Technology for OEM Design Engineers May 1, 2007 — Volume 3, Issue 17
Try a Retaining Ring or Wave Spring for Free Smalley offers free samples of standard parts to test in your application. Over 7,000 Spiral Retaining Rings and Wave Springs are available in stock, from ¼" to 16", in carbon and stainless steel. Spiral rings have No Ears To Interfere with mating components. Wave Springs can reduce spring heights by up to 50%. Visit Smalley online.
Tightening up torque standards
In aerospace projects, there are no
"do overs." Even minor errors can prove expensive or deadly, including over- or undertorqued bolts and rivets. That's why six sigma black belt Vu D. Pham of Boeing took on the task of improving the accuracy of the torquing at his plant. Along the way, he not only improved the accuracy, but by using a PDA-based calibration verification system from Mountz Inc. of San Jose, CA, also found a way to save the company a lot of money. Read the full article
New RoHS compliant 1525 & 3153 Brushless Motors with Integrated Drive Electronics have long life and are more powerful than ever before. The motors have been optimized technically and functionally, equipped with Neodymium magnets (NdFeB), and achieve 1.8 mNm continuous output torque for 1525 BRC and 28 mNm for the 3153 BRC. Visit MicroMo online for more information.
Solving spacecraft EMC P R O B L E M S (2)
An EMC-induced launch failure generally is not as spectacular as a solid-fuel rocket blowing up on the pad, but EMC has certainly accounted for a large number of very expensive mission losses. To help prevent mistakes from happening, some engineers start by remembering P R O B L E M S: short for Power, Radiated emission and susceptibility, Out-of-band interference, Bonding and grounding, Lightning, ESD, Multipaction, and Space charging. This is a memory hook for spacecraft EMC design and environmental requirements that must be addressed to ensure mission success. This is the second of two comprehensive articles on spacecraft engineering that we will feature. Read the full article
Seat shock gets a smooth vibe
When your job entails driving the open road throughout the Midwest and West Coast for days at a time, there is no compromising comfort. Such is the case for Tim Schreiber, a truck driver who was so pleased with his experience with the LORD Motion Master Ride Management System that he called LORD to tell them about it. Designed specifically by LORD to control the shock and vibration of suspension seats via real-time adaptation, the system uses a shock absorber containing magneto-rheological (MR) fluid paired with a computer-controlled algorithm. Read the full article
Electric Replacement for Hydraulics! Exlar's electric linear actuators deliver the force of hydraulics and the speed of pneumatics. The patented roller screw technology offers peak forces in excess of 40,000 lbf., speeds to 60 in/sec, and stroke lengths to 96 inches, all with the ease and reliability of servo control. Visit Exlar online for more information.
Step on the gas: New fuel cell design adds control, reduces complexity
When Princeton engineers want to increase the power output of their new fuel cell, they just give it a little more gas — hydrogen gas, to be exact. Though the simple control mechanism was previously thought impossible, the Tiger researchers showed it can work. The feat is a potentially major development because, until now, there has been no efficient way to vary the amount of power a fuel cell produces. Fuel cells, which use hydrogen to make electricity, have attracted much attention as a clean alternative to fossil fuel-burning energy sources. Read the full article
Wheels: Can LED headlamp development take the heat?
Since 2003, automotive light and electronic specialists have enthusiastically taken steps towards adopting forward-looking LED (light-emitting diode) designs into vehicle headlamp technology. Companies such as Automotive Lighting, Visteon, Hella, and OSRAM Opto Semiconductors have been strong supporters of migrating traditional halogen headlamps in favor of the proposed energy and efficiency benefits of LED lighting. Despite pricing concerns and cooling issues, LED headlamps are currently on the fast track towards becoming a powerful, durable new option for automotive manufacturers. Read the full article
Injection Molded Plastic Prototypes FAST! Protomold can turn your 3D CAD model into real plastic parts as soon as the next business day. These plastic parts are ideal for functional testing, bridge tooling, or even short-run production. Visit Protomoldonline for more information and a free automated ProtoQuote®.
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