Click this link if you cannot read the issue below: Designfax - Tech for OEM Design Engineers
September 12, 2017Volume 13 Issue 34


Image - The World's First -- and Best -- Linear Motion Guides
The World's First -- and Best -- Linear Motion Guides
THK's original technology is behind the smooth and silent movement of the "Linear Motion System." The LM Guide is our major product that put the rolling of the linear motion part into practical use for the first time in the world. This improves the accuracy, rigidity, energy saving, velocity, productivity, and service life of the machine. THK offers a full support system from the beginning design phase throughout the maintenance, and follow-up service.
Click here to learn more.

In this issue of Designfax

  • Marine Corps explores deploying 3D mobile fab labs
  • Pyroshock: Sandia develops alternative rocket test
  • 3D-printed high-performance space polymer created
  • Wheels: Porsche Panamera active balance system
  • Overcoming motor inertia -- 5 things to know
  • Engineer's Toolbox: Motorcycle racing simulator
  • New! Diametral pitch gearing from KHK USA
  • Speed-torque characteristics of DC motors
  • Position hinge with patented technology
  • Waterproof tact switches for harsh environs
  • Cool Tools: Logitech launches MX ERGO trackball
  • More efficient heat sink with higher performance per gram
  • Eastman introduces bioplastic breakthrough
  • Videos+: Technologies and inspiration in action
    • Smaller springs, smarter applications
    • What's inside a hurricane-monitoring dropsonde?
  • Most Popular Last Issue
    • New turboprop delivers jet-like simplicity
    • Wheels: New wheel/braking concept for EVs
    • Sharpie marker helps fluid dynamics experiment
  • New Products
    • Electrical, Mechanical, Motion
    Cover Image: Porsche Panamera features Dynamic Chassis Control

News

100x today's fastest cell networks: Scientists report first data transmission through terahertz multiplexer

Hair trigger: Air Force designing flying systems that mimic insect biology

Wanted: A new way to find pilots for U.S. Navy drones

MICROMO launches powerful new e-commerce offering: Motion System Selector



Image - The Smart Guide to Designing for Manufacturability
The Smart Guide to Designing for Manufacturability
Not all mold makers were created equal. Follow the guide of the most advanced: Xcentric Mold & Engineering.

Download our Smart Guide to Designing for Manufacturability.

Learn how to incorporate things like draft, threads, hinges and overmolding by taking advantage of the most advanced injection molding process engine and mold making system in the industry.

Feature articles
Marine Corps explores deploying 3D mobile fab labs

The Marine Corps' new X-FAB (expeditionary fabrication) facility is a self-contained, transportable additive manufacturing lab that can deploy with battalion-level Marine maintenance units. It houses four 3D printers, a scanner, and CAD software systems that make quick work of replacement and repair part fabrication.
Read the full article.
Image -
Learn all about this next-gen Piezo LEGS® motor.


Image - Pyroshock: Sandia develops alternative to explosives for rocket test
Pyroshock: Sandia develops alternative to explosives for rocket test
Sandia National Laboratories has successfully demonstrated a new, more environmentally friendly method to test a rocket part to ensure its avionics can withstand the shock from stage separation during flight.
Read the full article.

Image - 3D-printed high-performance space polymer created
3D-printed high-performance space polymer created
Virginia Tech researchers have created a novel way to 3D print the type of high-temperature polymeric materials commonly used to insulate spacecraft and satellites from extreme heat and cold. Previously, the polyimide could only be made in sheets.
Read the full article.

Image - Wheels: <br>Porsche Panamera uses electromechanical system for active balance
Wheels:
Porsche Panamera uses electromechanical system for active balance

One of the many reasons for the superb road feel of the new Panamera is the Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control Sport (PDCC Sport), an active anti-roll stabilization system. It's what keeps the laws of physics at bay and the Panamera parallel to the road -- even in high-speed cornering sequences. Is it magic? No. It's Porsche engineering acumen.
Read the full article.

Image - Overcoming motor inertia -- 5 things you need to know
Overcoming motor inertia -- 5 things you need to know
Most engineers recognize that gearheads can be used to create a better inertia match between the object that is being moved and the motor being driven. Put simply, it is dictated by the gearhead ratio where the object reflected inertia to the motor is reduced by 1/ratio2. So, what should the correct inertia be? Jeff Nazzaro, gearhead and motor product manager, Electromechanical and Drives Division, Parker Hannifin, runs through what you need to know about gearhead and servo motors.
Read this informative Parker Hannifin blog post.

