| January 31, 2012 | Volume 08 Issue 04 |
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 | New ‘pin and keeper' quick-assembly
sign fastening system
The Micro Plastics sign fastener is designed for rapid assembly and disassembly of a sign or other panel to its support structure. The reusable fastener was designed to fit a hole diameter of 5/16 in. to 3/8 in. (8 mm to 9.5 mm) and can be used to fasten two pieces together with total panel thickness from 1 in. to 1.64 in. (25.4 mm to 41.6 mm). Simply squeeze the keeper together and slide onto the pin, then release the keeper. Molded from impact-resistant and UV-stabilized nylon 6/6, the sign fastener is designed to withstand the elements in outdoor applications.
Click here for more information. |
6 plastic product design principles
The rapid development of modern 3D CAD systems has facilitated a move to more organic forms and ever-increasing geometry complexity. Just think about the change in design from the conventional box-shaped vacuum cleaner to the modern Dyson. This article focuses on design fundamentals like wall thickness, rib designs, and draft angles and the impact they have when it comes to complexity vs. manufacturability.
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Leaping lizards inspire robot designs
University of California, Berkeley, biologists and engineers studied how lizards manage to leap successfully even when they slip and stumble. They found that lizards swing their tails upward to prevent them from pitching head-over-heels into a rock. But after the team added a tail to a robotic car named Tailbot, they discovered that counteracting the effect of a slip is not as simple as throwing your tail in the air.
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 | Mike Likes:
20+ retaining ring application examples
What can't you do with Smalley retaining rings and snap rings? The company has put a lot of effort into the visuals to demonstrate some 23 user applications for its Spirolox retaining, constant section, and wave spring rings – and we all know how visual engineers are. What about in a slip clutch, an actuator valve, a right-angle gear, or a rotary union? How about in a pneumatic fitting, a hip replacement, or even to hold glass panels in the Louvre pyramid? If you have an unusual application challenge, Smalley can help. Obviously, they've just about seen it all.
See all that you can do with Smalley retaining rings. |
Engineer's Toolbox:
Laminated circuits take the heat
Delamination caused by deteriorating adhesives that traditionally bond the layers of laminate structures such as circuit boards can lead to premature product failure. And adhesives can add up to 50% to the overall thickness and weight of a laminate structure. To solve these issues, specialty-materials manufacturer Rogers Corporation developed a proprietary technology to heat laminate, high-temperature-performance Victrex APTIV film directly to metal foils or other materials in both roll-to-roll and flat-panel laminate structures without the need for adhesives.
Read the full article |
| | Videos+: Technologies and inspiration in action |
Smart Window is sci-fi display technology come to life
The future of display technologies was made blazingly clear at the recent 2012 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Samsung demonstrated its Transparent Smart Window technology, which wowed participants and garnered a tradeshow innovation award. What's so cool about a solar-powered kitchen, office, or living-room window that turns into a dazzling working computer display or TV monitor at the touch of a finger? Um … just about everything.
View the video |
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World's fastest 6-axis robots
The advanced-design VS-Series six-axis articulated robots from DENSO are the world's fastest in their class. See them perform with lightning speed and even take a "swim." But don't blink. These things can really move.
View the video |
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