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October 28, 2025Volume 21 Issue 40


Image - Need Inserts? We make it E-Z.
Need Inserts? We make it E-Z.
E-Z LOK threaded inserts allow users to repair or reinforce threads without the need for special taps or installation tools. Our line of threaded inserts is used in metal, plastic, wood, composite and additive industries. Extensive inventories of standard products are available throughout the U.S., and we are also able to produce special threaded inserts to print or per application requirements. Our products are available through a variety of different channels depending on the volume needed.
FREE SAMPLES FOR STANDARD PRODUCTS.
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or contact Kyle Lindsly-Roach at 310.323.5613 x221.

In this issue of Designfax

  • YASA smashes electric motor power density record
  • Why AI is never going to run the world
  • Efficiency improved for small wind turbines
  • Mustang GTD Spirit Of America: Apex predator
  • NEW! Smalley Nestawave™ Compression Spring
  • Cool Tools: HandySCAN BLACK Elite
  • Convert from hydraulic cylinders to electric actuators
  • High-precision micro-positioning actuators
  • Pick and Hold solenoid driver module
  • New laser-weldable PPS plastic
  • LEGO Icons Captain Jack Sparrow's Pirate Ship
  • Videos+: Technologies and inspiration in action
    • Fastest workstation for SOLIDWORKS?
  • Most Popular Last Issue
    • Autonomous Black Hawk now a front-loader!
    • Porsche 911 Turbo S: Most powerful 911 ever
    • 3D-printed metal molds accelerate auto mfg
  • New Products
    • Electrical, Mechanical, Motion
    Cover Image: Mustang GTD Spirit of America

News

Game-changer in electronics? Synthetic material beats diamond's thermal conductivity

Scientists discover clean and green way to recycle Teflon

SwRI produces, evaluates sustainable aviation fuel made from carbon dioxide and green hydrogen

Coming soon: Top-shelf dental crowns printed at your dentist's office for same-day service



Feature articles

Image - YASA smashes electric motor power density world record
YASA smashes electric motor power density world record
YASA, a global leader in the design and production of axial flux motors, has smashed its own unofficial power density world record with a staggering new benchmark for ultra-high-performance electric motors. YASA electric motors are used in some of the world's most prestigious high-end vehicles, including those made by Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Rolls-Royce.
Read the full article.

Image - Why AI is never going to run the world
Why AI is never going to run the world
The secret to human intelligence can't be replicated or improved on by artificial intelligence, according to researcher Angus Fletcher, a professor of English at The Ohio State University's Project Narrative and a recipient of the U.S. Army medal for leadership training. AI is very good at one thing: logic. However, many of life's most fundamental problems require a different type of intelligence.
Read the full article.

Image - Efficiency improved for small wind turbines, the kind you could use at home
Efficiency improved for small wind turbines, the kind you could use at home
Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany have developed a lightweight rotor that is specifically designed for operation in regions with low wind speeds. Their small wind turbine is 83% more powerful than comparable systems on the market.
Read the full article.

Image - Mustang GTD Spirit Of America: Apex predator
Mustang GTD Spirit Of America: Apex predator
The Mustang GTD has a special premium variant that takes this all-American supercar to new heights. The Spirit of America is the apex of any Mustang ever engineered by Ford. It sets a new performance bar with 815 hp, 664 lb-ft of torque, and a top speed of 202 mph -- the most of any street-legal Mustang ever. It looks sweet too.
Read the full article.

Image - NEW! Smalley debuts Nestawave™ Compression Spring: Redefines performance in compact applications
NEW! Smalley debuts Nestawave™ Compression Spring: Redefines performance in compact applications
Smalley's new Nestawave™ product is a breakthrough in spring design. It combines the space-saving deflection of a Crest-to-Crest® wave spring with the high-force output of a Spirawave® nested spring. In one application, Smalley engineers helped a customer streamline their design by replacing a stack of 24 Belleville washers with a single Nestawave spring!
Read the full article.

Image - Cool Tools: HandySCAN BLACK Elite handheld 3D scanner
Cool Tools: HandySCAN BLACK Elite handheld 3D scanner
Optimized to meet the needs of design, manufacturing, and metrology professionals, FARO's HandySCAN BLACK Elite provides an effective and reliable way to acquire accurate 3D measurements of physical objects anywhere.
Read the full article.

