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October 28, 2008 |
Volume 4, Issue 40 |
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PILLARS OF STRENGTH |
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In this issue of Designfax:
Feature Articles |
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Bending Humvee armor
Around-the-clock production is a life-and-death matter for BAE Systems' armored vehicle complex in Cincinnati, OH, a facility dedicated to creating "up-armor" kits for military Humvee vehicles. Applying lean methods, cellular manufacturing, and standardized equipment and processes, the plant has doubled output over the past two years from 40 to 80 truck armor sets a day. In one respect, the press brakes are the most critical element in the cell processing.
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Motor mojo for 3D printers proves to be a major challenge
Thermoplastic rapid prototyping machines like those produced by Stratasys build up detailed models by extruding a continuous bead of liquefied plastic in fine layers. For this app, there’s a whole lotta x and y motion going on. To build machines robust enough to stand up to this kind of continuous operation, Stratasys turned to compact, long-lifetime, high-torque motors from MicroMo Electronics.
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The performance of a lifetime |
Compressor-free refrigerator may loom in the future
Refrigerators and other cooling devices may one day lose their compressors and coils of piping and become solid state, according to Penn State researchers who are investigating electrically induced heat effects of some ferroelectric polymers.
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Wheels: World's first polymer oil pan module will debut in Mercedes C Class
For the first time in automotive history, an oil pan module made from a thermoplastic polymer is now used for commercial production vehicles. Working in close cooperation with the automotive supplier Bruss and DuPont Automotive, Daimler has produced a modular design that consists of a die-cast aluminum upper shell and a multifunctional lower shell made of DuPont Zytel 70G35 HSLR.
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New Parker cylinder comes up short with lead times and overall length |
5-Star Product: Hydraulic cylinders test their limits
Parker's new position-sensing, position-indicating, tie-rod-mounted limit switch for hydraulic cylinders can provide machine builders distinct advantages over other limit switch mounting types. How so? The switch does not require special tube material, and it provides multiple position sensing by being able to be located anywhere along the cylinder to signal end-of-stroke or mid-stroke locations.
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Engineer's Toolbox: Perpetuum energy-harvesting eval kit — Yay!
Good things come to those who wait. And for those waiting to try out U.K.-based Perpetuum's wireless energy-harvesting sensors — your time has come. The wSNAK allows OEMs and end-users to test drive multiple condition-monitoring systems powered by vibration energy harvesting instead of batteries.
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