| August 22, 2017 | Volume 13 Issue 32 |
| | Feature articles | How supercomputers save lives, money for U.S. Army
In May, computer scientists and technicians unboxed and installed two powerful new supercomputers at the U.S. Army Research Lab at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland. These massive room-size computers deliver lightning-fast processing speeds and the power necessary to run complex simulations and computations. See some of the projects they work on.
Read the full article. |
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 | Mike Likes:
Thomson offers embedded actuator synchronization
Designers of equipment that has to move large or awkward loads repeatedly and evenly, such as large solar panels or heavy hoods on construction equipment, can now simultaneously distribute that load using up to four actuators. The clever solution comes from Thomson Industries in the form of its Electrak HD heavy-duty electromechanical linear actuators.
Read the full article. |
 | Big strides made in miniaturizing the brain of a drone
In recent years, engineers have worked to shrink drone technology, building flying prototypes that are the size of a bumblebee and loaded with even tinier sensors and cameras. Thus far, they have managed to miniaturize almost every part of a drone, except for the brains of the entire operation -- the computer chip. Now, engineers at MIT have taken a first step in designing a computer chip that uses a fraction of the power of larger drone computers and is tailored for a drone as small as a bottlecap.
Read the full article. |
 | Wheels:
INFINITI reimagines the 1940s racecar -- and then builds it
Ah, if only you could take a journey back in time but carry some of today's technology with you. It's been the premise of countless sci-fi thrillers, and now it's the inspiration behind a unique electric car showcase from designers and engineers at INFINITI, who reimagined what it would be like to build a 1940s grand prix race car using today's EV propulsion tech mixed with the hand craftsmanship of yesteryear.
Read the full article. |
 | Industrial 3D Printing for Dummies
Our "Industrial 3D Printing for Dummies" book explains how additive manufacturing can accelerate and augment product development -- from prototype through production. Learn about new and existing technologies, available materials, and how 3D printing is being used for commercial applications in nearly every industry.
Download your free e-book now! |
 | Engineer's Toolbox:
How feedback encoder devices operate
Feedback is used in closed-loop systems in applications all over the world to control speed and/or position, and it has an important role in keeping equipment operating smoothly and accurately. Feedback is available in a variety of devices as well as models. It is important to understand how feedback operates, so you can take advantage of a particular solution's benefits for your application. This article discusses tachometers, Hall sensors, encoder types, and resolvers.
Read the full article. |
 | Great Resources: ABCs of gears and more
KHK USA takes you on a journey through the history and applications of gears in two information-packed free volumes called "The ABCs of Gears." Part A is aimed at beginners, while part B moves on to intermediate fare, such as types of gears and tooth forms, heat treatment, surface treatment, production methods, etc. Another mid-level text called "Introduction to Gears" and an in-depth "Gear Technical Reference" are also available, chock full of materials information and calculation examples and tables. Best of all, there is no registration for any of these valuable no-cost PDF resources.
Click here to learn more. |
 | 3D printer engineered for investment casting of complex parts
Solidscape is taking precision investment casting and rapid prototyping of complex geometries to the next level with the launch of the S500 high-precision 3D printer. Designed to produce ultra-accurate, directly castable wax patterns, the S500 uses a castable material called Midas and dissolvable support material called Melt-I to dramatically shorten production time and eliminate the need for expensive tooling. This unit is ideal for industrial casting manufacturers who produce high-precision complex parts where dimensional accuracy and superior external and internal surface finishes are critical.
Click here to learn more. |
 | New IP65 integrated stepper motors from Applied Motion
SWM integrated steppers are IP65-rated drive+motor units, fusing step motor and drive components into a single splashproof and dustproof device. This space-saving design eliminates wiring and saves on cost over conventional motor and drive solutions. The SWM24 integrated steppers combine high-torque NEMA 24-step motors with a sophisticated, 6.0 A/phase (peak-of-sine) step motor drive. Power to the drive (located in rear) must be supplied by an external DC supply. Applied Motion offers compatible 24-V and 48-V DC power supplies. Torque to 340 oz-in. SWM units available from Servo2Go.
Click here to learn more. |
 | Which manufacturing process is right for your industry?
Every industry has different manufacturing needs, and there are many options when it comes to selecting the right method to create your custom parts. CNC machining, Direct Metal Laser Sintering, PolyJet, Urethane Casting, or something else? After years of working with Fortune 500 companies across various industries, the team over at Xometry has consolidated their key observations to help you choose the right process for your next project.
Read the full Xometry blog. |
 | Tools: Next-gen handheld thermometer
The new, rugged OS758-LS handheld dual-laser infrared thermometer from OMEGA delivers reliable non-contact measurement for instant troubleshooting. Measure temps up to 1,600 C (2,912 F) with adjustable emissivity for the most accurate results. The high 60:1 D:S ratio allows precise measurements from a safe distance. Uses include: HVAC system testing, equipment and electrical maintenance, automotive diagnostics, monitoring production lines, and much more. Just pull the trigger and view the surface temp within a second. Download and save the detailed data for documentation with the included accessories.
Click here to learn more. |
 | Convert any standard pipe into a powerful, high-volume conveyor
EXAIR's new aluminum 2-1/2 NPT and 3 NPT Threaded Line Vac Air Operated Conveyors convert ordinary pipe into a powerful conveying system for parts, scrap, trim, and other bulk materials. Their larger size makes them perfect for conveying bigger parts and large volumes of material over long distances. The Threaded Line Vac is designed to attach to standard plumbing pipe couplers, making it easy to build a complete system using pipe and fittings available from any home center, hardware store, or plumbers supply. Threaded Line Vac Conveyors eject a small amount of compressed air to produce a vacuum on one end with high output flows on the other. Response is instantaneous, and regulating the compressed air pressure provides infinite control of the conveying rate.
Click here to learn more. |
 | Editor's Choice: Compact precision ring drive system optimized for high speed and high torque
The Compact Ring Drive (CRD) system from Nexen Group features a precision-grade bearing and drive mechanism in a sealed housing. Freely programmable, three drive configurations allow the CRD to be optimized for high speed, high torque, or both, depending on the application. The combination of Nexen's roller pinion technology with integrated bearing and motor/gearhead delivers a robust, smooth system with zero backlash options from the motor through the driven load. The CRD is ideal for applications including cutting systems, gantry systems, medical products, robotics, aerospace, machine tool, semiconductor, and material handling.
Click here to learn more. |
| | Videos+: Technologies and inspiration in action | No backlash and the power of the oval: Harmonic Drive strain wave gear
Harmonic Drive strain wave gearing utilizes a unique operating principle based upon the elastic mechanics of metals. The greatest benefits are the zero-backlash characteristics and the weight and space savings compared to other gears, because the gear mechanism consists of only three basic parts: Wave Generator, Flexspline, and Circular Spline. This simple three-element construction combined with the unique operating principle allows extremely high reduction ratio in a very compact and lightweight package. Neither the size nor weight of the gear vary with the reduction ratio. The high-performance attributes of this gearing technology, including zero backlash, high torque, compact size, excellent positional accuracy, and repeatability, are all a direct result of the unique operating principle.
View the video. |
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Veterans use world's most advanced commercial prosthetic
A cutting-edge prosthetic may soon improve the lives of wounded warriors and veterans living with upper arm amputations. The Life Under Kinetic Evolution, or LUKE, arm moves as one unit, reducing the labor-intensive process of controlling one joint at a time. The prosthetic also features the first commercially available powered shoulder. Once called the DEKA arm, the LUKE device was funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's Revolutionizing Prosthetics program.
See it in action. |
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