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.
| May 26, 2026 | Volume 22 Issue 20 |
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 | 27,000 Stock Metric Gears from KHK
KHK USA offers the largest selection of stock metric gears in North America -- with over 27,000 configurations. KHK USA offers Metric Spur Gears, Metric Helical Gears, Metric Internal Ring Gears, Metric Gear Racks, Metric Bevel Gears, Metric Worms and Wormwheels all from stock! Free 3D CAD models, technical specs and 24/7 price and availability are all detailed online.
See what KHK USA has in stock for you today! |
| | Feature articles |
 | First-of-its-kind truck testing facility
Argonne National Lab's new facility combines full-vehicle testing with real-time simulation and corridor-level analysis. It features comprehensive energy instrumentation and an automated "Anything-in-the-Loop" workflow. Industry and government users can evaluate and improve propulsion systems, fuels, components, and more under repeatable, real-world conditions.
Read the full article. |
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 | BMW Alpina concept: Previews new top-tier luxury division
Is a fully loaded BMW not luxurious enough for you? Then consider Alpina, a new, dedicated sub-brand of BMW, which is an expression of the company trying to get closer to a Rolls-Royce-level vehicle. To show potential customers what it's all about, the company created the Vision BMW Alpina concept car, a super-luxe two-door grand tourer built on a BMW 8 Series coupe platform with a V-8 under the hood.
Read the full article. |
 | Robotic machine tending for CNC mills and lathes
At IMTS 2026, Mitsubishi Electric Automation will feature live demonstrations of LoadMate Plus and ARIA, two pre-engineered robotic machine tending solutions designed to help manufacturers automate CNC mills and lathes with confidence, flexibility, and scalability. LoadMate Plus is designed for quick setup and long-term deployment at a single machine. ARIA is a compact, configurable, and mobile solution for mill and lathe tending in space-constrained environments.
Learn more. |
 | Thermal imaging on the quality control line
On a high-speed food and beverage line, what you can see is not always what is happening. Thermal imaging adds a different layer of control. Instead of relying on surface appearance, it measures heat distribution as seals are formed and products move through the line, providing continuous, 100% in-line inspection instead of just sampling.
Read the full article. |
 | SJT Industries SIM couplings and timing pulleys
AutomationDirect now offers SIM couplings and 8M timing pulleys for reliable power transmission in OEM and MRO applications. Designed for precise motion control, these components efficiently transmit torque and rotational power. Available in multiple bore sizes and configurations, they ensure accurate alignment, consistent torque transfer, and dependable tooth engagement for various industrial equipment systems.
Learn more. |
 | Built for the test bench, ready for the field
FUTEK's IDC150 Signal Conditioner packages high-performance signal conditioning in a rugged aluminum enclosure. Built for engineers needing accurate, synchronized data from strain gauge sensors, it fits prototyping and lab environments. The device connects seamlessly to existing setups and pairs with SENSIT software and Python APIs. It is ideal for compact, high-performance digital sensor evaluation.
Learn more. |
 | What's a ceramic motor-driven linear actuator?
PI, a global leader in precision motion control and nanopositioning solutions, provides a large selection of piezo ceramic linear actuators for different size, speed, and force applications. At the top end of the force spectrum is the N-216 PiezoWalk Linear Actuator, a high-load, high-precision linear actuator designed for applications that require many millimeters of travel, high force, and extremely stable nanometer-class positioning. PiezoWalk technology offers significant advantages over traditional motorized actuators in precision, stability, and energy efficiency. Its non-magnetic drive principle and strong radiation-environment performance provide additional benefits.
Learn more. |
 | Top Tech Tip: How do you 3D print STL files?
Learn the basics of 3D printing STL files -- the files that serve as the digital foundation for 3D printing -- and a whole lot more from the experts at Xometry. These files have advantages, of course, but did you know they have disadvantages too? Also learn about STL tools and programs, and how to reduce file size or even repair a file you are having trouble with.
Read the Xometry article. |
 | Automotive lighting systems simplified, optimized
The new MLX81119 from Melexis is an 18-channel LIN RGB LED controller with an integrated DC/DC converter, designed to simplify and optimize automotive lighting systems. By generating the LED supply voltage locally on chip, this unit significantly reduces power dissipation, external components, and space requirements in increasingly dense vehicle applications such as door panels, dashboards, and charge-port lighting.
Learn more. |
| | Most popular last issue |
 | Cathedral of detonation: Texas A&M opens mega explosion lab
The new Detonation Research Test Facility at Texas A&M University -- a steel-and-concrete behemoth nearly two football fields long -- is the largest academic detonation research site in the world, driving experiments at supersonic speeds to unlock the mysteries of reactive flows, shock behavior, and the elusive transition of fast flames to full-on detonations.
Read the full article. |
 | Audi rebuilds 1930s record-breaking aero speedster
Audi has recreated a blast from its past in the form of the extreme-aero Auto Union Lucca, the fastest road racer in the world back in 1935. Sporting a massive V-16 powerplant, the mid-engine car reached a top speed over 200 mph back then and was emblematic of the top-tier technical innovation of the four rings in the 1930s.
Read the full article. |
 | Machining tool-wear detection transformed
Current methods for tracking machining tool wear often fall short, so manufacturers replace cutting tools early leading to underused tooling, more frequent tool changes, and higher costs. To address these challenges, Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers developed a novel monitoring system that delivers rapid wear measurements -- with 98% accuracy in seconds.
Read the full article. |
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| | Videos+: Technologies and inspiration in action | KUKA robots accelerate solar panel installation
It can be tough to find manpower to help build large solar farms. Watch how KUKA robots help workers for Sunstall, a construction company based in Novato, CA, that specializes in ground-mount systems for large solar utility sites. With each module weighing 70 to 80 lb, moving solar units can get tiring fast. Safety is an issue too. Cosmic Robotics (San Francisco) helped design and build the mobile system, which uses a KUKA KR 70 to do the heavy lifting of the panels and places them onto the racking with millimeter precision. [Credit: Video screenshot courtesy of KUKA Robotics]
View the video. |
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