| August 23, 2016 | Volume 12 Issue 32 |
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 | The aliens have landed. Lock 'em up.
It looks "alien," but it's the ultimate in box-security fasteners. In fact, the Alien Lock from Micro Plastics is the first and only dedicated box fastener. It is a much less expensive solution than banding or taping your boxes, and it keeps them more secure, too. It's easy and fast to insert, and it's incredibly strong. It cannot be pulled out without it being obvious that the box was tampered with -- it must be cut off. This is a 1-step fastener: Push Alien Lock through the lock port, and the locking process is finished.
Click here to learn more. |
| | Feature articles | Design Tips: Industrial 3D printing for production parts
 Gus Breiland, Customer Service Engineering Manager, Proto Labs, says that it is important to focus on the process, material selection, and part geometry when designing functional metal and thermoplastic parts for additive manufacturing. This is especially true when volumes are low enough that casting and molding are not cost effective, or where part complexity prohibits processes like machining.
Read the full article. |
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 | 15,000 Stock Metric Gears
KHK USA Inc offers the largest selection of stock metric gears in North America. With over 175 types, in more than 15,000 configurations, KHK USA offers the broadest selection of spur gears, helical gears, internal ring gears, gear racks, bevel gears, worms and wormwheels, and other gear types.
Click here to learn more. |
 | Mike Likes: Intel drone developer kit
Pre-orders are open for the Intel Aero Platform for UAVs. Designed from the ground up to support drones, the $399 UAV developer kit is powered by an Intel Atom quad-core processor. It combines compute, storage, communications, and flexible I/O in a form factor the size of a standard playing card. When matched with the optional Vision Accessory Kit, developers can create sophisticated drone applications. Also available at the end of this year: Intel's Aero Ready To Fly drone, a fully assembled quadcopter with compute board and integrated depth and vision capabilities.
Click here to learn more. |
 | Is your suspension helping you or hurting you?
In high-performance vehicles, the suspension system does more than hold the car up, it adapts to aerodynamic forces on the vehicle, varying road conditions, and driver inputs. Complex multipoint suspension systems used in NASCAR® and Formula 1® require the use of modeling and simulation to ensure compliance under load. To accomplish this, load cells are placed in line with each suspension arm.
Check out the entire application! |
 | Great Resources: CNC Machining Material Selector!
Proto Labs' free Material Selector is a quick reference guide to help you identify the right thermoplastic and metal materials for your next machining project. It lists specific measurements like tensile strength, heat deflection and hardness to ensure you have the most suitable material for your part's application, and even includes a detailed chart of threading options.
Get a free Material Selector today! |
 | 7 guidelines for cable installation
For dynamic applications, the use of igus continuous-flex cables can increase service life and productivity dramatically when compared to traditional cables, which are prone to failures such as corkscrewing, shield/conductor breakage, or jacket abrasion and/or splitting. In this brief tech talk, learn the seven key design features that can ensure a continuous-flex cable will work for your application for millions of cycles -- even in the most demanding environments.
Click here to learn more. |
 | Springs: Bearing preload series expansion -- smarter solutions for smaller applications
Smalley continues to push the limits in coiling innovation. The expansion of the company's popular bearing preload (SSB) series adds diameters ranging from 9 mm to 13 mm. Now over 300 SSB springs are stocked in carbon and stainless steel, with free samples available to test in your application. The SSB series is a popular choice among engineers, because this single-turn wave spring helps eliminate bearing play and minimize noise. Preloading can reduce the possibility of bearing damage due to vibration (vibratory loading) and wear due to repetitive and non-repetitive runout.
Click here to learn more. |
 | Electrical: 'Ice Cube' power relays are cool
Wieland Electric has released a new series of general-purpose industrial power relays with transparent "ice cube" housings and integrated LED indicators. Available in a variety of coil voltages and pole configurations, flare Move HC Series ice cube power relays are ideal for use in industrial equipment, construction machinery, instrumentation, automation, control systems, and other commercial applications that require reliable power connections.
Click here to learn more. |
| | Most popular last issue |
 | Navy dive helmet display emerges as game-changer
The once-ribbing term "four-eyes" now secures a coolness factor, thanks to a team of Navy engineers who have developed a high-resolution, see-through, heads-up display embedded directly inside a KM-37 Navy dive helmet to keep its users safer, more efficient, and more effective underwater.
Read the full article. |
 | Vortex laser offers hope for Moore's Law
Like a whirlpool, a new light-based communication tool carries data in a swift, circular motion. The optics advancement could become a central component of next-generation computers designed to handle society's growing demand for information sharing. It may also be a salve to those fretting over the predicted end of Moore's Law.
Read the full article. |
 | Will self-driving cars be bullied? New research project aims to find out
Goodyear and the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) recently announced a new pan-European research project to investigate the attitudes and readiness of drivers to share the road with autonomous vehicles. According to a 2015 Goodyear/LSE survey of drivers from 15 European countries, 88 percent of respondents agreed that there are "unwritten rules" that govern driver interactions with pedestrians, cyclists, and other vehicles on the road.
Read the full article. |
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| | Videos+: Technologies and inspiration in action | See what it's like to fly the Airbus 380 -- with a 360-degree view
This video puts you in the cockpit for one the A380's high-profile flight demonstrations at the recent Farnborough International Airshow. On YouTube, you should be able to take in the excitement of takeoff with a full 360-degree view inside Airbus' 21st century flagship jetliner by grabbing the screen and rotating it while the video plays.
View the video. |
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How to customize base-model electric linear actuators
Chad Carlberg, Product Line Manager for Linear Actuators at Thomson Industries, describes the customization of basic Thomson electric linear actuator units. Gear ratios, motors, and screw assemblies can be modular and matched up to provide an optimized, flexible solution for your specific application.
View the video. |
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