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October 13, 2026Volume 22 Issue 38


Image - Why Moisture Control Fails in Sealed Systems: <br>The Definitive Engineering Guide
Why Moisture Control Fails in Sealed Systems:
The Definitive Engineering Guide

Even properly sealed enclosures will experience condensation, corrosion, and potential moisture-related failures over time. Engineers must account for pressure changes, permeation, and desiccant capacity limits to maintain long-term reliability. This technical guide explains common failure modes and how to prevent them. Key takeaways include:
  • Understanding moisture ingress and pressure cycling
  • Identifying limitations of sealed designs
  • Improving long-term reliability in electronics and instruments
Read the Engineering Guide. A great resource to bookmark.
Talk to an AGM Design Engineer or call (520) 844-0952.

In this issue of Designfax

  • Navy dives deep: Metal 3D printing for sub lethality
  • World first: GPS-free quantum maritime navigation
  • New solid-state cooling design is driven by heat!
  • Jaguar goes for broke: Controversial Type 01 debut
  • 14 years in a row! Smalley wins GM Supplier Award
  • Engineer's Toolbox: What is ground loop feedback?
  • How to maximize and optimize stepper motor control
  • NORD expands compact VFD family up to 200 hp
  • ABB Baldor-Reliance washdown motors: Ultra durable
  • New pressure transmitters from AutomationDirect
  • Award-winning bio-based instant engineering adhesive
  • Videos+: Technologies and inspiration in action
    • Cobots get 4 m tall: 8th-axis unit
  • Most Popular Last Issue
    • Vaporizing rock: Super-microwave drills go deep
    • NASA pushes new wing design to its limits
    • Extra-sticky adhesives degrade on command
  • New Products
    • Electrical, Mechanical, Motion
    Cover Image: Jaguar Type 01 EV

News

NASA awards contract to develop 5G communications for Moon

Toyota and Rivian adopt Stratasys' new F870 FDM system to accelerate factory-floor manufacturing

Electric buses get charged through their tires

Good news! Your aging brain is not declining -- it is adapting



Feature articles

Image - Navy dives deep into metal 3D printing to accelerate submarine lethality
Navy dives deep into metal 3D printing to accelerate submarine lethality
The U.S. Navy has released new technical requirements to rapidly scale metal 3D printing across the submarine enterprise. By stripping away legacy administrative and engineering hurdles, the initiative clears the path to integrate additive manufacturing directly into submarine construction, maintenance, and combat-ready repair at unprecedented speeds.
Read the full article.

Image - World first: GPS-free quantum maritime navigation
World first: GPS-free quantum maritime navigation
A new quantum navigation system created by an Australian company maintained one-nautical-mile positioning accuracy over a test mission duration, surpassing navigation-grade GNSS backups by more than 10 times. This demonstration comes as the race intensifies to develop secure capabilities for missions where GPS is unavailable or compromised.
Read the full article.

Image - New solid-state cooling design is driven by heat!
New solid-state cooling design is driven by heat!
Researchers from Germany and Japan have developed a world-first, heat-driven elastocaloric cooling system that leverages waste heat and/or solar energy for sustainable cooling.
Read the full article.

Image - Jaguar goes for broke: Controversial Type 01 makes its real-world debut
Jaguar goes for broke: Controversial Type 01 makes its real-world debut
Two years after its controversial concept unveiling, Jaguar's all-electric Type 01 grand tourer has finally hit the real-world asphalt. Brash, blocky, and unapologetically radical in design, this 1,000-hp four-door coupe shreds the brand's rulebook. Packed with clever engineering, Jaguar's electric debut isn't just a new car -- it's a direct strike at Bentley and Rolls-Royce and a must-succeed rollout for the brand.
Read the full article.

Image - 14 years in a row! Smalley recognized with GM Supplier Quality Excellence Award
14 years in a row! Smalley recognized with GM Supplier Quality Excellence Award
Kudos to the team at Smalley! A continued focus on quality, consistency, and customer support has earned the company -- a world leader in retaining rings and wave springs -- the General Motors' 2025 Supplier Quality Excellence Award, marking the company's 14th consecutive year receiving the hard-to-win recognition.
Read the full article.

Image - Engineer's Toolbox: What is ground loop feedback?
Engineer's Toolbox: What is ground loop feedback?
Improper grounding can create problems in data logging, data acquisition, and measurement and control systems. One of the most common problems is known as ground loop feedback. Experts at CAS DataLoggers run through five ways to eliminate this problem.
Read the full article.

