| March 12, 2013 | Volume 09 Issue 10 |
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 | New Full Line Catalog -- Full of New Fasteners
Micro Plastics introduces its new catalog #39. With 290 pages of nylon fastener items, 12 new product lines, and over 500 new items added. Contents include: standard and metric machine screws, cap screws, nuts, washers, spacers, insulators, grommets, bushings, rivets, hole plugs, clamps, printed circuit board accessories, suspended ceiling hooks, and wire routing kits. FREE samples are available upon request.
Click here for more information. |
 | Born to Design: The Next Level of Extreme Machines
The DTV Shredder is the latest innovation in vehicles from the creative minds at BPG Werks. The company founder Ben Gulag continues to push the boundaries of mechanical design and engineering. He and his team rely on the tools in SolidWorks® to help them design vehicles such as the DTV Shredder - an extreme all-terrain dual track vehicle that goes through sand, mud, and snow.
Click here to watch the Shredder in action. |
 | Mike Likes:
Linear actuator with moving magnet offers precise positioning
Moving magnet actuators lend themselves to applications that require moderate speed and controllable, gentle stop points, functions not achievable with solenoids or standard voice coil actuators. BEI Kimco Magnetics' new Moving Magnet Voice Coil Actuator Series allows for precise positioning to meet high accuracy requirements. When combined with smart drive electronics, this actuator can be controlled for speed and desired output force. By keeping the magnet mass low, the system inertia is well controlled, resulting in more precise speed and position control. Typical applications include remotely controlled circuit breakers, medical hand tools, and other delicate instrumentation.
Click here to learn more. |
 | Chemtronics introduces ultra-flexible conformal coating for electronics
Konform Conformal Coatings are used to protect printed circuit boards, components, and flex circuitry. These coatings provide excellent electrical insulation and withstand hot and cold operating environments, as well as heat generated by electronic circuitry. Konform Flexcoat Conformal Coating is designed for applications where flexibility and protection are paramount. It is as flexible as an RTV silicone, but without the disadvantages of silicone. This coating provides a soft, even, rubbery coating and a durable protective barrier against humidity, salt, corrosive vapors, and fungus. It is ideal for both flexible and rigid printed circuit boards and electronic assemblies.
Click here to learn more. |
 | New fire-resistant plastic bushing
igus, an expert in triboplastics, has released a new polymer plain bearing that is fire retardant and classified according to UL94 with V0 standards. iglide GV0 has exceptional physical and thermal properties, boasting a maximum short-term application temperature of 410 deg F and a maximum long-term application temperature of 266 deg F. iglide GV0 offers similar all-round properties to igus' standard plastic bearing material iglide G300, such as an extremely high load capacity at low to medium sliding velocities and excellent wear resistance on most shaft materials.
Click here to learn more. |
 | DCmind brushless motors feature integrated electronics
The latest in the DCmind offering from Crouzet includes the TNi21 and SMi21 brushless motors, which feature integrated electronics, power capabilities from 60 W to 150 W, and high accuracy. The integrated electronics save space and provide a smart, compact motor solution. Other important characteristics include an optimized control loop that allows simple and accurate motor management, carefully designed internal thermal protection for improved safety, and intuitive, easy-to-use software. Excellent EMC characteristics assure operational safety and reliability. Available options include mechanical brake and a variety of planetary and worm gearboxes. Either model can be used as a stand-alone motor or in combination with other motors, or controlled by a PLC.
Click here to learn more. |
 | Zuken's CADSTAR 14 packs a punch in the fight against design errors
PCB designers play a pivotal role, collaborating with both electronics engineers and mechanical designers in the electronic product development process. One of the most common issues faced is identifying critical design errors late in the process when the file has already been sent to manufacturing, which leads to costly changes and delayed time to market. Designers using Zuken's CADSTAR version 14's expert desktop design solution will benefit from improved productivity and reduced design times through key enhancements, including improved error report management, an updated BGA wizard, and automatic net rerouting.
Click here to learn more. |
 | Proven plastics perform same as traditional metals
The inclusion of high-modulus fibers (HMF) into high-flow VICTREX PEEK materials offers the strength and stiffness that have given engineers the confidence to displace metals such as steel, aluminum, titanium, brass, and magnesium in aircraft system attachments, industrial machinery, and semiconductor and medical equipment. New to the Victrex product portfolio, VICTREX PEEK HMF polymers are based on the Victrex 90-Series formulation that has primarily been used to mold tough, thin-wall parts. Lightweight thermoplastics such as VICTREX PEEK HMF polymers not only can help engineers reduce component weight by up to 80 percent when compared to metals like steel and brass, but offer an equivalent stiffness and strength.
Click here to learn more. |
| | Videos+: Technologies and inspiration in action | BigDog robot gains a pitching arm
We've seen our favorite BigDog robot from Boston Dynamics carry many a heavy load. Now it can pitch one, too. Engineers at Boston Dynamics say their goal with this phase of the project is to use the strength of the robot's legs and torso to help power motions of an additional arm -- in this case chucking a 35-lb cinder block. This dynamic, whole-body approach to manipulation is used routinely by human athletes and should enhance the performance of advanced robots in the future. Boston Dynamics is developing the control and actuation techniques needed for this type of dynamic manipulation. So far, the robot's best throw is a bit more than 17 ft. The research is funded by the Army Research Laboratory's RCTA program.
View the video. |
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World's largest light sculpture:
The engineering behind the San Francisco Bay Lights project
Artist Leo Villareal talks to Tested.com about how his Bay Lights project will transform San Francisco's Bay Bridge into a spectacular light show each night for the next two years. The project had its Grand Lighting ceremony last Tuesday, March 5. Villareal explains the algorithms that control and choreograph 25,000 individually programmable, white LED lights made by Philips Color Kinetics to create complex patterns across the bridge's western span. The energy-efficient lights are mounted in single strands on the bridge's vertical cables. Prototype fasteners were designed using simple MakerBot 3D printing machines. Together, the lights will use 150 kWh to 175 kWh of energy while operating for approximately 7 hr each night. It will cost approximately $11,000 per year in energy to light the piece, which translates to $30 per day at $4.25 per hour. This is a long video, so no harm done in skipping around.
View the video. |
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