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 04, 2026 | Volume 22 Issue 29 |
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 | 4 springs that can replace a coil spring
Traditional coil springs can limit mechanical designs. Wave springs offer a space-saving alternative, providing equivalent force and deflection in up to half the operating height while reducing assembly size and weight. Four wave spring types that can replace a coil spring include:
- Crest-to-Crest Wave Springs
- Nested Spirawave® Wave Springs
- Interlaced Wave Springs, and
- Nestawave® Wave Springs
Each variant delivers unique performance capabilities to optimize space, efficiency, and reliability.
Read this informative NEW Smalley technical article. |
| | Feature articles |
 | NASA Spinoff: Machines from Mars make beer bubbly
In 2021, when Maine Beer Company's carbon dioxide supplier ran short, the brewery decided to look into a technology it had previously explored: capturing CO2 from the fermenting process to use for carbonation. The technology for this clever solution originally grew out of NASA's ambitious plans for extracting resources directly from the elements available on the surface of the Red Planet.
Read the full article. |
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 | Why smaller crumpled sheets carry larger loads
Crumple a thin sheet into a ball, and it becomes a tiny load-bearing structure. A natural question follows: When two balls are packed to the same density, does the one made from a larger sheet carry more load? Intuition would say yes, but a new study comes to a different conclusion and lays out a universal "smaller is stronger" effect.
Read the full article. |
 | Flexible planetary gearheads: Quiet, extremely robust
FAULHABER GPT gearheads for miniature and micro motors deliver high power density, exceptional flexibility, and excellent cost efficiency. Designed for seamless integration with diverse motors and encoders, these compact planetary drives feature hardened stainless steel components that reliably withstand extreme torques and abrupt load changes. Offered in standard, low-noise, and high-torque variants, they ensure precise, durable performance across wide operating temperature ranges.
Learn more. |
 | Optimize mechanical misalignments, get hidden benefits
C-Flex Couplings combine the best qualities of disc, beam, and bellows couplings into an economical design. Built to join rotating shafts, they accommodate large misalignments and transmit high torque with zero backlash. Made with high-strength stainless steel or glass-filled polyamide flexures, these maintenance-free couplings lower energy use, reduce bearing failure, and excel in contaminated environments. Flexible Pivot Bearings and Super Plastic Torsional Damping Couplings also available.
Learn more.
Watch C-Flex Couplings in action handling misalignments. |
 | Millimeter-wave imaging inspection in real time
With its new quality and inspection R&S IMAGER millimeter-wave scanner, Rohde & Schwarz aims to simplify the industrial inspection of packaged products. The system sees through common packaging materials at production speed without using X-rays, protecting both products and operators. The high-contrast 3D images are used as digital twins and can be automatically integrated into AI-powered fault-detection systems. Sees through plastics, cardboard, and composites. Applications include food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, logistics.
Learn more. |
 | Innovate like a PRO: Protolabs' new AI-enabled manufacturing platform
ProDesk by Protolabs accelerates innovation for product development and procurement teams. It features real-time, AI-powered quoting with design for manufacturability (DFM) analysis across injection molding, CNC machining, and 3D printing. The platform enables seamless team collaboration and customizes quotes with instant feedback on materials, lead times, secondary operations, and finishes prior to production.
Learn more. |
 | What is a low-waving linear motion guide?
If you are having a problem with your linear guides not always staying perfectly straight during use, it may be due to a phenomenon called waving -- a problem that is particularly critical in high-precision markets such as semiconductor and LCD equipment-related applications or machine tools. Thankfully, THK has an answer.
Read the full article. |
 | SDP/SI Shaftloc Fastening System
Shaftloc is a unique, reusable locking device for securely mounting mechanical components like gears and sprockets onto shafts without the need for keyways, set screws, or adhesives. Its simple, two-piece design offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional fasteners, providing high clamping force and vibration resistance. Installed with standard tools, Shaftloc is perfect for designers seeking flexible, hubless mounting solutions. Available in four styles.
Learn more from SDP/SI. |
| | Most popular last issue |
 | Mustang Dark Horse SC: Race-bred supercharged V8
With 795 hp and 660 lb-ft of torque, the new, street-legal Mustang Dark Horse SC is the most powerful Dark Horse ever created. According to Ford Racing, the car "was developed by engineers who live their lives at racing circuits, and that track-first mentality is woven into every bolt and calibration of this car."
Read the full article. |
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| | Videos+: Technologies and inspiration in action | How Autodesk Research uses Markforged 3D printing
In advanced R&D, "good enough" doesn't cut it. To pioneer its Performance-Aided Design (PAD) workflow, Autodesk Research partnered with Markforged to close the gap between digital simulation and reality. Using sensors and digital twins, PAD replaces delayed field reports with real-time feedback. To test this high-stakes system, Autodesk built massive UAV platforms -- including a 300-lb aircraft. Facing extreme dynamic loads and weather, these drones provide the ultimate torture test for rapid design iteration.
View the video. |
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