signals via flexible hoses and cables.

Rocket belts have been around since 1953 but you’re still taking the bus?

The Model 2600 flow switch operates in a twomode design: setpoint and bypass.

A liquid-crystal polymer (LCP) called Zenite ZE55201 BK010, features reduced anisotropic shrinkage so parts warp little.

By coincidence, the recent strike of the United Auto Workers against General Motors happened just as National Manufacturing Week, a major engineering trade show, was getting underway in Chicago.

Go into any U.S. manufacturing company and you’ll likely hear managers complain about competition from cheap foreign labor or the skyrocketing cost of raw materials.

The VRS51L3072, an 8051-based microcontroller, has 2 kbyte of nonvolatile FRAM memory for quick and reliable nonvolatile data storage.

The Tri-Magnet Switch can replace mercury-based level switches without removing the existing chamber.

LED output is a function of the current through it. So to drive the device, it would seem simple enough to set the LED current with a series power resistor.

The CPC Medical line of circular plastic connectors for wire-to-panel use targets medical applications such as surgical instruments and electronic and ultrasound-ablation patient monitors.

The LSR Series Inclinometers target high-accuracy applications with space constraints.

RGB-1007-001 Series of lowprofile, red, green ,and blue LEDs are only 4.

Flextrac plastic chain-belt conveyors can carry 500-lb loads and run at 375 fpm.

Fast-setting Permatex ZipGrip cyanoacrylate adhesives eliminate the need for fixturing.

Better manufacturing methods make square rails economical candidates for applications where only round rails once would do.

It takes teamwork to build a car that can drive itself.

A three-channel constant-current LED driver with on-chip oscillator, the A6281, executes programmable brightness control.

TRBEE Zigbee-compliant transceivers (1EEE802.

Nylotube tubing comes in semirigid and flexible nylon-12 or nylon-11 grades (where FDA approval is needed) and can withstand temperatures from –90 to 212°F.

The improved VPFlowmate now has detachable inlet and outlet piping for speeding installation and service.

New to machine vision? Here’s a quick primer.

PHB2000 acrylic-foam tape features an extremely strong, pressure-sensitive bond in applications ranging from window-muntin bar at tachment and signage to consumer appliances and skin-to-skin assembly.

Estane thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs) include adhesive and breathable grades as well as high-melt-point version for laminating higher heat polymers.

Bondmaster structural adhesives include one-part heat-cure epoxies and two-part catalytic epoxies formulated for high-performance applications.