April 09, 2009

Leland Teschler's Editorial: Engineering is a Risky Business

Machine Design began publishing in September of 1929

A reader points out that a video circulating through the Internet is a commercial. Another reader believes if we can accept complicated of hybrid powertrains, then even advanced diesel engine shouldn’t be a problem.

Sensor Sense: Capacitive Slide Sensors

Capacitive touch switches combine to simulate an analog control.

Poor Tire Inflation Safety Leads to Injury

A worker inflating a truck tire was injured when the tire’s sidewall blew out.

Constant-Velocity Milling Spits Out Prototypes

A recent vertical machining center (VMC) features what’s called a constant velocity (CV) controller which provides a novel approach to chip-removal theory.

Women and Training Keys to Solving Technical Staff Shortages

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Despite the dismal economy, there’s a shortage of technically skilled workers. Here’s how to fix the problem.

Lightweight Lights for Vehicle Marking

LightForm lights can be made with just 2% of the material used in traditional LED lamps, says manufacturer Grote Industries

Say Good-Bye to Mercury Hearing-Aid Batteries

Hearing-aid batteries generally contain a miniscule amount of mercury.

LEDs in a Light Bulb

E26-based, ULapproved family of LED bulbs currently comes in three white color temperatures: 2,800-k warm white, 5,200-k full spectrum white

Orr on Engineering: Practical Realities in Product Design

Product design loops to earlier steps, with corrections and retracing because it is not deterministic. Rather, design is a trial-and-error process in which learning happens along the way.

Backtalk 4/09/09

The latest way to scavenge energy from vibrations or any mechanical disturbances is through nanogenerators developed at the Georgia Institute of Technology

Changes in the Engineering Profession Over 80 Years

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A brief look at how the engineering profession has fared over the last eight decades.

Managing the Domino Effect in Product Development

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The Linked Intelligent Master Model system promotes interoperability in distributed design teams by linking key product parameters to engineering models.

Plain Bearings Outperform Rolling-Element Bearings

Plain bearings can outperform rolling-element bearings in strength, cost, and durability for many applications.

Shoulder-Fillet Stress Calculations Clarified

The authors of "Shoulder-fillet stresses finesse" clarify stress-calculation procedures.

Rotary Vane Actuators Handle the Loads While Delivering the Torque

Pneumatic VRX rotary vane actuators from Tolomatic Inc. generate up to 484 lb-in. (54.7 N-m) of torque at 100 psi and withstand axial loads as high as 23 lb (102 N).

Water-Cooled Clutches and Brakes

Water-cooled clutches and brakes suitable for marine environments

Building a Car Just for Cops

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Georgia Tech helps Carbon Motors design and build a car for police and law enforcement.

Hannover Fair Focuses on Energy Efficiency

This year’s Hannover Fair, the world’s largest industrial trade fair, features 13 different show, all with a focus on energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainability.

NASA Launches Kepler Spacecraft to Search for Earth-Like Planets

NASA launches Kepler spacecraft to search for Earth-like planet

More Help for FIRST Competition

Clippard Instrument Laboratory Inc., is a sponsor of the 2009 FIRST Robotics Competition.

World’s Largest Laser Gets Ready for Fusion Experiments

World’s largest laser gets ready for fusion experiments

3D-Printed Motor Models

Motor manufacturer Baldor Electric brought 3D printing in-house via a Dimension 3D Printer.

Nanotechnology Could Lead to an On-Off Switch for Nanoelectronics

Nanotechnology could lead to an on-off switch for nanoelectronics

Collapsible Steering Column Relies on Tolerance Rings

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Tolerance rings let a steering column collapse in case of an accident, which makes the driver safer.

New Alloy Makes Magnetic Cooling Economical

New alloy makes magnetic cooling economical

N2A Builds Retro-Looking Roadster, the 789

N2A build retro-looking roadster

Looking Back: Eighty Years

The premier issue of Machine Design hit the streets in September 1929

Hydraulic and Pneumatic Valves: Electrohydraulic Brake Valve

The S12 Series Electrohydraulic Brake Valve (EBV) provides more than triple the flow capacity of traditional EBVs

Hydraulic and Pneumatic Valves: Speed Control

The Slow Return Kinechek controls the speed with which a load pushes on a plunger rod

Hydraulic and Pneumatic Valves: Flow Control

The PRDHF and PRDHF8 are ultraminiature single- stage diaphragm flow-pressure regulators

Hydraulic and Pneumatic Valves: Solenoid and Air-Pilotoperated Valves

The new “22” Series solenoid and air-pilot-operated valves come in three and four-way configurations with /-NPT (F) ports

Hydraulic and Pneumatic Valves: Proportional System Controller

The C2 proportional system controller works with high-speed, high-accuracy proportional pneumatic valves

Hydraulic and Pneumatic Valves: Shuttle Valve

The 5.5 × 12.2-mm IMH shuttle valve has a nondetented, selective design to solve problems with hydraulic isolation in manifolds

New Products: Brushless dc Servomotor

The modular design of the BX4 Series of brushless dc servomotors eliminates the need for adhesive-bonded joints

New Products: Weld Cap Sensors

WTS10 weld cap sensors check the quality of welding cap fronts and detect faults such as inclusions, faulty dressing, or burrs

New Products: Fieldbus I/O Eexpansion Gateways

The BL20 line of economy modules now come with a DeviceNet gateway to expand fieldbus I/O

New Products: Washers, Spacers, and Shims

A free sample pack includes washers, spacers, and shims, selected from over 23,000 nonstandard washer and spacer sizes, and 2,000 material choices

New Products: Hi-Temp Proximity Sensor

The ASI high-temperature inductive proximity sensors have stainless-steel housings for operation in 284 to 446°F applications

New Products: Vibration and Rroller-Bearing Monitoring

The 750-645 twochannel vibration and roller-bearing monitoring module (VIB-I/O) tracks machine vibrations

New Products: Linear-Motion Products

The H835 Linear Motion Products Catalog contains a comprehensive 46-page technical section outlining automation applications, questions, and solutions

New Products: Two-Post Direct Lifters

The TDL2 and TDL4 two-post direct lifters have linear bearings for smooth, consistent lifting action

New Products: Packaging Vials

The ClearView Vials Series are a practical, functional, and reusable alternative to glass vials

New Products: Titanium Machine Screws, Nuts, and Washers

A new line of nonmagnetic titanium machine screws from NBK Japan range in size from M2 to M12 in three head styles: socket, pan, and flat

New Products: Power, Signal Distribution

The miniBOSS and microBOSS M12 systems are streamlined and scalable factory-automation patchcords for use in conveyors, sorting, automated storage/retrieval, packaging, overhead transports, and palletizing

New Products: Timing Belts

More than 55 different sizes of Synchrochain timing belts are now available

New Products: Tamperproof Thermostats

The compact FTO11 and FTD011 Series of tamperproof thermostats come with a fixed set point and are DIN-rail mountable

New Products: Rotating-Component Fastening

The D160 catalog covers the Shaftloc rotating component fastening device that secures shaft mounted parts, such as pulleys couplings, and gears, to inch and metric shafting

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