| September 05, 2023 | Volume 19 Issue 33 |
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 | New Tapered Section Rings from Smalley!
Smalley is bringing you even more retaining ring solutions! When you need a quick and economical heavy-duty ring, our newest standard series, Tapered Section Rings (circlips), is here to secure your assembly needs. They can be axially installed into a bore/shaft groove to safely secure assemblies in place. In stock from 0.25 - 3", or 3 - 75 mm in Spring Steel SAE 1060 and 1074. Request no-cost samples to test.
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| | Feature articles |
 | Oops. Asteroid deflected -- but boulder swarm unleashed
NASA's DART mission proved in 2022 that it could successfully change the course of an asteroid by smashing a spacecraft into it. The collision had an unintended consequence, though, when it also launched a cloud of boulders -- some up to 22 ft across -- from the asteroid's surface. A space rock that big hitting Earth would deliver as much energy as an atomic bomb.
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 | 200,000 roboticists trained and counting: Universal Robots Academy
Universal Robots, the leading collaborative robot (cobot) company, has offered robotics training to customers and others with an interest in collaborative robots. After having grown increasingly popular in the past years and with 119 onsite training centers across the globe, more than 200,000 robotics enthusiasts have joined the Universal Robots Academy.
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 | Want to know how light works? Ask a mechanic
Is light best viewed as a wave or a particle -- or both? Researchers at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ, have revealed a new connection between the two perspectives using a 350-year-old mechanical theorem -- ordinarily used to describe the movement of large, physical objects like pendulums and planets -- to explain some of the most complex behaviors of light waves.
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 | Cadillac Escalade IQ: All-electric with 450-mile range
Cadillac's 2025 model-year lineup will include the all-new, all-electric Escalade IQ, a super-luxe ride with an estimated 450-mile range on a full charge. The dual-motor, full-size SUV sports some slick aero restyling and a full suite of nifty tech, including Adaptive Air Ride Suspension, Four-Wheel Steer that can move the vehicle diagonally, Low Ride Mode, a 55-in. LED display, and a lush interior.
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 | 9 key design tips for injection molding
Keep costs down and quality up all while optimizing your injection molded designs with these helpful tips from Xometry. Learn how to build better injection molded parts and products -- using draft angles, ribs and gussets, radii, fillets, and more -- and set expectations for the injection molding process. Good info here.
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 | Metal additive manufacturing: Rocket turbopump design
Mixing undergraduate curiosity and real-world engagement, two students from Colorado University Boulder Aerospace Engineering Sciences program, Zachary Lesan and Patrick Watson, started an independent effort on turbopump design and manufacture that is a lesson in determination and industry collaboration. With lots of supplies and advice from industry heavy hitters including Velo3D, CFturbo, SpaceX, and many more, their project has reinforced significant points being made about next-generation rocketry.
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 | Easy-to-detect plastic parts: Food processing
Foreign materials have no place in food, and yet undesired contamination makes its way into production processes time and time again. JW Winco has established a new line of standard parts made of plastic that are easy to detect -- visually and with metallic sensors -- even in pasty and opaque media. The visually detectable (VD) knobs, cabinet U-handles, hinges, hand levers, and three-lobe knobs are made of solid-colored blue plastic. The metal detectable (MD) standard parts are also made of blue plastic but contain additional additives with iron oxide. These parts can be used in both the food and pharmaceutical industries without reservation.
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 | Position sensor real-world applications: Automotive and mobile equipment
From firetruck nozzle positioning and race car steering to accelerator control and wheel vector sensing, learn how position sensors from Novotechnik are used in real-world applications. Sensor types include non-contacting rotary sensors, angle sensors, and magnetic encoders. We love when manufacturers provide examples of their products in action.
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 | Replace hydraulics with heavy-duty electric actuators
Thomson has introduced a high-capacity, high-performance electric linear actuator that gives motion system designers more cost-effective options to replace hydraulic cylinders. Among the many new features of the Thomson Electrak XD linear actuator is load handling up to 25,000 N (5,000 lb), depending on configuration, for a combined power output of more than 450 W. The Electrak XD can also achieve operating speeds up to 75 mm/sec (3 in./sec) and duty cycles up to 100%.
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 | VariBlast air gun for safe and efficient blowoff
Safety and efficiency are coupled with ergonomic design and engineered air nozzle technology to produce the VariBlast Precision Safety Air Gun -- an essential tool for processes needing a handheld and effective blowoff solution. The lightweight unit with variable flow trigger from EXAIR provides a focused blast of air capable of handling tough jobs with remarkable ease.
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 | Linear bushings with 70% longer service life
Bosch Rexroth's segmental linear bushings with plastic cage are used in a wide variety of industries to achieve a load capacity that is up to 20% higher and a service life that is up to 70% longer. They are part of a Rexroth round guide with a matching shaft. The particularly light and short linear bushings allow long working spaces and offer additional sealing options. They are also available as linear sets. Use the Linear Motion Designer (LMD) calculation program to select the right linear bushing for your needs.
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 | Atari console is back!
Relive those heady days of youth with the all-new Atari 2600+ console. It's an updated version of the iconic Atari 2600 system that plays both Atari 2600 and 7800 game cartridges. It comes with a CX40+ Joystick recreated to the original specs and a 10-in-1 game cartridge that includes some of Atari's most famous games: Adventure, Combat, Dodge 'Em, Maze Craze, Missile Command, Video Pinball, Yars' Revenge, and more. Available for pre-order with Nov./Dec. delivery.
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| | Most popular last issue |
 | Porsche 911 S/T: Limited anniversary edition
Porsche is celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Porsche 911 with a limited-edition, first-of-its-kind 518-hp 911 S/T model. Created for everyday driving, the car combines elements of the 911 GT3 RS with the body of the 911 GT3 and supplements it with specially developed lightweight components. It is quick, nimble, and a dream ride for many a Porsche aficionado.
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 | 54 Years Ago: Apollo 11 launch and Moon landing
An estimated 1 million people gathered on the beaches of central Florida in 1969 to witness first-hand the launch of Apollo 11, while more than 500 million people around the world watched the event live on television. Officially named as a crew just six months earlier, Commander Neil A. Armstrong, Lunar Module Pilot Edwin E. "Buzz" Aldrin, and Command Module Pilot Michael Collins were prepared to undertake the historic mission.
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| | Videos+: Technologies and inspiration in action | What's new in Onshape?
Check out the latest updates to Onshape, the cloud-native product development platform that delivers professional-grade CAD capabilities with next-gen product data management. New features include customizable keyboard shortcuts, better BOM navigation, improved drawing tools, and new Learning Center content. With Onshape, users can innovate quickly while simultaneously or asynchronously collaborating with other stakeholders on any web-connected device.
View the video. |
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