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June 22, 2021Volume 17 Issue 24


Image - PolyDrill<sup>®</sup> Multi-Spindle Heads
PolyDrill® Multi-Spindle Heads
Multiple drill heads are available for a variety of machine OEMs. Two-spindle up to 10-spindle units, with fixed or flex shaft power, adjustable or fixed hole pitches and compact designs allow adaptability for the machine builder, integrator or assembly line designer. Holes in most material from 0.06"-1".
Contact Lee Coleman at Suhner for all the details.
706-314-2927

Learn more.

In this issue of Designfax

  • World's most powerful magnet is for fusion energy
  • Mini controllers are big news in motion control
  • Aerogel could cut aircraft engine noise dramatically
  • Wild Bentley Continental GT3 out to conquer Pikes Peak
  • New PLC handbook full of must-know information
  • Application Note: Disc springs in mechanical braking
  • How to simplify cobot deployment
  • Top Tip: HVACR -- How to properly clean a condenser coil
  • LM guide actuator with right/left ball screw
  • Mastercam 2022 is here
  • Next-gen high-performance inertial measurement unit
  • Robot kits for kids at Newark
  • Videos+: Technologies and inspiration in action
    • Air Force's THOR will hammer drones en masse
  • Most Popular Last Issue
    • New look at 100-year-old Tesla valve
    • Ford Maverick reborn as compact 4-door truck
    • Rolls-Royce biggest engine, fastest electric plane
  • New Products
    • Electrical, Mechanical, Motion
    Cover Image: Bentley Continental GT3 Pikes Peak racer

News

Glitch with 1980s computer stops work on NASA's Hubble Space Telescope

First individual chemical detector for warfighters developed by Teledyne FLIR

Unexpected: Wind turbines more productive when placed behind hill

Study shows how taking short breaks may help our brains learn new skills



Image - Your Source for Metric Gears
Your Source for Metric Gears
KHK USA Inc offers the largest selection of stock metric gears in North America -- with over 30,000 configurations. KHK USA can supply your Metric Spur Gears, Helical Gears, Internal Ring Gears, Gear Racks, Bevel Gears, Worms and Wormwheels from stock in most cases. Free 3D CAD models and 24/7 quoting available.
See what KHK USA has in stock for you today!

Feature articles
World's most powerful magnet shipped to fusion energy project from U.S.

After a decade of design and fabrication, General Atomics of San Diego is ready to ship the first module of the Central Solenoid, the world's most powerful magnet. It will become a core component of ITER, a machine in France that aims to replicate the fusion power of the Sun.
Read the full article.
Image -
Insaco: The top choice for high-precision machining of hard materials to very precise tolerances.


Image - Mini controllers are big news in motion control
Mini controllers are big news in motion control
The mini-but-mighty FAULHABER MC 3001 motion controllers are designed for precise control and positioning tasks of small DC motors and are ideal for applications with limited space that call for high control dynamics and high performance. In spite of their extremely compact design, they feature the same functionality and interfaces (RS232 and CANopen) as well as the same encoder interfaces as the other more powerful products of the MC V3.0 generation. Applications include robotics, automation technology, machine construction, and medical and laboratory technology. Learn why using the right controller is key -- especially when micro motors are required.
Read the full article.

Image - New aerogel could cut aircraft engine noise dramatically
New aerogel could cut aircraft engine noise dramatically
An impressive new material developed by researchers in the U.K. is the lightest sound insulation ever manufactured. The researchers say it could reduce aircraft engine noise drastically -- down closer to the sound of a hair dryer -- and improve passenger comfort.
Read the full article.

Image - Wild Bentley Continental GT3 out to conquer Pikes Peak
Wild Bentley Continental GT3 out to conquer Pikes Peak
Bentley Motors has set two records that still hold in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb: the stock Production SUV record in 2018 and the stock Production Car record in 2019. Now their team is aiming to set a new modified Production Car record in the Time Attack 1 class with their 760-hp Continental GT3 running on renewable fuel. It's the most extreme iteration of any Bentley road car ever, and the race to the summit should be thrilling on June 27. This car also sports a removable video game steering wheel that can be used to drive the real car or command a simulator.
Read the full article.

Image - New PLC handbook chock full of must-know information
New PLC handbook chock full of must-know information
AutomationDirect's Practical Guide to Programmable Logic Controllers Handbook has been improved with tons of new need-to-know info, making it a more comprehensive guide to the world of PLCs. Besides covering the basics of PLC history, PLC hardware, and PLC software, this guide takes you deeper into the ever-changing world of PLC communication, the importance of feedback loops, cyber security, and many other areas that are a must-know for any PLC novice or seasoned automation professional.
Get this great resource today.

Image - Application Note: Disc springs in mechanical braking system
Application Note: Disc springs in mechanical braking system
Braking systems for off-highway equipment are commonly designed to be hydraulically actuated, but without an additional fail-safe system, this design alone has limited reliability. If a hydraulic seal is compromised, or the hydraulic cylinder loses pressure for any reason, the brakes fail. One solid mechanical back-up design uses SPIROL disc springs.
Read the full article.

