| September 6, 2011 | Volume 7 Issue 33 |
|
| |
 |
New Smalley Engineering & Parts Catalog
Smalley’s new catalog combines existing Spirolox Retaining Ring and Smalley Wave Spring selections with series recently released from Smalley.
Now a single catalog includes new: Hoopster Rings, Metric Wave Springs, Constant Section Rings and more. Over 10,000 standard parts in carbon and stainless steel; free samples available.
Specials manufactured with No-Tooling-Costs™ from .200”-120”. Newly updated content features 130 pages of part tables, engineering guides, design information and expanded part offerings.
Click here for free catalog. |
Image-based barcode readers improve package sorting efficiency
Improving barcode scanning is a key way major retailers and parcel hubs can reduce costs by allowing automated equipment to handle the highest possible number of packages, rather than diverting the package to a manual station, increasing overhead and reducing profit margins. The new high-speed, area-array, image-based reader from Cognex captures an entire image in a single snapshot, eliminating the need for precise encoder input or very bright, always-on illumination.
Read the full article
|
Tattoos go electronic – and body monitoring won't be the same again
Through a combination of careful theoretical modeling and precise micro-manufacturing, a team of engineers and scientists has developed a new type of ultra-thin, self-adhesive electronics device that can effectively measure data about the human heart, brain waves, and muscle activity – all without the use of bulky equipment, conductive fluids or glues.
Read the full article
|
 | Meet the new generation of Bondable Liquid Silicone Rubber
Rogan Corporation can over-mold a new generation of Bondable LSR directly onto plastic and metal parts. This process can reduce manufacturing complexity, improve product reliability,
enhance product features and function as well as simplify supply chain and inventory management. Design opportunities include integral seals and gaskets for waterproofing complex
geometries and electronic interconnects, integral membranes, diaphragms, valves, switch covers, shock and vibration protection, and sound dampening.
Click here to request a FREE widget sample today.
|
Beyond the hype:
What companies are really doing with 3D printing
3D printing is attracting a lot of buzz these days, much of it based on what just might be possible in the future. Send a 3D printer to the moon, some imagine, and print out a city. Is your coffee maker dying? Just print a new one. Because these futuristic visions are so fun to ponder, many don’t realize that 3D printing is real today, delivering quantifiable business benefits to a rapidly increasing number of the most aggressive and innovative engineering organizations.
Read the full article
|
| Videos+: Technologies and inspiration in action |
| NEW! Go wireless with Limitless switches |
Dr. Larry, chief technology officer of Honeywell’s Sensing & Control business, previews the promise of wireless technology that you can build into a world of applications. The Limitless Series of switches is based on 802.15.4 point-to-point communications and can be configured to allow up to 16 devices to communicate with one receiver module. The products are based on Honeywell’s proven harsh-duty and medium-duty limit switches. They have the same mechanical life, temperature ratings, and sealing as standard switches, but they’re wireless (802.15.4 open protocol RF board operating in the 2.4-GHz globally license-free frequency band). The wireless signal is received by either a panel-mount receiver or an industrial DIN-rail module that converts it to an output. Outputs can be LEDs, buzzers, or electrical signals. Limitless sensors are also available.
View the video |
 |
| World's fastest bipedal robot |
With the aim of creating the most realistic, human-like running achieved by a two-footed robot with knees, University of Michigan researchers have developed the 143-lb (65 kg) MABEL, whose pretty-smooth gait tops out at 6.8 mph (3.06 m/s). It’s quite hypnotizing to watch, even though the machine doesn’t hit full speed in this clip and the clanking and tether sure take away from its stealth. Be sure to read all about the machine’s design in the info box under the video.
View the video |
 |
| Ford Escape hybrid-taxi battery teardown |
Pax Maguire, a high-voltage battery technical expert at Ford, describes a battery teardown after 230,000 hard-driving, New York City taxi miles. The battery profiled, which has a very low self-discharge rate, still has over 85% of its beginning-of-life discharge power capability. All 50 modules (250 cells) were found to be at about the same state of charge, even after almost a quarter of a million miles. You can also find out more about the next generation of battery technologies in development at Ford.
View the video |
 |
|
