| January 11, 2022 | Volume 18 Issue 02 |
 | Caltech professor helps solve Hindenburg disaster
How could the Hindenburg zeppelin be completely devoured by flames in less than a minute in 1937? The popular PBS science TV show NOVA has taken a new look at the disaster. Its producers tapped Caltech's Konstantinos Giapis, professor of chemical engineering, to help recreate the ship's last moments and unravel its secrets.
Read the full article. |
 | All-new 2022 Lexus LX 600: Luxury to the max
Be a VIP or just look like one in the all-new 2022 Lexus LX 600. Totally redesigned from the ground up, this flagship ultra-luxury, full-size SUV blends athletic performance, functionality, and solid design for a sophisticated work-play vehicle that impresses both on- and off-road.
Read the full article. |
 | Top Engineer's Toolbox: 7 ways to improve sheet metal parts
When designing sheet metal components, there's a lot to consider: bends, reliefs, offsets, hems, holes, slots, tabs, and inserts -- not to mention material and finishing options. The engineers at Proto Labs take a quick look at the different ways to improve sheet metal part design while creating cost-efficient components. Learn some great tips.
Read the full article. |
 | Top Tip: HVACR -- How to properly clean a condenser coil
Condenser coil cleaning is one of those subjects where there is a fair amount of confusion. Parker Hannifin provides answers to common questions to set the record straight. Why do condenser coil cleaners foam, and evaporator coils usually don't? What is the difference between the acid and non-acid condenser coil cleaners? Learn these things and more in this informative post.
Read the Parker Hannifin blog. |
 | Top Application: Hottest new baseball glove has 3D-printed inserts
Rawlings Sporting Goods has partnered with digital manufacturing company Fast Radius and 3D-printing company Carbon to manufacture one of baseball's hottest new equipment releases: the REV1X infield glove. This glove features innovative 3D-printed lattice inserts, developed with cloud manufacturing technology, for performance-enhancing capabilities.
Read the full article. |
 | Top Engineer's Toolbox: Self-clinching fasteners design tips
Dozens of types and thousands of variations of self-clinching fasteners (steel, stainless steel, or aluminum) have been engineered over the years. Leon M. Attarian of PennEngineering provides three mini case studies where manufacturers benefited greatly by switching to self-clinching fasteners in their assemblies. This article is filled with insightful tips and suggestions.
Read the full article. |
 | Top Application: Why apple harvesters need angle sensors
The SFM Samurai is a self-propelled apple harvester that can collect a whopping 100 tons of apples each day. The machine is designed for optimal navigation through the narrowest of orchard rows thanks to its SFM-developed four-wheel steering system that relies on Novotechnik RFC4800 series angle sensors to monitor each axle position.
Read the full article. |
 | Top Product: Bring production-ready nylon 3D printing to your benchtop
Formlabs has released the world's first benchtop industrial selective laser sintering (SLS) 3D printer, the Fuse 1, along with Fuse Sift (a post-processing system for the Fuse 1) and Nylon 12 and Nylon 11 powders. SLS technology has long been trusted by engineers and large manufacturers for its ability to print strong, functional prototypes and end-use parts, but its high cost and complex workflow have historically confined access to big companies. The Fuse 1 and Fuse Sift improve on the unique advantages offered by SLS while bringing it within reach for companies of all sizes and types through affordability and ease of use.
Learn more. |
 | Top Product: Raspberry Pi Pico microcontroller
The Raspberry Pi Pico is built around the brand-new Raspberry Pi RP2040 microcontroller, delivering a flexible, highly affordable development platform that can also be directly deployed into end products -- all for 4 bucks. At the heart of the Raspberry Pi Pico is RP2040, which features two ARM Cortex-M0+ cores clocked at 133 MHz; 264 kB of on-chip SRAM; 30 multifunction GPIO pins; dedicated hardware for commonly used peripherals alongside a programmable I/O subsystem for extended peripheral support; a four-channel ADC with internal temperature sensor; and built-in USB 1.1 with host and device support. Also look for the RP2040 chip to be sold as a standalone product very, very soon.
Learn more from Newark.
Watch a short video intro for this product. |
| | Videos+: Technologies and inspiration in action | You gotta see this: Robot hive packs orders
Watch as Tom Scott, science and technology reporter, tours Ocado's seven-football-fields-long grocery-packing warehouse southeast of London where about 2,300 bots controlled by The Hive Mind artificial intelligence move more than 1 million items per day. A single bot (top speed 14 km/h) can transfer items in three dimensions, often working with only a 5-mm gap between robo units. A Designfax reader tipped us off to this incredible video -- one of our favorites of the year -- and we are really glad he did.
View the video. |
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Blue Angels transition to Super Hornets
The U.S. Navy Blue Angels​ flight demonstration squadron transitioned from Legacy Hornets to F/A-18 E/F Super Hornets for the 2021 show season. Ride along with Lt. Cmdr. Cary Rickoff (flying Blue Angel #6) as he conducts a training flight over Naval Air Facility El Centro, CA, with Cmdr. Ben Walborn (Blue Angel #5) during pre-season preparations. 2021 marked the 75th anniversary of the Blue Angels team.
View the video. |
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How a Polyclutch slip clutch works
Dynatect's Polyclutch slip clutches have a long operating life of over 20 million cycles and smooth, reliable breakaway. This video shows how a Polyclutch mechanical slip clutch works -- and what's inside. Slip clutches can be used for increasing machine speeds; applying constant tension on paper, film, wire, threads, etc.; indexing a conveyor, table, or any mechanism; holding in position a lid, cover, screen, door, window, etc.; controlling torque for bottle capping, automatic screw assembly, closing valves, etc.; soft starts; cushioned stops; and many other applications.
View the video. |
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Peoria Lock and Dam gets upgraded giant 30-ft hydraulic cylinders from Bosch Rexroth
Bosch Rexroth recently serviced and upgraded giant hydraulic cylinders for the Peoria Lock and Dam in Illinois. Built in 1938, the Peoria Lock and Dam helps make the Illinois River navigable and establishes a route for barges between Chicago and the Mississippi River. The locks are controlled by four of Bosch Rexroth's 30-ft-long hydraulic cylinders, with a fifth unit held in reserve as a backup. With the locks temporarily closed, a team managed to repair and make extensive updates to all five cylinders in a 60-day period.
View the video for all the details. |
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