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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.

April 14, 2026Volume 22 Issue 14


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

  • Scientists test torpedo baseball bat vs. regular bat
  • Bike bell heard through noise-canceling headphones
  • Target-tracking drones fooled by images on umbrellas
  • Corvette Grand Sport boasts next-gen LS6 6.7L V8
  • Useful! Snap-together LED enclosure lighting
  • 3D printing and 5-axis milling get highly portable
  • Double the force capacity: New RSX50 linear actuators
  • Integrated drive system for next-gen robotics
  • Made-to-order stamped components for insert molding
  • SDP/SI Shaftloc Fastening System
  • Epoxy engineered for heat-sink bonding
  • Videos+: Technologies and inspiration in action
    • Metal 3D printing: Right at your desktop
  • Most Popular Last Issue
    • Army working on next-gen small-caliber gun barrel
    • Hyundai Boulder: Adventure-forward SUV concept
    • 3D-printing aluminum alloy: Dramatic results
  • New Products
    • Electrical, Mechanical, Motion
    Cover Image: Corvette Grand Sport 2027

News

Study finds 5G doesn't always deliver faster connections than 4G

Welding in space: Metals and lunar regolith tested

Hyundai builds world's first ammonia-powered vessels

Why do solid-state batteries keep short circuiting?



Image - Line Vac Air Operated Conveyors
Line Vac Air Operated Conveyors
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.

Feature articles

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 - Bike bell can be heard through noise-canceling headphones
Bike bell can be heard through noise-canceling headphones
Czech automobile manufacturer Skoda has reinvented one of the oldest pieces of bicycle technology to improve road safety for riders and pedestrians. The new DuoBell bicycle bell effectively bypasses the systems used in noise-canceling headphones. How did they do it?
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.

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 - Useful! Snap-together LED enclosure lighting
Useful! Snap-together LED enclosure lighting
Seifert StripLite SL 4000 Series LED enclosure lighting provides bright illumination to 700 lumens. On/off switch and motion sensor models are available. Easily daisy chain up to 16 light strips. Magnetic or clip mounting. See video/info on website or contact Bristol Instruments for more information.
Learn about snap-together lighting.

Image - 3D printing and 5-axis milling get highly portable
3D printing and 5-axis milling get highly portable
Powered by Siemens' SINUMERIK ONE CNC platform and Ingersoll's MasterPrint® industrial 3D printer, a new generation of deployable machines is bringing additive and subtractive manufacturing directly to the point of use for defense, disaster relief, and infrastructure and industry.
Read the full article.

Image - Double the force capacity: New RSX50 linear actuators
Double the force capacity: New RSX50 linear actuators
Tolomatic's RSX50 is the newest, most powerful addition to the RSX Extreme Force electric actuator family. Delivering 50 tons of force within the compact footprint of its 25-ton predecessor, it offers industry-leading power density. Built with high-precision planetary roller screws, the RSX50 provides high-force reliability and environmental compliance, eliminating the mess and maintenance complexity of traditional hydraulic systems.
Get all the specs from Tolomatic.

Image - Integrated drive system for next-gen robotics and human-like motions
Integrated drive system for next-gen robotics and human-like motions
Engineered for modern robotics, the BXI is FAULHABER's most powerful integrated drive. Delivering up to 20 Nm of torque, it ensures dynamic, precise control. This compact unit combines a motor, stepped planetary gearhead, and high-res encoder into one functional system. Its strength lies in systematic integration, offering maximum performance in minimal space -- ideal for humanoid robot joints and demanding applications.
Get all the specs from FAULHABER.

Image - Made-to-order stamped components for insert molding
Made-to-order stamped components for insert molding
Traditionally, OEMs source metal inserts and insert molding services separately. Not anymore. Plastics manufacturers and injection molders are now taking on more of the sourcing responsibility for insert molded parts, and they are partnering with Boker's, who has a long-term proven record for delivering precision stampings with quick turnaround times and ensuring metal inserts are mold-ready upon delivery. Boker's has immediate access to over 2,000 commonly specified and hard-to-find materials.
Learn more.

Image - SDP/SI Shaftloc Fastening System
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.

Image - Epoxy engineered for heat-sink bonding
Epoxy engineered for heat-sink bonding
Master Bond EP54TC is a two-component epoxy engineered for heat-sink bonding and thermal management applications. Featuring the highest thermal conductivity in the Master Bond electrically insulating portfolio, it delivers exceptional heat dissipation while remaining electrically non-conductive and compliant with ASTM E595 NASA low outgassing requirements. It supports thin bond lines and efficient void filling to maximize thermal performance.
Learn more.

Most popular last issue

Image - Army working on next-gen small-caliber gun barrel
Army working on next-gen small-caliber gun barrel
U.S. Army engineers at Picatinny Arsenal have been partnering with a pair of Pennsylvania companies to deliver a capable barrel for the Army's next generation of small arms. This novel barrel design relies on a special metal alloy.
Read the full article.

Image - Hyundai Boulder: Adventure-forward SUV concept
Hyundai Boulder: Adventure-forward SUV concept
Hyundai surprised the world last week at the New York International Auto Show with the reveal of its Boulder concept. The SUV's construction and appearance provide a clear indication of the company's design direction when it comes to future body-on-frame production vehicles.
Read the full article.

Image - Custom 3D-printing aluminum alloy produces dramatic results
Custom 3D-printing aluminum alloy produces dramatic results
Most aluminum alloys used in 3D printing today were originally designed for traditional casting methods, where metal cools slowly in a mold. A new, bespoke alloy specifically tailored for additive manufacturing has demonstrated dramatic results in improved strength compared to similar, traditional materials.
Read the full article.

Videos+: Technologies and inspiration in action
Metal 3D printing: Right at your desktop
From prototyping to tooling or batch production of end-use parts, the Studio System 2 from Desktop Metal brings metal 3D printing to any office, studio, or lab setting. This powder- and laser-free system consists of an easy-to-adopt two-step process: print using pre-bound metal rod feedstock and then sinter. It requires minimal training and operator intervention. Combined with next-gen Separable Supports and a software-controlled workflow, the Studio System makes metal 3D printing simpler than ever. This platform offers more materials than any other metal extrusion 3D-printing system on the market, including Inconel 625, titanium (Ti64), copper, tool steels, and stainless steels.
View the video and learn more.

Video Image

New products

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