Technology for OEM Design Engineers August 5, 2008 — Volume 4, Issue 29
STAUFF LIGHTWEIGHT CLAMPS WON'T WEIGH YOU DOWN Stauff Corporation introduces the LBBU series of compact clamps for secure fastening of Pipe, Tube, Hose, and Cable. The LBBU clamps are manufactured from a resilient thermoplastic elastomer for reduction of noise and vibration and offer quick, easy installation for applications in which space is limited and noise must be kept to a minimum. Both single and double line clamp styles are available with sizes ranging from 6-mm to 18-mm diameter. Visit Stauff Corporation for more information.
Avoiding current spikes with LEDs
Unlike many illumination sources, such as incandescent bulbs that are voltage driven, LEDs are current-driven devices. This distinction requires different considerations when designing and using driver electronics. Hot Switching creates current spikes that can destroy any LED. A properly designed driver is the simple solution. Read the full article
Flow simulation solves LED overheating in one day
Voxdale, a Belgium-based engineering consulting firm, used Flomerics' EFD.Pro computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software to solve a power LED thermal management problem in just one day. The initial prototype of the LED system overheated to the point that the amount of light delivered by the device and its lifetime were both substantially reduced. Read the full article
High Precision with Every Step Ø12-mm Miniature Stepper Motor MicroMo Electronics, Inc. announces the ADM1220S. The miniature stepper motor has external motor-diameter of 12 mm and a length of 17.2 mm. The ADM1220S has a holding torque of 4.1 mNm. The ADM1220S offers 20 full steps per revolution in full step mode and is capable of 160 microsteps per revolution. Visit MicroMo.
LEDs produce Texas-sized supermarket savings
Texas-based United Supermarkets, LLC, has retrofitted low- and medium-temperature refrigerated display cases in all of its 47 stores with a GE ecomagination product — a LED solution from Lumination, a GE Consumer & Industrial business. United expects to save more than $633,000 annually in energy and maintenance savings ($369,000 in energy savings and $264,000 in maintenance savings). Read the full article
Standards set for energy-conserving LED lighting
Scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), in cooperation with national standards organizations, have taken the lead in developing the first two standards for solid-state lighting in the United States. This new-generation lighting technology uses LEDs instead of incandescent filaments or fluorescent tubes to produce illumination that cuts energy consumption significantly. 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.
Wheels: LEDs, infrared emitters light latest (cool!) digital dashboard
OSTAR-Projection LED modules and IR DRAGON infrared emitters from OSRAM Opto Semiconductors are the LED light sources behind a new reconfigurable control and display interface designed by Digital Dash, Ltd. of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The Digital Dash Reconfigurable Tactile Display (RTD) prototype model is the world's first multi-touch interface that incorporates physical controls with a curved display surface. Read the full article
5-Star Product: New LED measurement system
The new, portable S-471 LED Optometer is designed and configured for all LED measurement requirements. Easy to use in production and/or laboratory settings, the unit is equipped with a silicon photometric detector and LED holding sockets for many common LED types. Read the full article
Engineer's Toolbox: Shed some serious lumens on hard-to-reach places
Sometimes you need more than a flash light to get the big jobs done. Distributed by Rocky Mountain Tool, the Pelican 9450 Remote Area Lighting System (RALS) is an entirely self-contained, powerful emergency light that throws 1,280 lumens of white Luxeon light, thanks to a detachable bank of 16 1-W LED modules in its head. Read the full article