| June 21, 2016 | Volume 12 Issue 23 |
|
 | 3D Printing Material Selector!
Proto Labs' Material Selector is a quick reference guide to help you identify the right thermoplastic-like and metal materials for your next 3D printing project. It lists specific measurements like resolution, tensile strength and hardness to ensure you have the most suitable material and additive manufacturing process for your application.
Get a free Material Selector today! |
 | 15,000 Stock Metric Gears
KHK USA Inc offers the largest selection of stock metric gears in North America. With over 175 types, in more than 15,000 configurations, KHK USA offers the broadest selection of spur gears, helical gears, internal ring gears, gear racks, bevel gears, worms and wormwheels, and other gear types.
Click here to learn more. |
 | Toyota: Your car will think it knows everything about you
Toyota Connected, a new company that aims to redefine data management and data services development in the automotive world, will collect driving -- and driver -- data using Microsoft's Azure cloud technology. CEO Zack Hicks explains how he wants to give customers an escape from the "tyranny of technology." But does your car really need to know everything about you?
Read the full interview. |
 | New collaboration pushes boundaries of metal 3D printing
Using 3D printing for metal is particularly challenging, because it involves the use of a laser. While the laser optimizes the density of the metal for the particular application, it can also melt the metal in unexpected ways, causing the product to fail. And the rapid heating and cooling causes stresses that can deform the end product. A new collaboration between ANSYS and the University of Pittsburgh aims to solve some of the industry's toughest additive manufacturing problems.
Read the full article. |
 | New 2016 Lee Spring Midyear Catalog Available Now
Lee Spring's 2016 Midyear Catalog is available now. An industry standard listing 23,000+ Compression, Extension, Torsion and Specialty Springs. This year's catalog includes an expanded HEFTY™ Die Series lineup. This year's catalog also includes an expanded selection of Stainless Steel 316 springs. Also included are LeeP™ Plastic Composite Springs, REDUX™ Wave Springs, BANTAM™ Mini Compression Springs, Lite Pressure™ Series Compression Springs, Battery Springs, and Constant Force. ISO 9001 Registered.
Request a Catalog Today. |
 | Wheels:
Taking carbon-fiber bonding to the next level
Dow Automotive Systems is on a roll introducing customized structural bonding solutions for weight reduction in high-end vehicles. Among those manufacturers using specially formulated adhesive solutions based on BETAFORCE composite bonding adhesives are Audi for the new R8, Lamborghini on its Huracan, and BMW in its 7 series. BETAFORCE composite bonding adhesives can be used to bond coated metals like steel to aluminum, carbon fiber panels to steel or aluminum, sheet molding compound (SMC) to aluminum, and more.
Read the full article. |
 | Mike Likes:
Designing With Wave Springs eBook
No one understands the needs of your applications more than you do. Smalley knows how critical it is to specify the right spring for your design. With tens of thousands of wave springs designed, and counting, Smalley has tackled design challenges in nearly every industry. Their eBook, "Designing with Wave Springs," helps you find the right spring for your application and details how Smalley engineers offer space-saving solutions.
Get the Designing With Wave Springs eBook. |
 | Engineer's Toolbox:
Capacitive vs. thermal MEMS for high-vibration applications
Design engineers involved in the development of heavy equipment that operates in high-shock and high-vibration environments need to make some choices between capacitive-based or thermal MEMS accelerometers used to measure inclination. James Fennelly, Product Development Director, MEMSIC, walks through the important design variables to consider for selecting the right accelerometer for heavy-duty applications, including sensor structure, sensor resonance, reliability, stability, bandwidth, power consumption, and cost.
Read the full article. |
 | Robotics: Getting a grip on precision using mechatronics instead of pneumatics
A gripping system for small parts that is both quick and powerful -- until now, that was often only possible with pneumatics. However recently, the leading expert for gripper systems and technology has developed a mechatronics-based EGP 40 gripper that easily achieves the same performance of its pneumatic counterparts. The drive that makes this impressive performance possible is small brushless DC servo motors from FAULHABER and MICROMO.
Read the full article. |
 | Sensors: Magnetostrictive sensing for challenging mobile applications
MTS Sensors has updated its widely used MH Series of magnetostrictive linear position sensors by introducing a threaded flange option. The MH5-Threaded device is a highly robust sensor optimized for mobile applications (such as crane outriggers), as well as fuel-tank level measurement. The device delivers a +/-0.1-mm typical resolution, repeatability of +/-0.1 mm, and a +/-0.04 percent linearity (full scale). Stroke lengths up to 2,500 mm are supported. The sensor rod is available in 7-mm and 10-mm diameters. These devices are not vulnerable to vibration, shock, dust, or electromagnetic interference.
Click here to learn more. |
 | Plastics: CO2 laser optics for cutting plastics
Designed for mid-level lasers used for cutting precision plastic gears and similar intricate parts requiring clean, crisp edges, CO2 lenses and mirrors from Laser Research Optics help produce cut edges without the deformation associated with die-cutting. Designed to fit lasers up to 1,000 W, these lenses are offered in two sizes and six focal lengths.
Click here to learn more. |
 | Engine couplings: Easy stiffness adjustments
Ringfeder Power Transmission has developed a patent-pending engine coupling that optimizes torsional stiffness and misalignment tolerance across a wide torque range. The TSCHAN TNR coupling is intended primarily for mobile and stationary diesel-driven powertrains. These couplings consist of an aluminum housing and steel hub separated by one or two rows of mechanically linked, cylindrical elastomer inserts that undergo a controlled deformation under shear loads as the coupling transmits torque. Torsional stiffness and misalignment tolerance can be fine-tuned with minor changes to the composition of the elastomer. Precisely tuned dynamic stiffness can help solve resonance and vibration problems.
Click here to learn more. |
 | Motion: What's so cool about piezo motors?
The PiezoWalk technology used by Physik Instrumente (PI) combines the technological advantages of piezo-class resolution with long travel ranges: They offer subnanometer resolution, high forces, and high stiffness. In contrast to conventional long-travel piezo-motor principles, PiezoWalk stepping drives are not subject to sliding friction effects, and virtually wear-free motion is achieved because the "legs" lift off for each step.
Click here to learn more. |
| | Most popular last issue |
 | Metallic glue may stick it to soldering and welding
A team of researchers at Northeastern University has created a glue made out of metal that sets at room temperature and requires very little pressure to seal. MesoGlue "is like welding or soldering but without the heat," says Hanchen Huang, a professor and chair in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, who created the substance with two PhD students and started a company to feature it.
Read the full article. |
 | Wings: In an industry first, 30-mile Sikorsky helicopter flight piloted by tablet
Engineers and researchers at Sikorsky have been working for years to build and perfect advanced autonomous systems that can act as co-pilots on rotorcraft. On May 24, the company let the world know that it had taken its work one step farther by having the systems actually pilot a Sikorsky commercial helicopter on an extended mission, performing a completely autonomous 30-mile "click and fly" flight using a tablet computer for control.
Read the full article. |
|
| | Videos+: Technologies and inspiration in action |
See simulation explained in donuts -- yum!
Simulation doesn't have to be complicated. In fact, many concepts can be explained with the help of a breakfast staple: donuts. If you're hungry for knowledge about drop tests, vibration, thermal analysis, or flow, or if you just want to see donuts explode, watch this suite of SolidWorks videos and satisfy your appetite for simulation and destruction.
View the videos. |
 |
|
|
Today's Soldiers often rely on GPS to know their location and to help with successful mission planning. Pseudolites, satellite-like transmitters, could take over as the primary location information capability when Soldiers' GPS systems are blocked by environmental or adversarial sources.
