Designfax – Technology for OEM Design Engineers was launched as an exclusive eMagazine in October 2005 following 25 successful years in print. Subscribers to the weekly publication (48 issues a year) are high-level OEM product design engineers and engineering managers who operate in a broad range of manufacturing industries, including automotive, aerospace, appliances, medical equipment, transportation, computer process controls, industrial equipment, and more. 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 06, 2021 | Volume 17 Issue 13 |
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 | Reduce Spring Height by 50%
Smalley Wave Springs can replace conventional coil springs while occupying only half the space and providing the same force and deflection. Over 4,000 springs available from stock in carbon and stainless steel or utilize Smalley's No-Tooling-Cost™ manufacturing process on custom designs, available from .118" to 120".
Samples available for testing. Learn more. |
 | Flat Brushless Motor + Speed Control
Optimized design and impressive performance make the FAULHABER BXT Flat Brushless DC Motor Series ideal for applications in medical devices, lab diagnostics, optics systems, and robotics. The external rotor motors are designed for continuous output power up to 100W, and deliver up to 134mNm of torque. The FAULHABER BXT SC motor series delivers reliable performance, incredible torque, plus precise speed control in even the most confined applications and spaces.
Learn more. |
 | Autoloader for Army's Extended Range Cannon Artillery tested
Engineers at Picatinny Arsenal are testing an autoloader for the U.S. Army's Extended Range Cannon Artillery that is two to three times faster than a cannon crew. Autoloading could also enhance lethality and may set the stage for future "optionally manned" artillery battery configurations. It's a real engineering challenge, though, getting all the parts to work together.
Read the full article. |
 | Universal Robots to host Expo on Metal Fabrication Applications
Whether you're designing applications for welding, cutting, grinding, polishing, or machine tending, you already know the bad news: rampant skilled labor shortages exist across the nation. Collaborative automation is quickly emerging as a solution -- but where to start? Universal Robots' two-day Expo focused on Metal Fabrication, April 13-14, 10AM-5PM EST, is a vibrant virtual experience with live demos, interactive keynotes and booths featuring a wide range of cobot-powered applications.
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 | Antibacterial handles stop germs in their tracks
Contact infections with viruses, fungi, and bacteria were already a problem even before the pandemic, and now JW Winco is expanding its Sanline range of antibacterial products. For their plastic products, special additives with silver ions are mixed in, while metal parts are given powder coatings based on zinc molybdate.
Read the full article. |
 | Great Applications: 50 ways to use a hexapod
Hexapods, six-legged parallel-kinematic machines, can solve many complex positioning and alignment tasks in fields including Optics, Photonics, Precision Automation, Automotive, and Medical Engineering. Features include a programmable pivot point, sub-micron precision, and load capacities from 2 to 2,000 kg.
Learn more from PI. |
 | Eaton launches next-gen hollow-head valves for improved engine efficiency
Eaton's Vehicle Group has introduced its next-generation sodium-filled hollow-head valves. Unlike traditional hollow valves, the head portion of the new valves is composed of two separate sections that are welded together during the production process. The new valves have the capability to cool down the combustion face and, therefore, the chamber temperature, which increases the spark advance and air-to-fuel ratio because the engine is less inclined to knock. As a result, the brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) can be increased and emissions reduced. The valves are being evaluated by several global automakers, with start of production scheduled for 2023.
Learn more. |
 | Counterbalance support hinge for heavy panels and lids
SOUTHCO has expanded its series of Counterbalance Hinges with a new product that reduces the total solution cost of lifting and positioning heavy panels and lids. The CB Counterbalance Support Hinge enables ergonomic lifting and position control when combined with a CB Counterbalance Hinge by using stored energy to balance the weight distribution of a lid or panel. The all-aluminum hinges are fully adjustable, allowing the experience of opening and closing the panel to be tailored to the unique requirements of the application.
Learn more. |
 | Precision flexible antivibration couplings
New Antivibration Flexible Couplings from Stock Drive Products/Sterling Instrument (SDP/SI) are designed for use with high-gain servomotors. When a servomotor drives a mechanism, as in applications such as semiconductor manufacturing equipment, blood analyzers, or high-speed printers, a change in direction causes a phenomenon called hunting. Hunting is vibration in the system that reduces transit time, making the equipment less efficient. The Antivibration Flexible Coupling features a unique construction of vibration-reducing rubber (FKM) molded with aluminum hubs. The resulting rubber-lined, finger-like structure allows for optimal torsional rigidity and damping.
Learn more. |
 | Cross roller ring can swing the loads
Because it has orthogonally arranged cylindrical rollers, the cross roller ring from THK is a roller bearing with high rotation accuracy capable of bearing loads in every direction. Cylindrical rollers are arranged with each roller perpendicular to the adjacent roller, in a 90-deg V groove, separated from each other by a spacer retainer. This design allows just one bearing to receive loads in all directions. This component is optimal for applications such as joints and swiveling units of industrial robots, swiveling tables of machining centers, precision rotary tables, and medical equipment. Rotation configurations include inner/outer ring, inner ring only, and outer ring only.
Learn more. |
| | Videos+: Technologies and inspiration in action | 3D inspection made as easy as 2D vision
A first-of-its-kind smart camera from Cognex allows engineers to quickly, accurately, and cost-effectively solve a range of inspections on automated production lines. The In-Sight 3D-L4000 embedded vision system is an all-in-one solution that uses speckle-free blue laser optics to quickly capture and process 3D images with spectacular quality during inline inspection, guidance, and gauging applications. Because inspections are in 3D, users can immediately experience how the vision tools operate on the actual part. It comes in three factory-calibrated fields of view and is ideal for applications across a range of industries including food and beverage, consumer products, packaging, automotive, medical devices, and electronics. Neat.
View the video. |
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Peoria Lock and Dam gets upgraded giant 30-ft hydraulic cylinders from Bosch Rexroth
Bosch Rexroth recently serviced and upgraded giant hydraulic cylinders for the Peoria Lock and Dam in Illinois. Built in 1938, the Peoria Lock and Dam helps make the Illinois River navigable and establishes a route for barges between Chicago and the Mississippi River. The locks are controlled by four of Bosch Rexroth's 30-ft-long hydraulic cylinders, with a fifth unit held in reserve as a backup. With the locks temporarily closed, a team managed to repair and make extensive updates to all five cylinders in a 60-day period.
View the video for all the details. |
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