Image - Engineer's Toolbox: <br>French engineer develops motorcycle racing simulator using MapleSim
Engineer's Toolbox:
French engineer develops motorcycle racing simulator using MapleSim

Frederic Nicolo's love for motorcycles inspired him to start his own venture after realizing there were no motorbike simulators that performed at the same level as existing driving simulators for cars. Using MapleSim, the modeling and simulation tool from Maplesoft, he was able to successfully develop his simulator, designed to accommodate the unique characteristics of motorbikes.
Read the full article.

Image - New! Diametral pitch gearing now available from KHK USA
New! Diametral pitch gearing now available from KHK USA
For over 80 years, the Kohara Gear trademark KHK has been synonymous with stock metric gears. Recognizing the fact that 80% of the gears consumed in the USA are inch pitch, KHK USA has just made available diametral pitch spur gears that have the same quality, performance, and cost as their traditional stock metric gears. Based in Mineola, NY, the company stocks approximately 4,500 skus of metric gearing for same-day warehouse shipping and can, within 3 business days, make shipments direct from their factory in Japan. In all, they have 181 configurations of stock metric spur gears, helical gears, internal ring gears, gear racks, screw gears, worms and wormwheels, ratchets and pawls, gear couplings, right-angle gearboxes, and more. 3D CAD models are available for each product.
Click here to learn more.

Image - Speed-torque characteristics of DC motors by Portescap
Speed-torque characteristics of DC motors by Portescap
Looking for some help in choosing the right DC motor for your application? You can learn about the speed-torque characteristics of DC motors from Portescap Application Engineer Faisal Pawaskar. He covers application load points, speed limits, important load values, maximum continuous torque, lowering heat, short-term duration, the relationship between current and torque, and the effect of limiting current.
View the video.

Image - Position hinge with patented technology
Position hinge with patented technology
The Reell SJ300 Spherical Joint delivers a premium feel and performance in a multi-axis position control device. Featuring Reell's patented SphericalTorq technology, the SJ300 has the ability to adjust up/down, left/right, and a full 360 degrees of rotation. This versatility allows the SJ300 to replace multiple positioning components with a single device, conserving space and lowering cost. Its black glass-filled nylon housing is durable and stylish, making it suitable for applications where it will be visible in the final product. The SJ300 is ideal for applications such as tablet stand positioning, medical lighting, camera stands, automotive mirrors, and office furniture where precision position control is critical.
Click here to learn more including holding torque values.

Image - Waterproof tact switches for harsh environs
Waterproof tact switches for harsh environs
Engineers working on consumer, automotive, industrial, and medical products need high-quality electromechanical switches that operate dependably under the harshest of conditions. C&K's new KMR6 (1.9-mm tall) and KMR7 (2.5-mm tall) no-ground-pin switches were built specifically to fill this need. They are waterproof, reliable, and resistant to vibrations, making them perfect for innovative products such as personal health monitoring systems (they're resistant to typical cleaning chemicals) or even car door handles (they protect against weather conditions). They are available in four actuation forces, come with Gullwing termination, and are IP67 watertight sealed.
Learn about the KMR6 and KMR7 switches.

Image - Cool Tools: Logitech launches MX ERGO trackball
Cool Tools: Logitech launches MX ERGO trackball
Think trackballs lost their cool factor years ago? Think again. Logitech has just announced the wireless MX ERGO, its first new innovative trackball in nearly a decade. It offers personalized comfort with a unique adjustable hinge and precision tracking with multi-device connectivity. With the adjustable hinge, you can increase the angle from 0 to 20 degrees, which improves wrist posture and pronation. And you can instantly change your cursor speed and fine-tune your accuracy with the press of a button. Logitech says the MX ERGO can reduce muscular strain up to 20 percent compared to using a standard mouse. Available this month for under 100 bucks.
Click here to learn more.

