| November 17, 2020 | Volume 16 Issue 44 |
 | 6 New Products for Use in Li-ion Batteries
New from Goodfellow: Six chemical compounds for use in Li-ion batteries, each offering something different in terms of the variables associated with Li-ion batteries, such as energy density, potential safety, cost, recharging time, cycle life, scalability, etc. Available as sputtering targets or in powder form upon request. Members of the Goodfellow technical team are readily available to discuss your specific needs.
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| | Feature articles |
 | 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.
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 | KeyShot + Stratasys = Enhanced 3D-printing realism
If you are looking for hyper-realism in your prototype designs, things are looking up. Simulating color, material, and finish usually takes serious time and money, but thanks to the latest KeyShot 10 3D-rendering software and Stratasys office-friendly 3D printers, getting that true-to-life part -- complete with wood or fabric textures -- is faster and less expensive. Stratasys printers and KeyShot both support the new 3MF file format -- a huge step up from STL, OBJ, and VRML.
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 | You asked. We answered.
Finding the best possible solution for your design challenge is no easy task. Smalley engineers have created a brand new Ask the Expert - Wave Spring FAQ E-book that answers all of your wave spring questions in one, simple guide.
Download now! |
 | What's a sapphire piston used for -- and who can make one?
If you want a prototype piston made of metal for research purposes, you have a lot of options -- you can even 3D print your own. But what if you need something much more exotic, like the second-hardest natural material? When Mid Michigan Research had just such a need, it turned to Insaco for the company's long history of custom fabrication of sapphire precision parts, often in unusual forms.
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 | Exploring Mars with miniature motors
When developing the high-resolution Panoramic Camera on the ExoMars Rover, engineers looked for motors that were extremely compact and could also deliver reliable and precise positioning for the camera-focusing mechanism. FAULHABER Stepper motors were selected for the job, as they precisely position objects with a resolution of 1,280 steps per revolution without the need for a separate feedback system, and are more rugged and sturdy than conventional servo motors.
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 | Monitor mounts and locking slide connectors
JW Winco's new monitor mounts GN 197, including VESA adapter plates and locking slide units GN 134.7 and GN 147.7, open up new possibilities for diverse customer needs. The monitor mount includes a connection stud that makes it extremely simple to fasten the mount to all tube clamp connectors. In combination with rotary or flanged joints, users can realize any number of degrees of freedom and adjustment options for touch screens, panels, displays, and monitors on production machines. Locking slide units based on universal or flanged tube clamp connectors allow for quick and easy movement to recurring positions on a square construction tube via a moving slide.
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 | Universal Robots launches Continuing Education credit programs
Universal Robots -- the originator of the cobot, the fastest growing segment of industrial automation -- has become the first collaborative robot manufacturer accredited to issue Continuing Education Units. The Education Program provides a clearly defined pathway for students to master cobot programming and deployment as part of an Industry 4.0 career in robotics and advanced manufacturing. The program will also be offered to manufacturers seeking certified cobot training for employees.
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 | New sealing solution for small appliances, power tools, and even drones
Freudenberg Sealing Technologies has launched series production of a modular sealing unit that combines a classic radial shaft seal with a plastic outer case. The design promotes better long-term seal performance and longevity, is easier to assemble, and significantly lowers manufacturing costs in comparison with traditional metal-encased radial shaft seal units. The innovative sealing concept has been developed for use in general industry applications that are especially focused on small, electric household appliances, but power tools and drones may benefit too.
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 | Optimize controls development for electric drives
To make electric vehicles more robust, more economical, and less expensive, their drives use the latest semiconductor technology in combination with complex control systems. The new dSPACE MicroAutoBox III AC Motor Control Solution provides developers with a software connection that enables them to develop complex control algorithms for frequency converters and electric drives. Used in combination with the MicroAutoBox III prototyping system and the DS1553 Interface Module, test drives can be efficiently carried out in the vehicle. Typical applications include the development of drive controls and mechatronic components, such as steering systems or DC/DC converters for combining HV and LV vehicle electrical systems.
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 | Low-viscosity epoxy coating features acid resistance
Master Bond EP21ARLV is a two-part epoxy that may be used as an adhesive, sealant, coating, or encapsulant. It bonds well to a variety of substrates including metals, ceramics, composites, and many plastics and rubbers. The product is capable of withstanding prolonged exposure to a wide range of chemicals, such as 70% sulfuric acid, 10% hydrochloric acid, 10% nitric acid, and butyl acetate. "With its low-viscosity and acid resistance, EP21ARLV is a go-to material for potting and encapsulations in battery applications," says Rohit Ramnath, Senior Product Engineer. "This combination is especially useful in applications where protection from acids is crucial."
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 | Largest LEGO set ever: Roman Colosseum
Get your inner gladiator on. You're going to need warrior-like persistence to conquer LEGO's new Colosseum set, which at 9,036 pieces is the largest set ever. It has been expertly designed to mimic the incredible architecture of the original Roman amphitheater, including a "wooden" LEGO arena inside the almost 2-ft-deep structure. They say Rome wasn't built in a day. This won't be either.
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| | Most popular last issue |
 | FANtastic beast? Gordon Murray Automotive T.50 supercar
Famed Formula 1 technical designer Gordon Murray was part of a team that once put a car with a rear fan on the track. Now the owner of his own car company, Murray is bringing the downforce-enhancing tech to the street. The ultra-lightweight T.50 supercar does away with a huge rear wing. Instead, it uses a 400-mm ground-effect fan to help suck air from under the car. It's not a new concept, but the 650-hp T.50 with a naturally aspirated 3.9-L V12 is a twist on something new -- and full of surprises.
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| | Videos+: Technologies and inspiration in action | What's New in SOLIDWORKS 2021 - Parts
Learn the key upgrades to SOLIDWORKS 2021 when it comes to designing parts, including how sheet metal edge flanges can be created along non-linear edges, how to use a new color picker to help define Appearances, and how colors and appearances for 3MF export and import have been extended for 3D printing. There are also updates to weldments, sheet metal cuts, and even trims.
View the video. |
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Impossible to loosen unintentionally? Nord-Lock washers
Can you get a design edge with a wedge? In this animated video, Nord-Lock explains the principle behind their original wedge-locking technology, which secures bolted joints even when exposed to severe vibration and dynamic loads. The company says it is impossible for this type of washer to loosen unintentionally, due to the wedge created underneath the bolt head and nut.
View the video. |
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