Image - How to simplify cobot deployment
How to simplify cobot deployment
You hear about cobots all the time now, those human-friendly collaborative robot arms that have skyrocketing deployments and are gaining more and more abilities -- from pick-and-place to quality control to welding -- with countless end effectors and setups. But what goes into installing and setting up your own cobot unit, and what tools are out there to help you along the way? Find out from the originator of the cobot, Universal Robots, and learn more about the UR+ ecosystem.
Read this informative Universal Robots blog.

Image - Top Tip: HVACR -- How to properly clean a condenser coil
Top Tip: HVACR -- How to properly clean a condenser coil
Condenser coil cleaning is one of those subjects where there is a fair amount of confusion. Parker Hannifin provides answers to common questions to set the record straight. Why do condenser coil cleaners foam, and evaporator coils usually don't? What is the difference between the acid and non-acid condenser coil cleaners? Learn these things and more in this informative post.
Read the Parker Hannifin blog.

Image - LM guide actuator with right/left ball screw for symmetrical movement
LM guide actuator with right/left ball screw for symmetrical movement
THK's innovative Type KR-RL Actuator features a driving element that uses right/left threads and enables symmetrical movements with a single motor. Two drive systems are combined into a single package, resulting in a compact overall design. This electric actuator outperforms pneumatic versions by offering precise force control, speed control, a longer life, and energy savings. Applications include gripping, measuring, and positioning for robot hands, screw-tightening machines, cutting equipment, and dispensers.
Learn more.

Image - Mastercam 2022 is here
Mastercam 2022 is here
Mastercam 2022 from CNC Software increases machining productivity and reduces overall production costs with faster and more flexible multiaxis improvements, powerful new roughing tools for 2D users, advances in modeling, enhanced intelligence and automation, and much more. Many of the advancements in Mastercam 2022 are directly driven by feedback from Mastercam users and shops.
Learn more.

Image - Next-gen high-performance inertial measurement unit
Next-gen high-performance inertial measurement unit
ACEINNA's OpenIMU335RI is a rugged inertial measurement unit (IMU) with CAN and RS232 interfaces that makes precise navigation simple. This is the third product in the company's Gen 3 architecture and adds a rugged, sealed, standalone product to the earlier introduced IMU383ZA and OpenIMU330BI. OpenIMU335RI delivers increased performance in key acceleration and gyro specifications. It provides 3D acceleration, 3D rate, and optional 3D magnetic field for Machine Guidance and Control applications in construction, agriculture, and autonomous equipment. It includes a fail-safe sensor feature.
Learn more.

Image - Robot kits for kids at Newark
Robot kits for kids at Newark
Keep that little engineer in your life busy this summer. Newark now stocks more than 140 products from DFRobot, including a series of robotics kits and the popular Boson Starter Kit for micro:bit. DFRobot kits include the Max:Bot programmable entry-level DIY robot with motors, speakers, and sensors, and the 4-Soldering Light Chaser Beam Robot Kit that teaches soldering skills and the basics of circuits and programming. The Boson Kits are based on a set of easy-to-use, modularized plug-and-play electronic building blocks and include tutorials, course materials, and free coding software that can be integrated with micro:bit and Arduino easily.
Explore and get more ideas at Newark.

Most popular last issue

Image - Scientists take new look at 100-year-old Nikola Tesla valve design
Scientists take new look at 100-year-old Nikola Tesla valve design
A valve invented by engineer Nikola Tesla a century ago is not only more functional than previously realized, but it also has a host of new potential applications today, a team of researchers has found.
Read the full article.

Image - Ford Maverick reborn as hybrid compact 4-door truck
Ford Maverick reborn as hybrid compact 4-door truck
Ford has relaunched the Maverick nameplate as a standard-hybrid light-duty truck that's smaller than a Ranger. With four doors, better fuel economy than a Honda Civic (40 mpg in the city), a configurable FLEXBED, and upgradable towing capacity, the Maverick shows some real appeal for light-duty buyers in the market for a pickup that starts at under 20K.
Read the full article.

Image - Rolls-Royce Aero Update: Biggest engine, hybrid-electric, fastest electric plane
Rolls-Royce Aero Update: Biggest engine, hybrid-electric, fastest electric plane
Big things are happening at Rolls-Royce, including building the world's largest aircraft engine called UltraFan, testing the first elements of the most powerful hybrid-electric power and propulsion system in aerospace, and building the world's fastest electric plane.
Read the full article.

Videos+: Technologies and inspiration in action
Air Force's THOR will hammer drones en masse
The Air Force Research Laboratory has created a new video animation that realistically depicts THOR (Tactical High-power Operational Responder) destroying swarms of enemy drones in a base defense scenario. THOR is a prototype Directed Energy (DE) weapon used to disable the electronics in drones, and it was specifically engineered to counter multiple targets -- such as a drone swarm -- with rapid results. These high-powered microwaves will kill groups or swarms all at once, unlike high-energy lasers that kill one target at a time.
View the video.

New products

Electrical/Electronics
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Mechanical
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Motion
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