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.
| December 01, 2020 | Volume 16 Issue 46 |
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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". Free samples available for testing.
Learn more. |
 | Hollow Shaft, Solid Performance
FAULHABER has set a new standard for internal aperture motors with the new DM66200H stepper motor series. As a direct drive, the new hollow shaft motor operates backlash-free and can be integrated into different applications with minimal effort. This new stepper motor achieves impressive performance, for both speed and torque values. Its exceptionally wide aperture has a diameter of 40 mm.
Learn more. |
| | Feature articles |
 | Army tests aluminum foam for blast protection
Forward Operating Bases are typically surrounded by barbed wire, concrete barriers, gates, watchtowers, and other infrastructure. A new material -- aluminum foam -- may be a possible solution for additional force protection, due to its ability to absorb energy from blasts.
Read the full article. |
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 | Electric vehicles benefit from updated wheel designs
When automotive engineers were designing the new BMW iX3 all-electric four-door SUV, they put some extra effort into the look and functionality of the wheels. Why? Because lightweighting and reducing drag can add miles and miles to an electric vehicle's range, and that is the name of the game in the evolving EV market.
Read the full article. |
 | Satellite fuel gauge designed by NIST
Inside a spacecraft, microgravity allows liquids to freely slosh and float around. This behavior has made fuel quantity in satellites difficult to pin down, but a new prototype fuel gauge engineered at the National Institute of Standards and Technology could offer an ideal solution. It can digitally recreate a fluid's 3D shape based on its electrical properties.
Read the full article. |
 | Top shelf: New Acura MDX Prototype comes complete with massage modes
If your idea of an everyday ride is tooling around in private jet-like premium comfort and commanding awesome power, Acura's new MDX Prototype could be the one for you. The fourth-gen 2022 model is longer, wider, sportier, and more luxurious, and it boasts the option of the line's first-ever Type S 355-hp 3.0L turbocharged V6. It comes with nine personal massage modes too.
Read the full article. |
 | World's tallest production metal-powder 3D printer
VELO3D's next-gen Sapphire metal 3D printer with cylindrical 315-mm diameter build chamber is now available in 400-mm and 1,000-mm configurations. That means users can create SupportFree parts that are up to 1 m tall with the biggest machine -- with no tradeoff in part quality. Sapphire features dual 1-kW lasers and in-situ metrology sensors that enable visibility into the quality of every layer of the build. This system is compatible with nickel-based alloys.
Learn more. |
 | Robot Ready: How automation is driving the future of fastener installation
Robotic automation is the biggest way in which fastener installation equipment has changed in recent years. The Haeger® line of insertion systems, part of the PennEngineering® family of brands since 2018, is a great example of technology that utilizes robotic automation to insert nearly every type and size of self-clinching fastener out there. Learn all about this capable and flexible system. An example cost study is included.
Read the full article. |
 | Ultra-bright omnidirectional mini LED bulbs
The B305SM series from LEDtronics is an omnidirectional miniature bulb that replaces incandescents directly in critical instrument status indication applications. They produce much brighter light intensity while remaining energy efficient. This bulb features a T3-1/4 (9-mm) single-contact bayonet base that gives installation a familiar twist. It's a great fit for applications such as back lighting, signage, panel-mount pilot lights, accent lighting, and more.
Learn more. |
 | Advanced bearing tech: SPRINGLIDE energized bearings
The new SPRINGLIDE from Saint-Gobain combines the low-friction properties of PTFE-lined NORGLIDE Bearings and the radial spring characteristics of RENCOL Tolerance Rings. This solution provides less risk for clearance conditions, which can otherwise cause rattle. This means that automotive manufacturers no longer have to create a tight bearing fit that would increase the adjustment force to undesirable levels, and they get a controlled-friction component that helps to create a high-quality interior. A thorough on-demand webinar on the specifics is available too.
