| January 19, 2016 | Volume 12 Issue 03 |
| | Feature articles |
 | Getting ‘real' about emissions testing
In an extensive and ongoing research project, Ricardo has demonstrated processes for evaluating the aftertreatment technology options for diesel cars under the forthcoming European Real Driving Emissions (RDE) regulations -- rules designed to ensure on-road compliance with published type approval data for fuel economy and emissions. Anthony Smith reports from the U.K.
Read the full article. |
|
 | Cool Tools: Latest in pocket-size thermal vision
FLIR Systems showed off two compact thermal camera products at the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) last week: the FLIR Scout TK thermal vision monocular and the FLIR TG130 spot thermal camera. Both consumer products feature FLIR's revolutionary low-cost Lepton microcamera core that has made thermal imaging technology more accessible for applications at home, work, and play.
Read the full article. |
 | Optimize mechanical misalignments, get hidden benefits
C-Flex Couplings combine the best qualities of disc, beam, and bellows couplings in a unique and economical new design. Made to couple two rotating shafts together, these couplings can accommodate large misalignments while transmitting high torque loads with zero backlash. Benefits include lower energy usage and less-frequent bearing failure, since less stress is placed upon bearings. Constructed using high-strength hardened stainless steel or glass impregnated polyamide flexures, these couplings require no maintenance and provide years of trouble-free life, even in contaminated environments. Flexible Pivot Bearings and Super Plastic Torsional Damping Couplings also available.
Click here to learn more.
Watch C-Flex Couplings in action handling misalignments. |
 | Wheels:
Ford GT Supercar sports Gorilla Glass hybrid technology
When tasked with developing lightweight and advanced material vehicle applications, a team at Ford approached Corning, a recognized leader in material science that introduced light and durable Gorilla Glass to the consumer electronic market in 2007. Interested in further exploring potential automotive applications, Ford engaged Corning to help research and develop a unique formulation for exterior vehicle glass.
Read the full article. |
 | Mike Likes: Wavo - The New Spring in Town
Wavo Springs are produced from round-section wire to provide higher loads while maintaining the accurate loading found in wave springs. As an alternative to Belleville Springs, the Wavo provides similar loads but with an accurate, predictable spring rate. Available from stock in 1/2" to 6" diameters. Free samples available.
Click here to learn more. |
 | Small motors power bionic hand prosthesis
Most hand prostheses can detect muscular movements in the residual limb and enable the bearer to open and close the hand as well as to grasp objects, but don't provide sensory feedback to the nervous system. The LifeHand 2 prosthetic is equipped with sensors to register tactile sensations and tension in artificial tendons. The sensors interpret the data and generate electric signals to transmit to electrodes in the nerve fibers.
Read the full article. |
 | Connectors: Stack and connect boards
Hirose has designed a board-to-board connector with a highly reliable floating contact mechanism and self-alignment structure that simplifies assembly. Providing +/- 0.6 mm floating in the X and Y axis directions, the FX20 Series absorbs mounting misalignment from multiple stacking connectors as well as PCB shrinkage caused by high temps. Ideal for industrial and vehicle applications, this new member of Hirose's FunctionMax family has a highly reliable double-beam contact structure that provides high shock and vibration resistance and requires only 120 positions to carry 60 Amps versus 200 positions from competing technologies.
Click here to learn more. |
 | Materials: High-temp, high-wear ceramics
Goodfellow Ceramic and Glass Division offers a range of engineering ceramics that are ideal for the high-temp, high-wear conditions typically found in aerospace, automotive, military, electronic, and industrial fields. These exceptional ceramics are: very hard and extremely resistant to wear, good thermal and electrical insulators, able to retain mechanical properties at elevated temps, more durable than metals, and highly resistant to extremely aggressive and corrosive environments. Typical applications include: wear components (blades, valves, pumps, etc.), high-voltage insulators, high-tem tubes, electronic substrates, radomes, armor, and crucibles. Ceramics include but are not limited to alumina, boron nitride, and zirconia and are available in a wide range of forms (rod, sheet, foam, powder, crucible, etc.) or as finished components precision-machined to customer drawings.
Click here to learn more. |
 | Wanted: Unique Energy Chain applications for 5th vector awards
To find the most innovative uses of Energy Chain Systems, igus, the motion plastic specialist, invites submissions for the biennial vector award -- a celebration of inventive and creative applications for energy supply solutions. "Even for us, it is sometimes still surprising and exciting to see where and how customers use our Energy Chains," says Harold Nehring, head of Energy Chain Systems at igus GmbH. Submissions will be judged by an outside panel of science and technology experts, and selected applications will receive up to 5,000 euros at the official awards ceremony at the Hannover Messe Trade Fair in April. Deadline for entries is Feb. 26, 2016.
Click here to learn more. |
 | Valves: New online sizing tool
GF Piping Systems has introduced a quick and easy-to-use tool that calculates the correct pressure regulating valve (PRV) size to select from the company's new line of high-purity performance PRVs. To use the tool, the customer simply enters the valve type desired (either pressure retaining or pressure reducing) along with the process parameters, and the program calculates the optimum valve size to select.
Click here to learn more. |
 | Motion: New torque motor family
Direct drive motors, also known as torque motors, are permanent-magnet motors that rotate along an axis. They can be used wherever a rotary movement is required and offer numerous advantages over conventional servo drives. Torque motors from Tecnotion are very compact, provide an extremely stiff drive train, eliminate the need for time-consuming mounting procedures, are virtually maintenance free, and can be integrated directly into the machine structure, while the spacious open inner diameter enables wire and cable feedthrough. With three outer diameters -- 105, 133, and 160 mm -- and five build heights ranging from 17 mm to 92 mm, the QTR series suits applications in markets such as semiconductor, medical, machine tool, printing, rotary tables, factory automation, and robotics. Continuous torque ranges from 1.4 Nm to 63.5 Nm and speed ranges from 190 rpm to 6,918 rpm are available.
Click here to learn more. |
| | Videos+: Technologies and inspiration in action | Net-wielding drone can capture, retrieve renegade drones
Mo Rastgaar, an associate professor of mechanical engineering at Michigan Technological University, has engineered a drone catcher that can pursue and capture rogue drones that might threaten military installations, air traffic, sporting events -- even the White House. It's a deceptively simple system: a launcher shoots a big net attached to a large drone by a string. The system can be autonomous, controlled by a ground-based human pilot, or a combination of the two. After an intruding drone is spotted, the drone catcher takes up the chase and fires the net at it from a distance up to 40 ft. Because the net is so big and can be deployed so quickly, it can overwhelm even the fastest, most maneuverable small drone.
View the video. |
 |
|
|
