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.
| January 14, 2025 | Volume 21 Issue 02 |
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 | Did you know that desiccants can be custom molded to fit or strengthen your design?
AGM's injection molded desiccants allow engineers to ensure moisture protection in their design without worrying about space and shape constraints. Our molded desiccants are built to customers' specified sizes, shapes, and thicknesses, and may be used as structural components in designs. These desiccants are comprised of 4A molecular sieve in addition to proprietary binders, and thus deliver high adsorption capacity at even low humidity levels. Applications may include aerospace, medical devices, and optics equipment. AGM can fill molded desiccant orders in either high or low quantities. Samples are available.
Discover the strength of molded desiccants today
or speak with an AGM engineer at (520) 881-2130. |
| | Feature articles |
 | Kenworth SuperTruck 2: The big rig's future
Kenworth's new SuperTruck 2 demonstrator vehicle, which was developed over a six-year period as part of a DOE collaboration, has attained a 136% freight efficiency improvement using a diesel engine as the main power source. The ultra-modern truck has a bullet-train look featuring a center-driver layout and a whole lot more.
Read the full article. |
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 | Top Toolbox: How slip clutches maximize designs
The way they see it over at Polyclutch, there aren't a whole lot of problems you can't solve with a slip clutch -- way beyond using them for overload protection. From increasing machine speeds and applying constant tension on wire to indexing a conveyor and automatic screw assembly, slip clutches just may provide the design leverage you've been seeking.
Read the full article. |
| | Most popular last issue |
 | Top Toolbox: Stepper vs. servo -- the big debate
In the world of precision motion control, many machine designers face a choice between step motor or servo motor technologies to solve their performance requirements. When to use which type has created a big debate. Learn from Kollmorgen about two common scenarios and the good and bad experiences that resulted.
Read the Kollmorgen tech tip. |
 | Top Product: What is the C-Flex Pivot Bearing?
It's a flexure-based bearing utilizing internal flat crossed springs, capsuled in a cylindrical housing, to provide precise rotation with low hysteresis and no frictional losses. The C-Flex bearing will offer infinite life when used within its rated load and rotation values. Applications include Medical, Industrial, Aerospace, Semiconductor, and Optical.
Learn more.
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| | Videos+: Technologies and inspiration in action | How the world's fastest RC drone was designed
Buzz along with father/son team Mike and Luke Bell in South Africa as they chronicle the design and making of Peregrine 2 -- the fastest little RC quadcopter drone in the world at 298.4 mph. It took nine months of hard trial and error with lots of fiery bumps along the way. Powered by two batteries, the bullet-like craft sports 7-in. carbon rotors and four TMOTOR 1500-kV brushless motors. Many of the parts were 3D printed or CNC machined. Motor control was paramount to achieve stability and speed while avoiding overheating. A thorough and entertaining presentation.
View the video.
Watch the companion video of how it was built. |
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How suction sails work on huge ships
bound4blue is a company based in Spain making waves in the shipping industry with its innovative eSAIL suction sails, which produce six to seven times more lift than a conventional sail but are rigid towers. Looking like giant cylinders, bound4blue says its technology, which ranges in height from 12 m to 36 m, works "by utilizing a fan system to drag air across the sail's aerodynamically optimized surface, generating propulsive efficiency." In some large-ship applications, a pair of autonomously controlled eSAILs can cut fuel consumption by 15%. [Credit: Image courtesy of bound4blue]
Learn how suction sails work.
Learn even more specifics about how the bound4blue sails work. |
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Novel IC engine features rotating piston
A company called Avadi Engines has been working on its compact internal combustion engine for almost 10 years -- a unique design that features a rotating piston and cylinder but no traditional crankshaft. The developers say this design eliminates half the moving parts of a traditional ICE and boasts a brake thermal efficiency over 40%. The 250-cc prototype weighs 26 lb and puts out about 16 hp and 22 ft-lb of torque. Do you see a neat innovation or potential problems here?
View the video. |
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