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.

August 18, 2026Volume 22 Issue 31


Image - 27,000 Stock Metric Gears from KHK
27,000 Stock Metric Gears from KHK
KHK USA offers the largest selection of stock metric gears in North America -- with over 27,000 configurations. KHK USA offers Metric Spur Gears, Metric Helical Gears, Metric Internal Ring Gears, Metric Gear Racks, Metric Bevel Gears, Metric Worms and Wormwheels all from stock! Free 3D CAD models, technical specs and 24/7 price and availability are all detailed online.
See what KHK USA has in stock for you today!

In this issue of Designfax

  • Scary! Researchers hack Boeing 737 electronics
  • Superlubricity targeted for sliding components
  • Self-driven AI lab discovers new metal alloys for 3DP
  • Aston Martin Valen: Most powerful front-engine car
  • How long will your desiccant last?
  • GE Appliances doubles spending with TI. Why?
  • Compact, touchless position sensors are wear-free
  • Planetary servo gear unit: New economy series
  • Best-seller: Copper filament for 3D printing
  • World's first 10-m safety laser scanner: Protect more
  • Compact hexapod 6-DOF alignment system
  • Videos+: Technologies and inspiration in action
    • What is STUDROLLER technology?
  • Most Popular Last Issue
    • Hennessey Blackbird: Texas-born 850-hp hypercar
    • 100 years ago: 1st flight of liquid-fueled rocket!
    • Theatre's rotating stage gets VFD controls upgrade
  • New Products
    • Electrical, Mechanical, Motion
    Cover Image: Aston Martin Valen

News

What is flexoelectricity, and what can make it happen?

Soft material optimized for 3D printing may solve longstanding materials science challenge

Military: Skunk Works advances sensor-powered AI fighter aircraft intercept

Enough magnesium and lithium for the next 50,000 years: Ocean mining



Feature articles

Image - Scary! Physical device used to take over Boeing 737 electronics
Scary! Physical device used to take over Boeing 737 electronics
UC San Diego researchers have developed and tested a device that, if plugged into a maintenance port in the belly of a 737 plane, can take over communications between two flight computers -- covertly transmitting new instructions while suppressing indications that changes have been made.
Read the full article.

Image - Researchers target superlubricity for sliding components
Researchers target superlubricity for sliding components
With its new BioSlide research project, the Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS in Germany is investigating how sliding systems can be designed to be more sustainable and energy efficient. A key focus is on carbon-based coatings that achieve superlubricity.
Read the full article.

Image - Self-driven AI helps discover impressive new 3D-printable metal alloys
Self-driven AI helps discover impressive new 3D-printable metal alloys
Using AI-driven materials design, a team of researchers at University of Toronto Engineering has discovered a new set of 3D-printable metal alloys that outperform industry standards at high temperatures, such as those experienced in jet engines. In one instance, a material outperformed Inconel 625 by 85%. There's a lot more to this story.
Read the full article.

Image - Aston Martin Valen: Most powerful front-engine car
Aston Martin Valen: Most powerful front-engine car
Aston Martin's new Valen super coupe is one for the record books. The limited-edition, twin-turbo V12 is the world's most powerful front-engine production car and the most powerful front-engine Aston Martin in the company's 113-year history. It is sophisticated, beefy, pricey, and a real looker too.
Read the full article.

Image - Ever wondered ... How long will a desiccant last? How much do I need?
Ever wondered ... How long will a desiccant last? How much do I need?
Desiccant service life depends on more than time. Enclosure leakage, humidity exposure, temperature, pressure cycling, and adsorption capacity all affect how quickly desiccant reaches equilibrium. This Engineering Guide from AGM explains the difference between shelf life and operational life -- and the factors that determine when desiccant should be replaced.
→ Read the Engineering Guide.
→ Talk to an AGM Design Engineer or call (520) 844-0952.

Image - GE Appliances doubles spending with TI in U.S. market. Why?
GE Appliances doubles spending with TI in U.S. market. Why?
Bringing together next-generation Wi-Fi connectivity, energy-efficient microcontrollers, edge AI capabilities, and breakthrough GaN-based motor drive technology, TI is giving GE Appliances the building blocks to design smarter, more efficient, and more connected appliances in the United States.
Read the full article.

Image - Compact, touchless position sensors: Wear-free operation in tight spaces
Compact, touchless position sensors: Wear-free operation in tight spaces
Novotechnik's TFD-4000 Series of touchless linear position sensors delivers wear-free measurement in tight spaces. Featuring ranges up to 50 mm, IP67 protection, 12-bit resolution, and analog outputs, these reliable sensors operate from -40 C to 125 C across diverse industrial, mobile, and medical applications such as short-stroke linear valve positioning, solenoid valves, off-highway brake actuation, and more.
Learn more.

Image - Planetary servo gear unit: New economy series
Planetary servo gear unit: New economy series
SEW-EURODRIVE has expanded its PxG planetary servo gear unit portfolio with the new PxG economy series, introducing the P1.G, P2.G, and P3.G performance classes. Designed for standard industrial automation applications like packaging and material handling, these cost-effective units feature peak torque ratings from 11 to 500 Nm and over 20,000 hours of service life, helping machine builders eliminate unnecessary over-specification.
Learn more.