Image - How to convert from hydraulic cylinders to electric actuators and why
How to convert from hydraulic cylinders to electric actuators and why
Hydraulic cylinders are traditionally the go-to technology for high-force linear motion. They deliver high force at a low cost-per-unit of force, are rugged, and are simple to deploy. However, electric cylinders with high-force capacities are now available, and they are more flexible, precise, and reliable than their hydraulic counterparts. This is a very detailed article, including lifecycle and power costs, force requirements, and data collection.
Read this informative Tolomatic blog.

Image - High-precision micro-positioning actuators
High-precision micro-positioning actuators
For applications requiring sub-micrometer precision, PI's L-220 series linear actuators provide reliable, high-precision motion in a compact design. Engineered for demanding tasks in optics, photonics, semiconductor testing, metrology, and microscopy, select models are available with short lead times to support fast system integration. Their low backlash and non-rotating, linearly guided tips minimize tilt and eccentricity-caused errors, as is common with low-cost, rotating-tip type actuators.
Learn more and get all the specs.

Image - Pick and Hold solenoid driver module designed for economy, extended life
Pick and Hold solenoid driver module designed for economy, extended life
Magnetic Sensor Systems (MSS) has released the Pick and Hold SDM950 Power Solenoid Driver Module. This "Made in America," compact, PWM driver module measuring just 2.950 x 3.000 in. is designed to consume less energy by first applying the voltage for a pre-determined period of time (pick time) necessary to activate the solenoid and then, when the plunger is seated, drop the voltage (holding voltage) to a level sufficient to hold the solenoid in the seated position. This conserves energy and extends the life of the solenoid.
Learn more.

Image - New laser-weldable PPS plastic
New laser-weldable PPS plastic
Polyplastics has launched a laser weldable DURAFIDE® PPS grade with high transmittance. DURAFIDE PPS 1120LW1 (tentative name) utilizes a unique transmittance improvement technology. Although PPS has traditionally been considered difficult to use for laser welding, this new material expands the possibilities for applying laser welding to parts that previously had limitations in terms of heat and chemical resistance. This material is so new you may want to talk to someone at the company.
Learn more.

Image - LEGO Icons Captain Jack Sparrow's Pirate Ship
LEGO Icons Captain Jack Sparrow's Pirate Ship
Be the hero of your own pirate adventure when you build the more-than-2-ft-long new LEGO Icons Captain Jack Sparrow's Pirate Ship. Inspired by Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, this detailed 2,862-piece interpretation of the legendary ghost galleon captures the spirit of adventure and storytelling that has captivated audiences for over two decades. Deploy the cannons, turn the ship's wheel to steer the rudder, and open the deck to reveal the detailed captain's quarters. Great shelf appeal. Savvy?
Learn more.

Most popular last issue

Image - Autonomous Black Hawk copter now a battle-ready front-loader!
Autonomous Black Hawk copter now a battle-ready front-loader!
Engineers at Sikorsky have been working for almost 10 years on perfecting the transformation of a Black Hawk helicopter into a fully autonomous, unmanned chopper. They've gone a big step further now by making it a robo front-loading craft too.
Read the full article.

Image - Porsche 911 Turbo S: Most powerful production 911 ever
Porsche 911 Turbo S: Most powerful production 911 ever
The new 2026 911 Turbo S is the most powerful production 911 to date thanks to an innovative twin-turbo powertrain with T-Hybrid technology. The 701-hp all-wheel-drive sports car combines outstanding performance with a high degree of exclusivity, long-distance comfort, and everyday usability in Coupe and Cabriolet options.
Read the full article.

Image - 3D-printed metal molds aim to accelerate U.S. auto manufacturing
3D-printed metal molds aim to accelerate U.S. auto manufacturing
Recent advancements at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Lab show that 3D-printed metal molds offer a faster, more cost-effective, and flexible approach to producing large composite components for mass-produced vehicles than traditional tooling methods.
Read the full article.

Videos+: Technologies and inspiration in action
Fastest workstation for SOLIDWORKS?
What's the fastest new workstation for SOLIDWORKS users? The experts at TriMech Group have done their testing and made their decision. It's the Dell Pro Max Tower T2. Dell's Precision Brand top-range PCs have a new name -- Pro Max -- and they are the only units certified for professional applications such as SOLIDWORKS and CATIA. Learn why TriMech thinks this PC, which replaces the best-selling Dell Precision 3680 model, is a winner.
View the video.

Video Image

New products

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