| December 06, 2016 | Volume 12 Issue 45 |
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 | Noisy Bearings?
Smalley wave springs are ideal for bearing preload. The wave spring preloads the bearing through its outer race, taking up play in the bearing. Preloading will reduce bearing damage, wear, noise and vibration. The wave spring prevents sliding between the rolling elements. Bearing springs come in metric sizes to match popular bearing sizes. Smalley has over 150 standard springs available, from 9 mm to 580 mm. Customs are available for unique bearing sizes with No-Tooling-Charges™.
Click here to learn more. |
 | New 10-mm Motor Doubles Output Torque
MICROMO launches the next generation of small DC motors: the FAULHABER 1024 SR series.
This coreless micro motor features a 10-mm diameter and offers high performance with small dimensions and low weight, making it ideal for high-demand medical applications and portable devices. Combined with a gearhead, its output torque can achieve 300 mNm, twice that of similar products. A superior torque/speed ratio means the motor can handle varying loads at reduced speed variations.
Click here to learn more. |
| | Feature articles | Wings: Army tackling tiny enemy -- sand
Sand and dust can significantly damage helicopter engines, which is why scientists and engineers at the Army Research Laboratory are experimenting with coatings in high-temp environments with the goal of creating something -- anything -- that will cause sand to slide off the inside of a turbine engine the way an egg slides off a nonstick skillet.
Read the full article.
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 | Owl-inspired wing design reduces wind turbine noise by 10 decibels
A team of researchers studying why owl wings make little noise in flight is trying to improve the man-made aerodynamic designs of wind turbines, aircraft, naval ships, and automobiles. Using owl feathers as a model has inspired the design of a 3D-printed wing attachment that reduces wind turbine noise by an impressive 10 decibels -- without impacting aerodynamics.
Read the full article. |
 | Researchers develop low-power always-on camera with gesture recognition
Smart devices that wake up with voice commands have gained popularity in recent years, and now researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have taken it one step farther: an always-on camera. Designed with a combination of low-power hardware and energy-efficient image-processing software, the always-on camera is capable of watching for specific types of movement without draining batteries or running up electricity bills.
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 | SPECIAL: 3D printing's next dimension
The buzz over 3D printing, or additive manufacturing, has created a lot of speculation in the trade press about whether this technology, which has been around for more than 30 years, is poised to make another giant leap forward in capabilities. Three leaders from the 3D-printing industry -- 3D Systems, Proto Labs, and Concept Laser -- give their insights into the current and future state of this fastly evolving technology.
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 | Sensors in action: Hockey equipment test
When a hockey player takes the game-winning shot, the last thing they want to experience is their stick breaking in two. Sports equipment manufacturers place their products under extensive testing to prevent this exact scenario to ensure product quality and minimize player injuries. In this example, a hockey stick is placed into an automated testing rig fitted with a rotary torque sensor measuring the torque applied to the stick as it hits the puck.
Check out the entire application. |
 | Engineer's Toolbox:
Slip clutches maximize designs
The way they see it over at Polyclutch, there aren't a whole lot of problems you can't solve with a slip clutch. Way beyond using them for overload protection, there are a surprising number of other applications for these versatile and valuable components. From increasing machine speeds and applying constant tension on wire to indexing a conveyor and automatic screw assembly, slip clutches just may provide the design leverage that you've been seeking.
Read the full article. |
 | Mike Likes: Thermal camera for experts
The new Fluke TiX620 Infrared Camera joins the TiX640, TiX660, and TiX1000 models as part of the Fluke Expert Series. The TiX620 is an ideal infrared camera for the experienced thermographer. Its 640 x 480 resolution provides high measurement accuracy, and the 5.6-in. high-res LCD screen makes ID-ing problem spots quicker and easier. Images can be edited directly on camera while still in the field. The TiX620 provides users with EverSharp multifocal recording that captures multiple images from different focal distances and combines them into one image, displaying each object, from foreground to background, sharply for the best image quality. This camera also features Fluke IR-Fusion technology with three different operating modes: Picture-in-Picture, full visible light, and AutoBlend.
Click here to learn more. |
 | Position sensor for vehicle steer by wire
Piher's PST-360 Contactless Hall-effect Magnetic Sensor is a rugged, fully featured rotary sensor used for accurate pedal or brake positioning in on-road and off-road steer-by-wire vehicle applications. The sensor's through-shaft technology allows it to wrap anywhere around the shaft, thereby enabling sensing directly at the source. This allows engineers to integrate a fully featured rotary sensor directly on their existing shafts without the packaging issues such as gears that typically accompany encoders or other through-shaft sensing devices. This "clean" configuration helps obtain an accurate and precise output signal over the complete life of the sensor, which is 50 million cycles and includes IP67 protection sealing.
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 | Fanless modular power supply with medical safety approvals
The CoolX600 Series is a revolutionary new convection-cooled modular power supply from Excelsys Technologies that delivers 600 W of output power without using fan-assisted cooling. It is the only fanless modular power supply on the market to meet medical safety approvals. Based on the Excelsys patented modular resonant technology, the CoolX600 Series offers system designers best-in-class efficiency and reliability in addition to a comprehensive feature set. Also offered is an industry-leading five-year warranty.
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 | Steel leveling sets with spherical washer
The GN 350.2 Steel Leveling Sets with Spherical Washer from J.W. Winco are used for leveling, adjusting, and linking operations. Made from steel (and also available in stainless steel), these sets have a zinc-plated and blue passivated finish. They consist of a threaded upper sleeve and a tapped lower sleeve. The fine thread allows precise, step-less setting and locking using a hook wrench. An anti-rotation disk also serves as a height limiter for the maximum height. The spherical washer allows precise installation of two non-parallel planes at a required gradient up to 4 deg. Normally, this screw is permanently and securely locked by the static load created when the mounting screw is tightened. If this is not sufficient, the use of a locknut is recommended.
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| | Most popular last issue |
 | Fragment tracking: New insights made into what happens in explosions
A bang and a swirl of dust from detonating 9 lb of plastic explosive in the desert signaled the beginning of tests that -- thanks to advances in high-speed cameras, imaging techniques, and computer modeling -- will help Sandia National Laboratories researchers study fragmenting explosives in ways that weren't possible before. They want to know how pipe bombs and other improvised explosive devices come apart.
Read the full article. |
 | Robot sports adidas, walks like a person
Georgia Institute of Technology researchers have made what they say is the most efficient-walking humanoid ever created. DURUS strolls like a person. Its legs and chest are elongated and upright. It lands on the heel of its foot, rolls through the step, and pushes off its toe. It's even outfitted with a pair of size 13 adidas.
Read the full article. |
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| | Videos+: Technologies and inspiration in action | |
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