Image - Best-seller: Copper filament for 3D printing
Best-seller: Copper filament for 3D printing
Virtual Foundry, the company that brought us 3D-printable lunar regolith simulant, says Copper Filamet™ (not a typo) is its best-selling metal filament. This material is compatible with any open-architecture FDM/FFF 3D printer. After sintering, final parts are 100% pure copper. The company says this is one of the easiest materials to print and sinter. Stainless steel, porcelain, aluminum, and titanium available too.
Learn more and get all the specs.

Image - World's first 10-m safety laser scanner: See farther, protect more
World's first 10-m safety laser scanner: See farther, protect more
Datasensing, Datalogic's Sensor & Safety and Machine Vision business unit, has launched the SLS10 Safety Laser Scanner, the world's first 10-meter safety laser scanner. Delivering a 275-degree scanning angle, 240-m2 of coverage, and an 84-msec response time, the SLS10 protects larger workspaces with fewer devices. It features best-in-class angular resolution for precise AGV navigation, SIL-2/PLd compliance, dust immunity, and the new ONEGUI platform for simplified configuration.
Learn more and see it in action.

Image - Compact hexapod 6-DOF alignment system has overload protection
Compact hexapod 6-DOF alignment system has overload protection
PI's compact H-811.I2HS hexapod delivers precise 6-DOF motion with patented overload protection, simplifying setup and operation in OEM applications. This built-in protection safeguards precision mechanics during installation and integration against accidental forces or improper handling. Furthermore, the hexapod mounts in any orientation, granting system designers exceptional flexibility for optical, photonics, microscopy, metrology, and automation systems.
Learn more.

Most popular last issue

Image - Hennessey Blackbird: New Texas-born 850-hp hypercar
Hennessey Blackbird: New Texas-born 850-hp hypercar
The all-new Hennessey Blackbird is a naturally aspirated, manual-transmission touring hypercar created as the third Hennessey hypercar after Venom GT and Venom F5. Inspired by the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, the car links name, proportions, aerospace-led surfacing, and active vertical stabilizers to honor one of the world's most iconic aircraft.
Read the full article.

Image - 100 years ago: First flight of a liquid-fueled rocket!
100 years ago: First flight of a liquid-fueled rocket!
Robert H. Goddard is recognized as the father of American rocketry. Although his work was revolutionary, he received little recognition from fellow scientists and some ridicule from the press for his seemingly outlandish ideas about space exploration.
Read the full article.

Image - Small theatre's rotating stage gets VFD controls upgrade and more
Small theatre's rotating stage gets VFD controls upgrade and more
The Timber Lake Playhouse's unique rotating semi-thrust stage setup could be considered the facility's marquee feature. After running for decades on its original electro-hydraulic drive, the revolving stage system received significant behind-the-scenes AutomationDirect upgrades in 2007 and 2025.
Read this interesting real-world application story.

Videos+: Technologies and inspiration in action
What is STUDROLLER technology? Cross Roller Guides
NB SLIDE WAY cross roller guides use precision rollers to provide stable, non-recirculating linear motions in precision stages, inspection equipment, semiconductor manufacturing, and more. At the heart of all NB cross roller bearings is the STUDROLLER mechanism, which eliminates the cage-creep phenomenon that, over time, can create deviances in cross roller retainer performance. NB cross roller guides equipped with this system are more accurate and better performing than any other comparable products on the market today. High acceleration and faster cycle times are possible in any orientation.
View the video.

New products

Electrical/Electronics
View Products…
Mechanical
View Products…
Motion
View Products…


For advertising opportunities contact:

John Holmes
jholmes@nelsonpub.com

 

Dan Beck
danbeck58@gmail.com
(518) 852-9624

Questions or comments about the eMagazine or articles? Contact us at: Designfax

www.designfax.net

webteam@designfax.net
Privacy Statement

If you choose not to receive any more issues of Designfax, please follow this link


Subscribe to DesignFax

Nelson Publishing, LLC | www.designfax.net
PO Box 424, Alto, MI 49302
webmaster@designfax.net

Designfax weekly eMagazine

Subscribe Today!
image of Designfax newsletter

A Few of
Our Valued
Partners

Micro Plastics
Ask an expert about Smalley wave springs
MICROMO
ProtoLabs
Servometer
BellowsTech
igus
Nord-Lock
Beswick Engineering
Stratasys
Dassault Systemes
Rogan Corp.
C-Flex Bearing Co.
PI (Physik Instrumente)
FUTEK
Universal Robots
3D Systems
KHK USA - Gears
Orion Fans
Intech Power-Core
THK
MW Industries
Xcentric Mold & Engineering
Tech-Etch
EXAIR
Novotechnik
Goodfellow
JW Winco
Helical Products Co
Insaco
Suhner
AutomationDirect
Xometry
Universal Robots
OnRobot
Nexen
Kollmorgen
Allied Motion
Spirol
Tolomatic
E-Z Lok
AGM

Archives

View Archives

Our Other
Publications

Manufacturing Center
Product Spotlight

Modern Applications News
Metalworking Ideas For
Today's Job Shops

Tooling and Production
Strategies for large
metalworking plants