| December 13, 2016 | Volume 12 Issue 46 |
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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. |
 | Big advance in spherical bearings for aircraft
DuPont and Fujian Longxi Bearing have teamed up to achieve a breakthrough in the use of self-lubricating spherical bearings in aircraft design -- specifically, self-lubricating bearings for use in the actuation of airframe control systems. This application is a first for the industry.
Read the full article. |
 | Fun: World's largest Rube Goldberg machine lights up Christmas tree
To make the act of switching on the town's Christmas tree lights even more exciting, Latvian e-commerce company Scandiweb constructed the world's Largest Rube Goldberg contraption for the people of Riga. Recognized by Guinness World Records, the feat is also, arguably, the most elaborate way anyone has invented to turn on some festive lights. The chain reaction consisted of 412 individual mechanical steps. It took two months to construct.
See it in action. |
 | Mike Likes: Spinoff 2017 mag shows how NASA tech makes a difference on Earth
NASA has released its Spinoff 2017 publication, which takes a close look at 50 different companies that are using NASA technology -- innovations developed by NASA, with NASA funding, or under a contract with the agency -- in products that we all benefit from. Whether it's the self-driving tractor that harvests food, cameras used in car-crash safety tests, or tools making brain surgery safer, read about how NASA technology plays a significant role in our daily lives.
Check out NASA's Spinoff 2017. |
 | Ceramic foams in custom dimensions
Goodfellow has introduced a new line of ceramic foams that can be manufactured in nonstandard sizes and shapes. Materials currently available are silicon carbide, alumina, zirconia, or graphite based. Basic shapes (square, circle, rectangle) as well as custom shapes are offered without extra tooling costs. Sizes are up to 50 mm x 600 mm x 800 mm. Applications include filtration of: castings of cast iron, bronze, brass, and copper alloys (higher quality castings at lower production costs); aluminum and nonferrous metal alloys in cast houses (efficient and continuous mold filling); and aluminum and nonferrous metal alloys in foundries (special filter prints of the mold's gating system).
Click here to learn more. |
 | Mini bearing rail systems
IKO's standard miniature bearings line is now available in rail widths from 1 mm to 25 mm, with wide-bearing options as high as 42 mm. They are also available in up to four different lengths: compact, standard, long, and extra long in many sizes. The variety of widths and bearing lengths enables designers to easily tailor a mini bearing system to specific payload requirements. IKO's largest miniature linear bearings with the larger bearing lengths can handle much higher dynamic and moment loads than expected from a miniature unit, with dynamic load ratings in excess of 16,600 N (LWLG25) and moment load ratings over 320 Nm (MLFG42) in the roll axis. A C-Lube long-term lubrication system is integrated into many units.
Click here to learn more. |
 | New multi-axis positioning family: vertical, rotary, linear stages
PI, a leading provider of nanopositioning and motion control solutions, has developed its new family of stepper motor-driven linear, rotary, and Z-axis stages to meet the demanding requirements of high-end industrial and research applications. What's more, the L-310 vertical stage, the L-611 rotary stage, and the L-511 linear translation stage can be combined to create 360-deg/XY/XYZ motion systems.
Click here to learn more. |
| | Most popular last issue |
 | 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. |
 | 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.
Read the full article. |
 | Supercapacitors charge a phone in seconds
A team of UCF scientists has developed a new process for creating flexible supercapacitors that can store more energy and be recharged more than 30,000 times without degrading. The novel method from the University of Central Florida's NanoScience Technology Center could eventually revolutionize technology as varied as mobile phones and electric vehicles.
Read the full article. |
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| | Videos+: Technologies and inspiration in action | Learn about MagnaShear Motor Brakes
A new Force Control Industries video details how MagnaShear electric release motor brakes require no maintenance or adjustment and boast service life that is often 10 times that of traditional dry braking systems. With models available with torque from 6 lb-ft to 1,250 lb-ft for NEMA motor frames 56 to 440, these proven products are ideal for a wide range of applications across all industries, including cranes/winches/hoists, palletizing, conveying, indexing, turnovers/dumpers, coal sampling, automotive production, marine winches/hoists, and more.
View the video. |
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What is a multi-start flexure?
A single-start spring is a single continuous-coil element that starts at one end and terminates at the other. This configuration is common to most springs. A "double start" spring has two intertwined continuous-coil elements phased 180 degrees apart. In effect, this puts two independent helixes in the same cylindrical plane. Multiple-start flexures, such as triple-start, are similar extensions of the concept. Helical Products spells out why you should consider single-, double-, or triple-start flexures when designing or choosing your next coupling or spring.
View the video. |
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