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.
| November 24, 2020 | Volume 16 Issue 45 |
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 | THK World-Class KR Actuators -- Rigid, Accurate and Compact
The LM guide actuator model KR from THK provides high-rigidity, high-precision functionality and space saving. It is achieved by a nut block designed in a structure that integrates an LM rail having a highly rigid U-shaped cross-sectional form with the LM guide section.
The KR features a four-way equal load rating. The LM guide actuator can be operated in any position, which makes it ideal for loading in directions that are not fixed.
Learn more. |
 | Over 30,000 Stock Metric Gears
KHK USA Inc offers the largest selection of stock metric gears in North America. Beginning in December 2020, KHK will offer more than 30,000 configurations. KHK USA offers the broadest selection of Stock Metric Spur Gears, Helical Gears, Internal Ring Gears, Gear Racks, Bevel Gears, Worms and Wormwheels, and other Gear types.
See what KHK USA has in stock for you today. |
 | Next-gen fighting goggles prep Soldiers for future battlefield
Wouldn't it be great if your boss could see exactly what you see -- and what you're going through? In the case of the U.S. Army, commanders will get to see more than ever thanks to the latest multi-informational headsets, which function like something right out of a video game. Soldiers will be able to share what they see with each other, and the Marines may use the new vision tech too.
Read the full article. |
 | Chevy converts 1977 K5 Blazer to electric
To demonstrate the possibilities of bringing electric vehicle (EV) technology to aftermarket cars, Chevrolet Performance has used its eCrate conversion package to give a 1977 K5 Blazer a fully electric propulsion makeover. With an increase to 200 hp, the classic two-door SUV retains as much of the stock Blazer as possible, with about 90 percent of the new parts installed being factory components from the Chevrolet Bolt EV.
Read the full article. |
 | Top Tech Tip: Stepper or servo motor -- Which should it be?
Bring out the full capacity of your machines through the most efficient mechatronic design. Hurley Gill, Senior Applications/Systems at Kollmorgen, outlines servo and stepper motor baseline capabilities for selection criteria like torque, speed, accuracy, and repeatability. Technical advantages and disadvantages are discussed, helping machine designers select the best motor drive system for their application.
Read "Servo or Stepper: Which Should It Be?"
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 | Engineer's Toolbox:
3D printing nylon parts with living hinges
Prototypes 3D printed with selective laser sintering (SLS) or Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) often include living hinges that will later be injection molded -- but more care needs to be taken in the design stage. Protolabs provides important tips, calculations, and information about materials selection to make your living-hinge designs successful and long wearing.
Read the full article. |
 | KinetiMax High Power Density outer-rotor brushless motor
Allied Motion Technologies has released the new KinetiMax High Power Density (HPD) motor series. This outer-rotor brushless motor is designed for high-torque, low-cogging applications like robotics, AGVs, and handheld power tools. With an efficiency rating of over 85% and a high power-to-weight ratio, it's an ideal motor choice for any application where weight and battery life are critical. The motors are available in six frame sizes, with three stack lengths per size and three windings per stack length.
Learn more. |
 | Top Product: Alternative to traditional drive systems
Nexen Group has introduced a stainless steel version of its patented precision roller pinion system (RPS). The Nexen RPS engages two teeth simultaneously to achieve superior accuracy with zero backlash at any length. The system is also extremely quiet and 99% efficient. Stainless steel makes the system corrosion resistant, with a long life of up to 36 million meters. Nexen's RPS provides a low-maintenance, durable alternative to rack and pinion, ball screw, and belt drive technology. The RPS is used for a wide range of applications including laser cutting, plasma cutting, and gantry applications.
Learn more. |
 | Motor development kit aims for energy efficiency
ON Semiconductor has introduced its advanced and flexible Motor Development Kit (MDK) to accelerate the development of more efficient motor control solutions for applications ranging from less than 1 kW to over 10 kW. It comprises one of a growing number of Power Boards connected to a Universal Controller Board (UCB). The Power Boards feature various incarnations of ON Semiconductor inverter solutions for motor drive, from high-voltage integrated modules to low-voltage, discrete MOSFETs. The UCB is a common control platform that interfaces with any Power Board to enable engineers to evaluate alternative motor control techniques for various types of motors and at a wide variety of power levels.
Learn more. |
 | COMSOL Version 5.6 is here!
COMSOL has released version 5.6 of its COMSOL Multiphysics software. The new version features faster and more memory-lean solvers for multicore and cluster computations, more efficient CAD assembly handling, and application layout templates. New graphics features -- including clip planes, realistic material rendering, and partial transparency -- offer enhanced visualization for simulation results. In addition, four new products expand the capabilities of COMSOL Multiphysics for modeling fuel cells and electrolyzers, polymer flow, control systems, and high-accuracy fluid models.
Learn more. |
 | Graphite fire-retardant additive for plastics
NeoGraf Solutions has just announced the addition of GrafGuard 280-50N to its lineup of expandable graphite flake, non-halogenated, non-flammable, fire-retardant additives. This product is specifically targeted toward the thermoplastics industry, especially polymers with high processing temps including composites and multi-functional systems with high melting points for both injection-molded and thermoformed applications. It offers a much wider range of polymer systems -- such as polypropylene, polystyrene, PET, nylon, and ABS -- than the company's previous products. The graphite expansion, initiated by a fire, can be more than 100 times its original thickness, resulting in a non-burnable, insulating layer.
Learn more. |
 | Enclosures with stainless steel corrosion-resistant latch
AttaBox Enclosures has just introduced a new, corrosion-resistant 316 stainless steel latch that is standard for all sizes of its Heartland Series of polycarbonate enclosures. The strong, secure-fitting latch maintains a 4X rating. It is not affected by UV degradation, features high tensile and impact strength, and performs reliably within a wide temperature range. It is available for both opaque and clear Heartland polycarbonate enclosures. AttaBox includes 12 full non-metallic enclosure product lines encompassing more than 800 part numbers and more than 30 configurations.
Learn more. |
 | Great Resources: Design guidelines for selecting and using stainless steels
This extensive guide from the Nickel Institute helps designers better understand the large family of corrosion-resistant stainless steels. It describes typical corrosion modes and how to select materials to minimize or prevent corrosion. Forty-seven figures help illustrate important characteristics of, and end-use applications for, 57 different stainless steel types, including chemical compositions, physical and mechanical properties, properties at elevated temperatures, and heat-transfer characteristics.
Get your guide (no registration required). |
| | Most popular last issue |
 | 55 Years Ago: NASA Gemini 5 sets a new record
NASA's series of two-man Gemini flights in 1965 and 1966 followed the successful completion of Project Mercury that placed America's first astronauts into orbit. Paramount among the techniques demonstrated during Gemini were the rendezvous and docking maneuvers necessary to implement the Lunar Orbit Rendezvous method chosen for the Moon landing mission. Gemini 5 set records, but the mission was not without its own challenges.
Read the full article. |
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| | Videos+: Technologies and inspiration in action | 7 ways SLS 3D printing beats FDM and Binder Jetting
Sam Green from 3D Systems lays out the seven ways the ProX SLS 6100 3D-printing system from 3D Systems is superior to alternative production-based 3D-printing technologies. Key points include: superior nylon material range; best-in-class surface quality, accuracy, and sharpness; repeatable and higher-performance mechanical properties; and lower cost per part.
View the video. |
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Most explosive household item in hydraulic press?
The fun team over at the Hydraulic Press Channel on YouTube has been busy this year, and they're ready to share what they've found when crushing random household items such as stacks of paper and playing cards, a roll of string, and even DVDs. Who couldn't use a little levity right now?
View the video. |
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