July 20, 2008

The Lage 125 and 250 lubricators from SKF, Kulpsville, Pa. (skf.com), have double the capacity of most other single-point lubricators.

The HHF2005HW hot-wire anemometer features a real-time data logger that accurately records year, month, date, hour, minute, and seconds on up to 16,000 data points.

RoboTeddy to the Rescue

Passive infrared (PIR) sensors detect infrared energy radiating from objects within their field of vision.

A stator used for variable-valve timing in a 1.4-liter engine captured the 2008 Powder Metallurgy Design Excellence Awards Competition grand prize in the Automotive Engine category.

At least three big-name semiconductor makers – IBM, Intel, and National Semiconductor — are getting into the solar-cell or PV-manufacturing-equipment market.

Fiat set visual appeal as a top priority for designers working on both interior and exterior components of its new 500 model — launched last year to commemorate the car’s 50th anniversary.

“Good engineers aren’t necessarily good interviewees,” says Ken Pohl, an engineering consultant in Tampa Bay, Fla.

The robotic arm used by the Phoenix Mars Lander to scoop up samples of Martian soil employs thin-section bearings in its key positioning joints to keep down weight whi le managing appreciable loads.

Creating a mathematical model from a CAD model requires first defining the geometry, loads, and restraints along with a type of analysis, such as linear static or transient thermal.

The Joe Gibbs Racing Team, one of NASCAR’s premier Sprint Cup racing teams, will be relying on high-tech pallets and other workholding technology from Schunk Inc.

Pelican Products Inc., Torrance, Calif., joined with Blue i UK Ltd., a European company that develops lighting for remote areas, to form Peli Advanced Area Lighting Group, a new division focused on energy-efficient LEDs.

10 YEARS AGO — July 9, 1998

In past experiences, we’ve seen companies pick a design direction too quickly before they even had a chance to see what happens when the concept is translated into physical form.

Bishop-Wisecarver Corp., Pittsburg, Calif., recently added a 50?ton, 5.5-m, X-axis travel grinder that can machine parts up to 4.5-m long (14.8 ft).

“It’s been another tough year for the semiconductor equipment market.”

Keeping floors clean might never be easier, if Zaki Arif, a student at the Swineburne University of Technology gets his design to market.

Grin and Bear It

Captive-joiner 9.5 Snapline fasteners from Dirak Inc., Sterling, Va. (dirak.us), can be installed without special tools, letting technicians cut installation time by up to 90% without the risk of marring the panel’s finish.

Yaskawa Electric, Waukegan, Ill., recently became the first company to ship 10 million variable-frequency drives.

Manufacturer of pressure-sensitive adhesives, MACtac, Stow, Ohio, says patient comfort can be a difficult goal when it comes to adhesives used on bandages for covering wounds or holding catheters in place.