Click this link if you cannot read the issue below: Designfax - Tech for OEM Design Engineers
February 26, 2019Volume 15 Issue 08


Image - Watch High-Speed Ultrasonic XY Motor <i>Align</i>!
Watch High-Speed Ultrasonic XY Motor Align!
This mini XY linear stage with piezo-ceramic motors combines sub-micron precision with excellent dynamics -- ideal for optics, medical design and photonics applications. In addition to the high speed up to 200 mm/sec, the low inertia (direct drive, no rotating parts) allows for a rapid start-stop behavior with settling times in the milliseconds. How can you use this XY stage?
See it in action>

In this issue of Designfax

  • New joining gun system bonds metal and plastic
  • Robotics inspired by nature
  • New ultra-lightweight ceramic aerogel handles extremes
  • Mazda celebrates: MX-5 Miata 30th Anniversary edition
  • Black Hawk, Apache helicopters get next-gen GE engines
  • Appearance models impress clients, designers alike
  • How a camera auto-focus lens uses a special spring
  • Benefits of using military-grade adhesives in your applications
  • Guide to rapid vs. traditional manufacturing
  • Desktop Metal launches 316L stainless steel for 3D printing
  • Top Tech Tip: Choosing brush or brushless DC motors
  • Vulcanized rubber spacer disks with a steel plate
  • Worth Reading: AK-47 maker gets into drone biz
  • Videos+: Technologies and inspiration in action
    • Nested Wave Springs replace Belleville springs
    • Saildrones set out to conquer the high seas
  • Most Popular Last Issue
    • Army fields new modular handgun
    • Ford Explorer redesigned from ground up
    • Un-weldable aluminum alloy now weldable
  • New Products
    • Electrical, Mechanical, Motion
    Cover Image: 2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata 30th Anniversary edition

News

Firefly-inspired surfaces improve efficiency of LED lightbulbs

New super-tough-to-mimic chemical fingerprint aims to combat counterfeit goods, can be verified on smartphone

Continental pioneers tire tests with self-driving test vehicles -- although they had an electronically controlled test car 50 years ago

NASA-industry team creates and demonstrates first quantum sensor for satellite gravimetry



Image - High-tech Refractory Metal Fasteners for Extreme Conditions
High-tech Refractory Metal Fasteners for Extreme Conditions
Refractory metal fasteners (nuts, bolts and washers) are ideal for situations that involve high temperature, high voltage, magnetism, and harsh corrosive environments. All four metals offered -- tungsten, tantalum, niobium and molybdenum -- are chemically inert, have a melting point above 2400° C, high hardness at room temperature, relatively high density, and stability against creep deformation at very high temperatures. Sizes range from M3 to M6.
Learn more from Goodfellow.
Have other questions? Email info@goodfellowusa.com.

Feature articles
New joining gun system bonds metal and plastic in seconds
Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany have developed a joining system that bonds metal and thermoplastic materials quickly. What's even better is that the modular gun can be integrated easily into the production process, for example by mounting on a robot arm in place of a spot-welding gun.
Read the full article.
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FAULHABER brushless DC motors feature high torque and high speed, with a small size and weight.


Image - Robotics inspired by nature
Robotics inspired by nature
Since walking is a natural process, it's obvious that the designs and control systems of many walking machines are based on natural examples. In the case of LAURON (Legged AUtonomous RObot Neural-controlled), inspiration came from the Indian stick insect. The robot was designed for use in settings that are too hazardous for people, or are difficult to access with wheeled or chain-powered systems.
Read the full article.

Image - New ultra-lightweight ceramic aerogel handles extremes
New ultra-lightweight ceramic aerogel handles extremes
A UCLA-led research team has created a new type of aerogel that can better endure extremely hot conditions and big swings in temperature. The new material, based on dynamic nanoscale technology, contracts when compressed or heated, which is the opposite of most materials.
Read the full article.

Image - Mazda celebrates: MX-5 Miata 30th Anniversary limited edition
Mazda celebrates: MX-5 Miata 30th Anniversary limited edition
There's a party going on at Mazda, and the Miata is the guest of honor -- the 2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata 30th Anniversary special edition, that is. Just debuted at the Chicago Auto Show this month, the forever-young two-seater is sportier than ever in its exclusive coat of Racing Orange exterior paint. And with a peppy 181-hp SKYACTIV-G 2.0L engine under the hood, drivers are sure to have a good time.
Read the full article.

Image - Army upgrading Black Hawk, Apache helicopters with next-generation GE engines
Army upgrading Black Hawk, Apache helicopters with next-generation GE engines
Two U.S. Army workhorse helicopters, the Black Hawk and the Apache, are getting futuristic new engines that promise to keep the legendary choppers in service for decades to come. On Feb. 1, the Department of Defense awarded GE a $517-million contract to develop new engines for thousands of the airships in service over the next six years. By Brendan Coffey, GE Reports
Read the full article.

Image - Appearance models impress clients, designers alike
Appearance models impress clients, designers alike
Appearance models, the realistic prototypes produced with a combination of 3D printing, traditional manufacturing processes, and expert hand finishing, have a unique ability to dazzle. "Clients are amazed by the quality of the model, because they don't understand how it was made so quickly and realistically," says designer Robert Bronwasser. "It's some kind of magic for them." The "magic" of the model making comes from 3D Systems On Demand.
Read the full article.

Image - How a camera auto-focus lens uses a special spring
How a camera auto-focus lens uses a special spring
Ultrasonic motors are small motors, some measured in millimeters, that are being used in a variety of applications including the auto-focus feature on a camera lens, side mirrors, surgical equipment, and robots. Learn how a single-turn closed wave spring is used to maintain the necessary pressure against the motor stator in a camera, and why it is a better choice in this application over coil or washer-type springs.
Read the Rotor Clip application note.

