| April 08, 2014 | Volume 10 Issue 14 |
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 | Completely Updated New Full Line Catalog:
Full of New Fasteners
Micro Plastics introduces its new 300-page catalog #40 containing thousands of fastening solutions for engineers and product designers. Find hundreds of new problem-solving products, including Spacers, Washers, Clips, Clamps, Ties, Bushings, Screws, Nuts, Rivets, and Plugs. Micro Plastics specializes in Nylon threaded fasteners, but the company also offers extensive product lines for wire management and circuit board hardware. FREE samples are available upon request.
Click here for more information. |
| | Feature articles |
 | 'Live synthetic' is U.S. Army's next generation of simulation technology
The U.S. Army is developing an immersive simulation technology called Future Holistic Training Environment Live Synthetic that allows Soldiers using special glasses to see visual recreations of fighter jets, UAVs, and more superimposed on the real world around them. The jets and UAVs are piloted by other soldiers on simulation and gaming systems in other parts of the world. The pilots see what the Soldiers are doing in the live environment by satellite and unmanned aircraft video feeds, while sensors on the Soldiers transmit their precise locations and activities.
Read the full article. |
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 | Basics of motion control:
How feedback encoder devices operate
Feedback is used in closed-loop systems in applications all over the world to control speed and/or position, and it has an important role in keeping equipment operating smoothly and accurately. Feedback is available in a variety of devices as well as models. It is important to understand how feedback operates, so the best benefits can be used in the application. This article reviews: open-loop vs. closed-loop applications, tachometers, Hall sensors, incremental encoders, absolute encoders, and resolvers.
Read the full article. |
 | Can you get brighter colors, that never fade, without pigment? Nature does
Researchers at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences are trying to give man-made materials structural "ageless" color. Unlike color that we usually think of (which arises from paints and dyes absorbing certain wavelengths of light and reflecting the remainder), structural color -- readily found in nature -- is created when an object's very nanostructure amplifies a specific wavelength.
Read the full article. |
 | Mike Likes:
Carbon fiber and nanotube-reinforced high-performance materials for 3D printing
3D printing with PEEK and other advanced reinforced polymers has been technically challenging until now. Silicon Valley startup Arevo Labs has created proprietary carbon fiber and carbon nanotube-reinforced high-performance materials that are compatible with commercially available filament fusion 3D printers. The company's patent-pending 3D-printing technology combines the benefits of printing complex geometries with reinforced materials that have excellent resistance to high temperatures and chemicals -- all to form lighter, stronger parts. Supported materials include KetaSpire PEEK, AvaSpire PAEK, Radel PPSU, and PrimoSpire SRP.
Click here to learn more. |
 | World's smallest, most integrated Wi-Fi module
Need to connect your product to the Internet of Things? Econais Inc. has created the EC19W01, arguably the world's smallest, smartest, and most integrated 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi System In Package (SiP) module. The EC19W01 offers low power drain and features a fully integrated MCU, Wi-Fi, cloud connectivity, flash, and an antenna that is fully certified FCC, EC, IC, and TELEC. This unit makes it easy to quickly design a Wi-Fi-equipped device that connects to the cloud. A development kit (EC19W01EVB) is also available.
Click here to learn more. |
 | Triple-layer fuel hose
How do you make your successful double-layer fuel hose even better? Add another helping of polymer goodness. Sunbesta-ZV tubing from AGC Chemicals Americas was designed with a Fluon ETFE inner layer, a Genestar PA9T middle layer, and a UBESTA Nylon 12 outer layer co-extruded to chemically bond without the use of additional adhesives. Fuel lines using this three-layer tubing system are oligomer-free and highly resistant to temperature, chemicals, and fuels. Sunbesta-ZV fuel tubing is highly flexible and highly resistant to low-temperature impact, chemicals, bio fuels, auto oxidized fuels, and fuels with wide alcohol content. Although developed for automobiles, Sunbesta-ZV tubing is also ideal for industrial applications that require high flexibility with low permeation, heat and/or cold resistance, and alcohol or hydrocarbon barrier properties.
Click here to learn more. |
 | Shaft collars and couplings: Over 1,000 stainless steel products
Stainless steel shaft collars and couplings are a standard product line from Stafford Manufacturing Corp. that includes more than 1,000 items machined from 303 and 316 stainless steel. Designed for applications where corrosion resistance is critical and aesthetics are important, they are available in 1-pc, 2-pc, hinged, set-screw, and flanged styles with various bore configurations and special-purpose features such as keyways and mounting capabilities.
Click here to learn more. |
 | TurboSite adds photos, videos, and more to your designs
TurboSite from IMSI/Design turns mobile devices such as Apple's iPad or iPhone into a first-of-its-kind field reporting tool -- and it can be used in many other scenarios. Pull up your CAD design and then start adding to it: geolocation, extra markups, photos, videos, and more. Awarded the 2013 AIA National Convention's "Best of Show," TurboSite is available in a variety of product and payment options suitable to any size organization, from the very largest to single-person shops. Free plug-ins for Autodesk AutoCAD and Revit extend TurboSite documentation into the desktop environment. With a little imagination, this could also become an incredible marketing tool.
Click here to learn more. |
| | Videos+: Technologies and inspiration in action | New wind-power concept inspired by birds
Taking a cue from the natural airfoil design of bird wings, the creative wizards at pneumatics specialist Festo have come up with a totally new concept for generating wind power. The horizontal DualWingGenerator uses an opposing-wing design to generate electricity and is especially effective at low wind speeds. This video explains the simple mechanical inner workings. A really fresh -- and inspiring -- design.
View the video. |
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A padlock in every fastener
Bryce high-tech security locks use cabinet-lock technology to take tamper-proofing to the next level. Vice grips, screw drivers, and drills can't get past these privately keyed fasteners, which are forged in solid stainless or CRv alloy and are ready to be power-driven. These fasteners are available in sizes from 2-56 to 5/8-11 and in metric sizes M2 to M16. Customer-specific key codes provide unmatched security. Bryce Fastener had 800 new customers last year alone with no reported security breaches!
View the video. |
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