| May 28, 2013 | Volume 09 Issue 20 |
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 | New Line of Phillips Pan Machine Screws
Micro Plastics has added a new line to their inventory of 250 million parts! The Phillips Pan Machine Screws are molded in tough, resilient, and corrosion-resistant Nylon 6/6 material. Thread sizes included are: 4-40, 6-32, 8-32, 10-32, 1/4-20 and 1/4-28. Available in 25 standard lengths ranging from 3/32 in. up to 3 in., Micro Plastics also offers an extensive line of machine screws, including head styles such as Binder, Binder Combination, Fillister, Hex, Pan, Round, Socket, Flat, Oval, and Thumb Screws, as well as Studs, Grubs, and Flat Head Wing Screws.
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 | The less-is-more approach to robotic cable management
Cable management is often an afterthought for robotic systems, but it is a vital consideration when it comes to assuring machine reliability. This video covers the challenges and goals of cable management for six-axis robots. Discover the negative effects of poorly designed cable management systems and learn how the less-is-more approach to robotic cable management reduces both maintenance requirements and downtime.
View the video. |
 | Engineer's Toolbox:
9 questions to ask when specifying a slewing ring bearing
In applications that require a bearing to support a structure while it rotates (e.g. cranes, radar, tank turrets), premature bearing failure can put people and equipment at risk. While slewing ring bearings have proven themselves countless times in such applications, designers must consider many factors when specifying them. The bearing's support structure, mounting (including bolt strength, tensioning, and hole patterns), installation, and even storage are all factors in a bearing's success or failure.
Read the full article. |
 | 360-degree potentiometer for appliances and more
Piher's PT15 rotary control sensor, already popular in hundreds of white goods and appliance panel control and sensing applications, adds endless clockwise (CW or CCW) rotation to its feature set. Designer engineers can now design product command features over a 340-degree range (active electrical travel). The endless rotation feature can be combined with up to 51 unique and highly repeatable detent positions to provide users tactile feedback on each setting and selection. The PT15 has a wide variety of off-the-shelf mounting methods, custom ohmic (resistance) values, tight linearity performance, seven different rotor designs, and 15 standard shaft styles. Great for ovens, ranges, dishwashers, power hand tools, washing machines, and HVAC systems. Can also fit many automotive convenience electronic applications.
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 | Rubber products for solving sealing and vibration problems
Custom fabricated specialty rubber products made from a wide range of materials for sealing, gasketing, and shock-resistance applications are available from Interstate Specialty Products (ISP). ISP specialty rubber products are custom fabricated and die-cut, molded, or machined to match specific OEM part performance and physical requirements for the application. Typical materials available include Buna-V, Butyl, coated fabrics, EPDM, fluoroelastomers, Hypalon, natural rubber, neoprene, nitrile, open- and closed-cell foams, Santoprene, silicone, and Viton.
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 | New 4-mm micro motor and gearhead
When engineers at maxon motor were challenged to deliver maximum power in the smallest possible space, they created the EC 4, a 4-mm-diameter brushless DC motor and gearhead combo. maxon increased the performance of this tiny motor using the latest winding technology along with the most powerful magnets available. This micro motor is available in two lengths: short version with 0.5-W nominal power or long version with 1.0-W nominal power. A high-quality gearhead provides an impressive speed/torque gradient of 50,000 rpm mNm-1, with a continuous torque of 0.4 mNm.
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 | High-power servo drives in a small package
Due to popular demand, Advanced Motion Controls has expanded the capabilities of its popular M/V series Electric Mobility Servo Drives. Key improvements include 125-A continuous with 200-A peak for 10 sec at 80 VDC, and 100-A fixed continuous at 175 VDC (previously 80-A continuous). The M/V series is designed for electric mobility applications such as traction, steering, and lifting for UAVs, AGVs, material handling, and more. In addition to traction and steering axes on ground vehicles, the M/V series has been designed into aircraft applications such as the compressor drive for lightweight air conditioning units as well as helicopter winches. Available from Electromate
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| | Most popular last issue |
 | Virginia Tech announces 2013 football helmet ratings
Virginia Tech has released the results of its 2013 adult football helmet ratings, designed to identify differences between the abilities of helmets to reduce the risk of concussion. The ratings program was created in 2011 based on research that included analysis of over 2 million head impacts recorded in high school and collegiate football games. The process used for evaluating helmets involves mapping the on-field exposure to laboratory tests.
Read the full article. |
 | Robotic insects make first controlled flight
Inspired by the biology of a fly, with submillimeter-scale anatomy and two wafer-thin wings that flap almost invisibly 120 times per second, Harvard researchers have demonstrated the first vertical takeoff, hovering, and steering of a truly insect-size robot. The RoboBee, an aspiration for the researchers for years, represents the absolute cutting edge of micromanufacturing and control systems.
Read the full article. |
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| | Videos+: Technologies and inspiration in action | Physical strength properties of epoxy adhesives
Master Bond epoxies feature outstanding physical strength properties for high-performance bonding, sealing, coating, potting, and encapsulation. These polymer compounds are formulated to meet challenging physical strength requirements. Learn about specific epoxies, their attributes and uses.
View the video. |
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