Image - How to maximize and optimize stepper motor control
How to maximize and optimize stepper motor control
Engineers from PMD take a comprehensive look at how to control two-phase stepper motors, beginning with the basics (operations, strengths, and weaknesses) and moving on to traditional and updated advanced techniques for control including closed loop. A very thorough presentation.
Read the Performance Motion Devices technical article.

Image - NORD expands compact VFD family up to 200 hp
NORD expands compact VFD family up to 200 hp
NORD DRIVESYSTEMS' NORDAC PRO SK 500P VFD series now powers up to 200 hp with multi-protocol Ethernet, integrated functional safety, and wireless diagnostics. Its compact design reduces cabinet space and costs across applications such as airport baggage handling, intralogistics, bulk material handling, and packaging. Advanced variants deliver precise control, online parameterization, and free NORDCON diagnostic software.
Learn more and get all the options and specs.

Image - ABB Baldor-Reliance washdown motors: 40 years of durability
ABB Baldor-Reliance washdown motors: 40 years of durability
Celebrating four decades of washdown excellence, ABB's Baldor-Reliance line expands to include White Washdown models up to 150 hp with NEMA Premium efficiency. From cast iron to stainless steel, this complete portfolio -- including paint-free options -- delivers rugged, high-horsepower reliability. Power your processing operations with unmatched durability engineered specifically for demanding, wet, and humid environments.
Learn more.

Image - New pressure transmitters from AutomationDirect
New pressure transmitters from AutomationDirect
AutomationDirect's new MP Sensor Inline pressure transmitters plug directly into pneumatic lines via built-in push-in connections from 5/32" to 3/8" (and 6 mm). Ultra-compact and mountable anywhere, they deliver +/-0.5% accuracy, IP68 durability, and versatile outputs (4-20 mA, NPN/PNP, IO-Link). Need touch control? The new P.Touch series adds a TFT touchscreen for effortless setup and sub-3ms response.
Learn more and get all the specs.

Image - Award-winning bio-based instant engineering adhesive resists heat and humidity
Award-winning bio-based instant engineering adhesive resists heat and humidity
Bostik has launched Born2Bondâ„¢ Ultra K85, the first-ever instant engineering adhesive processed from 60% bio-based raw materials. This material has been created for design engineers, product designers, and manufacturers looking for an ultra-durable adhesive that provides exceptional resistance to humidity and high temperatures. It delivers premium performance -- even bonding dissimilar materials -- while not compromising on safety, health, or the environment. It earned the Adhesive & Sealant Industry's 2026 Innovation Award.
Learn more.

Most popular last issue

Image - Vaporizing rock: Super-microwave drills go deep for geothermal drilling
Vaporizing rock: Super-microwave drills go deep for geothermal drilling
Millimeter wave drilling technology pioneered at MIT is being combined with gyrotron technology developed for nuclear fusion to produce equipment that will vaporize rock and drill ultra-deep geothermal wells. The super-blaster drilling apparatus is aimed at helping unlock the Earth's deep heat to deliver clean, reliable, baseload energy at scale.
Read the full article.

Image - NASA pushes new wing design to its limits
NASA pushes new wing design to its limits
In a major milestone for efficient flight, NASA researchers have stress-tested a novel truss-braced wing to its structural limits. Combining five advanced composite manufacturing technologies, this lightweight design is the first of its kind to undergo full structural evaluation -- paving the way for next-gen commercial airliners to slash fuel consumption.
Read the full article.

Image - Extra-sticky adhesives degrade on command
Extra-sticky adhesives degrade on command
One team of Virginia Tech chemists developed a fully recyclable tape. Another team designed an adhesive stronger than duct tape that degrades on command. Working together, they are setting a new standard for sustainable, usable, and even reusable adhesives.
Read the full article.

Videos+: Technologies and inspiration in action
Cobots get 4 m tall with the 8th-Axis Vertical Robot Transfer Unit
Designed to optimize industrial processes across various sectors, the 8th-Axis Vertical Robot Transfer Unit (RTU-V) from Bishop-Wisecarver features a vertical travel length of up to 4 m, enabling a single small robot or cobot to cover large areas traditionally requiring multiple robots. This innovation not only boosts productivity but also offers considerable cost savings, making it an ideal solution for industries such as logistics, manufacturing, agriculture, packaging, and more. Extended reach allows robots to perform tasks on oversized workpieces, such as rocket tubes, boat hulls, and aerospace structures, with ease.
View the video.

New products

Electrical/Electronics
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Motion
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