Image - More efficient heat sink with higher performance per gram
More efficient heat sink with higher performance per gram
Advanced Thermal Solutions (ATS) has created a family of Pin Fin heat sinks designed as cost-effective solutions for systems with adequate airflow. The high aspect ratio design enables ATS Pin Fin heat sinks to provide low thermal resistance from base to fins in systems where the airflow measures 200-plus LFM (linear ft/min.). The cross-cut design also allows the Pin Fin heat sinks to be effective in systems where the airflow is ambiguous. These high-efficiency platform products, made from extruded aluminum, are available in component sizes from 10 mm x 10 mm to 60 mm x 60 mm. Heights range from 2 mm to 25 mm. At higher airflows, ATS Pin Fin Heat Sinks can provide thermal resistance as low as 2.5° C/W without adding significant cost or weight to the design.
Click here to learn more.

Image - Eastman introduces engineering bioplastic breakthrough
Eastman introduces engineering bioplastic breakthrough
Eastman Chemical Company has leveraged nearly 100 years of cellulosic expertise in the design and testing of its new TREVA engineering bioplastics to meet the improved sustainability profile and performance needs of brands, fabricators, molders, and other companies. Its composition is about half cellulose, sourced from trees derived exclusively from sustainably managed forests. The new material is BPA-free and phthalate-free, and its excellent flow rates, durability, and dimensional stability allow for less material usage, thinner parts, and longer product life. The material also offers excellent chemical resistance, standing up better than other engineering thermoplastics to some of the harshest chemicals including skin oils, sunscreens, and household cleaners. It also boasts great color saturation and superior secondary processing and decorating capability, creating additional design and branding options. Applications include electronics, automotive interior components, and other demanding applications with high sustainability and safety requirements.
Click here to learn more.

Most popular last issue

Image - New turboprop delivers jet-like simplicity to pilots
New turboprop delivers jet-like simplicity to pilots
GE Aviation engineers used 3D printing to combine 855 aircraft engine components into just a dozen parts. The simpler design reduced weight, improved fuel burn by 20 percent, and gave the turboprop engine 10 percent more power. The new plane design also has single-lever engine control.
Read the full article.

Image - Wheels: <br>Continental introduces new wheel and braking concept for electric vehicles
Wheels:
Continental introduces new wheel and braking concept for electric vehicles

Continental has developed the "New Wheel Concept" to meet the specific requirements of electric vehicles (EVs). In contrast to conventional wheel brakes, the New Wheel Concept brake engages an aluminum disk from the inside. The particularly large diameter benefits braking performance. Another advantage of the concept is that it provides much easier wheel and brake pad changes.
Read the full article.

Image - Sharpie marker trick helps multi-scale fluid dynamics experiment succeed
Sharpie marker trick helps multi-scale fluid dynamics experiment succeed
University of Chicago physicists working in the nascent field of experimental vortex dynamics have, with unexpected help from a Sharpie marker, achieved the first measurements of an elusive but fundamental property of fluid flow. "It's the wackier stuff that works" sometimes, said researcher Martin Scheeler.
Read the full article.

Videos+: Technologies and inspiration in action
Smaller springs, smarter applications
When space is an issue, Smalley Wave Springs can reduce spring heights by up to 50% compared to ordinary coil springs. Smalley's expanded manufacturing capabilities now allow them to coil wave springs to almost any diameter. Regardless of your unique application requirements, Wave Springs are an ideal solution to save space and weight.
Watch this video to learn more.

Video Image
What's inside a hurricane-monitoring dropsonde?
Inside a cylinder that is about the size of a roll of paper towels lives a circuit board filled with sensors. It's called a dropsonde, or "sonde" for short. It's a workhorse of hurricane forecasting, dropping out of "hurricane hunter" airplanes right into raging storms. As the sonde falls through the air, its sensors gather data about the atmosphere to help us better understand climate and other atmospheric conditions. The National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) has been designing, building, and improving dropsonde technology for more than 30 years.
View the video.

Video Image

New products

Electrical/Electronics
View Products…
Mechanical
View Products…
Motion
View Products…


Subscribe to DesignFax

For advertising opportunities contact:

John Holmes

jholmes@nelsonpub.com
(847) 364-7441

Dan Beck

danbeck58@gmail.com
(518) 852-9624

Questions or comments about the eMagazine or articles? Contact us at: Designfax

www.designfax.net
PO Box 424, Alto, MI 49302

webteam@designfax.net
Privacy Statement