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September 19, 2017Volume 13 Issue 35


Image - Protogami
Protogami
Protogami's three-dimensional flexagons create a continual kaleidocycle that exposes a different set of triangular faces with each turn of its living hinges. It lets product designers and engineers see commonly used materials like ABS, PC and acetal, and how they interact with different surface finishes.
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In this issue of Designfax

  • WWII Engineering: Bird-brained bombers
  • Bushwhacking in unexplored transistor territories
  • Nano-sized 'muscle' lifts 165x its own weight
  • Wings: Industry sends NASA X-Plane ideas flying
  • Mike Likes: Designing with Wave Springs eBook
  • Self-diagnosing sensors improve aircraft systems
  • Getting a grip on precision: Mechatronics vs. pneumatics
  • How to replace metal with thermoplastics
  • Fastest way to dry your hands? FloEFD investigates
  • Compressed Air: Aluminum SmartPipe+ is clever solution
  • Electromagnetic actuated clutches
  • Mini linear motor stage with magnetic direct drive
  • Compact touchless position sensors
  • Videos+: Technologies and inspiration in action
    • Frankfurt Motor Show: 12 cars you should see
    • SpaceX's spectacular rocket crashes blooper reel
  • Most Popular Last Issue
    • Wheels: Porsche Panamera active balance system
    • Marine Corps explores deploying 3D mobile fab labs
    • Pyroshock: Sandia develops alternative rocket test
  • New Products
    • Electrical, Mechanical, Motion
    Cover Image: DZYNE Technologies' BWB is one of five NASA X-Plane subsonic concept candidates. [Credits: NASA/DZYNE Technologies/Brendan Kennelly]

News

Tiny terahertz laser could be used for imaging, chemical detection

Self-assembling nanoparticle arrays can switch between a mirror and a window

Navy deep-sea sensor systems try to find a better way to forecast hurricane strength

New manufacturing process for SiC power devices opens market to more competition



Image - Voodoo Manufacturing triples 3D printing output with Universal Robots
Voodoo Manufacturing triples 3D printing output with Universal Robots
Voodoo Manufacturing was racing against time to scale up their 3D printing business by automating the loading and unloading of printer plates. The Brooklyn startup chose a UR10 robot with a Robotiq gripper and has now tripled output, enabling them to compete with injection molding. Why did UR win? Because no other collaborative robot offered the ease of integration now provided through the Universal Robots+ platform.
Watch how:
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Feature articles
WWII Engineering: The saga of the bird-brained bombers
During World War II, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) was among those working intensely to develop guided weapons to help the Allies win the war. But before the advent of satellites and GPS, laser targeting, or even radar, how would one guide a bomb? Why, trained pigeons, of course.
Read the full article.
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With engineering and manufacturing centers on 3 continents, over 1000 employees in 15 countries, and free advice, PI can help.


Image - DARPA bushwhacking into unexplored transistor territories
DARPA bushwhacking into unexplored transistor territories
In search of more capable radiofrequency technology than ever, a new DARPA program envisions the emergence of next-generation semiconductor materials and innovative transistor designs.
Read the full article.

Image - Nano-sized 'muscle' lifts 165x its own weight
Nano-sized 'muscle' lifts 165x its own weight
Rutgers materials scientists have discovered a powerful effect that could benefit robotics, aviation, medicine, and other fields. Acting like a muscle, a nano-sized device lifts 165 times its own weight.
Read the full article.

Image - Air Operated Conveyors
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.
Learn more.

Image - Wings: Industry sends NASA X-Plane ideas flying
Wings: Industry sends NASA X-Plane ideas flying
It won't be long before NASA's aeronautical innovators will have a tough decision to make. While moving ahead with plans to field a new "quiet" supersonic X-plane during the next few years, agency researchers also are developing a plan for commercial airliners that are quieter, burn less fuel, and release fewer emissions. The big question is, what will a new subsonic X-plane look like? Five concepts are in the works.
Read the full article.

Image - Mike Likes: Designing with Wave Springs eBook
Mike Likes: Designing with Wave Springs eBook
We know how critical it is to specify the right spring for your design. With tens of thousands of wave springs designed, and counting, Smalley has tackled design challenges in nearly every industry. Their eBook, "Designing with Wave Springs," helps you find the right spring for your application and details how Smalley engineers offer space-saving solutions.
Get this valuable resource.

Image - Self-diagnosing sensors from Honeywell improve aircraft systems performance and safety
Self-diagnosing sensors from Honeywell improve aircraft systems performance and safety
Honeywell's new self-diagnosing Integral Health Monitoring (IHM) proximity sensors, which can be designed into a range of aircraft systems, can detect whether a sensor reading is correct, the result of damage, or some other problem with the sensor itself.
Read the full article.

Image - Getting a grip on precision: Mechatronics vs. pneumatics
Getting a grip on precision: Mechatronics vs. pneumatics
A gripping system for small parts that is both quick and powerful -- until now, that was often only possible with pneumatics. However, recently the leading expert for gripper systems and technology has developed a mechatronics-based EGP 40 gripper that easily achieves the same performance of its pneumatic counterparts. The drive that makes this impressive performance possible is FAULHABER small brushless DC servo motors from MICROMO.
Read the full article.