Learn more. |
 | Modular angle encoders improved for machine feedback
HEIDENHAIN's ERA 4000 series of bearingless angle encoders, which are used heavily in machines in the metrology, machine tool, semiconductor, and robotic industries, have new upgrades to reliability and functionality. These encoders consist of a steel drum at various diameters with the 20-, 40-, or 80-micron graduation on the outer diameter, and a scanning unit that reads the graduation. As an incremental system, there are reference marks available as distance-coded or one per revolution. Improvements include adding HEIDENHAIN Signal Processing (HSP) to the scanning units that visually shows the quality of signal coming back from the drum, a status LED on the side of the scanning unit, and the addition of a smaller M12 connector that saves space and is more robust.
Learn more. |
 | Blog: Evolving planetary roller screw applications
According to Nick Novotny at Nook Industries, planetary roller screws -- which convert rotary motion into axial force or vice versa -- are being used in an ever-increasing range of applications in various industries, including machine tool and fabrication, robotics, industrial automation, and the oil and gas industry. However, the fastest-growing segment involves electric vehicles and aircraft, where this technology is often used to enhance efficiency of embedded applications such as flight control and vehicle control sub systems. Learn about the multiple advantages and reliability of planetary roller screws.
Read this informative Nook Industries blog. |
 | All-in-one controller with integrated drives
ACS Motion Control has launched the first in a new line of Economical Control Module products. The ECMsm is a compact, all-in-one, 2- or 4-axis motion controller with internal drives, designed for OEMs with cost-sensitive motion control applications. The ECMsm provides up to 5/10 A per axis with 12-48 VDC drive supply. This solution is ideal for small-footprint equipment in biomedical, semiconductor, and other high-tech industries. It provides the flexibility to interface with multiple motor types for the best technology fit on each axis: brushless, brush, voice coil, or stepper.
Learn more. |
 | Universal positioning system with endless possibilities
Designed for holding cameras, tools, and other devices, Stafford's universal positioning system features more than 25 standard components that are easy to configure and position. This system is suitable for laboratory, material handling, optical, packaging, process, prototyping, and other applications. It includes a base that can mount to virtually any surface and accepts
0.5-, 0.75-, and 1-in. shafts that fit stepped and straight-through couplings that can be inserted 90 degrees or parallel. Tilt-and-swivel mounts, hinge collar mounts, and Grip & Go adjustment handles are available. Custom parts can also be made.
Learn more. |
 | RF filters for space applications
Cobham Advanced Electronic Solutions (CAES) has bolstered its RF Filter portfolio with the addition of new microwave and millimeter-wave filter assemblies specifically designed for space applications. This broad portfolio includes lumped element, combline cavity, and printed filters, as well as multi-filter assemblies. These filters are characterized by low loss and high sensitivity with narrowband with low insertion loss, broadband with low loss at edges, and rejection bandwidth no more than 20% greater than passband bandwidth. CAES RF Filters feature high power capability with greater than 5 W peak power and greater than 1 W average power. Can be optimized for size and weight. Cobham has extensive experience in RF Filters for airborne, missile, and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) applications.
Learn more. |
| | Most popular last issue |
 | 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. |
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| | Videos+: Technologies and inspiration in action | Easy retaining ring installation/removal
What's the difference between a Spirolox® Retaining Ring and a traditional stamped snap ring? Our retaining rings are designed to be installed and removed by hand, so no special tooling is required. This video covers how to install and remove an External Spirolox® Retaining Ring using a flathead screwdriver and a staple remover.
View the video. |
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Electrified wingsuit powered by BMW i electric car technology
In a bid to take skydiving tech to new heights (and garner some publicity along the way), professional skydiver/base jumper Peter Salzmann from Austria teamed up with BMW Designworks to create an Electrified Wingsuit. The system comprises two encased carbon propellers (impellers), with each delivering a power output of 7.5 kW and 25,000 rpm, with enough power available to run for about 5 min. Worn on a jump from 3,000 m, the aim of the electric drive system was to increase the performance of the wingsuit in order to achieve a better constant flight, allowing longer distances to be covered and for the falling jumper to actually gain some altitude during the glide. Don't try this at home.
View the video. Lots of extra details on this page. |
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