Image - Benefits of using military-grade adhesives in your applications
Benefits of using military-grade adhesives in your applications
Some epoxy compounds successfully meet thermal stability testing standard ASTM D3850-12 per MIL-STD-883J Section 3.5.2 and 3.8.5 for military applications, however these systems can also be used across many other industries where thermal stability is an important requirement. Some common non-military applications that benefit from compounds that pass MIL-STD-883J include downhole oil equipment, lasers, satellite systems, electronics, power tools, and various automotive applications.
Learn more from Master Bond.

Image - Guide to rapid vs. traditional manufacturing
Guide to rapid vs. traditional manufacturing
The plastic injection molding industry and its manufacturing processes have evolved through the years. Gain an understanding of the differences between the rapid and traditional manufacturing processes and how each directly influences and impacts the outcome of parts, costs and speed to market.
When you attend this on-demand webinar you will:
  • Gain an understanding of the differences between the rapid and traditional manufacturing processes
  • Learn about the injection molding component development process
  • Discover the key factors that impact getting your product to market faster
  • Understand the features of aluminum and steel molds
Watch Xcentric's guide to Rapid vs. Traditional Manufacturing (no registration required).

Image - Desktop Metal launches 316L stainless steel for 3D printing
Desktop Metal launches 316L stainless steel for 3D printing
Desktop Metal, a 3D-printer maker, has just announced the launch of 316L stainless steel for the company's Studio System, the world's first and only office-friendly metal 3D-printing system. This machine is great for prototyping and low-volume production. A fully austenitic steel known for its corrosion resistance and excellent mechanical properties at extreme temperatures, 316L is well suited for applications in the most demanding industrial environments, including salt water in marine applications, caustic cleaners found in food processing environments, and chemicals in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Learn more.

Image - Top Tech Tip: Choosing between brush and brushless DC motors -- What are the tradeoffs?
Top Tech Tip: Choosing between brush and brushless DC motors -- What are the tradeoffs?
Designing a system that involves motion and performs as intended requires choosing the right motor. The most fundamental decision involves commutation type. In some cases, mechanically commutated brush motors provide the best solution for the budget. In other cases, only brushless DC (BLDC) motors will do. Allied Motion provides a comprehensive review of the technology, along with tips and tricks for choosing the right solution for a given application.
Learn how to make the best motor choice (no registration required).

Image - Vulcanized rubber spacer disks with a steel plate
Vulcanized rubber spacer disks with a steel plate
The GN 438 rubber spacer disks from JW Winco provide a dampening and muffling function, protecting surfaces from damage. By stacking several spacer disks on each other, the spring rate of the package can be increased, which opens up new possibilities for use. When used as a foot disk, type A is attached using screws and can be installed on small machines, systems, or devices. Alternatively, the type B version can be adhered to all suitable and clean surfaces by means of an adhesive pad. The steel disk plate is zinc plated, with a blue passivated finish, while the black rubber underlay is vulcanized and is temperature resistant up to 248 F.
Learn more.

Image - Worth Reading: AK-47 maker gets into drone biz
Worth Reading: AK-47 maker gets into drone biz
The Washington Post featured a piece Feb. 23 on the Kalashnikov Group, the originators of the AK-47 assault rifle, partnering up and getting into the drone-building business. But these aren't just any drones -- they're cheap, can fly pretty far, and are weaponized with explosives to run a kamikaze mission. A real eye-opener.
Read the full article.

Most popular last issue

Image - Army fields new modular handgun to military police
Army fields new modular handgun to military police
The U.S. Army began fielding M17 and M18 Modular Handgun Systems to the Military Police School at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, in December to replace the force's aging Beretta M9, a weapon that has been in use since the mid-1980s and is quickly reaching its serviceability limits.
Read the full article.

Image - Ford Explorer redesigned from ground up -- can read speed signs
Ford Explorer redesigned from ground up -- can read speed signs
The all-new 2020 Ford Explorer has been redesigned from the ground up and features lighter, leaner, and stronger construction; the broadest model lineup ever; more powerful and efficient EcoBoost engines; and smart new technology to help tackle all of life's adventures. The Explorer is America's all-time best-selling SUV.
Read the full article.

Image - Un-weldable aluminum alloy now weldable thanks to nanotech
Un-weldable aluminum alloy now weldable thanks to nanotech
AA 7075, an aluminum alloy developed in the 1940s, has long held promise for use in automobile manufacturing, except for one key obstacle. Although it's nearly as strong as steel and just one-third the weight, it is almost impossible to weld together using common techniques. But that's all changed.
Read the full article.

Videos+: Technologies and inspiration in action
Nested Wave Springs from Smalley replace Belleville springs
The need to stack individual springs for higher loads is no longer necessary. Nested springs result in a spring rate that increases proportionately to the number of turns. They can exert tremendous forces, yet maintain the precision of a circular-grain wave spring. In many applications, Nested Wave Springs replace Belleville Springs, particularly in cases where a high but accurate force is needed.
Watch the Smalley video for more information.

Video Image
Saildrones set out to conquer the high seas
After Richard Jenkins set the world speed record for land sailing in a self-designed three-wheeler with a unique wing/tail/tab system, he turned his business and engineering skills to creating a global fleet of 1,000 wind- and solar-powered ocean Saildrones. Their mission is to monitor the state of the seas and sea life in real time -- gathering important info on weather at the same time. The totally autonomous sail craft feature a 23-ft hull, heavy keel, and a 15-ft solar sail wing. Outfitted with a multitude of sensors and at least one camera, they are built to withstand hurricane forces and can travel for thousands of miles for a full year on their own. Jenkins says he hasn't lost a Saildrone yet. Thanks to Bloomberg for this excellent report.
View the video.

Video Image

New products

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