Technology for OEM Design Engineers December 27, 2006 — Volume 2, Issue 47
Get It Together Micro Plastics introduces a new line of Metric Male/Female Standoffs molded in Nylon 6/6 that are resistant to vibration, abrasion and corrosion. Electrically insulating, these threaded Male/Female Standoffs non-magnetic, have a high strength to weight ratio come in three thread sizes, M3 x 0.05, M3.5 x 0.6, and M4 x 0.7, and are 6mm to 25mm long. Micro Plastics also offers circuit board supports, insulators, posts, transistor mounts and covers. See the full line in catalog #37, or request free samples at Micro Plastics.
Siemens aims to reinvent wheel (really)
Siemens VDO engineers are working on plans to integrate the drivetrain, steering, shock absorbers, and brakes directly into the wheels of future cars. This concept, called eCorner, is the basis for the ecological
"Drive-by-Wire" automobiles, which will become a common sight on roads in 15 years, according to the company. eCorner's long-term vision includes replacing the traditional internal combustion engine architecture with electric wheel-hub motors that act directly on the wheels to accelerate the car. Read the full article
Die Castings Standards Explained NADCA offers its latest Product Specification Standards for Die Castings to die casters and OEMs in print, CD, and online formats. This comprehensive resource provides specification, design and production guidance, plus valuable new information such as an alloy selection, an improved checklist for purchasing die cast parts and an expanded casting examples section. Visit NADCA.
Lexan resin helps protect holiday electronics
They're primo on holiday wish lists, they're pricey, and they're precious to their owners. So after unwrapping an iPod or MP3 player that may cost upwards of $450, it's important to safeguard these surprisingly delicate devices from being dropped, banged, or stepped on. Dozens of companies offer protective and stylish covers and cases for iPods — and most rely on the toughness, scratch resistance, and light weight of GE's Lexan polycarbonate. Read the full article
Kicking the over-design: Making more money casting less iron
The humble manhole cover is easy to overlook — unless you work for LeBARON Foundry of Brockton, MA, the dominant supplier of cast iron products to New England's construction market. The 150-year-old company pours 100 tons of molten iron a day to supply the region with nearly all of its manhole and sewer drain covers. Although its products are low-tech, the company has used high technology, specifically SolidWorks and COSMOS software, to great advantage by streamling designs, lightening manhole covers and frames by as much as 50 lb, and saving more than $500,000. Read the full article
Micro-cantilevers new key to extreme sensors?
For the first time, mechanical motion has been used to make atoms in a gas
"spin," scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology report. The technique eventually might be used in high-performance magnetic sensors, enable power-efficient chip-scale atomic devices such as clocks, or serve as components for manipulating bits of information in quantum computers. Read the full article
And from the "Way to push your product!" file …
Hefty brand products' maker Pactiv has offered 1.2 million additional Hefty OneZip one-quart slider bags free to airports and passengers across the United States in an effort to help keep holiday travelers moving through airport security checkpoints — bringing the total number of quart-size bags shipped to airports to more than 2 million since the holiday travel season began last month. Read the full article
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