Image - How to replace metal with thermoplastics
How to replace metal with thermoplastics
Have you ever considered replacing your metal parts with plastic parts? It could be a viable option -- especially when it comes to the flexibility of manufacture, faster production cycle times, and the cost effectiveness of replacing metal parts with plastic parts. SolidWorks' Jeff Osman details general best practices to keep in mind regarding both design and manufacturability Osman has more than 23 years of experience in the mechanical CAD industry.
Read this informative blog.

Image - Fastest way to dry your hands? FloEFD investigates
Fastest way to dry your hands? FloEFD investigates
Have you ever wondered what's the fastest way to dry your hands when using one of those air-shooting hand dryers in a public restroom? Should you rotate your hands or leave them in one place? What position is most efficient? Proving that modeling everyday challenges is fun and insightful, Robin Bornoff from Mentor Graphics tackles these questions using the full-featured 3D fluid flow and heat transfer analysis simulation tool called FloEFD.
Read the full article.

Image - Compressed Air: Aluminum SmartPipe+ is clever solution
Compressed Air: Aluminum SmartPipe+ is clever solution
SmartPipe+ is now available from Kaeser Compressors. This versatile, modular, no-rust aluminum piping system features lightweight materials and simple, compression-style connections. Available in multiple sizes from 3/4 in. to 2-1/2 in., SmartPipe+ is ideal for headers and branch lines all the way down to the point of use. It has a low coefficient of friction and provides the best possible laminar flow. The full-bore fittings minimize pressure drop, while the leak-free connectors prevent costly compressed air loss. SmartPipe+ can easily be integrated into existing steel, copper, or aluminum systems and can be modified to accommodate changing needs. Ten-year warranty.
Click here to learn more.

Image - Electromagnetic actuated clutches
Electromagnetic actuated clutches
Miki Pulley's CS Electromagnetic Actuated Clutches are durable, versatile, and have excellent torque-transmission features to provide an efficient connection between a motor and a load. Benefits include low inertia, minimal drag, and very quiet operation. They function utilizing the magnetic force generated by the energized coil, providing engagement of input and output members of the clutch. Available with three different armatures, they feature an integrated bearing design that makes mounting fast and easy while ensuring application concentricity and excellent system runout. Available in bores ranging from 10 mm to 15 mm, with brake torques ranging from 3.687 ft-lb to 236.02 ft-lb (5 Nm to 320 Nm).
Click here to learn more.

Image - Mini linear motor stage with magnetic direct drive
Mini linear motor stage with magnetic direct drive
Motion and nanopositioning industry leader PI expands its PIMag series of high-dynamics linear motor stages with a new compact positioner for automation tasks. The V-408 stage is equipped with an incremental linear encoder for direct position measurement and a high-force 3-phase linear motor drive. The V-408 features high load-capacity precision crossed roller elements with anti-creep cage assist and a zero-wear, non-contact linear motor -- ideal prerequisites for long lifetime in high duty-cycle industrial applications. The high-force linear motor achieves velocities up to 1.5m/sec. An integrated optical linear encoder provides 10-nm resolution. Two models are offered with 25-mm and 50-mm travel range.

Image - Compact touchless position sensors
Compact touchless position sensors
TFD Series touchless linear position sensors from Novotechnik provide wear-free operation in tight spaces for measurement of short stroke lengths. They use a magnetic position marker to provide a touchless measurement range of 0 to 14, 24, or 50 mm (depending on model). These sensors make measurements through air and non-magnetic materials. Applications include textile machinery, packaging machinery, sheet metal machinery, medical applications, marine, mobile engine management systems, industrial trucks, construction machinery, and agricultural and forestry machinery.
Click here to learn more.

Most popular last issue

Image - Wheels: Porsche Panamera uses electromechanical system for active balance
Wheels: Porsche Panamera uses electromechanical system for active balance
One of the many reasons for the superb road feel of the new Panamera is the Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control Sport (PDCC Sport), an active anti-roll stabilization system. It's what keeps the laws of physics at bay and the Panamera parallel to the road -- even in high-speed cornering sequences. Is it magic? No. It's Porsche engineering acumen.
Read the full article.

Image - Marine Corps explores deploying 3D mobile fab labs
Marine Corps explores deploying 3D mobile fab labs
The Marine Corps' new X-FAB (expeditionary fabrication) facility is a self-contained, transportable additive manufacturing lab that can deploy with battalion-level Marine maintenance units. It houses four 3D printers, a scanner, and CAD software systems that make quick work of replacement and repair part fabrication.
Read the full article.

Image - Pyroshock: Sandia develops alternative to explosives for rocket test
Pyroshock: Sandia develops alternative to explosives for rocket test
Sandia National Laboratories has successfully demonstrated a new, more environmentally friendly method to test a rocket part to ensure its avionics can withstand the shock from stage separation during flight.
Read the full article.

Videos+: Technologies and inspiration in action
Frankfurt Motor Show: 12 cars you should see
From the Mercedes-AMG super-boss Project One hypercar (complete with shark fin!) to the Ferrari Portofino and the Bentley GT, Autocar brings you all you need to know about the most important cars from the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show (the IAA). And don't miss the adorable (can cool cars be adorable?) star of the event, the Honda Urban EV.
View the video.
See SpaceX's spectacular rocket crashes blooper reel
If you haven't see it by now, where have you been? Elon Musk's SpaceX has released a blooper reel that highlights its epic fails in perfecting rocket launches and landings in the quest to be the top private commercial provider of space transport services. You gotta love a good sport! Watch "How Not to Land an Orbital Rocket Booster" and relive the crashes and smashes that provided the growing pains for SpaceX to succeed.
View the video.

New products

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