METRIC HEX SPACERS
Micro Plastics, Inc., Flippin Arkansas, is now offering a NEW line of "METRIC HEX and HEX TAPPED SPACERS". Parts are molded in a Nylon 6/6 material making them resistant to vibration, abrasion and corrosion. They are electrically insulating, non-magnetic and have a high strength to weight ratio. Hex Spacers use M4 self-tapping screws, while the Hex Tapped Spacers use M4 machine screws. Both Hex Spacers are available in 8 lengths, ranging from 6mm through 25mm. Visit Micro Plastics

News

SynqNet Interest Group established to promote and advance global adoption in performance motion apps

High euro has Doncasters top exec wondering, "Is the U.S. the new lower cost economy?"

Magnetic materials could lead to HFC-free refrigeration technologies

Focus on design, not CAD with SolidWorks 2008
In this issue:

Feature Articles

3D electromagnetic simulation improves range of Bluetooth auto antennas
Johnson Controls Inc. recently improved the range of a version of its BlueConnect hands-free system by simulating the antenna with Flomerics' 3D electromagnetic simulation software. Based on the simulation results, JCI engineers modified the initial design. "With proper correlation between simulation and physical test results, computer simulation can evaluate new design concepts in much less time and can provide very detailed diagnostic information that can be used to improve the performance," says Scott Mee, EMC engineering manager for Johnson Controls.
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Implementing change on the test floor
Many manufacturing managers would prefer to avoid thinking about circuit board tests, often regarding it as a necessary evil. "It doesn't add value," they assert. "We only test because we have to" goes the refrain. Even so, the worldwide electronics manufacturing community spends billions annually on PCB tests in equipment purchases, ongoing applications and support costs, personnel, rework, scrap, and overhead. Three major issues have changed the board test landscape over the past decade: proliferation of in-system programmable (ISP) devices, loss of access for test probes, and the shift in the manufacturing fault spectrum.
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Latest in automation assembly tech featured at ISU Integrated Manufacturing Lab
Funded by a generous $1.2 million grant from the Caterpillar Foundation, Illinois State University's new Integrated Manufacturing Lab represents what university professors tout as industry-leading automation technology. The brand new lab comprises a classroom and an integrated automation systems laboratory with Bosch Rexroth components designed to give students authentic hands-on experience addressing major manufacturing trends like flexible manufacturing of small-batch and custom orders, coupled with data collection.
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Designfax Online's GAS MONEY GIVEAWAY 4
Remember back when gas was a penny? Ok, well neither do we. But we do remember launching Designfax Online 75 issues ago as an electronic publication, and now we're ready to celebrate!

To thank our readers who have stuck by us, we're giving away $75 in free gasoline to one randomly drawn winner each week for four weeks. This is week 4, so it's your last chance to have a tank (or two) on us. Maybe get a little wild and go for Premium!

Entering is simple. Click the "Enter Me" link below. Please enter only once this week. Entering multiple times this week will not improve your odds or chances of winning. All entries will remain confidential and will not be used for marketing purposes. We'll announce our final week's winner in the following issue. Good luck!

Congratulations to R. Thorne, senior electrical engineer, Prince Castle, Inc., for being our third week's winner.
Enter Me

Creating a new era of corrosion-free superalloys
As part of Sandia's nanoscale research, a group of experts specializing in inorganic synthesis and characterization, modeling, and radiation science have designed a radical system of experiments to study the science of creating metal and alloy nanoparticles. This research has vast implications, says Tina Nenoff, project lead. The lightweight, corrosion-resistant materials are needed for weapons casings, gas turbine engines, satellites, aircraft, and power plants. "This is really the new frontier in superalloys," Nenoff says.
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Wheels: "Autofluff" becomes fuel in world's first emission-free recycling machine
Gershow Recycling, one of the world's largest recyclers, has agreed to receive the world's first 100% emission- and pollutant-free green recycling machine for auto shredder residue (ASR). Global Resource will supply Gershow with its proprietary technology to reduce its landfill waste by approximately 65% and recover extra metal for profit. The cutting-edge ASR conversion machine, the HAWK 10, uses high microwave frequencies to convert "autofluff" — textiles, foams, plastics, rubber, and light metal content extracted from cars — into oil and gas.
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New Products

Electrical/Electronic
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Motion Control
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Guides

Literature, guides, catalogs, and other great free stuff: Always more than 50 new resources

  • TRUNKSAFE Fault-Tolerant Fieldbus System — Moore Industries-International
  • Comprehensive machine safety engineering guide — Omron STI
  • Environmental challenges for die casters — NADCA

View guides …

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