Technology for OEM Design Engineers March 20, 2007 — Volume 3, Issue 11
Clamp & Ball Knobs? Electronic Hardware Corporation You know EHC for military & electronic instrument knobs, but take a look at their Clamp & Ball knobs. EHC has the widest variety of any knob manufacturer, at the best prices in the market. Delivery takes just a few days for standard parts & reorders. Their recent acquisition of Rencol — Britain's largest Knob manufacturer — broadens the EHC line even further! For quality knobs at a great price, visit Electronic Hardware Corporation.
Olympic BMX racing gets a start thanks to Parker automation
A patented starting gate design that uses Parker technology is winning recognition throughout the world of BMX bicycle racing. The ProStuff straight-eight starting gate has been selected as the official start gate for the debut of BMX bicycle racing as an Olympic event in Beijing in 2008. The ProStuff starting gate systems are built using Parker components including a pneumatic ram, FRLs, exhaust valves, a custom accumulator constructed using Parker's rigid aluminum IPS profiled shapes, hoses and connectors, and industrial-grade shock absorbers. Read the full article
Injection Molded Plastic Prototypes FAST! Protomold can turn your 3D CAD model into real plastic parts as soon as the next business day. These plastic parts are ideal for functional testing, bridge tooling, or even short-run production. Visit Protomoldonline for more information and a free automated ProtoQuote®.
Register online to receive your Protomold resin puzzle.
Protomold®. Nobody's Faster in the Short Run!TM
Upgraded CNC router economically produces prototypes
Overhaulin' isn't just for old trucks seen on cable TV. Point-of-purchase display manufacturer Alliance Display and Packaging recently upgraded its out-of-use 10-year-old CNC router to help produce prototypes with complex geometries from styrene or acrylic sheet. Prototyping is especially important at Alliance, because injection molds of final designs cost from $50,000 to $100,000. A retrofit included changing the axis motors from stepper to servo motors, a new control system, vacuum table, and new software. The upgrade not only brought the machine up to current technology, but the unit runs faster and smoother than ever before. Read the full article
High-gloss scratch-resistant film adds class to Mercedes components
The latest high-quality hard-coated polycarbonate film from MacDermid Autotype has been selected by Daimler Chrysler to be incorporated into the new Mercedes S Class. Using Film Insert Molding (FIM), the Autoflex XtraForm film is used in the manufacture of 44 different three-dimensional interior components, including dashboard, lighting, and window switches, producing a high-quality aesthetic finish combined with excellent scratch resistance and optical properties. FIM produces exceptionally tough, three-dimensional parts in large volumes using a combination of screen printing, cutting, pressure or vacuum forming, UV curing, and injection molding. Read the full article
Globe Motors — Custom Solutions for motion control Globe Motors designs, manufactures, and distributes precision, subfractional horsepower motors and motorized devices throughout the world. For over half a century, the Globe Motors name has meant turnkey, motion control solutions for valued customers that depend on performance to achieve competitive advantages.
Globe Motors' application engineers are expert at reviewing requirements and creating an optimal design for your product or identifying one of our many existing solutions.
Please visit Globemotors.com.
New electronic devices created from bent nanowires
Georgia Tech researchers have taken advantage of the unique coupled semiconducting and piezoelectric properties of zinc oxide nanowires to create a new class of electronic components and devices that could provide the foundation for a broad range of new applications. So far, the researchers have demonstrated field-effect transistors, diodes, sensors — and current-producing nanogenerators — that operate by bending zinc oxide nanowires and nanobelts. The new components take advantage of the relationship between the mechanical and electronic coupled behavior of piezoelectric nanomaterials,
a mechanism the researchers call "nano-piezotronics." Read the full article
Wheels: What can stop the world’s fastest street-legal car?
MTS Systems Corp. Sensors Division has adapted its mobile hydraulic (Model MS) Temposonics magnetostrictive sensor for use in the Bugatti Veyron high-end passenger car, the world's fastest street-legal motor vehicle. The Model MS sensor's precision, speed, and reliability are critical to the operation of the Veyron's aerodynamic rear wing, which helps the car brake quickly at speeds of more than 200 mph. Two Model MS sensors are used for height adjustment, and one sensor is used for angular adjustment monitoring control. Read the full article
New Products
The Best Is Yet To Come. Throughout the month of April we count down the Most Requested and
most popular new products. Be sure to check in every week.
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