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 28, 2024 | Volume 20 Issue 20 |
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 | Need inserts? We make it E-Z.
Founded in 1956, E-Z LOK allows users to repair damaged or worn-out threads without the need for special taps or installation tools. Our line of threaded locking inserts is used in metal, plastic, wood, composite and additive industries. Extensive inventories are maintained in four warehouses across the US, and all products are sold through industrial distributors. One source for all your needs!
Learn more
or contact Kyle Lindsly-Roach for free samples at 310.323.5613 x221. |
| | Feature articles |
 | 55 Years Ago: Apollo's Lunar Module bridged the technological leap to the Moon
The lunar module is mostly remembered for its role between July 1969 and December 1972, when six of the spacecraft successfully landed 12 American astronauts on the Moon. It also served as a "lifeboat" when the Apollo 13 command/service module was disabled en route to the Moon in April 1970. But why did engineers choose a "Lunar Orbit Rendezvous" plan that included linking up with a "mother ship" in orbit rather than a single spacecraft?
Read the full article. |
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 | Mercedes-AMG PureSpeed concept: SL meets Formula 1
Can you be too rich and too cool to bother with a windscreen? Mercedes-AMG thinks so, as evidenced by the first look at the new PureSpeed concept -- a dramatically open two-seater performance car that will be produced in small numbers next year. It looks like an SL on steroids with an F1-inspired HALO safety system that replaces the conventional A-pillar on the vehicle.
Read the full article. |
 | How the world's fastest RC drone was designed
Buzz along with father/son team Mike and Luke Bell in South Africa as they chronicle the design and making of Peregrine 2 -- the fastest little RC quadcopter drone in the world at 298.4 mph. It took nine months of hard trial and error with lots of fiery bumps along the way. Powered by two batteries, the bullet-like craft sports 7-in. carbon rotors and four TMOTOR 1500-kV brushless motors. Many of the parts were 3D printed or CNC machined. Motor control was paramount to achieve stability and speed while avoiding overheating. A thorough and entertaining presentation.
View the video.
Watch the companion video of how it was built. |
 | Turn any hose or tube into a powerful conveyor!
EXAIR's Line Vac connects to standard hose or tube to create a powerful conveyor. The design features large throat diameters for maximum throughput capability. A small amount of compressed air is injected through directed nozzles to produce a vacuum on one end and high output flows on the other.
See video online. |
 | Great design: Handle with integrated lighting/signaling
Signaling and indicator lights, switches, and buttons -- elements that hardly any machine can do without. The new JW Winco cabinet U-handle EN 6284 integrates all these functions into a single, compact element. The new U-handle is designed to enhance the operation of systems and machines. It features an integrated button and a large, colored, backlit area on the back of the handle. These elements can be used individually or in combination, providing a versatile tool for system control and process monitoring that can be seen from across the room.
Learn more. |
 | Automated piece-picking solution
The MI.RA/OnePicker is a new and fully automated intelligent piece-picking solution from Comau. The easy-to-use, AI-backed, and collaborative solution reduces upstream process times, saving time, energy, and resources for warehouse, e-commerce, and other applications while increasing overall productivity and cost efficiency. Designed to autonomously pick miscellaneous objects from the same bin, it's a smart way to eliminate unsustainable sorting activities. Comes with Comau's Racer5 six-axis cobot.
Learn more. |
 | More Stego enclosure heater options from AutomationDirect
AutomationDirect has added more Stego enclosure heaters to their Enclosure Thermal Management lineup. These new 120 to 240 VAC/VDC units include small, flat versions that distribute heat evenly within compact enclosures and are available with 8- or 10-W heating capacities. Also added are compact loop heaters that feature a patented loop body design for increased natural convection airflow, reduced thermal stress on the heater, and better heat transfer. Loop heaters are available in 10- to 150-W heating capacities.
Learn more. |
 | Brakes for high-speed SCARA robots and more
Precise positioning of semi-conductor wafers during SCARA assembly operations requires instantaneous braking and holding power while minimizing heat in the system. The latest compact and slender Miki Pulley BXR-LE brake models provide the needed, perfectly controlled braking in a confined area of the system using minimal power. The braking response and holding power of this power-off engaged brake makes it ideal for this and other high-speed applications. The BXR-LE brake uses 24 VDC for a split second to overcome compression spring inertia to open the brake, then consumes only 7 VDC by utilizing the BEM power control module.
Learn more. |
| | Most popular last issue |
 | Bentley Batur Convertible: Ultimate customizable droptop
Bentley is winding down the use of its iconic W12 engine with the ultra-exclusive and ultra-customizable Batur Convertible, which furthers the innovative design DNA introduced by its coupe sibling. Sporting a 740-hp hand-assembled 6.0-L twin-turbocharged engine, loads of driving tech, and a price tag north of 2 million smackers, it's the ultimate luxury droptop for a very select few.
Read the full article. |
 | Air Force uses new process to make rocket engines
The Air Force Research Lab's Rocket Propulsion Division recently designed, printed, built, and hot-fired a first-ever, single-block rocket-engine thrust chamber additively manufactured using a new process called laser powder directed energy deposition (DED). Impressively, the printer's build box can accommodate 7-ft-tall parts.
Read the full article. |
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| | Videos+: Technologies and inspiration in action | |
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