Designfax – Technology for OEM Design Engineers was launched as an exclusive eMagazine in October 2005 following 25 successful years in print. Subscribers to the weekly publication (48 issues a year) are high-level OEM product design engineers and engineering managers who operate in a broad range of manufacturing industries, including automotive, aerospace, appliances, medical equipment, transportation, computer process controls, industrial equipment, and more. Primary content focuses on the latest exciting applications and products for Electrical/Electronic, Mechanical, Motion Control, Fluid Power, and Materials engineering, including articles on powerful software programs that serve as a primary engineering tool. Take a look at what Designfax offers and then subscribe.
| August 20, 2019 | Volume 15 Issue 31 |
 | Cool Electronic Cabinets
Prevent hot weather failures that can affect production. UL Listed Cabinet Coolers produce 20 degree Fahrenheit air from an ordinary supply of compressed air to cool electrical controls. Thermostat control minimizes air usage. Maintains the NEMA 4, 4X (stainless steel) and 12 rating of the enclosure.
Website offers video, CADs and more. |
 | Commentary: Bad cars -- anatomy of a ransomware attack
There have been a few real-world cases where white-hat hackers and researchers have been able to actually penetrate a car's electronics or take over the steering and acceleration systems. However, there are other scenarios that might not be as obvious or as dramatic. By Alan Grau, VP of IoT, Embedded Systems, Sectigo
Read the full article. |
 | New heat-dissipating polymer films could replace metals
MIT engineers have flipped the picture of the standard polymer insulator by fabricating thin polymer films that conduct heat -- an ability normally associated with metals. In experiments, they found the films, which are thinner than plastic wrap, conduct heat better than ceramics and many metals, including steel. They could be used as heat sinks in cars, refrigerators, and electronics.
Read the full article. |
 | Optimize mechanical misalignments, get hidden benefits
C-Flex Couplings combine the best qualities of disc, beam, and bellows couplings in a unique and economical new design. Made to couple two rotating shafts together, these couplings can accommodate large misalignments while transmitting high torque loads with zero backlash. Benefits include lower energy usage and less-frequent bearing failure, since less stress is placed upon bearings. Constructed using high-strength hardened stainless steel or glass impregnated polyamide flexures, these couplings require no maintenance and provide years of trouble-free life, even in contaminated environments. Flexible Pivot Bearings and Super Plastic Torsional Damping Couplings also available.
Click here to learn more.
Watch C-Flex Couplings in action handling misalignments. |
 | Top Tech Tip: Seal it, protect it!
A Smalley Laminar Seal Retaining Ring is a metallic labyrinth seal consisting of multiple rings in a groove. To seal an assembly from contamination while withstanding high temperatures and corrosive environments, Laminar rings are produced from metal, not rubber, neoprene, or other non-metallic materials. The arrangement of the rings and the specific orientation of the rings are dictated by the application and the severity of the environment. Numerous configurations are available.
Learn more. |
 | Precision dispensing for micro-electronics
The spread of miniaturization in automation has led to an ever-increasing demand for optimum dispensing of the tiniest volumes. Whether in electronics or micro-mechanical engineering, solder pastes, adhesives, lubricants, and 3D-printing filament must be applied or extruded precisely where needed, in exactly the right dosage and without spillage or dripping. Compact, high-torque DC motors deliver the precision and small size needed for such a challenge.
Read the full article. |
 | Cross roller ring can swing the loads
Because it has orthogonally arranged cylindrical rollers, the cross roller ring from THK is a roller bearing with high rotation accuracy capable of bearing loads in every direction. Cylindrical rollers are arranged with each roller perpendicular to the adjacent roller, in a 90-deg V groove, separated from each other by a spacer retainer. This design allows just one bearing to receive loads in all directions. This component is optimal for applications such as joints and swiveling units of industrial robots, swiveling tables of machining centers, precision rotary tables, and medical equipment. Rotation configurations include inner/outer ring, inner ring only, and outer ring only. A new micro cross roller ring is perfect to handle smaller applications.
Learn more about THK cross roller rings.
Learn about the new Micro Cross Roller Ring RAU. |
 | Redi-Rail -- a great alternative to profile rail!
