| November 27, 2018 | Volume 14 Issue 44 |
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 | 30-Second Quotes for Plastic Injection Molding
ICOMold offers the only instant quotations in the plastic injection molding industry. Simply upload your CAD models, specify your plastic material, quantity and other options, and within 30 seconds you will get your mold cost and piece price. The online quote system is also interactive -- you can change your options and see your new price instantly.
Get an instant quote now. |
 | Copper Oxide Coated Foam Heat Sinks:
Ideal Where Space is Tight and Performance is Critical
Microporous copper foam coated with a thin, hard layer of copper oxide provides outstanding performance as a low-profile heat sink in passive cooling environments. Pore sizes between 300 and 600 microns and a relative density of around 37% provide a much higher surface area than traditional copper foams. The black copper oxide that coats the interconnected pores of the thermally conductive copper foam dramatically increases emissivity and passive cooling performance.
Click here to learn more. |
| | Feature articles |
 | 10,000 sensors: Experimental wing verified during NASA loads testing
Structural tests on a uniquely designed, high-aspect-ratio, lightweight model test wing this fall at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center in California proved new design and fabrication methods. Featuring tow steering composite technology, the wing could eventually enable full-scale longer, thinner wings that maximize structural efficiency, reduce weight, and improve fuel efficiency.
Read the full article. |
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 | All-new Toyota 2019 RAV4: More sport, more utility
Toyota was instrumental in creating the compact crossover SUV segment with the original RAV4 more than two decades ago, and now the Japanese automaker aims to redefine it. In recent years, automakers smoothed out compact SUV design, adopting more passenger car-like traits. The all-new, fifth-generation RAV4 brings back a more dedicated SUV appearance, more sport, and more utility.
Read the full article. |
 | Top 5 challenges of motion control design
As motion control solutions -- from angle encoders to direct drive motors -- become even more ubiquitous in industrial situations, engineers face evolving demands and opportunities. From lowering the cost of advanced technologies to improving functional safety in automated environments, here are the top five challenges and opportunities in today's motion control design industry as seen by engineers from HEIDENHAIN.
Read the full article. |
 | Engineer's Toolbox:
The 'relativity' of High Q capacitors
Although many High Q capacitors are available on the market, performance can vary widely depending on design and quality of manufacturing. Selecting the ideal Multi-Layer Ceramic Capacitor (MLCC) requires more than a voltage, capacitance value, and tolerance. This may also explain why a capacitance value from one supplier may not be a one-to-one correspondence with another supplier in critical matching circuits.
Read the full article. |
 | Advantages of electroformed metal bellows
Servometer metal bellows manufactured using our patented electrodeposition process create flexibility, protection, motion, and balance for systems requiring precise, repeatable results. This exclusive manufacturing technology produces electroformed bellows that offer unique characteristics such as high-strength but lightweight construction and custom engineered geometries. Learn more by viewing our "Electroforming Basics of Miniature and Specialized Components" white paper.
Read the white paper (no registration required). |
 | Power supply for servos with power factor correction
ADVANCED Motion Controls has introduced the PFC2400W375, a regulated DC power supply designed to feed 400-V series servo drives with a low-noise 375-VDC bus. Universal single-phase AC input 100-240 VAC/50-60 Hz with power factor correction and low harmonic distortion along with soft starting circuitry guarantees global high-performance, reliable operation. This new power supply is designed to achieve power factor improvement, improve performance, and ensure consistent operation regardless of the local power company's voltage levels and quality.
Learn more. |
 | Using SmartMotor data to diagnose linear actuator performance problems
Effective troubleshooting of a motion control system problem can be a daunting and time-consuming process, even for seasoned automation professionals. However, the Moog Animatics SmartMotor fully integrated servo, with built-in controller and firmware, is constantly monitoring a variety of operating parameters. This case study investigates how that data can be used to quickly and effectively troubleshoot and resolve a motion control system problem.
Read the Moog Animatics article. |
 | Flexible circuit design guide
Tech-Etch uses advanced techniques to manufacture flex and rigid-flex circuits to exacting customer specifications. Special processes include selective plating a single circuit with two different finishes, contoured circuits with variable metal thickness, semi-additive and subtractive techniques, open window or cantilevered contact leads, plus SMT for component assembly. Tech-Etch specializes in flexible circuits for medical device, medical implant, diagnostic ultrasound, and patient monitoring applications, in addition to telecommunications, aerospace, semiconductor, and other high-reliability electronic applications.
Learn about flex circuits and download the guide (no registration required). |
 | End-of-arm vacuum tool for cobots
Piab is proud to introduce piCOBOT, a cleverly equipped end-of-arm (EOAT) vacuum tool designed specifically for the cobot market. Featuring the company's signature vacuum technology, piCOBOT offers industry-certified plug-and-play extensions to the latest collaborative robots, so called cobots. Offered as a development kit, piCOBOT comprises a vacuum pump unit, a gripper unit, and two suction cups. The standard kit includes four different sets of suction cup models suitable for a variety of tasks, but customers can also choose freely from the company's extensive range of suction cups for more tailored solutions.
Learn more. |
| | Most popular last issue |
 | Cool Tools: New Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+ launched
Fans of the extremely popular credit card-sized computer called Raspberry Pi have something new to celebrate. The line of highly customizable base units has expanded with the third-gen A+ board, which brings the latest features and capabilities to a more compact form factor and lower price point -- only 25 bucks!
Read the full article. |
 | Top Army priorities: Long-range fires, hypersonics
The Army's No. 1 modernization priority -- long-range precision fires -- is a collaborative science and technology effort between the Army and the other services, said Dr. Thomas Russell, deputy assistant secretary of the Army for research and technology, at a National Defense Industrial Association-sponsored forum recently. One area of intense focus is hypersonics.
Read the full article. |
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| | Videos+: Technologies and inspiration in action | Nested Wave Springs from Smalley
The need to stack individual springs for higher loads is no longer necessary. Nested springs result in a spring rate that increases proportionately to the number of turns. They can exert tremendous forces, yet maintain the precision of a circular-grain wave spring. In many applications, Nested Wave Springs replace Belleville Springs, particularly in cases where a high but accurate force is needed.
Check out our video for more information. |
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Boeing 777X final body join
It's official! Workers at Boeing are joining together the first 777X flight test airplane at the company's Everett, WA, site. In this video, the three main sections come together. Great progress is being made as Boeing prepares for flight test in 2019 of what will be the most fuel-efficient twin-engine airplane in the world.
View the video. |
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