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April 21, 2026Volume 22 Issue 15


Image - 27,000 Stock Metric Gears from KHK
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!

In this issue of Designfax

  • Army's latest advanced manufacturing capabilities
  • New HP computer is built into keyboard
  • Titanium made significantly tougher with a zap
  • Rolls-Royce Project Nightingale
  • When glass, plastic can't cut it: Transparent ceramics
  • How slip clutches can help maximize your designs
  • The Definitive Engineering Guide: Why Moisture Control Fails in Sealed Systems
  • Transition from pneumatic to electric motion control
  • Great applications: 20 ways to use a hexapod
  • Forward shaft rotary solenoids matched to application
  • LEGO Star Wars The Mandalorian's N-1 Starfighter
  • Videos+: Technologies and inspiration in action
    • Motor oil has a new standard for gas engines
  • Most Popular Last Issue
    • Torpedo baseball bat vs. regular bat
    • Corvette Grand Sport is back! New V8
    • Target-tracking drones fooled
  • New Products
    • Electrical, Mechanical, Motion
    Cover Image: Rolls-Royce Project Nightingale

News

X-ray vision for electronics lets scientists monitor working chips remotely

Even near-boiling water is repelled by new low-cost, scalable coating

Adaptable robotic wing delivers big leap forward in underwater stability

Running shoe adapts to the runner over time thanks to new MIT technology



Feature articles

Image - Army lets us in on new advanced manufacturing capabilities
Army lets us in on new advanced manufacturing capabilities
Persistent collaboration between Army researchers and the University of North Texas is making a big difference in real-world applications, including new metal alloys that support the rapid production of sturdier and more resilient vehicles, aircraft, and other Army platforms.
Read the full article.

Image - New HP computer is built into keyboard
New HP computer is built into keyboard
Desk nomads rejoice. HP recently unveiled the world's first full AI PC built into a keyboard. The HP EliteBoard G1a Next Gen AI PC is a CES 2026 Innovation Award Honoree and features a design that moves, connects, and adapts to any workspace. It is the most compact AI-capable PC HP has ever produced.
Read the full article.

Image - Titanium made significantly tougher with a zap
Titanium made significantly tougher with a zap
A team of scientists in Japan and China has developed a groundbreaking processing technique that dramatically improves the strength and toughness of titanium alloys in just a few milliseconds.
Read the full article.

Image - Rolls-Royce Project Nightingale: Limited-edition street sailing
Rolls-Royce Project Nightingale: Limited-edition street sailing
If you are a fan of high-end showboating when it comes to tooling around town, then the limited-edition Project Nightingale soft-top two-seater could be your kind of dream ride. Drivers can relive the glamour of the 1920s and 1930s with this dramatic retro expression of Rolls-Royce design.
Read the full article.

Image - When glass or plastic can't cut it: Transparent ceramics solve critical design challenges
When glass or plastic can't cut it: Transparent ceramics solve critical design challenges
Complex designs are still possible when grinding and polishing Fused Silica or Sapphire. Ceramic properties such as wear, abrasion resistance, and strength of these optical materials can be a designer's dream solution when high temperatures or severe environments rule out standard optical glass or plastic. INSACO is a machine shop specializing in ultra-hard and extreme materials.
→ Contact Jackson Evans, Sales Engineer at INSACO jpe@insaco.com.
→ Learn more about INSACO materials and capabilities.

Image - How slip clutches can help maximize your designs
How slip clutches can help maximize your designs
The way they see it over at Polyclutch, there aren't a whole lot of problems you can't solve with a slip clutch. Way beyond using them for overload protection, there are a surprising number of other applications for these versatile and valuable components. From increasing machine speeds and applying constant tension on wire to indexing a conveyor and automatic screw assembly, slip clutches just may provide the design leverage you've been seeking.
Read the full article.

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

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. Lots to learn -- a great resource to bookmark.
→ Read the Engineering Guide.
→ Talk to an AGM Design Engineer or call (520) 844-0952.

Image - Transition from pneumatic to electric motion control
Transition from pneumatic to electric motion control
RS offers Festo's Simplified Motion Series electromechanical actuators, combining drive mechanics, motors, and servo drives to make smart motion accessible. These cost-optimized linear and rotary units bridge the gap between pneumatic simplicity and electric functionality, ideal for tasks like sorting, clamping, and positioning. They are perfect for transitioning to electric automation. Learn all your options for making the switch.
Learn more.

Image - Great applications: 20 ways to use a hexapod
Great applications: 20 ways to use a hexapod
Hexapods, six-legged parallel-kinematic machines, can solve many complex positioning and alignment tasks in fields including Optics, Photonics, Precision Automation, Astronomy, Automotive, and Medical Engineering. Features include a programmable pivot point, sub-micron precision, and load capacities from 2 to 2,000 kg.
See how hexapods are used in the real world from PI.

Image - Forward shaft rotary solenoids matched to your application
Forward shaft rotary solenoids matched to your application
Magnetic Sensor Systems (MSS) has released the R-09-150-CWM series clockwise, forward shaft extension rotary solenoids (OEM quantities). These compact, 38.1-mm diameter by 22.1-mm long, "Made in America" solenoids feature 18 winding configurations, allowing users to match torque and duty cycle to applications. Ideal for medical devices, security interlocks, office machines, sorting, and packaging.
Learn about all your options.

Image - LEGO Star Wars The Mandalorian's N-1 Starfighter
LEGO Star Wars The Mandalorian's N-1 Starfighter
LEGO is getting ready for the big May The 4th Be With You celebrations by previewing its latest Ultimate Collector Series offering: The Mandalorian's N-1 Starfighter. This 1,809-piece advanced kit is over 2 ft long and full of detail. Embark on an immersive building journey by recreating the sleek, silver-hulled N-1 Starfighter as seen in The Book of Boba Fett and The Mandalorian Season 3. Includes Mandalorian and Grogu figures. Available on Star Wars Day.
Get all the details. This is the Way.

Most popular last issue

Image - Scientists test torpedo baseball bat vs. regular bat
Scientists test torpedo baseball bat vs. regular bat
The New York Yankees took the baseball world by storm with the newly designed torpedo bat last year. In new lab experiments, a research team compared the performance of the torpedo bat and traditional bat to find out why and how one or the other may be better.
Read the full article.

Image - Corvette Grand Sport is back! Boasts next-gen LS6 6.7L V8
Corvette Grand Sport is back! Boasts next-gen LS6 6.7L V8
Chevrolet is reviving one of Corvette's most legendary racing names with the 2027 Corvette Grand Sport, complete with a next-gen V8 engine that produces more torque than any other naturally aspirated V8 before it. It's the sweet spot in the Corvette lineup, and there's an all-wheel-drive Grand Sport X too.
Read the full article.

Image - Target-tracking drones fooled by images on umbrellas
Target-tracking drones fooled by images on umbrellas
Scientists in California have discovered a critical security vulnerability in autonomous target-tracking drones that could have far-reaching implications for public safety, border security, and personal privacy.
Read the full article.

Videos+: Technologies and inspiration in action
Motor oil has a new standard for gasoline engines
ILSAC GF-7 is the new standard for engine oils for passenger car gasoline engines. What does that mean, and how does that affect my vehicle? Engineering Explained's Jason Fenske takes a deep dive into the issue. Do the new requirements really help to protect modern engines? Have some or all formulations changed? With all his whiteboard work, you can always learn something from a Fenske video. [Credit: Screenshot courtesy of Engineering Explained]
View the video.

New products

Electrical/Electronics
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Mechanical
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Motion
View Products…


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(518) 852-9624

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