Redi-Rail from PBC Linear is a great alternative to profile rail, where high speeds, precision, and moderate load applications are required. It offers strength, ease of installation, and corrosion resistance -- making it the perfect linear motion solution across a broad range of applications such as automation, machine transfer, and material handling. Aluminum rails are integrated with hardened steel races for a strong, yet lightweight design. Carriages are sealed against contamination and engineered with double-row bearing rollers that glide over particulates along the rail. Available in commercial-grade inch or in higher precision metric systems that are equipped with wipers and patented side pre-load adjustment.
Learn more. |
 | Customized anti‐vandal switches
CIT Relay & Switch offers a broad line of sealed, illuminated Anti‐Vandal switches. Ranging
from 10 mm up to 40 mm, the styles offer dot and ring illumination with CUSTOM laser printing available. With body and actuator finish options including stainless steel, nickel, and anodized aluminum in black, red, yellow, green, or blue (and bi‐color illumination available), these splash‐proof and vandal-resistant switches offer endless combinations for any design need. Contact CIT today to CUSTOMIZE your anti‐vandal switch.
Learn more. |
 | World's darkest spray paint
A whole range of products can now take advantage of the world's blackest coating, Vantablack, thanks to the development of a spray version called Vantablack S-VIS. It is easily applied at large scale to virtually any surface. Vantablack's carbon nanotube matrix structure absorbs virtually all (99.8 percent) incident light, enabling precision optical systems to be optimized. The material's developer, UK-based Surrey NanoSystems, has mimicked the performance of its original Vantablack with this new version that can be sprayed onto objects, rather than deposited using a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process.
Click here to learn more. |
 | Compact stepper motor with high torque
With the SCA5618, Nanotec now offers a stepper motor with 15 to 30 percent more torque than comparable motors with a 56-mm flange (NEMA 23). Thanks to an improved stator geometry and optimized magnetic materials, the rotor inertia is no higher than that of the predecessor model. The SCA5618 is available in three lengths and with two different windings. Depending on length, the holding torque of this stepper motor is 0.6 to 2.3 Ncm; it has a resolution of 1.8 deg. For a higher resolution, the SCA5618 can also be combined with an optical or magnetic encoder. The integrated connector makes it easy to connect customized cables or replace an existing motor.
Learn more. |
 | Good Reads: Navy ditching touchscreen controls, reverting to physical throttles
According to a new article posted by the U.S. Naval Institute (USNI), "The Navy will begin reverting destroyers back to a physical throttle and traditional helm control system in the next 18 to 24 months, after the fleet overwhelmingly said they prefer mechanical controls to touchscreen systems in the aftermath of the fatal USS John S. McCain (DDG-56) collision." The accident happened Aug. 21, 2017, in the Singapore Strait when the destroyer was overtaking the Liberian-flagged tanker Alnic MC. Ten U.S. sailors died, 48 were injured, and the vessel sustained over $100 million in damage. Very interesting. [U.S. Navy photo courtesy: Republic of Korea navy/Released]
Read the USNI article. |
| | Most popular last issue |
 | Hole-y moly! Lotus all-electric hypercar features giant Venturi tunnels
Hypercars can all seem the same after a while, at least for those of us who can't afford them! But the almost 2,000-hp all-electric Lotus Evija has some really different design and function details. For starters, you can't miss those huge Venturi tunnel exits at the back of the vehicle in their giant, red LED taillight frames. It's also the first Lotus road car to feature a one-piece carbon fiber monocoque chassis, and it's a world-first to use both main- and dipped-beam laser lighting. And to top it off, this well may be the new world's most powerful series production road car.
Read the full article. |
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| | Videos+: Technologies and inspiration in action |
Understanding heat transfer and condensation in automotive lighting
If you're designing lighting housing, whether it is for a car or not, then you should take a look at how you can use computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to gain better insight into your designs. In this new four-minute video, Mentor examines the model for temperature and relative humidity and also takes a closer look at ray trajectories and condensation on the lens. Simcenter FLOEFD can help you frontload CFD into your design process so you can accurately simulate thermal effects in lighting sources including even LEDs. While this video features Simcenter FLOEFD within Siemens NX, you can expect the same level of integration with other popular CAD packages including Solid Edge, Creo, and CATIA V5.
View the video. |
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